Portsmouth-Chesapeake Joint Land Use Study

Project Overview

The Hampton Roads Region - Portsmouth and Chesapeake Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) was a joint effort between Portsmouth, Chesapeake, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and several U.S. Navy installations in South Hampton Roads. Navy facilities in Portsmouth and Chesapeake face several impacts from the surrounding communities, including transportation impacts (such as congestion, existing and planned capital improvements, facility access, gate security, and rail operations), stormwater management, waterway management, land use conflicts, and residential, commercial, and industrial encroachment impacts. Nuisance and storm surge flooding can have major impacts on Navy operations by obstructing access and damaging local infrastructure on which military facilities rely. This study focused on identifying specific conditions affecting Navy operations in Hampton Roads and developing mutually beneficial recommendations to address these issues.

Project Partners

• HRPDC
• Portsmouth
• Chesapeake
• Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic
• Naval Station Norfolk, Craney Island Fuel Depot
• Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard
• Virginia Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources
• Virginia Office of the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs

The JLUS was conducted by a Technical Committee of staff members from the participating cities and the U.S. Navy under the guidance of a Policy Committee comprised of elected officials and senior staff. The leading consulting firm was AECOM, Incorporated.

Outcome

The JLUS was completed in August 2021 and submitted to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation in November 2021.