Council adopts Trails and Connectivity Plan, adds language to discourage paving in rural areas

The Chesapeake City Council voted unanimously to adopt a Trails and Connectivity Plan as a component amendment to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan. Planning staff said the plan updates the city’s trail map, defines a core network for active transportation, and sets implementation guidance and design standards.

Rogard Ross, representing the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, urged the council to prioritize near‑term safety improvements and a backbone network for walking and biking. Ross said, “We need to start working on making our streets safer for our citizens in 2025,” and urged actionable crosswalk and sidewalk maintenance steps rather than an exclusively aspirational plan.

Council discussion focused on prioritization and budget constraints. Planning staff and the manager explained that priority projects will generally emerge through opportunistic and capital budgeting processes and that urban and suburban corridors will typically receive higher priority for major investments. Council Member Newan successfully proposed adding language discouraging paving in the southern/rural portions of the city and encouraging natural surfaces for equestrian‑compatible trails; staff and the city attorney confirmed the language could be incorporated into the adopted motion.

The motion to approve the resolution (version dated 09/26/2024) passed 8–0. Council expressed interest in clearer implementation priorities, crosswalk improvements, and near‑term tactical investments as follow‑ups during budget and capital planning processes.