City staff previews Chesapeake 2045 updates, Deep Creek traffic analysis and Western Branch plan timeline

Chesapeake planning staff provided commissioners with an update on the Chesapeake 2045 comprehensive plan work program and related area plans.

Planner Enzo Lundy said staff is updating web pages and developing a dashboard to track comprehensive‑plan implementation. He reported staff presented a Deep Creek area plan to City Council on March 17 and that a traffic analysis for the proposed Deep Creek Village area will be provided to council, with council consideration of adoption expected on May 19.

Lundy also said the Western Branch area plan was funded in the FY2026–2030 capital improvement program; staff are finalizing procurement of a consultant, expect to execute the contract within about a week, plan a kickoff within a month and anticipate 16–18 months to complete the plan. He clarified the role of statutory "2232" reviews (Va. Code § 15.2‑2232): the commission determines whether unmapped public improvements conform to the comprehensive plan, but 2232 review does not decide whether a project should proceed.

Commissioners asked about the Western Branch timeline and staff responded with the estimated procurement and schedule above. No formal action or vote was taken on the comprehensive‑plan items at this hearing; staff said they will return to the commission and city council as required by the schedule and as materials (such as traffic analyses and consultant reports) are completed.

Next steps: traffic analysis for Deep Creek will be provided to council ahead of the May 19 consideration; procurement and consultant kickoff for Western Branch will proceed per the stated timeline.