Chesapeake City Council approves project that will add nearly 400 homes to Great Bridge area

CHESAPEAKE — A mixed-use development with nearly 400 homes on more than 100 acres is on the way to the Great Bridge area.

City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to approve a rezoning request of nearly 132 acres of agricultural zoned land for a “planned unit development,” which is a site-specific zoning designation for major development projects. The vote, which Vice Mayor John de Triquet and Council member Debbie Ritter opposed, also extends the city’s utilities to the development, known as Ashburn Meadows.

Though city staff recommended approval, the Planning Commission denied the project 7-1 in December.

The project will be nestled among Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake Expressway and Johnstown Road near Peaceful Road and Edinburgh Parkway. It will include 398 residential units, ranging from townhomes to cottages. About 6 acres are reserved for commercial space — mostly filled by a self-storage facility — along with about 21 acres designated for conservation, 44 acres to be used for open space, and 4 acres for the extension of Edinburgh Parkway.

Rob Prodan, the applicant who’s also with Home Associates of Virginia, said the project will be constructed entirely by local contractors and will include 7 miles of walking trails, sidewalks, sports courts, a community playground and outdoor gathering spaces. Additionally, work will be done to preserve a family burial plot in a cemetery on the property near Peaceful Road.

Planning Director Jimmy McNamara told council that city staff were informed the farmhouse located near the cemetery doesn’t qualify as a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The timing of the project also aligns with other work on Edinburgh Parkway.

“Prior to the construction of any homes in Ashburn Meadows and at a cost of about $3.5 million, we’re going to build Edinburgh Parkway and the water main that is vitally important to the surrounding community,” Prodan said. “Those improvements are being constructed with no taxpayer dollars.”

More than two dozen residents and business stakeholders shared support and concerns for the project. Among the biggest concerns were the impact to local schools, the incompatibility with the surrounding area and the density. The development is in the city’s suburban overlay district, which allows a mix of residential neighborhoods, retail business centers and key employment and light industry centers all connected by major highways.

“While residential densities and business activity levels are much greater here, special consideration is given to providing appropriate buffering among different uses and preserving open space and recreational amenities to enhance the quality of suburban residential life and the appearance of the city,” the city code says of suburban overlay districts.

Representatives for the Caroon Farms Civic League as well as the city’s Historical Preservation Commission opposed the project. Some residents spoke about impacts to wildlife, such as eagles that are often spotted in the area. Others criticized the price point for the homes, which Prodan said will range from about $400,000 to over $700,000.

“In reality, probably in excess of $800,000,” he added.

Those speaking in support praised the quality of work from Virginia Beach-based Home Associates of Virginia. Paulette Ashburn Amburn, co-owner of a parcel of land on Peaceful Road, said farming has been part of her family since the 1950s, beginning with her father, who farmed until he died in the early 2000s.

“I was pleased to learn that Ashburn Meadows would retain a good amount of wooded area for everyone in the community to enjoy,” Amburn said. “Our family is in support of this development, and we are very honored that our family legacy will continue on for future generations.”

Others who supported the project spoke about the need for more varied housing options as well as the overall investment of private funds to benefit the overall surrounding area.

Grady Palmer of Williams Mullen, an agent for the project, said it ultimately will connect other communities to the restaurant and retail options in Edinburgh while improving the area’s overall quality of life. Many of those who opposed the project live in nearby Caroon Farms, and Palmer said the project would be less than a mile from the entrance of the farms — but that they shouldn’t be impacted.

Palmer also said project applicants are paying Chesapeake Public Schools $600,000 to help with the expansion of Southeastern Elementary School, less than 2 miles away. City staff estimate the development will add 138 students to the school, which they project will be at 151% capacity upon development, according to documents for the project.

“No family will move into Ashburn Meadows until at least fall of 2026 or 2027 to give the school system enough time to get the Southeastern expansion constructed and open for students,” Palmer said.

The Chesapeake Public School’s 2023 Capital Improvement Plan lists the cost of the design and construction of the Southeastern expansion at $16.4 million. The school was 146 students over capacity at the start of the school year and is using 12 mobile classrooms, according to plan.

Ritter said she opposed the project for several reasons, including the estimated cost projection of capital needs for the school system, the impact to local residents and their tax bills and the overall density. She also said it didn’t feel like the right time for such a project.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com