ImagineVB: How Should the City Manage Future Growth and Development?

City leaders want you to think about where you will be in 2040. How could the City best accommodate you, your family and your lifestyle over the next 20 years?

Virginia Beach is in the process of updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). The Comp Plan process determines community goals for future development. Through a robust public engagement process, a general plan is developed and the resulting document outlines and regulates the City’s public policies on areas including transportation, land use, recreation, economic development, housing and more.

Do you think Virginia Beach needs to build more affordable housing, focus on improving traffic congestion, prioritize the environment and flood mitigation? Should the City try to attract more tech companies? Should there be more pedestrian friendly bikeways and trails? All of the above? If you have thoughts, join a conversation about change – where we are, and where we want to be in the future.

The Virginia Beach Department of Planning & Community Development is hosting a series of community planning sessions to solicit resident input on updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Virginia law requires that the plan, which outlines a guiding vision for how Virginia Beach will manage current and anticipated growth over the next 20 years and beyond, be updated every five years. Local stakeholder feedback is used to establish a basic direction for initiatives such as transportation, facility and infrastructure improvements that account for changes such as:

• Projected population fluctuations and how that impacts future city facilities, roadway development, resilient infrastructure and public transit
• Relevant industry forecasts including how to promote regionalism, attract major employers, foster innovation and increase job opportunities
• Innovations in technology such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, green energy, broadband and Smart City Technology
• Resident values like environmental sustainability, community health, safety and housing affordability

Lend your voice to the conversation at one of four upcoming public workshops. These meetings will be hosted throughout the city Nov. 4-9.

1. Saturday, Nov. 4, 2-4 p.m., College Park Elementary, 1110 Bennington Road
2. Monday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m., Kellam High School, 2665 West Neck Road
3. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6-8 p.m., Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road
4. Thursday, Nov. 9, 6-8 p.m., Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3, 1000 19^th St.

“For decades, planning in Virginia Beach has centered around growth and outward expansion,” said Comprehensive Planning Administrator Hank Morrison. “However, with limited buildable land remaining above the Green Line, our focus will need to shift to redevelopment and infill. We need public feedback to ensure that we use our land and other resources wisely and appropriately. This will help balance both current and future needs of a thriving City for the next generation.”

As the name suggests, the Comprehensive Plan is a large document with numerous components and there will be multiple opportunities in the coming months for residents to review and provide feedback on ideas and draft plans.

This is your chance to help City planners optimize connections between the City’s people, economy and environment; connections which work together to achieve long-term prosperity and help sustain Virginia Beach’s quality of life while keeping an eye toward the future.

If you’re unable to attend a public workshop, residents will have an opportunity to share their feedback online via an on-demand, virtual version of the public workshops at virginiabeach.gov/CompPlan. This will be available at the conclusion of the four in-person meetings. Reach out to the Comprehensive Planning team with any comments or questions at CompPlan@vbgov.com or call 757-385-4319.