CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Where would be a good place for newcomers to live in Chesapeake? Chesapeake native Paula Stone said Grassfield could be a good option.
“It’s pretty populated honestly,” Stone said.
Dawn Brown thinks development could be possible in areas like near Chesapeake City Park or in Greenbrier.
“Greenbrier Mall takes up a lot of space and half of it’s empty," she said. "Could you go down to a smaller mall and perhaps build in something there?”
It’s one of many questions Chesapeake city staff want to know as the city’s population grows.
“When we talk about Chesapeake’s population, it’s a story that really starts back in the 80s, where we saw rapid growth," said Chesapeake Planning Director Jimmy McNamara. "We’re talking growth percentages of somewhere between 3 and 4 percent.”
McNamara said although the city’s growth rate has slowed down in recent years, city staff are looking to the future and planning for where new people will live. It’s part of the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
McNamara said the city’s population sits at more than 250,000 people. By 2045, he said it’s expected to grow to 300,000. So, city officials want to know how to grow.
“Do we continue to grow out in the suburban pattern which means using land in a more horizontal fashion?” he said.
Or should city leaders build up and increase population density? An online survey is currently open looking for insight from residents.
“One of the things that we are trying to get to is the perception of density and what the issues would be so that we can really vet those going forward,” McNamara said.