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<br />R-07-42
<br />
<br />A RESOLUTION IN CONDITIONAL OPPOSITION TO A PROPOSED
<br />ETHANOL REFINERY IN CHESAPEAKE.
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the City of Chesapeake is considering granting a use permit to
<br />authorize an ethanol refinery at property commonly known as the Chesapeake Deepwater
<br />Terminal, with an address of 1213 Victory Boulevard, also known as 714 Giant Cement
<br />Drive; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the proposed site borders on the City of Portsmouth, has vehicular
<br />access only via Portsmouth roads and is immediately adjacent to the historic Cradock
<br />neighborhood; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the proposed site is in a densely populated area, with approximately
<br />5,000 citizens living within a one-mile radius, 28,000 within a two-mile radius, and
<br />81,000 within a three-mile radius; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, there are numerous respected and well-established neighborhoods in
<br />Portsmouth and Chesapeake within two miles of the proposed site, including:
<br />
<br />. In Portsmouth: Afton Commons, Afton Village, Bayview Gardens, Brighton,
<br />Cradock, Cradock Gardens, Deep Creek Village, Effingham Plaza, Fairview
<br />Heights, Highland Park, Hope Village, Independence Square, Marsh Landing,
<br />Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portside Manor, Prentis Park, Prentis Place, Southside
<br />Gardens, Stanley Court, Town & Country Apartments, Victory Village, and West
<br />Cradock;
<br />. In Chesapeake: Billups Park, Brentwood, Broadmoor, Country Woods,
<br />Crossbridge Commons, Fordville, Geneva Park Shores, Geneva Shores, Glen Isle,
<br />Interstate Park Condominiums, Oakville, Old Farm, South Norfolk, Spencer
<br />Farm, Sturbridge Village, Varsity Estates, Varsity Manor North, and Wilton
<br />Creek Condo; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, ethanol refineries are almost always located in isolated rural areas,
<br />far distant from any major population centers, and it is unprecedented to locate an ethanol
<br />refinery in an urban location that is densely populated; and
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, it is a matter of public record that ethanol refineries all have, to
<br />varying degrees, a complex mixture of harmful air emissions, including:
<br />
<br />. Known carcinogens such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, benzene, and numerous
<br />volatile organic compounds ("VOCs");
<br />. Objectionable odors from various VOCs;
<br />. Fine particulate matter that ultimately descends to the ground, coating exposed
<br />surfaces and that will also contribute to existing air quality problems in the
<br />Hampton Roads area;
<br />. Precursors to smog and haze such as VOCs and nitrogen oxide; and
<br />
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