DOMINION BOULEVARD CORRIDOR STUDY | Chesapeake, Virginia
14 | Summary
Summary | 15
Community and Neighborhood Gardens:
Provide community and neighborhood gardens so the residents and employees have a
place to grow food in a community based atmosphere. Ensure that the spaces are owned
and managed by an entity that includes occupants of the project in its decision-making,
such as a community group, homeowners association, or public body.
RESPONSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Stormwater Management
Storm water management systems should use current low impact development (LID)
principles and provide connectivity of natural and man-made existing and proposed
systems, keeping and enhancing the canal system where appropriate.
Heat Island Reduction
Provide shade from open structures. Use paving materials with a Solar Reflectance Index
(SRI) of 29 or greater. Install open grid pavement systems. Provide shade from tree canopy
within 10 years of landscape installation.
Reduce Landscaping Water Consumption
Reduce water consumption for outdoor landscaping by 50% from calculated midsummer
baseline case by using of captured rainwater, recycled wastewater, use of water treated by
public agency specifically for non potable use (purple pipes), and use of other non potable
sources (air conditioning condensate, stormwater, foundation drain water)
Preserve Heritage Trees
While the City of Chesapeake does not currently have an adopted tree conservation
ordinance as allowed under the Code of Virginia, Section 10.1-1127.1, the preservation of
“heritage trees” (those that may be individually designated by the local governing body
to have notable historic or cultural interest) should be considered when appropriate.
As development occurs, preservation of non-invasive trees should be a goal, given the
Area’s proximity to the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge, to the extent feasible within
the requirements of Section 15.2-961 of the Code of Virginia for achieving tree canopy
requirements during the development process.
Solid Waste Management
Provide space for the placement of recycling stations and compost stations within each
Area.
Light Pollution Reduction
Use night sky protection specifications such as those found in the standards articulated in
the International Dark Sky Association Standards.
Street Trees
Provide street trees at 40 feet on center average in an adequately sized tree lawn or tree pit
on all streets to shade the street in Focal or Secondary development areas.
Native Plant Materials
Use native, low maintenance landscape materials that are appropriate for the region.
Street Block Sizes
Blocks should be walkable in scale and the sum of all street lengths that make up a block
should be no more than 1,800 linear feet square in urban neighborhoods and suburban
neighborhoods. This will allow 450 X 450 ft. square block sizes in urban areas and 600 X
300 ft. block sizes in residential areas.
Pedestrian Network
Safe and adequately dimensioned sidewalks or trails should be provided on all streets,
greenways and open spaces so that they connect to each other and provide an overall
connected pedestrian network.
Bicycle Network
Design each street, greenway and linear park to enable bicycle infrastructure and a
complete bicycle network.
Reduced Parking Footprint
Provide parking sharing, reduced parking standards and preferred parking for car pool
or fuel efficient vehicles. Locate parking at the side or rear of buildings, leaving building
frontages facing streets free of surface parking lots.
CENTERS / WALKABILITY
Walking Distance to Transit
Locate transit stops so that at least 50% of the residences are located within ¼ mile walking
distance of a bus stop or ½ mile walking to a bus or light rail shelter.
Walking Distance to Community and Neighborhood Services
Locate community and neighborhood services so that at least 75% of the residences are
located within ¼ mile of at least one community and neighborhood service (i.e. place of
worship, day care, retail, school, park, etc) in Focal Areas and Secondary Areas.
Schools
Integrate schools into the neighborhood by locating elementary and middle schools within ½
mile walking distance of 50% of the dwelling units.
Access to Civic and Public Space
Locate civic or passive use spaces within ¼ mile walking distance of 90% of dwelling units
within a neighborhood.
Parks
Provide parks (tot lots, neighborhood parks, regional parks, etc.) per the National Recreation
and Parks Association (NRPA) standards or greater.
Access to Open Space
Provide access to open space (at least 1 acre in size) so that it is ½ mile walking distance
from a high percentage (70-90%) of dwelling units
