September Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• Thursday, September 17: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Planning
• Saturday, Sept 19: International Coastal Cleanup @ Indian River Oaklette Bridge
• Saturday, Oct 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park
• News
• 2026 Legislative Scorecard
• Data Centers in Chesapeake
• Bird Safe Hampton Roads
• Chesapeake Celebrates Trees - and Healthy Landscapes
• Chesapeake Bay VoiCeS

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Upcoming Event

Thursday, September 17: Monthly Meeting - Chesapeake Planning

• 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• Location: Oaklette United Methodist Church, 520 Oaklette Drive
• Speaker: Olivia Knox, Chesapeake Planning Department on City Planning affecting the Indian River area.
• All are welcome.  We'll also have the latest community news and updates!  There will be light refreshments.

Saturday, Sept 19: International Coastal Cleanup @ Indian River Oaklette Bridge

• 
  Time: 9:00 am to Noon
• Location: Meet at Lilac Avenue and Indian River Road.  Park along Lilac Avenue by the Norfolk Highlands Primary School.  It is a No Parking zone along Oleander Avenue (parallel to Indian River Road).
• As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, we will be cleaning up around and underneath the Indian River - Oaklette Bridge, at Blue Heron Landing Park, and along Indian River Road  
• The city will provide garbage bags and orange safety vests.  
• Please wear closed-toe shoes, a hat, and bring work gloves and other items that may be useful.  We will have water and snacks, but we also always encourage folks to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of plastic bottles.  Participants under 18 years of age must have adult supervision.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/5CZDr8sQAw2YjL7R9  
• If have access to the Indian River and are interested in "paddling up" to this cleanup with your own canoe or kayak, please reach out to us in advance at info@friendsofindianriver.org

Saturday, October 10: Second Saturday Hike @ Indian River Park

• 
  8:30 am to 10 am
• Location: Indian River Park entrance at Rokeby Ave. and Main St. (2003 Rokeby Ave.) 
• Join us for a hike along the nature trail and through the park. Learn about the history of the park, the native trees and plants in this century old forest on the Indian River flood plain, and its value to maintaining the health of local butterfly, bird, and wildlife populations. Note: the forest trail has uneven surfaces and minor elevation changes.
• Please pre-register at https://forms.gle/N8WUZRQTNDGfZ82LA (suggested but not required)

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News

2026 Legislative Scorecard

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters has published its 2026 Legislative Scorecard on the environmental voting record for Virginia delegates and senators.  Our local Indian River representatives all scored well:

• Delegate Bonita Anthony - 96%
• Delegate Cliff Hayes - 96%
• Senator Louise Lucas - 92%

Find the issues that were tracked and the scores for all the delegates at https://valcv.org/

Data Centers in Chesapeake

There was a great deal of activity to define regulations for future data centers in the City of Chesapeake over the summer.  The Planning Department prepared a draft ordinance and policy document in June.  In July, this draft was significantly amended by the Planning Commission, including setting requirements establishing significant setbacks - up to one-half mile from any existing homes - and noise restrictions.  The Planning Department was concerned these amendments would effectively ban data centers in the City, which the City Attorney argued was not something the City could legally do.  The City Council ended up requesting an 8-month moratorium on any data center applications, to allow for more public input.  But the City still needed to close a By-Right "loophole" in the existing City Ordinance, and the Planning Department brought forth a proposed ordinance in August that would do that - but would also set less strict setback requirements - only 1000' from homes - and permit data centers by Conditional Use in the Fentress area.  After a large turnout of people in opposition - 39 speakers at the August 18 City Council meeting - the City Council approved a "clean" ordinance that closed the By-Right "loophole" and deferred all the other regulations.

The next step is collecting more public input.   The Planning Department is holding three open houses in September to collect public input, including one in our area, each from 5 pm to 7 pm:

• Tuesday, September 1, Great Bridge Primary School, 408 Cedar Road
• Monday, September 14, Indian River Community Center, 2250 Old Greenbrier Road
• Wednesday, September 30, Camelot Community Center, 948 King Arthur Drive

Learn more about the City's proposed policy and the various concerns, including opening up the Fentress overlay to data center development, permitted noise levels, setback distances from residential properties, plans for decommissioning defunct data centers, and efficiency standards from our partners at the Chesapeake Sustainability Network.

Bird Safe Hampton Roads

The Friends of Indian River also partner with the local Cape Henry Audubon Society to promote the Bird Safe/Lights Out Initiative.   The fall migration is underway and Chesapeake lies along the Atlantic Migratory Flyway. During migration, birds rest during the day and fly at night.  During these long-distance flights, birds become disoriented by the bright, artificial lights of cities and are drawn into hazardous urban areas, where building collisions are a leading human cause of bird deaths, killing around 1 billion birds each year.  

As part of this voluntary program, we encourage property managers, businesses, tenants, government agencies, and residents to help prevent nighttime bird collisions with buildings by turning off and/or blocking as many external and internal building lights at workplaces as possible at night to help prevent injury and death of migrating birds, especially from 11 pm to sunrise.    Learn how you can help at Bird Safe Hampton Roads.

Chesapeake Celebrates Trees - and Healthy Landscapes

The City's annual Arbor Day recognition will be on Saturday, September 26, 12 - 4 pm, at the Chesapeake Arboretum.  Chesapeake is celebrating 40 years as a Tree City USA.  The event will include Arbor Day Ceremonies, tree climbing demonstrations, interactive butterfly exhibits, forest bathing, tree trail tours, a food truck, giveaways, and more.

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council (CEIC) is also continuing its Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program.  This program recognizes and encourages residents to take steps to create healthy landscapes on their properties.  Participants who sign up can receive an information kit and a landscape flag as recognition for their efforts.  To be recognized, they are looking for commitments to Protect Your Trees, put the Right Plant in the Right Place, Consider Wildlife, Reduce Lawn Maintenance, Reduce Runoff, Avoid or Remove Invasive Plants, and Limit Chemical Usage.  Learn more and sign up at Chesapeake Healthy Landscape Program.

Chesapeake Bay VoiCeS

Would you like to learn more about the environmental issues impacting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and ongoing restoration efforts?  The next Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chesapeake Stewards (VoiCeS) class, a highly recommended multi-week adult education course, will be held in Portsmouth (near Camelot) from September 15 to October 20.  Learn more and Register 

Have an idea for an article for our newsletter?  Send your submission, max 250 words, to us at info@friendsofindianriver.org along with a photo and we'll consider it for our next edition.