TOWN OF CHINCOTEAGUE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Chincoteague, Virginia Approved January 4, 2010 5 YEAR UPDATE Approved February 2, 2015 Chincoteague, Virginia Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................. I-1 Plan Organization ..................................................................................................... I-2 Legal Framework ...................................................................................................... I-2 Acronyms…………………………………………………………………………...I-4 List of Reports/Studies……………………………………………………………. I-5 Chapter 1 Community Profile .............................................................................. 1-1 History of Chincoteague .......................................................................................... 1-1 Socio-Economic Characteristics ............................................................................. 1-3 Population ............................................................................................................ 1-4 Race...................................................................................................................... 1-4 Age and Sex ......................................................................................................... 1-4 Households ........................................................................................................... 1-4 Natural Features ...................................................................................................... 1-4 Climate ................................................................................................................. 1-4 Geology ................................................................................................................ 1-5 Physiography........................................................................................................ 1-5 Fast-land Soils ...................................................................................................... 1-6 Ground Water....................................................................................................... 1-6 Coastal Floodplain……………………………………………………………... 1-7 Tree Cover………………………………………………………………………1-7 Surface Water..................................................................................................... 1-10 Marsh Lands....................................................................................................... 1-10 Drainage ............................................................................................................. 1-10 Current Land Use .................................................................................................. 1-10 Vacant Land/Open Space .................................................................................. 1-13 Chapter 2 Goals and Objectives .......................................................................... 2-1 Comprehensive Plan Goals ..................................................................................... 2-1 Land Use Objectives……….…………………………………………………… 2-2 Economic Development Objectives ........................................................................ 2-2 Chincoteague, Virginia Comprehensive Plan 2010 i Table of Contents Transportation Objectives ...................................................................................... 2-3 Community Facilities and Services Objectives ..................................................... 2-3 Housing/Neighborhood Objectives ......................................................................... 2-4 Environmental Objectives……………………………………………………… 2-4 Chapter 3 Land Use Plan ....................................................................................... 3-1 Land Use Planning Areas ........................................................................................ 3-4 Single Family Residential .......................................................................................... 3-4 One & Two Family Residential ................................................................................. 3-5 Mixed Use Residential ............................................................................................... 3-5 Old Town Commercial .............................................................................................. 3-7 Resort Residential ...................................................................................................... 3-9 Neighborhood Commercial ........................................................................................ 3-9 Commercial Corridor ............................................................................................... 3-10 Resort Commercial .................................................................................................. 3-11 Public/Semi-Public .................................................................................................. 3-13 Park & Open Space .................................................................................................. 3-13 Resource Conservation ............................................................................................ 3-14 Agriculture ............................................................................................................... 3-18 Annexation Areas..................................................................................................... 3-18 Chapter 4 Economic Development ..................................................................... 4-1 Background .............................................................................................................. 4-1 Tourism & Recreation ............................................................................................. 4-1 Seafood & Aquaculture ........................................................................................... 4-8 Wallops Island ........................................................................................................ 4-10 Economic Development Opportunities ................................................................ 4-13 Implementation Strategies .................................................................................... 4-17 Chapter 5 Community Facilities ......................................................................... 5-1 Education .................................................................................................................. 5-1 Museum…………………………………………………………………………….5-2 Library ...................................................................................................................... 5-3 Theatre ...................................................................................................................... 5-4 Fire & Emergency Services ..................................................................................... 5-5 Police Protection....................................................................................................... 5-6 Public Works ............................................................................................................ 5-6 Stormwater Drainage .............................................................................................. 5-9 Flood Insurance ........................................................................................................ 5-9 Harbor .................................................................................................................... 5-10 Health Care............................................................................................................. 5-10 Recreational Facilities ........................................................................................... 5-11 Implementation Strategies……………………………………………………..…5-13 Chincoteague, Virginia Comprehensive Plan 2010 ii Table of Contents Chapter 6 Transportation ...................................................................................... 6-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 6-1 Public Streets ............................................................................................................ 6-3 Improvement Projects ……………………………………… ………………..6-3 Implementation Strategies…………………………………………… ………….6-4 Private Roads……………………………………………………………………...6-5 Implementation Strategies ...................................................................................... 6-6 Chapter 7 Housing/Neighborhoods .................................................................... 7-1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7-1 Building Codes ......................................................................................................... 7-2 Implementation Strategies ...................................................................................... 7-2 List of Exhibits and Maps Exhibit 1: Non-Tidal Wetlands .................................................................................. 1-8 Exhibit 2: Shoreline Conditions ................................................................................. 1-9 Exhibit 3: Soils ......................................................................................................... 1-11 Exhibit 4: Coastal Floodplain .................................................................................