The Cape Charles Town Council and Town Manager John Hozey will reveiw the current set of town priorties for the coming fiscal year at the November 28th work session. The session is scheduled for 6:30 PM and will be held at the town Civic Center on Tazewell Avenue.

Below is the current list that has been prioritized into the Town work plan for calendar year 2023.

1. Finalize the sale of our water/wastewater utilities
   1. Compile/file application for the VA State Corporation Commission
   1. Complete appraisals
   1. Effectuate closing and transfer of assets

• Negotiate and develop settlement agreement for Preserve Communities’ liabilities under the Annexation Agreement (needed for utility sale)

• Update Community Strategic Plan to be consistent with the new Comprehensive Plan and 2022 Community Survey (needed for FY24 budget development)

• Work with consultant on Zoning Ordinance updates (phase II of Comprehensive Plan)

• New Municipal Center and Library building

• New Downtown Restroom and Visitors Center

• Trail Project – Phase 3 – Peach Street

• Work with developers/agencies to facilitate workforce housing

• Connect Keck Wells to WTP (needed for workforce housing)

1. Develop beachfront master plan (beach, dunes, boardwalk, LOVE sign area, bathhouse, etc.)

1. Work with consultant on overall municipal code update (outside of zoning)

1. Develop short-term rental regulations/ordinances

1. Develop harbor area master planning and new design guidelines

1. Develop comprehensive parking strategies for the historic and commercial districts

1. Pursue development of shared revenue agreement with the County

It almost time for the for annual Community Survey. Town Council will be releasing and discussing the basic draft document during a work session scheduled for Monday, November 28th at 6:30 PM. The official survey document should be available soon after the work session.

The work session will be held at the Cape Charles Civic Center, 500 Tazewell Ave.

The survey is a very useful tool for the Town Staff, Town Manager Hozey, and especially for the incoming new Mayor and Town Council–it will help determine what is important to the citizens of Cape Charles, and will help the Town Council and Manager in setting future priorities.

Here is a quick look at some of the topics that may be included in the survey:

1. Please choose the closest one that applies to you:

____ Full-time resident living within the corporate limits of Cape Charles

____ Resides in Northampton County but outside the corporate limits of Cape Charles

____     Owns property within the corporate limits of Cape Charles but maintains a primary residence outside of the town 

____      Resides outside Northampton County but a frequent visitor to Cape Charles

• How long have you lived or owned property in Cape Charles? ________________       N/A

• Do you own a business in Cape Charles?    Yes _____   No _____

• Are you employed?  Circle the closest one that applies:

               Full time             part time           retired    between jobs          prefer not to answer

• Is your employment based primarily from your home?    Yes _____   No _____

• Do you think town public services are appropriate for a community of our size?

               Yes _____   No _____        (Please feel free to attach comments)

• Are you satisfied with the quality of town public services?

               Yes _____   No _____        (Please feel free to attach comments)

• Do you feel the Town has maintained or improved its small-town character in recent years?

               Yes _____   No _____           (Please feel free to attach comments)

• For a small town, Cape Charles has many priorities on its plate; more than we can do at one time.  Please help prioritize the following, with 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest:

_____ Develop beachfront master plan (beach, dunes, boardwalk, LOVE sign area, bathhouse, etc.)

_____ Develop harbor/railroad area master plan and design guidelines for future development

_____ Develop comprehensive parking strategies for the historic and commercial districts

_____ Develop short-term rental regulations/ordinances

_____ Other: _________________________________________________________________

1. The Town Council believes that Cape Charles should strive to have a healthy mix of economic sectors, which include tourism related businesses, commercial/service-oriented businesses, manufacturing/light industrial type of businesses, and other businesses associated with a working harbor.  As we begin to update our master planning/zoning for the old railroad areas, the Town Council wishes to be sensitive to implications future development might have on our existing working harbor.  For example, high-end residential or tourism related uses too near the harbor could potentially drive out our traditional harbor uses (like watermen), eroding economic diversity.  

Do you agree with the Council’s view regarding maintenance of economic diversity? 

               Yes _____   No _____           (Please feel free to attach comments)

1. Should the town acquire the resources to fund new capital projects, please help prioritize the following possibilities, with 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest:

_____ Renovate the beachfront/Bay Ave (beach, dunes, boardwalk, LOVE sign area, bathhouse, etc.)

_____ Create a new recreational park (sports fields, pavilion, picnic areas, restrooms, etc.)

_____ Assist with sidewalk infill throughout the historic district

_____ New harbor amenities (aesthetic upgrades, shaded gathering areas, vendor space, etc.)

_____ Other: _________________________________________________________________

1. What tools do you use to stay in touch with town happenings?  Circle all that apply: 

Facebook      Gazette      Nixle      Town website      Staff weekly reports      Word of mouth    

Newspapers      CC Happenings      Mirror      Other _________________________________

1. Your Name:  ___________________________________________________ Street Address:       ___________________________________________________ 

       Email Address:  ___________________________________________________

                                                Note: anonymous surveys cannot be counted

May we contact you regarding this survey?                    Yes _____   No _____     

Responses are due back to Town Hall no later than 2:00 pm, January 13, 2023

Surveys may be dropped off, mailed (2 Plum St), or scanned and emailed to Clerk@capecharles.org

An electronic version of this survey is also available on the Town’s website

The Cape Charles Town Council will meet on December 1, 2022 to interview two citizens for open seats on the Town Planning Commission. This is a Closed Session that is scheduled for 6:30 PM at the Cape Charles Civic Center.

The reason for the closed session is derived from the Code of Virginia § 2.2-3711-A, Paragraph 1: Discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body.

Specifically for this case, the town’s Interviews for Planning Commission.

After the interviews, the appointment of new Planning Commission members will be effective January 1, 2023.

The Cape Charles Rotary Club will again participate in the Salvation Army’s Holiday Bell Ringing campaign at the Cape Charles Food Lion.

The Rotary invites community friends and neighbors to join this Holiday tradition on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from December 1st until December 17th .

If you’d like to help those less fortunate enjoy the Holiday Season, call Bill Payne at 757 390 7253, to sign up.

The Holiday Season has begun in Cape Charles and it’s time to get ready for a CC tradition, the Lighted Golf Cart Parade. The parade is scheduled or Saturday, December 3rd. View the Parade at 5:20 PM at Central Park just prior to “Grand Illumination”.
Bring your holiday decorated cart and line up at the LOVE sign at 4:45 PM for a chance to win a
$100 Visa Card for Best Cart! Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.

Visit www.facebook.com/lightedgolfcartparade for more information.

Eastern Shore Custom Carts CC Ryder Rentals are providing FREE CART RENTALS in exchange
for a $25 monetary or food donation to the Cape Charles Foodbank.

Looking for the perfect Christmas hostess gift, stocking stuffer, Cape Charles homeowner or Vacation memory piece? This year’s ornament features Peach Street Books and hanging it on your tree will had bit of the Holiday magic in Cape Charles to your Christmas tree.

The ornaments are sold at various businesses in Cape Charles: Bailey’s Bait & Tackle, Bay Haven Inn of Cape Charles, Buoy56, Cape Charles Candy Company, Chuckletown Productions, Drizzles, Kelly’s Gingernut Pub, Peach Street Books & The Boardwalk.