Chesapeake officials are set to weigh a revised rezoning request for the former White’s Nursery and Garden Center property, a 75‑acre parcel along Old Mill Road and Weiss Lane. Kotarides Developers, the project’s sponsor, has reduced its original proposal from 359 units to a total of 296 homes, aiming to align the development with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Project details and new density
The revised Stockton Meadows plan calls for:
- 100 detached single‑family condominiums
- 140 attached townhouse‑style condominiums
- 56 units in four‑plex buildings
This configuration yields a density of 3.9 units per acre, a noticeable step down from the earlier 359‑unit layout that neighbors and city staff felt was too aggressive for the area.
Addressing school capacity concerns
Deep Creek Central Elementary is currently operating at 137.2% of its capacity, well above the city’s level‑of‑service standard of 120%. The city’s staff report notes that a new elementary school in the nearby Culpepper Landing development is under construction. Stockton Meadows would be zoned for that school once it opens, and officials expect Deep Creek Central’s enrollment to fall back below the 120% threshold after the new school is operational.
Traffic mitigation plans
The intersection of George Washington Highway and Moses Grandy Trail near the Deep Creek Bridge currently runs at a failing Level of Service F during peak periods. City engineers project that, after the ongoing Deep Creek Bridge replacement and expansion project is completed, the intersection will improve to Level of Service C. The developer has agreed not to request or receive any building permits until the new Culpepper Landing elementary school opens and the bridge project is finished, or by Jan. 1, 2029, whichever occurs first.
Infrastructure and community improvements
In addition to the housing units, Kotarides has pledged several public‑benefit enhancements:
- Approximately six acres set aside for a future public park
- A 10‑foot‑wide multi‑use trail along the property’s frontage on Old Mill Road and Weiss Lane
- Land earmarked for future road widening and improvements around Old Mill Road and Weiss Lane
- Potential property to help straighten the curve on Old Mill Road
- Sidewalks, trails, and private amenities within the development
The developer also agreed to adhere to architectural standards covering building materials, porches, windows, landscaping, and design variety, ensuring the new homes blend with the existing neighborhood character.
Community response
Some Deep Creek residents remain wary. Long‑time neighbor Jamie Pizzaglia, whose daughter is about to start kindergarten, voiced concerns that the area’s schools and roads could become overburdened. “It’s gonna be too crowded. The schools are gonna be crowded. The roads are gonna be crowded,” she said.
City staff, however, emphasized that the revised plan’s timing conditions and infrastructure commitments directly address those worries. A traffic impact analysis estimates the development would generate roughly 2,428 vehicle trips per day, a figure that will be absorbed by the upgraded bridge and road network.
Next steps
The Chesapeake Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the Stockton Meadows rezoning application on Nov. 12. After the commission’s recommendation, the matter will move to the Chesapeake City Council for final approval.
While the project promises much‑needed housing for a growing community, officials and developers alike stress that the added safeguards aim to protect school capacity, traffic flow, and overall quality of life for Deep Creek residents.
Original reporting: WTKR News 3 (Chesapeake section) — read the source article.
