Cape Charles Launches Planning Process for Railyard and Harbor Redevelopment

CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Town Council on Thursday began a comprehensive planning effort for one of the town’s most prominent redevelopment areas, holding a full-day kickoff session with consultants from the Berkley Group to launch the Railyard & Harbor Area Master Plan.

The Town has hired the Berkley Group to guide long-term planning for the former railyard and nearby harbor properties, a project town officials say will shape economic development and land use in the area for years to come.

Consultants spent Dec. 4 meeting with council members in small groups throughout the day, using a prepared set of interview questions to gather perspectives on priorities, opportunities and challenges. Berkley Group staff also toured the site with town officials to gain a firsthand understanding of the property’s physical conditions and context.

During the public portion of the meeting, Berkley Group representatives introduced themselves, presented an overview of the planning process, and delivered a PowerPoint briefing alongside an economic development analysis prepared by their subconsultant, Rural Resilience Advisors. That briefing will help the town select three comparative communities to study as part of the planning effort, offering insight into how similar towns have approached redevelopment of industrial waterfront areas.

The consultants also outlined the role of a concept plan — a key product of the master planning process — describing it as a community-driven vision that helps test ideas, illustrate possibilities and frame discussions. According to the presentation, a concept plan provides:

A broad, community-informed vision for how the site could develop
Early illustrations of land use patterns, site layout and spatial relationships
A foundation for identifying opportunities and challenges
A tool for shaping desired outcomes and guiding future development decisions

The Dec. 4 session marks the first step in what will be a months-long public process. Town officials say the plan will ultimately provide a strategic framework for redevelopment of the railyard and harbor areas, with multiple opportunities for public input as work progresses.