DOMINION BOULEVARD CORRIDOR STUDY | Chesapeake, Virginia
12 | Summary
Summary | 13
Housing and Jobs Proximity
Encourage proximity between housing and jobs such that 50% of the jobs located within
the Study Area are located within ½ mile walking distance of the equivalent 1.5 jobs per
household.
Development Character
Create detailed design standards, design guidelines and form based codes for each Area
that describe development type, density form and character to match the theme and
character promoted for the Area as described in this master plan.
Housing Affordability:
Encourage that at least 20% of new housing units be in an attainable price range and
integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood.
Urban Form
Buildings should front onto streets and public spaces with pedestrian friendly buildings that
have access onto the street. Provide multi-story mixed use buildings where appropriate
and locate parking and service in the rear of the building (alleys) and not fronted onto the
primary street.
Size Neighborhoods to Walking Distance Dimensions:
Utilize the ¼ mile – 5 minute walk standard as a guide to size neighborhoods.
Create Centers
Create centers or nodes within each Focal or Secondary Area that are within ¼ mile
walking distance of residences and include combinations of civic, retail, employment, public
gathering spaces and/or parks. Size, scale and program the center to fit with the theme and
character of the neighborhood that it’s located in.
Create Neighborhood Edges
Use open space, environmental features, storm water facilities, greenways, major roads and
major utility easements to create defined edges to the neighborhoods.
MOBILITY
Complete Streets
Design and engineer all streets to include the elements associated with “Complete Streets”
and include travel lanes sized for efficiency, on street parking, accommodations for bicycles,
accommodations for transit, adequately sized tree lawns and street trees, adequate
sidewalks, street lighting, street furnishings and naturalized storm water management.
Street Connectivity
At least one street and one pedestrian connection must be made between adjacent
neighborhoods at least every ¼ mile. Additionally, pedestrian or bicycle through connections
should be used on cul-de-sacs. The development of gated communities with private streets
within the study area should be carefully evaluated to ensure that opportunities to attract
executive style housing are not hindered, while at the same time the overall goal of street
connectivity is encouraged.
Aspirational Development Standards
As part of the Implementation Strategy, creating specific development standards, plans,
overlays, codes and ordinances for each Area would help ensure execution toward the
vision established for the Study Area. As described later in the document, each Area of
the plan has a unique theme, character, and land use orientation that will maximize its
potential to deliver on the Vision and Critical Success Factors established for the Study
Area. The following list provides the universally applicable development standards by which
plans submitted for entitlement approval can be evaluated for their consistency with the
purpose and intent of this master plan. In that regard they are “aspirational” and represent
the combined checklist of principles and standards that future plans can be evaluated from.
When complied with they together will ensure a successful outcome for the development of
the Study Area in conformance with the City’s vision:
STEWARDSHIP PLANNING
Housing and Jobs Balance
New Residential Development requires a Jobs to Housing balance ratio of 1.5 jobs per new
household as a requirement for developing new areas of the Master Plan that are currently
described as Agriculture / Open Space Preservation in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
Natural Open Space Preservation
At least 25% of each Area should be set aside for natural open space preservation, which
includes the preservation of wetlands, waterways, sensitive forested lands, areas of habitat
and areas used for naturalized storm water management. The open space area will ideally
be aggregated and then connected into a system that enables preservation of habitat and
the opportunity for residents to experience the natural environment. Some open space
areas that relate to forested lands, lands that have a high likelihood of being wetlands,
canals, power line easements, and proposed greenways are already established on the
master plan and can contribute to satisfying the open space requirements.
Limit Development Impacts on the Natural Environment
At least a 50 ft. buffer and ideally a 100 foot vegetated buffer should be established
adjacent to all tidal wetlands and natural water bodies, subject to established laws, codes
and ordinances. Should there be conflict with applicable laws, codes and ordinances, the
more stringent buffer requirement should apply.
Enable Open Space and Agricultural Preservation
Utilize Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and
Conservation Easements (CE) to promote equity to existing land owners and to enable and
encourage public open space, agricultural preservation and a more compact, dense and
orderly development pattern that locates roads, parks, open spaces, and community service
uses in logical places within the Area being planned for development.
Compact Development
Promote development densities that exceed typical norms, or that are at the higher end
of the range established for a particular zoning designation, on land that is suitable for
development.
