All right, the plan and commission pre-meeting for January 14, 2026 is now in session.

Welcome to our pre-meeting tonight.

Thank you for taking part in the business of our city.

First order of business is the agenda overview discussion.

We have a total of four applications, of which one application is for continuance.

Mr.

Boswick, would you please provide the commission with an overview of the application?

Good evening, Commissioners, and welcome to our one new commissioner this evening.

Good to have you, Commissioner Halliard.

And Ms.

Commissioner Taylor will be here next month, I believe.

We have one request for continuance.

Item number four, PLN dash USC dash twenty twenty-five-zero four five requesting an indefinite continuance.

And Mr.

Hannigan will be providing additional information on this item later in the agenda review section.

Thank you.

Do any commissioners have any comments or questions regarding this item?

Without any objection, these item, this item will be placed on the continuance portion of the agenda.

We will review the remaining items and determine placement of either consent or regular agenda.

However, just remember that there will be further information coming on the one issue that went on consent as well.

Our first item is item number one, the South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines.

Do any commissioners have any conflicts with this application?

Do any commissioners have any questions for staff?

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none, is there any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda?

All right, then item one will be on the consent agenda.

The next item is item number two, Bethany Babness Readiness Academy.

Mr.

Hannigan, do you have any updates regarding this item?

Good morning, Commissioner.

Oh, sorry.

Good evening, Commissioners.

Uh, there are no staff updates to share, and there have been no formal comments on this application.

Do any commissioners have any conflicts with this application?

Any commissioners have any questions for staff?

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none.

Is there any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda?

All right, we will put it on the consent.

Our next item is item number three, blank and ship home occupation.

Mr.

Bell, do you have any updates regarding this application?

Good evening, Commissioners.

Staff has no updates on the application.

We did receive 20 comment forms in support, seventeen of which were from the neighbors in the uh um subdivision, and then we did receive one call from a neighbor with uh opposition to it.

Do any commissioners have any conflicts with this application?

Do any commissioners have any questions for staff?

Is there any discussion here and none?

Is there any objection to placing this item on the consent agenda?

Then we will place that on consent.

Our next item is item number four, which we heard for continuance.

Mr.

Hannigan, uh, can you provide updates regarding this item?

Good evening, commissioners.

Uh, there are no formal updates on the application.

I just wanted to step in and say that if there's any confusion about it, um, you know, PC had initially received the staff report package before the holidays, and we are recommending approval of this item after discussion with other staff members in the city and with the applicant.

The applicant is requesting this indefinite continuance to continue working with um staff in the community.

I also wanted to say that we did receive 11 letters of support for this application, and we haven't had any letters of opposition from the community.

Okay, thank you.

Um any questions for staff.

All right, and again, this will be for continuance.

So the regular consent agenda consists of items number one, two, and three.

Uh and there are no items for the regular agenda at this time.

The next order of business is the planning commission committee uh report, all business.

Is there anything to report from these committees?

Then next we will have upcoming items.

Uh summary of new public caring applications received.

Mr.

Boswick.

This month's summary of new applications in the pipeline include one rezoning and two conditional use permits.

And I'll continue on with the text amendment.

Please.

And last night, City Council passed a initiating resolution for staff to work on and planning commission to make recommendation on data center ordinance.

So that will be coming to you in the future.

Thank you.

We now have a special presentation by Mr.

McNamara on the comprehensive plan update.

Good evening, Commissioners, and uh welcome to our new member.

Really excited to work with uh you as we make a uh a prosperous uh 2026 for our city.

Uh so just a couple updates.

Uh, number one, and the biggest one perhaps is the fact that the comprehensive plan, which you recommended approval of last uh last year, is gonna be presented to council this Tuesday on the 20th.

So we're really excited about the opportunity to present this for public hearing for council's consideration and hoping uh that that we uh that we uh that we've reached a point where they can uh approve this and we can start uh into implementation from this point moving forward.

So really excited about that.

Uh another uh piece to to talk to you about uh so transfer development rights uh program that we've been working on for quite some time.

We will be before you in uh March of this year.

So March uh 11th, we're gonna be doing a presentation with our consultant in town uh to present the basics of the program and to be available for any questions uh that you may have as we make our way through this very important tool uh that will help sync up uh the areas of our city where we're looking to see additional development and also preservation of certain areas of our city as well.

Uh so that will be coming your way.

Uh that same week we'll have a community meeting uh with interested parties as well.

So as more details come available, we'll be certainly pushing those, but just want to put that on your radar that will be before you in March.

And then with the Western Branch Area Plan, we are uh out for an RFP at this point in time.

We're looking to engage with a consultant to to begin this plan.

Uh we're hoping to have those closed out and a consultant uh selected here in the next month or so.

So really excited about getting that uh underway and moving forward with that.

So tonight uh your special presentation is actually on the Deep Creek area plan.

So we are look we're moving quickly towards the end of this plan.

Uh Anna Gorniak is our uh uh project manager for this plan, and I'm gonna be turning things over to her so she can go over the uh plan.

Thank you, Director McNamara, and again, good evening, commissioners.

Um like Director McNamara said, I'll be providing an overview of uh the Deep Creek area plan tonight.

Um, thank you.

Uh this plan looks at the Deep Creek and Camelot planning areas, um, which uh the study area consists of about 37 square miles, excluding the Great Dismal Swamp, uh, which falls within the Deep Creek planning area as well.

Um this uh area plan would be adopted as a component of the comprehensive plan.

And these area plans, generally from planning perspective, they really allow an opportunity for our planning staff and for the city to really look in depth at a particular area of the city to determine needs, opportunities, challenges that that unique area is facing.

So with that in mind, this study really has the intent and the goals of enhancing quality of life, improving connectivity and access, and strengthening the economic vitality for the Deep Creek and Camelot areas.

The first phase of this process was the exploration and analysis of existing conditions within the study area.

These look at things like demographic trends in the area, land use patterns and character, existing parks and natural space conditions in the area, transportation, connectivity, traffic flow and safety, as well as existing historic assets in the area and environmental considerations.

As you can see from a few of these photos, even within the Deep Creek and Camelot areas themselves, we find such a variety of land uses from commercial areas, residential areas.

Certainly we have the historic agricultural district of Sunray in the area as well, and numerous parks and open space that the community really values.

Throughout this process, since the onset of this plan, we've conducted extensive community engagement, which included 10 community outreach events, two community surveys, 12 meetings with stakeholder committees throughout the extent of the process.

And from all of this input that our planning staff gathered, there were several clear themes that emerged from talking in the with the community and various stakeholders.

The first is really connectivity.

One of the largest certainly concerns and feedback we got from the community was regarding traffic issues in the area, traffic flow, and a desire to improve traffic and travel conditions across the area.

And improving connections from residential areas to key amenities throughout the area, such as commercial areas, local shops, retail, things like that, so that folks so that it's easier for get for residents to get around in the area as well.

Sort of the next key theme we heard was the topic of preservation.

You know, Deep Creek and Camelot residents really valued the existing parks, open space, and amenities that the community offers that this area offers.

And then we also have unique historic assets and character within the area as well, and that's something that you know residents value preserving and honoring as well.

The next theme we heard a lot about was you know related to growth.

There's a desire for more amenities within Deep Creek and Camelot so that folks don't have to leave this area and travel far to other areas of the city to access things like local dining, more local businesses, restaurants, you know, event spaces, things like that.

So a general desire for those kind of you know, third places or things to do on the weekend within the planning area and reducing the need to travel outside.

And then certainly being more strategic about where growth and development is channeled and making sure that it's in areas that aligns with existing infrastructure and capacity.

Finally, um, another topic we heard a lot about was related to design.

Part of that is ensuring a cohesive design in terms of architecture and things like that, you know, that is compatible with the area's character and honors the existing character and historic aspects of the Deep Creek and Camelot areas.

And the other big piece of this is ensuring that infrastructure keeps up with uh with development and it matches the changing needs of the area as well.

This input directly informed our guiding principles that serve as the foundation for this plan, which include preservation, which you know I talked a little bit about, which really focuses on protecting Deep Creek's unique character, open spaces, and historic assets.

We have accessibility, which really focuses on providing housing amenities and community spaces that residents of all ages and abilities have the ability to access.

The third is connectivity, which is providing physical connections that allow folks a better quality of life in the area.

The fourth is community empowerment, which looks at creating strong partnerships between residents, empowering community organizations, businesses, and strengthening the connections to local government as well.

And finally, our fifth guiding principle is balanced and responsible progress, which really encourages opportunities to proactively consider community needs in order to move forward with a vibrant livable community, and again, making sure that the infrastructure and other and other needs are in place for those changing needs in the future.

A little bit about our plan framework here with you know the community engagement and guiding principles really underpinning this as well.

We have several components that work in conjunction throughout this plan.

One of these are our character districts, which is something that is included in the comprehensive plan.

We're making additional recommendations regarding character districts in this plan as well.

We have the mobility plan and the open space plan, which I'll talk a little bit more in a following slide, as well as our policies that really serve to guide decision making and inform future projects, development, and expectations within the area.

And then we have our recommended projects which look more at you know concrete things like road improvements, park projects, and other specific physical improvements, study area-wise, but also opportunity area specific, which I'll go more into as well.

And then we have the opportunity areas, which I'll talk about next.

So again, the character districts.

This really is an update to how we've handled land use in the past.

You know, it's encouraging the creation of complete communities rather than a hyper-specific use, and it talks more about what could be found in, for example, low-scale residential neighborhood as opposed to being more restrictive.

So we're making some recommendations on those character districts for the study area as well.

For the mobility and open space plans, the mobility plan really focuses on how to improve connectivity for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles across the study area, looking at things like trails, shared use paths, and biking facilities, and then the open space plan looks at parks, open space, trails, and water access points, and makes recommendations for enhancements to that as well.

And then we have the policies and projects, which I talked a little bit about.

So we have approximately almost 50 policies across the plan document as well as about 40 projects that we're recommending again, study area-wide, but also some being specific to opportunity areas within the within the study area.

So our four opportunity areas, these really look at areas that represent places that are well positioned for a greater degree of transformation or enhancement compared to the rest of the study area.

Certainly we're making recommendations in terms of policies and projects across the study area, but this lets us dig into these areas that have you know some catalyst and potential for greater transformation in the future.

These include the North George Washington Highway Corridor, the South Military Highway Corridor, the Deep Creek Village, and Culpepper Landing.

So the North George Washington Highway is really envisioned as a hub for neighborhood services.

It builds on existing uses that residents can access on a daily basis, like pharmacies, grocery stores, health services, and other similar businesses and uses.

North George Washington Highway and south of Canal, it's really envisioned this area here, is really envisioned to include a mix of uses that are well connected to nearby neighborhoods by pedestrian-friendly networks.

This is a visionary concept that we included as part of this opportunity area that takes into consideration, you know, certainly private market forces and looks at implementation through potential redevelopment in the future.

But this concept is sort of a vision and example of what might be possible here in the future.

And a rendering of the Gilmerton and George Washington Highway intersection included in the plan as part of this concept.

Looking at our second opportunity area, the South Military Highway Corridor, this is sort of a re-envisioning of South Military, in a way, an update to the 2005 South Military Corridor study.

Although rather than forcing South Military to act like a main street, as some of the recommendations in the former South Military study pointed to, here we're really envisioning and proposing to allow it to remain as it is.

It's a natural thoroughfare and highway.

And you know, rather than force changes onto this major thoroughfare, we're looking to establish a new parallel main stream, which I'll show shortly.

And as redevelopment opportunities present themselves on larger parcels bordering South Military, there's opportunity for this improved connectivity in this area, linking to the nearby residential and community assets like the nearby library.

And here I'm we have uh similarly a more zoomed-in concept of that intersection of South Military and George Washington Highway here, looking at sort of that southwest corner that shows the uh parallel main street concept kind of going down the middle of this down the middle of this plan here.

As we move on to Deep Creek Village Opportunity Area, um, this area at the junction of Moses Grandy, George Washington Highway, the canal, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

It's really intended to be a dynamic village center for gathering, dining, bringing your family, and recreation.

This vision takes into consideration the completion of the Deep Creek Bridge and the related traffic improvements to come from that.

Certainly, you know, that's something we we looked at in this plan.

Um, but in particular, I want to note the old school site, which we're looking at more closely within this opportunity area.

It's intended to serve as an anchor site and a destination for Deep Creek area residents.

And through adaptive reuse, this site proposes to feature dining, commercial space, and potentially residential, as well as a plaza and open space that would lend itself to public events, things like farmers markets, um, you know, potentially small concerts or other community events.

It would really be a flexible space for folks to access.

Um, and rather than taking additional vehicle trips outside this area, this is really meant to be this accessible local destination where people from Deep Creek can come to eat, gather, and have fun with their families and friends without having to leave the Deep Creek area.

And this is a rendering of the proposed school site included in the plan as well.

You'll see some farmers' markets, uh farmers market like tents to the left of the rendering here, as well as a piece of the open space and plaza concept as I was discussing.

Finally, moving on to our last opportunity area, Culpepper Landing.

Um, this opportunity area concept builds on the original vision for the Culpepper Landing area by activating currently underutilized green space and improving some connectivity networks throughout throughout the area through trails as well as a pedestrian bridge across the canal.

Um based on preliminary discussions with Army Corps and comparable projects like the one shown here from North Carolina.

Again, reducing you know the potential vehicle trips that folks in Culpepper Landing would have to take to access recreational assets such as trails by the by the canal and other things.

In terms of next steps, our staff are making final revisions to the draft plan with the intent to present the plan to plan and commission in February and from there looking at presenting to City Council in April with hopefully adoption.

Again, just want to say the project team, we thank you for your time and consideration, and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

All right.

Does any commissioner have any any questions for staff on this presentation?

And I just want to thank them for the in-depth everything that you've done, all the meetings at 12 meetings and taking in the feedback because I heard a lot of that feedback, and I see you have truly incorporated it in the design and in your tenants.

So yes, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I appreciate that.

Any other commissioners and just as a follow-up, you know, we we uh Commissioner uh Barrifield and myself were on the committee for this and and had the presentation.

Uh I think we stayed for a little bit over an hour going through this.

And so I know this was uh quite a task, and and again, staff did a wonderful job.

I appreciate the off the effort that you did and and the job on this.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

All right.

Uh next we have uh final thoughts, uh the chairman comments.

You'll see down there uh that we have committee member updates.

Um you were provided a list of 2026 planning commission uh committee member assignments.

This is actually from last year.

Um we're going to make a few changes on this.

There are a few committees that I think can come off because we've we've completed the plans.

Um so if you want to mark on here, um regional planning will come off.

That's something that we haven't utilized.

Um the Greenbrier Area Plan will come off because that has been completed.

Umservation, um, we're going to take off this the last that committee will still be there, but the South Norfolk Design Guidelines were completed, so we're going to take that little portion off.

And then the Indian River Design Guidelines were also completed.

So we'll remove those committees.

Um and then one that we are going to add on, uh Mr.

McNamara talked about it.

The RFP is out for the Western Branch area plan.

That will be a new committee this year.

Um and so what we'll do is we'll work between us to decide who who serves on what committee tonight, and and so you'll know uh where where you'll serve and what you want to do.

So um so we'll we'll deal with that in just a little bit.

Um the other thing is just as a reminder, um, we do have a meeting that's coming up, and I know this is down the road, but we just dealt with it this past November.

Um Veterans Day was on a Tuesday, and so council was gonna meet on Wednesday, we moved to Thursday.

Um this November, Veterans Day is November the 11th, which is a Wednesday.

Um, so we will be meeting that Thursday, November 12th, just for your plan and purposes that you can go ahead and put on your calendar.

And then I think the last thing we have is the uh yearly review of bylaws.

Uh Mr.

Tedder, if you could come and address that.

Good evening, everyone.

Per the Commission's bylaws, the commission has to review and endorse those by March 1st every year.

So this is an opportunity if any of the commissioners would like to propose amendments to the bylaws or consider making some changes that would have to go through an approval process with City Council per the city code, but this would be an opportunity to refine things, tweak things, adjust the language if you would want to, as long as we can have that in place on or before March 1st so that that any revisions could be endorsed by the chairman at that time, we would be good to go from there.

I think a copy of the bylaws was provided for you to review to go through.

Um I'll go ahead and and tell you last year um there were a couple changes um uh city council uh did not want to move forward with those changes.

Um one was submitting and and Mr.

Tedder, if you could go ahead and draft something up.

One of the issues we had uh is that if there's a tie on this planning commission, um actually it comes back the next for our next meeting for reconsideration.

Um there are times when there are items that come up that are advertised, co-advertised for planning commission to end up to go to City Council um the following week, um, I believe.

And so you've got that co advertisement, and just if we had a tie, what would happen?

Um, last year, I think I submitted just to kind of deal with tires in general.

This this time I'm just asking if we can draft something up.

Um, that if it there is something that is avert co advertised and there's a tie that it can still make it to council.

Um just to a try try try to address the issue of the advertisement and the applicant would have to go through um considerable to to put it back on.

So um, that would be one consideration.

Uh if and if anybody has any comments, I'll go ahead and take those now.

And if not, you can take a chance to review.

And of course, if you need any language, reach out to our legal uh advisor and he will definitely help.

I saw it, thank you.

Thank you.

May have the attention of everyone in the council chambers and those outside in the lobby.

Tonight's planning commission meeting is scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes.

If you wish to speak at tonight's meeting, we ask that you complete and submit a speaker card before the meeting begins.

May I have your attention of everyone in the council chambers and those outside in the lobby?

Tonight's planning commission meeting is scheduled to begin in five minutes.

If you wish to speak at tonight's meeting, we ask that you complete and submit a speaker card before the meeting begins.

The plan and commissioning public hearing for January 14th, twenty twenty-six is now in session.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

For those who wish to participate, you are invited to remain standing for the invocation.

Commissioner Commissioner Squelia will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and the invocation will be offered by myself.

As we begin this new year, we ask that you would give this commission the wisdom to make good choices and good decisions to move this city forward.

Amen.

Present.

The chair asks that each of you follow these guidelines.

Speakers who violate the rules of the public hearing will receive one verbal warning within the course of the evening.

Upon planning commission action of either approval or denial, the remainder of the item shall be heard by City Council next month or either on the third or fourth Tuesday beginning at 6 30 p.m.

in this chamber unless otherwise denounced tonight.

Citizens may contact the city clerk's office or the planning department the Friday after the planning commission meeting to find out which date the item will be heard by City Council.

The first order of business is the consideration of request to withdraw or continue an item.

Normally, an application is withdrawn without further discussion.

In the case of continuances, it is the planning commission's policy to continue the item as requested by the applicant or staff.

Mr.

Boswick, are there any requests for withdrawal or continuance?

Yes, we have one item requesting continuance and no items being withdrawn.

Mr.

Boswick, please read the application into the record.

The continuance item is item number four, PLN dash UFC-2024-045.

The project is empowerment in.

The owner is Rosus Rodolfo Sejas Trustee.

Proposal is a conditional use permit to operate a banquet hall out of an existing shopping center tenant space.

The location is 2743 Campus Stella Road in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

Based on the applicant's request, staff recommend that PLN-USE-2025-045 be continued indefinitely.

Secretary Malone, are there any speakers on this item for continuance?

There is.

Speakers, you may hold your comment until the end, until the meeting at which the item will be fully discussed, or you may speak on the continuance now.

If you choose to speak, you must limit your comments to the continuance request only, and you cannot address merits of the application.

Each speaker will have a total of three minutes.

Secretary Malone, please call the speakers.

Speaking in support of agenda item number four, Paradise Smith.

And just remember, you'll be speaking on the merits of the continuance itself.

Yes, sir.

Good evening, yeah.

Yeah, if you push it, it should light green.

And remember, this is just on the continuance itself.

Excuse me, not the mayor.

If you please state your name and address to it.

Paradise Smith, 2004, Randolph R.

H.

Chesapeake, Virginia 2320.

Okay.

Um good evening.

Uh I just wanted to make sure that I notified everyone that I requested a continuance to allow additional time to address concerns raised by law enforcement and to continue working collaboratively with all parties involved.

My intent is to use this time to further align operations, clarify conditions if needed, and ensure that the application reflects the responsible and well-managed use that supports community safety.

And thank you for your consideration.

I'm here if you have any questions.

Secretary Malone, please call the next speaker.

Thank you.

That's it.

All right.

At this time, the Chair will accept a motion to continue the item as read by by Mr.

Boswick.

I move.

So moved.

All right.

We have a motion by Commissioner Gilman.

Second.

Second it by Secretary Malone.

Commission, please prepare the vote.

Please vote.

Mr.

Boswick, please record the vote.

By a vote of eight to zero, the motion carries.

The second order of business is consideration of the consent agenda.

The consent agenda contains those items that the planning staff believes are unopposed and have a favorable staff recommendation.

Speakers on items placed on consent agenda will be given a total of five minutes to address the commission.

If you have an objection to an item being placed on consent agenda, please note your objection when addressing the commission.

Secretary Malone, are there any items on the consent agenda in which there are three or more speakers in opposition?

There are not.

All right.

So at this point, the consent agenda is as follows.

Items one, two, and three.

Mr.

Boswick, please read the consent agenda items into the record.

First is item one, PLN-TXT-2025-007, special overlay districts ordinance amendment.

The proposal is an ordinance amending appendix A of the Chesapeake City Code entitled zoning.

Appendix A of the Chesapeake City Code entitled zoning.

Article 12, sections 12-704, 12-705, 12-708, 12-709, 12-712, and 12-72 to bring the zoning ordinance into alignment with the recently updated South Norfolk Historic Design Guidelines.

Based on the findings contained in the staff report, staff recommend that PLN-TXT-2025-007, version dated December 16, 2025, be approved as listed in the official agenda.

Next is item two.

The project is Bethany Baptist Readiness Academy.

Applicant owner is Bethany Baptist Church.

The proposal is a conditional use permit to operate a child daycare and provide instructional services in an existing church.

The location is 2587 Campus Stella Road in the South Norfolk Planning Area.

Based on the findings contained in the staff report, staff recommend that PLN dash USC-2025-043 be approved with stipulations as listed in the official agenda.

Final item is item three, PLN-USC-2025-044.

The project is blank and chip home occupation.

Applicants owners, Jacob and Peyton Blankenship.

The proposal is a conditional use permit to operate a physical therapy business as a level two home occupation.

The location is 2835 Meadowwood Drive West in the Western Branch Planning Area.

Based on the findings contained in the staff report, staff recommend that PLN dash USC-2025-044 be approved with stipulations as listed in the official agenda.

That concludes our consent.

Secretary Malone, do we have any speakers for items on the consent agenda?

We do.

Secretary Malone, please call the speakers for items on the consent agenda.

Speaking in support of agenda item number two, Mr.

Myron Jones.

I'm just here for questions, just in case you guys had something that you want to add.

If you okay, sounds good.

Yes, just for questions.

I just want to know if you guys, you know, that's it.

All right, thank you.

Our next speaker.

The following speakers indicated that they are available for questions.

Uh for agenda item number three.

Mr.

Shelton Reich, Miss Suzanne Barnes, and Ms.

Catherine Henman.

Next speaker.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Mr.

Payton Peyton Blankenship.

I apologize if I Ms.

Payton Blankenship.

I thought it was male.

I think I turned that on.

You're on.

Okay.

Good evening, Commissioners, and to the citizens of Chesapeake.

My name is Peyton Blinkenship, and I'm looking to start a home physical therapy business in my garage called Blinkenship Physio.

My professional resume includes being a doctor of physical therapy.

Ms.

Blankenship real quick, could you give your address, please?

Oh, yes, sir.

2835 Meadow Wood Drive West.

My professional resume includes being a doctor of physical therapy, which is seven plus years of higher education.

I played Division 1 soccer during my undergraduate years.

I have extensive certifications and dry needling and golf rehabilitation.

I could go on about my resume, but I want to focus on my personal reasoning for wanting to start this business.

I have two sons, ages three and one.

My youngest son was diagnosed with leukemia when he was five months old.

Our lives completely stopped in order to be with him for six months as he was inpatient at CHKD and receiving life-saving care.

Thankfully, he is responding to treatment, and we are now able to safely administer chemotherapy to him at home.

We go in weekly to CHKD for long lab and clinic days.

Every time he has a fever or any type of illness, he has to go to the ER for immediate treatment through his port.

While it is much nicer to be at home rather than stuck between four hospital walls, this time in our lives is challenging, and each day is an unknown.

And it will continue to be this way until the end of 2027 when he is expected to end treatment as long as no complications occur.

Just to give an idea, our son has been to the ER six times since Christmas Eve.

His body struggles to fight off basic colds and viruses.

He cannot go to any type of daycare or even public playground due to his extreme low immunity.

I cannot control the outcome of my son's diagnosis, but I can control how I choose to live each day.

He is here with us.

I need to start working to provide our family income, and I need to be close to my son in case emergency life-saving measures are required.

My husband and I bought our home in June of 2021 in Green Meadow Point, and we have worked extremely hard to update our home.

Our external improvements include the following: a new trim and wrap around the house, a new driveway, new fence, new shutters, a new storm door, freshly painted doors, and a new garage door.

In regards to this business, no exterior structural changes have been made to my home.

My goal is to treat two to three days a week, always only one person at a time, with overflow time allotted for each appointment.

For example, if I have a 10 o'clock appointment, the session would promptly end at 11 o'clock, and the next person would have a set time slot of 11:30.

This will ensure that there is no disruption to the flow of traffic and no overlap of patients.

You will not be able to distinguish if a car parked in my driveway is for a visiting family member, friend, or patient.

I absolutely love being a mother and a physical therapist.

Having this in-groudge business will allow me to be the best mom I can be, as well as provide some of the highest quality physical therapy with these one-on-one sessions.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you to my neighbors in Green Meadow Point for coming out in support to my husband Jake and to my friends and family for taking the time to be here for tonight as well as for the ongoing support throughout this previous year.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Ms.

Linda Boyles.

Hi, thank you for allowing me to speak.

My name is Linda Boyles, and my address is 2880 Meadowwood Drive East in Chesapeake.

I've lived in Green Meadow Point for over 15 years, and I think having a physical therapy business in our neighborhood will be an asset to Green Meadow Point.

I live two houses away from the blank and ships and can attest to their conduct as neighbors.

They maintain their property and have a large driveway which can hold multiple vehicles.

They have friendly, kind, and considerate neighbors.

Allowing a home-based physical therapy practice at their residence will have no adverse impact on our community, especially regarding traffic, noise, or general neighborhood activities.

In fact, it will be an improvement to health care access to citizens of Weston Ranch and of all of Chesapeake.

Approving their request will support entrepreneurship and neighborhood stability.

And thank you for allowing me to speak, and I definitely support their application.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Mr.

Reed Durkell.

Good evening.

My name is Reed Durko.

I am the PGA head golf professional at Cedar Point Club in Suffolk.

I met Peyton uh a few months ago as she was starting to think about this business and did get TPI certified, which I am also TPI certified, which is one of her specialties.

So I can speak to the health and wellness uh improvements of the citizens not only of Chesapeake but other surrounding areas with her knowledge and expertise to my knowledge, there's only two others within the immediate area with her certifications that can bridge the gap between uh golf and physical therapy, which is why her services are very much, very much needed.

Um, I've been to the space before to see it all um built out, and it is clean, it is friendly, it is inviting, it is safe.

Um, all of the above, um, all of the comments before uh can certainly attest to all of those and support uh support them being able to start.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Mr.

Gus Guardino.

Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Um, I am wholly in support of this small business.

If you would please state your name and address.

I'm sorry.

Gus Cardino, 283, Meadowwood Drive East, Chesapeake, Virginia.

Um, being an avid golfer, and we take our golf very seriously here in Chesapeake.

Dr.

Blankenship has hit on two very important populations.

The average golfer, 65 plus, experiences multiple injuries.

Unfortunately, I have three rotorcuff tears right now as we speak.

She also, I think will fit a niche for folks who are immunocompromised, who can't be around other people, and with the one-on-one experience, will be able to have them reach their full potential without having to worry about environmental factors that can affect their health.

As mentioned earlier, Dr.

Blankenship is a certified PT, which means we will get good care.

She also took it upon herself to get titleist certified so that she not she can look at a golf swing and let you know what you're doing wrong, so you're not going to hurt yourself.

And that can also prove to prevent injuries.

But the biggest pluses, guys, are that they have made as heard before, they have made multiple modifications to their home.

They have made modifications to their driveway.

There are not going to be any issues with any cars on the street with the size of their driveway.

Um they're generating revenue for their city.

And most important, in a day and age where handouts are common.

Dr.

Blankenship has taken it upon herself to provide for her family and to provide uh an environment for her children so they can also strive and do well.

So I am proud to give my support to this endeavor.

Thank you for letting me speak.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, the Reverend Kevin Hemman.

Please excuse my voice.

I live at 2876 Meadowwood Drive East, Chesapeake.

Thank you to the Chesapeake Planning Commission for allowing me to speak in support of Peyton Blankenship and her request to have a level two business that will operate from her home in Green Meadow Point in Western Branch, Chesapeake.

I am the Reverend Kevin Hidman.

We have known them since they bought their home and moved in about four years ago.

As soon as they arrived, they significantly upgraded the inside of their home and improved their yard and property.

This was a very welcome change as we had previously endured 15 years of bad neighbors who had been drug abusers, dealers, and had an ongoing domestic violence.

To the contrary, the blankenships have been terrific neighbors, being gracious, integral, and very conscientious.

As an example, last year they built a wooden fence around their backyard for their children to have a safe place to play.

They approached us ahead of time and discussed all their plans.

They even set up a temporary fence to keep our little dog safe and contained while their fence was being completed.

We know that Peyton is an experienced professional physical therapist with a doctorate in physical therapy, having previously worked at Senterra and Wardell Orthopedics.

We were stunned and saddened last year when their six-month-old son Fisher was diagnosed with leukemia.

We prayed and were supportive as they endured an intense life and death struggle with the baby staying at CHKD for half a year.

We watched both Jake and Peyton courageously take sabbaticals from their jobs so they could alternate 12-hour shifts at the hospital.

The baby is home now, but remains immune compromised and cannot go to daycare and must remain at home.

We are fully aware that the driving motivation for Peyton to have her business at home is so that she can be at home with Fisher while also earning a part-time income.

We highly support her effort and believe her application should be approved.

We do not believe it brings any negative impact to the neighborhood in any way.

We believe that the blankenships are an asset to Green Meadow Point and an asset to our entire community, respectfully submitted Reverend Cohen.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Ms.

Carol Hemman.

Hello, my name is Carol Hinman, and I live at 2876 Meadow Drive East.

I want to thank the Planning Commission for allowing me to address you this evening regarding the home occupation application for Jacob and Peyton Blankenship, and I fully support this application.

I have been a lifelong resident of Green Meadow Point since the early 1970s.

For 20 years, I live next door to the blankenship property, and for an additional 27 years, I have lived behind this property for a total of 47 years living in Green Meadow Point.

My grandfather, both my parents, my husband, and my children, yes, four generations of my family, have resided in Green Meadow Point in these two properties next to 2835 Meadowwood Drive West.

I say this because I have a vested interest in keeping my neighborhood an admired place to live.

There are no formal neighborhood rules or regulations.

Green Meadow Point residents follow the rules, regulations, laws, and ordinances established by the city of Chesapeake and any state or federal laws.

Therefore, there's no rules that that state, a resident in Green Meadow Point, can't have a level two home occupation business.

I have known the blank and ships since they moved into the residence about four years ago.

We're friends, and we share the ups and downs of our days regularly.

The prior owner of the blankenship resident was a very unhappy family, but let the home go to disrepair, deteriorating the home value and the atmosphere of the neighborhood.

When the blank and ships purchase 2835 Meadowwood Drive, they repaired and renovated the home, bringing an increase in its property value.

Besides being responsible homeowners, they're gracious neighbors coming to our aid on many occasions.

As I have observed many times how conscientious Jacob and Peyton are with both their residents and the neighbors, I believe they will willingly follow any rule or regulation regarding their business as requested by the city.

They will also address any concern a neighbor might have both now and in the future.

I support Peyton's passion as a career in as a physical therapist and the flexibility a home business will give her as she cares for her immune-compromised infant.

She will be able to provide financially for her family in a safe environment for her infant.

I also believe a physical therapy business will benefit the neighborhoods directly as we have both athletes and an aging population that could potentially need help.

So I ask the planning commission to approve this level two home occupation business.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Ms.

Barbara Newman.

There is a podium.

Okay.

Good evening.

My name is Barbara Newman.

I live next door to the blanket ships at 2845 Meadowwood Drive West.

In fact, my house is the closest to Jacob and Peyton's house, closest to the side of their home where her physical therapy clients will enter.

From my son room where I spend a great amount of my day to that side of the door, the side door of their house is 35 feet.

That's close.

Considering all this, you would think I would be opposed, but I am supportive 100%.

Clients coming and going will not bother me at all.

It will be quiet, no advertising signs, no loud noises, and no traffic in the neighborhood, no increased traffic.

Her clients will be one at a time, sometimes overlapping, but with not more than two cars parked in front.

I know this because I have been in physical therapy several times in the last five years.

I know how it's scheduled.

It's important to understand why Peyton has chosen a business at home instead of working for a company.

Their younger son, who is now about one and a half years old, was diagnosed with di leukemia at age six months.

Putting him in gay care would be risky.

She wants to be near her child at home to be available if needed.

I have raised six children, and I understand that mother-child concern.

I hope you will seriously consider all this and approve their permit.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Speaking in support of agenda item number three, Mr.

Neil Rice.

My address is 1102 Suffolk Street, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

I just wanted to come out and voice support for uh Peyton Blinkenship.

She's truly a wonderful doctor, and uh they have a wonderful family.

And uh I just drove out here to uh you know show my support for them, and uh thank you so much for being here as well.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Speaking in opposition to agenda item number three, Mr.

Thomas Bess.

I guess that's me.

My hearing is so bad.

Essentially, I've heard not a word of what everybody else has said.

I understand they're all in favor.

I have no problem with them, you know, having their own opinions.

Um, and I'm not just some 85-year-old crackbot.

I live across the street.

If you could state your name and your address.

Yeah, I'm okay.

My name is Thomas Best.

I live I've lived for over 40 years across the street from the applicant to some extent.

There's three houses that front that property.

Uh mine probably overlaps curb-wise 20 feet.

I live across the street and to the up.

I'm retired Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer.

I also worked 20 years for a Chesapeake base construction company and retired from there and several other companies since then.

I have master's degrees in civil engineering and public works.

Basically, the request I think has three basic things.

One is the person's desire or need for the I won't address that because I now understand it's a sensitive from one of the other people that's testified a sense who I respect and uh love.

The other two issues are traffic, the subdivision is totally overloaded, and the other is the impact on short-term, long-term property values of this request and future similar requests, and how how many there are.

This is the first, according to planning, this is the first level two, or would be the first level two in the 240 lot subdivision Green Middle Point.

So it's new ground, and then how do you turn down the next one that may have you know in the next one and the next one?

How can you approve one and not the other?

It has I as a resident have to be protected by the city.

I don't have any other protection.

I can't go across the street and start fighting with them that I disagree.

You're the only protectors, and it's the city's job to protect the residents and the community property values.

I I was misinformed, my probably my fault for hearing that I had five minutes.

I understand you said three minutes.

Five minutes.

Oh, good.

Thanks.

Uh when Green Meadow Point was platted before the city of Chesapeake was formed.

It was street widths, were 24 feet curb to curb, and that's the way it was built out.

It was built in four sections as I understand it.

And you can at the this basically 1960.

And if you look at section one, you can judge by the single driveways and the single garages, that the community only had one car per house essentially in 1960.

Now you have in section two, three, and four, you now have at least two cars per house on average, and three and four in many cases.

Three, four times a day in there with three or four deliveries at every house, you know, different houses.

You have FedEx, you have UPS, you have DoorDash, you have meals on wheels, you have uh uh uh hospice care visits, you have Walmart Kroger fighting to deliver groceries, you have prescription deliveries every day.

You have even Chick-fil-A has got their own fleet of delivery vehicles.

And I'm sorry if I'm talking, I sense I'm talking loud, but that's because I can't hear myself.

So uh I feel and again I'll try and be short.

Uh I've never met the applicant or I also checked, tried to check with my two other neighbors.

Is that a your five minutes is is up.

That's the five-minute warning.

Okay.

At this time, I recommend that it be delayed for a month and a reasonable traffic study be taken.

As uh I'm sure other subdivisions have the same problem, and I you guys and the city need to be aware the streets in the older subdivision are at least are overloaded.

And since I was only able to receive a lot of the city's information two days ago, I really haven't been able to prepare the other part.

Okay, and that's your that's time, Mr.

Bass.

Thank you.

I really ask for a one-month delay.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

All right.

Uh are there uh is there any discussion on these items?

Hearing none, a motion is in order for the approval of the consent agenda with applicable stipulations or proffers as read into the record by Mr.

Boswick.

So moved.

We have a motion by Secretary Malone and a second by Commissioner Sproul.

Please prepare to vote.

Please vote.

Mr.

Boswick, please record the vote.

By a vote of eight to zero, the motion carries.

All right.

Thank you.

Our next uh order of business is the public hearing agenda, which we have none.

So at this time, uh we'll go to the director's items.

Uh Mr.

McNamara, do you have any items to bring up at this time?

No, sir, no new items.

All right.

The cancellation of the January 28th, 2026 meeting is now being considered due to there being no business.

Do the commissioners have any objections to counseling the meeting.

Hearing no objections, the January 28, 2026 meeting is canceled by unanimous consent.

Uh and then we have any unfish uh unfinished or new business to be brought up for the good of the commission.

Uh Mr.

Magnur Mayor, there is one thing that I would like to bring up, and that's just the recognition that uh was in the Virginia pilot.

Um if you're not aware, um Chess Peak was recognized for expanding the connectivity plan, and I think was awarded the 2028 Commonwealth Connections Award by the American Planning Association of Virginia.

So uh great job for your staff and congratulations on that.

We appreciate that, and uh, I think a lot of that recognition goes to uh Kevin Finn project manager on that project.

We're really excited about uh implementing that plan as we move forward.

If there is no further business to consider, the meeting stands adjourned at seven thirty nine PM.

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