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Council approves boundary-line agreement with Chesapeake; Pewsville residents raise billing and voting concerns
Summary
Suffolk City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a boundary line agreement with Chesapeake to formalize a stair-step common boundary in the Pewsville area; staff said 12 undeveloped parcels are affected and no residents will be displaced, while Pewsville residents urged more transparency about utility-billing and voting-district impacts.
Suffolk City Council voted unanimously on a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a boundary-line agreement with the City of Chesapeake and to have the city attorney petition the Chesapeake Circuit Court for approval of the common boundary line.
Interim Deputy City Manager Gary Jones summarized the process, saying the two cities developed a consensus map based on GIS and historical plats to establish a stair-step boundary in the Pewsville vicinity. Jones said 12 parcels would be impacted — 11 would change to Suffolk addresses and one would change to Chesapeake — and that the affected parcels are undeveloped and assessed roughly at $400,000 each under Chesapeake’s assessment.
"The objective is, through consensus of cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk, establish a city boundary in the Pewsville vicinity that has the least impact on residents and businesses," Jones said.
Pamela Brandy, who identified her address as 5016 Pearl Street in Chesapeake, told council she believes her property was improperly moved into Suffolk for billing and voting purposes and said she has not received refunded utility taxes. "You all made me a Suffolk resident because y'all changed my legal deed ... I want my money back," Brandy said during the public comment period.
Council members acknowledged the history is complicated and that utility‑billing and voter‑registration questions are separate issues from formally establishing the boundary. Councilmember Wright said she empathized with residents' concerns but supported the agreement as a way to "turn the page" and formalize a practical boundary, while urging staff to pursue outstanding billing issues separately.
The council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as 'yes.' After adoption, staff said an engineering survey will be conducted to finalize the line, a court order from Chesapeake Circuit Court will be sought, and the new boundary will be submitted to the U.S. Census Bureau for review.
