Council rejects SUPPORT FOR AGRIBUSINESS/AGRITOURISM – CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE APPROVED Option A (Resolution authorizing the City to apply for an AFID Infrastructure Grant on behalf of one farm [Land of Grace Farm] and, 0–2

SUPPORT FOR AGRIBUSINESS/AGRITOURISM – CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE APPROVED Option A (Resolution authorizing the City to apply for an AFID Infrastructure Grant on behalf of one farm [Land of Grace Farm] and

0 yes, 2 no

Richard W. "Rick" West (no), Amanda L. Newins (no)

Edinburgh PUD proffer modification (PLN-PUDM-APM-2026-002)

0 yes, 1 no

Amanda L. Newins (no)

Agribusiness/agritourism support – Option A for Land of Grace Farm

0 yes, 1 no

Richard W. "Rick" West (no)

General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds – $39,295,000

9 yes, 0 no

Consent agenda (excluding City Clerk Item 1A)

9 yes, 0 no

Refund to Plan Bee Academy Inc. – $18,260.44

9 yes, 0 no

HOME-ARP reallocation: Heron's Landing HVAC and ForKids eviction program

9 yes, 0 no

$185,000 for Deep Creek strategic land acquisition

9 yes, 0 no

OPEB Trust Agreement amendment

9 yes, 0 no

Appointments to boards and commissions

9 yes, 0 no

Crestwood at Parkside districting resolution

9 yes, 0 no

Closed meeting on City Hall security

8 yes, 0 no

APPROVAL OF PROPOSED AGENDA

9 yes, 0 no

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

0 yes, 0 no

PLN-REZ-2026-005 & PLN-USE-2026-009: Battlefield Blvd Tattoo Parlor

0 yes, 4 no

S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no), Richard W. "Rick" West (no), C. Jeff Bunn (no), Amanda L. Newins (no)

PLN-REZ-2025-013: 2728 Battlefield LLC Rezoning

8 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain

Richard W. "Rick" West (yes), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (yes), Ella P. Ward (yes), Patricia Y. "Pat" King (yes), Daniel W. Whitaker (yes), E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies, Jr. (yes), Les Smith, Jr. (yes), C. Jeff Bunn (yes), Amanda L. Newins (abstain)

PLN-COMP-2026-003: Comprehensive Plan Solar and Battery Policy Amendment

0 yes, 3 no

S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no), C. Jeff Bunn (no), Daniel W. Whitaker (no)

PLN-TXT-2026-003: Solar and Battery Energy Storage System State Code Updates

0 yes, 3 no

Daniel W. Whitaker (no), C. Jeff Bunn (no), S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no)

PLN-TXT-2026-002: State Code Updates (Wireless & Parking)

0 yes, 1 no

S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter (no)

PLN-REZ-2025-023: Tidewater Express Inc. Rezoning

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-USE-2025-050: Tidewater Express Inc. Towing Service CUP

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-REZ-2026-003: Jerry Harris Remodeling Rezoning

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-USE-2026-010: Jerry Harris Remodeling Outdoor Storage CUP

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-USE-2025-049: 1500 Steel Street Container Stacking

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-USE-2026-017: Debaun Self Storage

9 yes, 0 no

PLN-USE-CT-2026-003: St. Brides Rd Communication Tower

9 yes, 0 no

Edinburgh PUD Conservation Community Highlands (PLN-PUDM-APM-2026-002)

North of Hillcrest Parkway and East of Edinburgh Parkway, Great Bridge planning area (Tax Map Parcels 0730000000650, 0730000001700)

An accelerated proffer modification letting the developer shrink lots in Edinburgh CC4 from 150x150 to 100x150 feet, which staff said keeps development away from newly identified wetlands without adding density.

approved (8-1) · still approved

1500 Steel Street Container Stacking

1500 Steel St.

Conditional use permit allowing container stacking up to four high in Deep Creek.

approved (9-0) · still approved

St. Brides Rd Communication Tower

244 Saint Brides Rd. W.

Conditional use permit for a 199-foot communications tower supporting city private LTE network.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Tidewater Express Inc. Rezoning & CUP

4168 S. Military Hwy

Rezoning 42 acres to General Industrial and Conservation for a major vehicle repair facility and towing storage yard.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Battlefield Blvd Tattoo Parlor

202 Battlefield Blvd.

Rezoning and conditional use permit to allow a tattoo parlor in Great Bridge.

approved (5-4) · still approved

Debaun Self Storage

1652 Debaun Ave.

Conditional use permit for a four-story self-storage facility in Rivercrest.

approved (9-0) · still approved

2728 Battlefield LLC Rezone

2728 Battlefield Blvd. S.

Rezoning 13.6 acres from agricultural to light industrial for a concrete finishing contractor with strict buffering.

approved (8-0) · still approved

Jerry Harris Remodeling Outdoor Storage

1328 22nd St. & 906 B St.

Approved a conditional use permit allowing outdoor storage for a contractor business in South Norfolk with fencing and operational hour stipulations.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Jerry Harris Remodeling Rezoning & Storage

1328 22nd St. & 906 B St.

Rezoning 0.29 acres in South Norfolk to B-5 Urban Business District with an outdoor storage CUP.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Traffic Safety and Infrastructure on Mount Pleasant Road

Council members addressed ongoing safety concerns, speeding, and fatal accidents along narrow stretches of Mount Pleasant Road and surrounding rural corridors.

What it means: Commuters and local neighborhood residents.

Industrial Zoning and Contractor Storage Expansions

Residents and council members raised concerns over industrial-scale developments and truck traffic in areas like the Fentress overlay district, where narrow rural roads are increasingly impacted by heavy industrial uses.

What it means: Industrial property owners and developers.

State Code Alignment for Wireless and Solar Energy Systems

The city was forced by state law to adopt zoning code updates and comprehensive plan changes permitting battery energy storage systems, prompting sharp criticism from council members over the loss of local control.

What it means: Alternative energy developers and state-level policy advocates.

HOME-ARP reallocation for Heron's Landing HVAC and eviction prevention

The city was set to shift $650,000 in federal HOME American Rescue Plan money to replace HVAC at Heron's Landing Apartments and $250,000 to ForKids' eviction reduction program. That means safer, healthier housing for residents there and help for families facing eviction.

What it means: $900,000 in federal HOME-ARP funds reallocated between projects.

Traffic Safety and Speeding on Spring Road

Council members flagged chronic speeding on Georgetown and Camelot Boulevards and asked for more speed trailers and a comprehensive road-project update covering Great Bridge, Grassfield, Greenbrier, and Western Branch.

What it means: Residents of neighborhoods plagued by speeding, especially families near Georgetown and Camelot Boulevards.

Land of Grace Farm AFID grant support

The council agreed to sponsor a state ag-infrastructure grant for the city's only USDA-certified organic farm, with up to $25,000 in matching funds. The debate exposed tension over one-recipient grants versus broader farm support, and Ritter will push a microgrant program for all farmers.

What it means: Up to $25,000 in city matching funds, subject to appropriation.

Agritourism Ad Hoc Committee Formation

The City Manager's Office was scheduled to bring forward an item on supporting agribusiness and agritourism. That could mean promoting farm-based businesses and tourism in Chesapeake's rural areas.

What it means: Farm operators and agritourism businesses in Chesapeake, plus visitors to rural parts of the city.

Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant application

Parks, Recreation and Tourism was scheduled to seek authority to apply for a $10,000 state grant for tree planting and water quality efforts. It's a small grant, but trees and clean water benefit the whole community.

What it means: A $10,000 state grant if awarded; no local match was stated in the agenda.

Public safety and behavioral health grant funding

Several grant items were on the agenda: $865 and $5,000 for police programs, $180,000 for the behavioral health workforce, and $140,000 from Virginia Beach for substance abuse outpatient services with two staff positions shifting over. These stretch city resources with outside dollars.

What it means: $325,865 in outside grant funds coming into the city, plus two position transfers.

Deep Creek strategic land acquisition

A $185,000 appropriation from the high priority one-time account was scheduled to fund the Deep Creek strategic acquisition of real property. Acquiring land strategically can shape future development, conservation, or public use in the Deep Creek area.

What it means: $185,000 from the city's high priority one-time account.

Precinct Reassignment Concerns in Crestwood

Seventy-two homes in the Crestwood at Parkside community have been assigned to a precinct six miles away, forcing long trips to vote. The council passed a resolution of support, but actual fixes must come from the state.

What it means: The 72 affected households gain official recognition of their grievance.

FY 2026-27 Operating and Capital Budgets

The city was set to consider borrowing up to $39.3 million through general obligation public improvement bonds to fund capital projects. Residents had a chance to speak at a public hearing before any vote.

What it means: Up to $39,295,000 in borrowed funds that the city would repay over time through its budget.

OPEB Trust Agreement amendment

Council was scheduled to amend the trust agreement that holds the city's retiree benefits obligations. It's a behind-the-scenes financial housekeeping item, but it touches how the city manages long-term benefit promises to employees.

What it means: City retirees and employees whose post-employment benefits are managed through the trust.

Proposed grocery consumer-protection resolution

A resident submitted a draft resolution asking the city to enforce Virginia consumer-protection law against stores selling rotten produce at full price. Council hasn't acted on it after nearly four weeks.

What it means: Shoppers who would gain enforcement against stores selling deteriorated produce at full price.

General obligation bond authority

The city keeps its annual borrowing authority alive by authorizing $39.3 million in bonds each year. Critics want a project-by-project accounting of the $384 million in authorized-but-unissued debt before more is added.

What it means: Up to $39.3 million in new borrowing authority; interest costs over roughly 20 years can roughly double project costs.

Edinburgh PUD lot-size reduction in Great Bridge

Precon wants smaller lots (100x150 instead of 150x150) in the Edinburgh conservation community, saying it keeps homes away from newly identified wetlands. A resident argued smaller lots concentrate rooftops and increase runoff into sensitive wetlands.

What it means: The developer gains flexibility, and wetlands may see less disturbance under the revised layout.