Environmental Group Rescues 400 Acres of Wetlands

CHESAPEAKE, VA-Real estate development entity Tri-City Properties LLC, operating under the direction of local developer Eddie S. Garcia Sr., has conceded in its battle to develop a massive mixed-use community on 428 acres of wetlands in the city. The concession comes on the heels of the non-profit Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s campaign to urge the State Water Control Board to refuse Tri-City’s application to build retail space and 800 apartments and single-family homes near Stumpy Lake.

The Foundation, joined by other local environmental groups, claimed the developer would have unlawfully desecrated 145 acres of forested wetlands to make room for the new community. The organization’s argument was based on a state law put in place three years ago that was designed to protect and preserve non-tidal wetland resources in the state. City of Virginia officials had also spoke out against the proposed project. The State Water Control Board had been scheduled to make a decision on the application later this month.