City Council Informal Meeting - 10/14/2025

Good afternoon everyone. Uh we're ready to get going. Welcome one, welcome all.

Uh Mr. Dhaney, let's go ahead and get going. All right. So, Mr. Mayor, Mr.

Council, the first presentation will be provided by Ruth Hill, director of housing and neighborhood presentations.

He's going to briefly the council on our first two attainable housing grant programs. The first thing will be for Grant Lake senior partners and also the silo apartments.

Good afternoon, Mayor Dyer, Vice Mayor Wilson, distinguished council members, city manager Duh Haney, and um city attorney Styles. I'm glad to be here with you today. Um so why are we here today? We wanted to talk about the uh affordable, excuse me, the attainable workforce performance grant. And if you remember, council approved the ordinance in April of 2024 and VBDA passed a resolution officially

creating this uh grant process and it aims to provide private development of safe quality affordable multif family rental housing units in the city.

I'm going to provide you an overview of the affordable affordability challenges here in Virginia Beach. Um we're going to talk about the grant requirements and then I will go over brief uh synopsis of each of the two projects. The first will be Grand Lakes and the other will be the silos.

So, um, if you remember in 2024, there was a housing study report that was commissioned by Virginia Center for Research at Virginia Tech and Housing Forward Virginia. Um, and they provided us data that indicated that households um, one in three households in Virginia is housing cost burden. that is about 30% of their income is um they're spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Um that actually um

indicates there are about um people in Virginia Beach. There's about 5,900 um households here in Virginia Beach that fall into that category. And a household would need an income of about $70,000 or $34 an hour to afford the median rent here in the city of Virginia Beach, which is about $1,730.

Um, so there's a critical concern for the lack of affordable units to the very lowincome households, the study indicated, and many of those are employed in our region's top 10 most common occupations. they often bear that burden of the high housing costs to remain here in the city of Virginia Beach.

Excuse me, I jumped too fast. So, the new program that was developed in um to help meet the need. Council approved the ordinance in April of this year and then BBDA passed a resolution in May of 2024 to create this attainable workforce housing performance grant. Um we launched the um program in September of 2025 and it it provides that incentive that we talked about for private development

for the development of the face the safe affordable housing that we need in the city. Um the idea is that it would be self- sustaining and performance-based so that annual grants are provided to the developer based on the incremental real estate taxes generated by their approved development.

I wanted to share with you that the amount to be paid each year of the grant term is determined annually based on the annual assessed value of the project and the real estate rate set by the city council. So the eligibility requirements, it must be new construction. It must be developed by a for-profit entity. Only new multif family affordable rental housing units that have not started construction are

eligible. And there must be a demonstrated gap in the proforma uh or the project financing. Um it can be affordable um fully affordable and it can be mixed use or mixed income. commercial and residential are both allowable under the eligibility. Projects that involve any kind of demolition of existing rental units um would only be eligible if they then build a minimum of 20% affordable

units in this new project. Um projects could have their zoning approval or they would have to be in the process of attaining approval through the city's planning process before they can submit an application.

So the first grant request is Grand Lake Senior Apartments. It is 172 units of senior housing for those that are age 62 or older and it is 100% residential. It is development it is developed by Grand Lakes Limited Partnership which is uh the principal owner is Franklin Group Companies. It is new construction on vacant land and there are no other improvements on this property. They will

also be using low-income tax housing, excuse me, low-inccome housing tax credits, LITC, and they council did approve a zoning conditional zoning reszoning on December 10th of 2024. They expect to start December 2025 and they have a funding gap of $2,150,000.

So, this is the site location. It is in Dr. Ross Hammond's District 4 and it is behind the uh AAA building on off Virginia Beach Boulevard. They're looking to subdivide a portion of that back uh the back of that lot.

So, Grand Lakes affordability, we wanted to share with you the affordability quotient here. 100% of these units or the hund all 172 will be affordable for houses and it will average 60% of the area median income. About 52% or 89 of the units will serve households at or below 50% AMI. And the developers also indicated that they will provide housing um to households with maximum gross

incomes listed below which are based on the household side. You can see this chart here. There'll be 19 units at um income of 30% AMI, 19 at 40, 51 at 50%, 14 at 60, and then 69 at or below 80% of the area median income. And you can see the incomes there from one person up to four people.

So the fiscal impact of Grand Lakes in terms of what it would um generate um from the city revenue um tax increment is based on the estimate of 188,53 or $1,96 a unit. And the way this is assessed comes from the assessed value of the project at completion which is $21,278350,000.

You take the estimated first year's tax revenue um at 97 cents which comes to 26,400.

Um and then the current assessed value of the property is currently 1,845,000.

Um you take that 17,897 which is the t the the 97 tax revenue that would be generated. You subtract the tax revenue from the incremental tax and that's how you get the 188,503.

The applicant will pay an administrative fee to VBDA of 1% of the annual grant amount and the grant to be paid each year will be determined annually on the assessed value of the project and the real estate tax rate set by city council. So it is annually assessed.

So the recommendation is that um this grant's base uh real estate tax amount would be 17,897 that the annual grant payment of 100% of the incremental tax uh real estate taxes would be allowed. The grant would have a grant term of 30 years with a second 15 years on condition of a minimum of $10,000 each affordable unit for the first 15 years which would come up to $1,720,000.

And then the average income of the persons living in um this unit those these units would be about 60% AMI for the grant term of 30 years. So, that's the first project. The second grant request is the silos um apartments. It is 200 units, again, 100% residential.

It's also developed by the Franklin Group. Um it is new construction on vacant land. Again, no other improvements currently on the project on the property, excuse me. It also will use uh low-inccome house tax credits.

Council approved conditional resoning July 8th of this year. The expected construction would start in June of 2026 and their funding gap is 2,775,000.

The silos is um off Princess Anne Road.

It's west of the courthouse and it is in uh Barbara Henley's district number two.

So the affordability for the silos it would be all 100 units would be affordable for households who incomes are on average 60% of the area median income. The developer has always also indicated that the project will provide housing for households with incomes at 50 to 80% AMI but the average will be about 60%. You can see here on this chart that is listed below. Um they have not indicated the number of units. Um

they're further along on the Grand Lakes project than they are on this one, but they're looking at 50 60 70 and 80% um AMI for this project. You can see the income limits there.

So, the fiscal impact of the silos, the estimated amount of the grant would be 216,179 or $1,081 uh thousand $1,081 a unit. It is again based on the recent assessed values of multif family affordable housing. The assessed value of the project at completion would be 27,216495.

The estimated firstear tax revenue would be um 97 cents of that which is 264,400 and you the current assessed value of the property is 4,930.

You take that um minus the incremental tax there the excuse me the tax revenue there um and you get the grant amount which is the 216179 very exactly how the uh calculations were done for the first project. Again, the applicant will pay the fee to VBDA and again each year the grant will be determined annually based on the annual assessed value of the project and the real estate taxes set by city council.

So the recommendation of the terms here is that the real estate tax amount would be 47821 which is 100% of the incremental real estate taxes. The grant term would be 30 years with the second year 15-year conditional on a capital improvement of 10,000 of for each affordable unit or 2 million for the first 15 years. The average income of 60% for the grant year for the 30 terms is expected for those households.

So, next steps is if if city c we're asking city council to consider resolution to approve the grant applications uh potentially of the October 21st um council meeting. So, I'll take comments or questions and I have Sharon Schae who is my subject matter expert if there's anything that I cannot answer. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Uh very clear explanation. Just want to ask some questions to clarify because I can I'm anticipating some public outcry simply because of who the developer is and the controversy that was involved in one of these projects in particular. But I just want to clarify for the sake of this grant application request.

Um, was the Grand Lake project approved before the grant process was approved?

The zoning land use portion of the project was approved. Um, that was approved before they submitted their application for the attainable housing grant program.

Okay. And then same thing with the silo.

Was the silo project approved before grant process was approved? Council Cummings. Yes, sir. The um the SAS project was approved from a land use reszoning um aspect before the attainable housing grant was applied for.

Did both of these projects 100% meet the terms of the grant process that was passed by the city?

Yes, sir. They absolutely do.

Does did Mr. Franklin's position on the BBDA um have any input on either the grant process or upon this application?

Um, Council Member Cummings, it's my understanding that um, Mr. Franklin did not participate in any um, conversations at the VBDA or participated in that process and that he since um, prior to this coming forward to the VBA for adoption or approval, which was today, resigned from the board. So, he he resigned prior to this coming to the board for consideration.

Thank you very much.

Hey, work.

Thank you, Mayor D. Thank you, Brazil, for the presentation. This is a great program. I just have a couple questions as well. Uh and then an observation. The observation first of my math here just for my benefit as well as the public and colleagues. This is about an ask for 10% of the overall the gap of like on this one right here number 11. The gap of $2,775 million is about 10% of the overall

project cost. So that's not 50% 30 10% which is helpful. It's a gap, but it's not a majority. You've got loans and and other things, right?

And to clarify, the gap was created because the project, the silos project, was not anticipated to be 100% affordable housing. Um the developer opted to make it 100% um affordable housing since he's going to collect lower rent. The gap was created in that way.

That's so that leads kind of to this well to the to um page nine. If you could go back, this is applicable to both. So that first one, estimated assessed value of project at completion, $21,278,000.

That's whose estimate is that our estimate? Is that the developers? That's the city of Virginia Beach's estimate.

Yes. Okay.

Yes, sir.

Right. So that's an independent valuation now. And so the third um oversight of the the rental, how is that conducted? And and is it over time? Is it just a one time? Is it over the 15 years? How's the oversight of of the in of the income level and the rents charged?

Do we have Sharon?

That'll that'll likely probably happen annually.

I was going to say annually they I think they have to provide a report of some sort. This is the first two. I don't know that those details have been um worked out, but we do have we'll have a report out annually to see what the rents are and who's living there to ensure that it is maintaining um affordability number one and they're they're staying in align with the grant process

in order in order for them to get the dispersement. It'll be it'll they have to verify that they've met the terms of the contract annually. And it's also will be done probably with the low-inccome housing tax credits. the state will probably also do that as well.

And then lastly, the use of the VBDA.

That's that part of the state law. The reason why we're doing that, it's not because of us. It's because of the state law. That's correct, M.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. So, council member Ramik, the general assembly only authorized the development authority to do that with the concurrence of the city council.

Thank you.

Hey, Josh. Thanks, thank you very much for the presentation. Just a couple quick questions. Grand Lakes when it started out it was 100% affordable. Correct. Um it was approved as a 100% affordable development.

I think you're correct on Grand Lake sir.

Okay. And then when the silo started out it was help me remember it was 30% affordable and then it got bumped to somewhere in the 40% range.

It it wasn't 100%. I I don't remember the actual percentage of it that was affordable, but I don't think it was.

It wasn't 80% either.

Yeah, I'm just I'm trying to remember. I I remember it was around 30 and then when it came back for that second time when they added some additional just they changed the kind of outlay of the project um that that bumped it I think an additional affordable percentage. So um okay um I just want to be clear on that. And then um I remember when when we last dealt with uh you know a

workforce housing housing policy application uh there were folks that had mentioned that you know that that whoever the developer was hadn't even applied for the program or there wasn't I guess a signed application on the data line or some sort of agreement. Um, I just wouldn't want to have that happen again, I guess, or or be, you know, have somebody be accused of not, you know, following the process or, you know,

putting pen to paper on an agreement um beforehand.

VA voted for it as well. So, the process is that they would come before the city council. there's any zoning things that they need to get clarified, they'll get that approved by council. Then they could apply for the program. If they meet the terms of the program, staff would present it to the VBDA. BBA will adopt it and then it'll come to city council after that adoption for council to consider it.

Okay. if you don't mind, I would like maybe just somebody from staff to get me those percentages on the what the original silo application was and then the follow up with what those percentage um and the only reason I say as much is because um without going to the public again we can basically back to our approval of you know a higher percentage affordable that a community was looking

at and um I don't know that that that's necessarily the bargain that was struck you know when when everybody was before the council. So, um, regardless of it's a good policy, good project, but Okay. Anybody else at this point? Okay.

Cash and then working.

Yeah. I just I thank you uh for the presentation. Um, I I just I think we have to keep in mind of the everchanging cost of labor uh and just the cost of doing business.

And and so I I understand we we're looking at this and saying, "Well, um it it wasn't the way it was when we first laid it out, but obviously um we've got a new leadership uh since um all of this have come about. And the leadership that we have now, I think we we we need to plan that when it comes to labor costs, things are going to be different. when

it comes to um how council was before I got onto council, it's going to be different. So, I'm all for affordable housing. Um and this project is is one that I stand fully behind.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Just one more clarification or statement really. This program that we have is a but almost like a butt for right now.

This is a vacant piece of land. So the developer is going to invest $21 million in this case and a little less than the other one. So but for that investment we are leveraging future tax dollars now.

So it's no money out of our pocket today. It's a future income stream that we're leveraging for upfront. So this is a a free way really for us to help this project these projects and future ones get started. Thanks. Hey Rosemary, just want to also comment uh I appreciate everybody's questions and all around the table that these multif family housings like the silo which has already been before us

twice. They're going to be built whether we approve this grant or not. So this has nothing to do with whether the projects are going to be built or not.

So they can without the grant they could just go ahead and do market rate housing or what they promised in their applications. But it's going to happen anyway. And and if you remember when we did the study, one of the recommendations from Virginia Tech was that we put $5 million for to help with affordable housing.

this is a way that we can help with the attainable housing without putting taxpayers dollars into creating that.

And so I I think this is a really this grant program is going to really help us with with a very important issue this not just between us but across the country with the affordable affordable attainable housing that Okay, Hutch just real quick um and I just want to state that we kind of are slipping back and forth here with our way we're calling it. This is attainable workforce housing, right? So that's

where I think we should stick with is what we're calling it. It's it's because we I can tell you in any of my town halls and civic league meetings, you know, you start saying affordable and we get into another game. Whereas and if you're looking at the and I shouldn't have said game, we get into another area of worry. But looking at the amounts and everything else that's made here um for

for your salaries and everything else and the numbers that that's not uh that's not low. You know what I those numbers. It's takes it takes a pretty good salary to get in here and a lot of our employees are in that range. So, it is certainly workforce housing and it's kind of like I said about the silo uh here is is that you know you have three fire stations, you have the Lanstown

yard, you have the courthouse, you have the deputies, the sheriffs, you know, you have you have plenty of folks that are going to fill that with that that work within a couple of three miles which will help with the ATAC, the different transportation. So I think there's a lot of positives here with both obviously with Miss Ross Hammonds is that having that over there is a wonderful piece of property to develop

this on. So I I just think overall it's fantastic. And one last thing and not that not that the Franklin group needs anybody to defend them, but like the Elevate 17 on Military Highway that borders here in my district. um they they made available uh nine I believe uh apartments for some less than abled folks and they made office space available for them in their office structure there in the middle. Um so you

know I think that was pretty uh standupish of them. So um yeah just saying I think there's a lot of good that can come from this. As we've stated very clearly this is the area that we've got to have some housing. So um just think it's important. Thanks.

Okay. Anybody else? Millia.

Yes. Thank you, Ruth, for this because as you know, I'm very much an advocate for attainable, we're going to call it attainable workforce housing in that form. Um, I had two questions. We have both here. Were there any other developers asking or putting in for this? That's to clarify for the public.

Uh currently these are the only two applications we have received to date.

Okay.

But Dr. O, it's open and available for any developer that's interested in building attainable workforce housing the city. So it's not just for a particular developer. It's for those interested in developing attainable workforce housing in Virginia Beach.

Yeah, that's important because we don't want people think it's only one group, but these people are very empathetic towards seeing affordable housing. And on the second for the silos you have the income for one person starting at 37 whereas the one for Grand Lick it starts at 20 something. Was there a reason the the difference is the AMI. If you'll see one starts at 30% AMI the other one

starts at 50. That's the difference.

Okay. So that means it's it's it's a it's a a lower income based on the income that they get. So or higher income. So that's why it's it's based on the percentage of the income, but that specific area or No, it's what the developer chose to do.

He chose to do it for lower incomes in the Grand Lakes project, but he chose to do it for a higher income level in the Silos project.

That's what I thought I saw. Yes.

Okay. Thanks for clarifying that.

Barbara, looking at these um salaries, uh I'm concerned that the jobs that we're going after are in this range.

So economically we seem to be going after businesses that pay these amounts.

How are we ever going to increase our our incomes if we are not economically going after the businesses that have pay the jobs that are much higher than than these I tell you what, do you mind if I, you know, tackle that? You know, I think once again, um, it's not going to business. You know, a lot of folks that can come to business, that's why we call it attainable housing because this way

if somebody comes here, they're mid mid management and they're making a couple hundred grand a year. That's what it takes right basically to afford a house that's built now for 4 to $500,000.

uh as mentioned before uh as I said often that u Wells Fargo Mortgage came up with a fee that every house that's built now there's a $93,000 regulatory cost that go in the the the cost of housing is amazing. So we have to find you know those price points for everybody. And I think at this price point, what we're talking about, Barbara, w with respect are the people that are already here, that are coming

here to become firemen, teachers, and things of that nature. That is the critical need of the immediate problem that we have right now. you know, we are we are attracting, you know, the bigger businesses and companies, but once again, we have to get housing inventory at all different levels to accommodate the people that live here. And then once again, we're also still very much a

tourist and um, you know, hospitality business where a lot of folks really don't make a thing. But, you know, Hutch can probably tell you what a, you know, starting fireman makes. uh what is start is starting starting school teacher things and these are all you know very important elements you know to what we need so we need price points at the bottom and all the way to the top.

Well certainly may I second I I just want to also mention the military.

Yeah. Um, if we want to be able to keep Oceanana going and the next level of the F-35s, they also need to see that their personnel has a good place to live. And so they, the military is very, very supportive of us having this workforce housing because they one of their biggest issues besides child care is having a place for their service people to live.

Okay. Can I get to Barbara first and then Patrick?

And I I agree and I certainly understand all of that. But I just I am looking at these salaries and I'm seeing these salaries as being salaries that we're being told is what's being paid by some of the new businesses that are here. And I just wonder if we are if we have any particular program within our economic development that is going after the higher paid jobs. Otherwise, I think

we're really looking at some really major problems because yes, we do have the military that needs a um an affordable housing as well as our employees and so forth, but we really need those highinccome jobs, too. And I I just would like to see what we're doing with our economic development that is going after those those jobs so we can afford to pay these because it's it as you said it's got to be a balance.

Well, we had a presentation today at economic development that I believe Michael was 114,000 was the median salary range that they were going to have like another 65 jobs coming in.

75 75 jobs coming in. So, so that is happening.

I'd like to see it.

Yeah. Michael, please. Oh, wait a minute. Patrick, and then Michael, if you don't mind, Miss M. Mayor, I was going to mention what the vice mayor mentioned. So, staff is working with the VBDA to increase our income thresholds for um the kind of jobs that are eligible for incentives with the city. I'd also like to note that a lot of times when the information is reported about the salaries that were

recruited, they're done on an average basis. So it takes into account what the the vice president, what a foreman, what a supervisor, but also what the receptionist might make, right? You might end up with a receptionist making 30 35,000. You might end up with a foreman or a supervisor or VP making 150 200,000, but that may bring it down to a 60 or $75,000 range because it includes

all the jobs that will be recruited as part of um the recruitment effort to bring a job to Virginia Beach. And council member Schuman, you asked about salows. It looks like about 77 of the 200 were originally going to be affordable. So about 38 40%.

Michael, thank you. Um and I think Mrs.

Henley brought up a good point that I that I think um and I appreciate what you said sharing. I I I'm well aware that economic development is is attract trying to attract an all of the above approach to attracting good jobs to Virginia Beach across the spectrum.

entry level jobs, more um jobs with uh that require additional education and training so that someone can enter the workforce and continue their career and raise their family in Virginia Beach. I think all of the jobs are very important and I'm sure we all agree. But when I look at this chart on page eight, I'm not looking at salaries. This is a senior apartment.

Yeah.

And and I know seniors. So, 19 units dedicated for one person who makes 22,000 or below. But I know seniors who fall into that category and they're worried about having a roof over their head. Um, and so I'm pleased to see movement which we have since I've been here I've seen a variety of council cycles and every single time I don't think there's anyone who didn't say they didn't support housing affordability in

the city and this so I'm pleased to see 200 units 172 units come online that gives and it's not just seniors it's people worried about their parents you know We we all know people, Mr. Green, you were talking about a senior center that you visit. We all know people that um are scared about what their future entails and what their housing stability will look like. And to me, I think we

should feel very good and excited because we're not talking about salaries on this chart. We're talking about income the seniors receive.

seniors who um may not have that nest egg that they can rely on.

And I think it's important to keep that in mind.

Okay. Thank you. Anybody else at this point? Let me just say this. I think Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. I just wanted to mention looking at past experience and what this Franklin group the caliber that they put out you know makes a difference because they there's another unit in my area for their own priority along there where they have one and all the seniors all those people are very pleased

because right away when people think of workforce housing they're thinking of something that's more delighted and They put that extra effort to put a good product out.

Thank you.

Was that the Arbor?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

Yeah. 190 units and it's a senior senior dedicated, you know, with programs and recck rooms and everything. And you know, I think this is great. Uh but you know, let's be honest, every city council, governing board of every city in this country are having these same conversations.

Housing is not a Virginia Beach crisis.

It is a national crisis and for the most part international I understand in Canada they're having worse problems. Uh but that being said, you know, once again, you know, we got to confront it.

And uh let me just say and I remember 20 years ago when I first came on city council and I met uh you know my colleague and friend Rosemary Wilson. We got involved with a group called Empower Hampton Rose if you recall. And one of the first times we really spoke, we went to uh Portsmith and Tim McCarthy and uh Teresa Stanley and we went up to Northern Virginia. we that where they

were taking McMansions that weren't selling and dividing them into four condos and you know so I've been you know an advocate for this you know for a couple decades now I'm not I'm not coming to the dance weight on this and to me it's always been you know a passion and uh you know the other confrontation we have with reality is that you know I'm part of the senior tsunami that is really hitting all the

baby boomers of the 50s are, you know, getting into their 60s,7s, 80s, 90s, and life expansion has been up there. You know, there is a critical need. And Rosemary, if you remember back in the day, uh, when I was the Centerville rep, and they were looking for a district to put in a the first ever affordable house. And if I'm not mistaken, it it came to the Centerville district. and I believe a police officer,

you know, because once again, everybody back then was so skeptical, you know, a hutch hit on it because, you know, people had the perceptions of affordable housing, you know, what what would it have meant, neighborhood degradation and everything and all the myths that, you know, go on with this. And um you know, let me just say that you there are two developers that are local but are are

statewide and east coastwide uh known and that's the Franklin Group and Steve Lawson. And you know in the old Centerville district if you go to Providence Road you see the Chartwood Apartments there you know that's all affordable. You these are folks that stepped to the table. Steve Lawson years ago, maybe 10 years ago, built that uh a Mediterranean in 19th, some of the most valuable

property in the city. And they put in an attainable unit there, not only for people with income problems, but disabilities and things of that nature.

But but once again, everybody everybody elected body will always get push back when we really try to confront the attainable housing thing and it was written up in uh the state of the region a couple years ago. Everybody's confronting that. So the thing is I think we got the information here and uh you know once again we are we welcome public scrutiny but by the same token we have to have the courage and conviction

you know because a couple years ago we said and I know I say this often enough that we said that of housing is our fourth highest priority after storm water public safety and schools and now we you know we just got to step to the plate and you know but once again ultimately once these are built they become part of the community. Um, when I was a centerbell rep, I had two projects uh

that we were able to get in the Infinity and uh uh the Cascades and right at a busy intersection at Centerville and Linhaven and 450 units were built. And guess what? They're all that that that they're considered good neighbors because we went in talked to the neighbors first and we got we were able to get Lin Haven Parkway open and things. Now they're part of the community. So controversial now, but

once again they're become neighbors and part of the community and not to mention improve our tax base. So I know I went on a little bit but you know I'm kind of passionate. I've been passionate about this for a long time. Okay. Thank you all very much. Good stuff. Thank you.

Ah, next our favorite time of year.

All right. So, that in the budget season. Oh, yeah.

Council, next presentation will be on the draft 2026 legislative agenda. Um, Legislative Affairs Director Brett Mccen is going to give city council overview of your current draft legislative agenda and then seek city council guidance for any amendments or change they would like to make ahead of your vote on this item next week on October 21st.

Thank you, Patrick. Uh good afternoon uh Mr. Mayor, Madame Vice Mayor, members of city council, uh Mr. City Manager, and Mr. City Attorney. I'm here today to continue the process that has been laid out for adopting the draft legislative agenda. Uh at the conclusion of this very brief presentation, we will be looking for some final guidance and items you would like added, removed, or changed.

Um so uh just a reminder of our timeline.

Last week we held a public hearing on the blue line charter amendment and on the legislative agenda as a whole. Uh here today I'm uh here to seek your final guidance and then the draft legislative agenda will be on your city council meeting agenda uh for adoption next week.

Uh the blue line charter amendment will be voted on separately. Can you go to the next slide?

Um, so the blue line charter amendment will be voted on separately and as a reminder will require nine votes for adoption. The rest of the legislative package can be either voted on uh as a package as a whole or if there are items anybody would like to pull out of that, those could be voted on separately and those will require uh a votes for adoption.

As part of today's discussion, we're looking for some guidance on the following items. Uh the first one is on ebikes. So for ebikes, we're recommending to retain the language that was approved by uh or recommended by ATAC. Uh this will provide some flexibility for our lobbying efforts. Um the second area is the Virginia Aquarium Foundation. You'll recall that you received a letter in the last week from

the foundation requesting a swap in some of the language. You'll remember we have the two budget amendment requests in there. one for $250,000 dealing with stranding and one dealing with the renovation and expansion of the aquarium. Um here the aquarium has asked us to uh consider replacing both of those items with their legislative language where they're seeking a uh a study from the general assembly money

committees on how to move forward with both of those items. Um so that we'll be seeking your guidance on how you'd like to proceed with that.

Rosemary.

Several of our legislators and they don't think we should bundle these two together. Uh, so I'm perfectly fine with the new language that the foundation has recommended on the $10 million CIP grant money, but the stranding I think we should keep it separate and like I say, I've talked to several legislators and that's they're advising that as well is to keep them separate, keep the standing ask as is. Um, they

did have one of them wanted to know what's the total amount that's spent on strandings. If we can get that information for them as well, but I'd like to recommend that we keep them separate please.

Okay. Anybody else on this?

Uh, thank you, Madam Vice Mayor. Uh, and then the third item, uh, we have some language that we need to clean up on the blue line charter amendment. Um, the concept will remain the same. uh we just need to firm up the language to make sure there's no unintended consequences on programs like the ARP or something like that. So, we will get that language to you um once we've got it completed

and we'll get that to you this week ahead of the adoption next week.

Okay, Barbara, I would like some input in that because I I agree that there's some language that we just need to change because it's got this word accept in there. So, we're actually bringing in a reason I mean a way to achieve this instead of tightening it up. So, if we can work on that language, I would like to work with you.

Uh, yes.

Yes. Uh, Councilwoman, I'm glad to do that. And I'm sure the city attorney's got some thoughts as well.

We'll be happy to to speak with you asly and see what your suggestions are. the uh the primary change that I've been uh advised would be useful would be changing the language so that it would not apply to all planning items but rather only to reson by limiting it only to resonings you would take out the concern that it might have some unintended uh impact on for example the ARP program um because of course the

alternate residential density is a CUP P rather than a reasonzoning. So that would take that concern out of the out of the issue. But if there are other uh suggestions that that you have, I would be happy to hear from you.

You know, when you put that word accept in there, in the past, we've had a hard stop that there would be no water and sewer south of the Indian River Road, but this allows it. So I think we just have to maintain what we now have. Well, I would I would I would encourage us to consider the infrastructure limitation, the public uh improvements separately from the planning items. And this will only

address a supermajority for planning items. It does not necessarily address and is not intended to address extending that you know water and sewer past the the establishment.

Well, we need to talk about that because as I see it, this allows it to be done whereas now it we don't allow it. So, I just want to make sure we maintain our present policy.

Okay.

I mean, maintaining what we have now is what I'd like to do.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. But you know certainly your uh input will be you know appreciated. Okay Stacy um just we address the ebike situation in two different places. Um in the one place in transportation we talk about improving the education of ebike safety and in the other place we talk about actually uh trying to uh codify some limitations restrictions on the use of ebikes in certain places and I just I don't want

to see those two issues get confused or mingled because I think we need to do more than educate people about ebike usage. I think and I'm not advocating uh I'm not taking a position on any specifics right now. I'm saying that there needs to be more done than just educating the public. We need to uh have some restrictions and um the ability to enforce these with public safety.

Yes, sir, Councilman. And I think that a lot of that will get born out of some of the work that is potentially going to take place over the next couple of months and a short period of time. I'm not sure that that will be completed in time for general assembly action. Um, if there's a specific request that you want to propose, there's certainly time to do that. You know, we adopt this

next week, but that's what we're here for today is looking for y'all's finest final guidance on what you want in that draft package to vote on. But absent a specific policy or specific um proposal, I think our maybe our best bet right now is to maintain that language in the transportation section and then wait for y'all to complete the additional work that needs to be done here to find out

what other proposals might be uh possible.

Okay. and stay in during council comments. I'm going to be addressing the task force that we're going to be considered putting together uh hopefully in a very expedited fashion uh to address the concerns that you brought forward, but we'll be talking about that more and specifically during council comments.

Thank you.

And I think that sorry, Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, you know, leaving this language in here like this gives me that flexibility. You know, other people, other communities are likely seeing these issues. I haven't, as I've talked to my colleagues who do this work, I haven't really encountered anybody else that's brought it to the forefront as as you guys have here, but um this is likely not a unique concern just to

Virginia Beach, right? So, as other legislators encounter these issues and bring legislation forward by maintaining this language in here, it gives me that flexibility to to jump on board and to to provide um Virginia Beach's input and into those legislative efforts as well.

So, it really does give us a lot of flexibility. And Mr. Mayor, Brent Brent's articulating that the task force, the work of the task force when council um creates it. They may not be finished in times to get general assembly members to actually write new legislation for adoption in July or June of next year, but the language that they wrote that he has in there gives him flexibility. If that something comes up

for education or for restrictions, he could bring it back to council and ask council, do they want us to go a particular kind of way on it? Right? So it does allow us to a little bit of flexibility to address some things that may come up. You know, like if things are restrictive but allow for local authority and how we implement that, then we have the ability to kind of

support it in that way. But if things come up along the way, we always bring things that are germanine to council's conversation to this table for for council to give us direction on how how best they want to propose, how best they want us to handle it, you know, but we are giving flex asking for flexibility here that if something is educational based or restrictive based but preserves

a local option for us to be able to navigate that in the best interest of the city based on where we hear you all are on a particular issue.

Very good.

Okay.

Um um last couple slides here. Uh so there was strong preference amongst the council to maintain our original plan for the legislative reception. So we have set the legislative reception for November 19th 5:30 to 7 um here at city hall.

And then uh Mr. Mayor, I'll turn it back over to you to manage any questions or guidance. Um, I have all the slides that we've uh that we had in our original presentation. So, if there are any questions on any of the items, we're prepared to answer any of those questions or um um provide any sort of guidance that you may wish.

Okay. Any input, questions? Uh, you know, you once again, this is going to be a kind of a work in progress and, uh, you know, you know, we got some work, you know, ahead of us and we'll get it done, you know, work. Thank you, Mario.

Thank you, Mr. McKenzie. Just a question in general, and maybe it's in the in here, but when we seek money from Richmond, the fin Senate, House, and the governor's budget, is there a certain area that we want to pursue, whether it be flood mitigation, education roads infrastructure?

Um maybe in that order, do we do we have any? So, um as you read through the policy sections in the legislative agenda, you'll see a lot of that kind of intertwined in there. a lot of um needs for um for road funding, a lot of discussions about flood mitigation, those sort of things are built into that policy section. We don't have a specific ask on those fronts at this moment. Um

we did have a couple of specific asks in the legislative agenda um for funding.

One was from our police department asking for funds dealing with um some gun violence reduction looking for technology and investment in our parks after dark program. Um there was a request from the Virginia Beach Fire Department for um some funding for the um urban search and rescue as the federal government's starting to draw back on some of the investments in FEMA.

there's a little bit of a concern that there may be a gap there that they're hoping that the the state may be able to um be able to fill. Um and then we had the two aquarium requests, one of which it sounds like we're taking out and one that which we're leaving. But those were the three Oh, and then we had the uh the fourth request dealing with the renovation for the judge's chambers at

the um at the at the courthouse. So we those are the specific budget requests that we have at this moment.

Okay. Anything else? Okay. I think we're ready to bring it forward. Thank you.

Excellent work.

Thank you, sir.

I know it's tough.

All right. Moving on.

All right. So, Mr. Mayor, members of council, at this time, city council is going to receive a briefing on the close to final, but still draft version of the comprehensive plan. The presentation will be given by Chris Sinclair, who is the founder of Renaissance Planning.

Kathy Warren will introduce Chris and um lay out the general path of what you all will hear next.

Okay. Good afternoon, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of council. We are pleased today to brief you on the 2040 comprehensive plan. I would like to start by introducing a few of our team members and thank them for all of their hard work to date. We have Hank Morrison over in the audience. That's our comprehensive planning administrator.

with our consulting team. We have Jerry West with Dills Architects and then of course Chris Sinclair to my right with Renaissance Planning. I would also like to thank our planning commission. We do have some of members of our commission in the audience for the long hours they have put into fine-tuning this plan. So, thank you very much.

As you know, we've been working on this plan for two years. And what you will hear today is the culmination of a great deal of public engagement, including our most recent public meetings where we presented the draft recently to the citizens. The public provided input early and often throughout the process which really helped us to shape this plan. You will find this document to be much easier to navigate and

userfriendly.

Once the plan is adopted and online, links are embedded to take you directly to reference documents and plans, something we don't have now.

As a reminder, this is a highlevel plan that sets the tone for how we should grow over the next several years. It is the overarching guiding document that points you to the more detailed plans like our SGA plans which promote higher density and mixeduse development in certain areas and the ITA plan that focuses on appropriate land use within the ITA.

The focus of this plan is redevelopment because as you know we are coming to an end with green field development. This plan offers a roadmap on the appropriate way to execute redevelopment strategies while also ensuring that the green line remains and the blue line is formalized.

And throughout the plan, the importance of economic sustainability citywide is contemplated. We know that economic development is a top priority for city council, so we do anticipate anticipate adding some additional language to that effect. We are accepting public comment through the end of October. And since the very beginning of this process, we've posted all of our documents and

videos on our web page to keep people informed.

For our next steps, the planning commission was briefed on the plan last week, and it is anticipated that they will consider this item on their December agenda. We're hoping to bring this back to you for consideration at the beginning of the year. And with that, I'll turn it over to Chris.

Welcome.

Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon.

Now technology it works. I'm always amazed.

Okay. So, um today what I'd like to cover is uh I'm going to begin with presenting the information we presented at the two public meetings we held back in September. Uh give you a summary of the feedback we received from those two meetings. uh give you an update on the draft as it's being updated uh into it final form and then we as Kathy mentioned we did have a meeting with the

planning commission um uh about what was pres presented at the public meetings and their feedback from those meetings and got some additional insight and comments from them. So let me start with a public meeting presentation. So we had two public meetings in September um and this is the information we presented at those public meetings.

First of all, um the agenda for that meeting is what is the comprehensive plan? Why is it being updated? How was it updated? What stays the same? What's changed? Uh how it will will it be uh implemented moving forward? And what are the next steps in the update process? So what is the comprehensive plan? It focuses on land use and development. But those two things have an impact on other

things such as the environment. Uh impacts water quality. It impacts natural lands. It impacts flooding. Uh so we have to take into account those impacts when we're dealing with development patterns and land uses. It impacts how people travel.

uh if you put land uses together and development patterns together properly, it can promote walking and biking and transit and and and that's something we heard consistently from people during the process. It also impacts how much the networks are being in impacted uh like congestion on the roadway system and how many people are actually uh riding uh buses. It impacts housing livability and afford security

um in terms of safety of neighborhoods, streets, types and cost of housing which you you all just talked about just a minute ago, access to parks, uh schools, and um other civic amenities. So the comprehensive plan took all of those things in consideration. As Kathy mentioned and as we mentioned at the public meeting, it is an overarching document. It guides the the key implementation uh documents and and

tools the city has. Most importantly, the zoning ordinance uh which regulates land development, the capital improvement programs, how the city invests its money into uh things such as parks and infrastructure. Uh and then as Kathy mentioned, the subsidiary plans um that that get into details in specific areas within the city. Uh why is it being updated? Well, the uh state of Commonwealth of Virginia uh requires a

review of the comprehensive plan every 5 years. Uh the current plan uh it was adopted in 2016.

Um it's a chance to go back and revisit and update based on what's working, what's not working. Uh context has changed over the years since 2016. Uh population forecasts have changed. Uh flooding has become a big issue.

Attainable affordable housing has become an issue. And there's been economic shifts that have all to be accounted for. How was it updated? We had a number of meetings beginning with focus group meetings back in um uh let me it was July of 2023. Some of you were at those meetings. Um we had a total of 10 meetings across the city. Uh what was very interesting about those meetings is we the we asked people what what are

your aspirations and what are the challenges of the city and the feedback we got from all of those meetings was very consistent which laid down a very strong foundation for the plan and you'll see that foundation as we go through the vision and the overarching goals. Uh we had a first round of uh workshops with the public uh and we asked people given what we had heard in terms of uh aspirations and challenges

is does this resonate with you? Do you agree? Is there something we're missing?

So we had feedback there. That feedback allowed us to go into actually developing the guts of the plan. Uh we had another round of uh uh workshops and a survey that was conducted uh in terms of the the more detailed policies that went into the plan uh and and we use that to help us affirm the way we're going and make some adjustments along the way. City departments have been reviewing the plan throughout and we've

gotten a lot of feedback from them. The planning commission, as Kathy mentioned, has been very active in helping us shape the plan as we've moved through the process. And then finally, we have uh the staff has met with uh boards and and and and community groups over 90 times over the course of the project. What stays the same and what we heard from the public was protect the environment.

um that people recognize uh not only the beaches and the tributaries and the waterways within the city of Virginia Beach, but the large natural lands that are currently protected such as Falscape State Park, First Landing State Park, Backbay Wildlife Refuge. Green Line and the blue line were uh were on everybody's mind and protecting those two lines uh was was important. And then uh protecting

the the adopted plans that are already in place such as the strategic growth area plans, the uh special economic growth area plans, uh transitionary guidelines uh and other plans that are currently adopted.

So what's new? Well, it all begins with a vision. So the plan begins with a vision statement that articulates what we heard at those focus group meetings and and kept coming up again and again as we went through the process. The vision translated into a series of overarching goals beginning with environmental sustainability, rural and agricultural land protection, infill redevelopment and multimodal

access, economic sustainability and diversity, uh community identity and connections, neighborhood well-being and safety and housing attainment and diversity. So these are the foundational elements of the plan. Those foundational elements were then used to put together objectives which got more into the details of how these goals were to be achieved which then translated into a series of policies which were the

specific steps that the city will take to achieve the objectives and ultimately the goals. So the the the plan is organized around those goals, objectives and policies. So beginning with environmental sustainability, if you imagine a city that has natural lands, beaches, waterways, and then imagine a city that can connect all of those things up with open spaces and and and ways not only animals but people can

move throughout the city in a natural environment. uh which led to the the the other idea of an integrated linear park system within that open space system series of goals and objectives that support that uh overarching goal of environmental sustainability.

uh big idea. We had a number of big ideas that are that are also uh foundational to the plan. And one of the big ideas was creating an environmental and open space framework again that would connect all of the uh natural lands and areas that the city currently has. Uh it can work in conjunction with uh the sea level wise program which is going to have to mitigate and deal with low-lying areas throughout the city. So,

how can you marry that in that that initiative with creating this framework, open space framework? There are grant opportunities out there such as the Virginia Wildlife Quarter Program that could help fund this program. But the idea is to create this integrated system throughout the city.

Uh then embedded within that system and and the sort of working with the active transportation plan the city has already put together creating a linear park system where people can actually get into that system easily from wherever they live and get to most of the the differing areas of the city. Rural and agricultural land protection. Uh, one of the things I think was extremely important when we were talking to uh,

the public was not only protecting rural lands but making sure that agriculture was a vi viable business south of the the blue line. Uh, that was something that uh that requires more than just protecting land. It requires all of the things that the city is currently doing.

Again, a series of goals and objectives in support of that uh, overarching goal.

uh the green and the blue lines uh are are are staying in in the plan. Uh the green line was adopted in 1979 as you as you are well aware. The blue line was is not in the currently adopted plan but it is in this update of the plan and and heard just a few comments earlier about the blue line and the importance of the blue line. Now the the reason why these

these these the blue line and the green line are important. They created the context areas that we organized the plan around. Uh south of the blue line is the rural context area. In between the green line and uh the blue line is the green line context area. Then north of the green line are two context areas. One is the inland area. The second is the coastal area. The big difference there

is the coastal area because of its uh location along the Atlantic and Chesapeake and because of the activities within that area. um it's a different kind of environment. So we wanted to recognize that uh in the plan. So for each one of these context areas, there's a chapter devoted to it, a series of policies, goals and policies for each context area. So you can you can reflect the unique characteristics in each one

of the context areas.

Another overarching objective is is infill redevelopment, multimodal access.

Um if the city's protecting land south of the green and the blue lines, then there's not much available vacant land north of the green line. So the question then becomes how does a city grow in terms of economic development uh in terms of population growth, house housing growth north of the green line.

So the focus here is on infill and redevelopment and do it in a way again that marries up with what we heard from people as we talked to them and that is we want options to be able to get around other than being in a car. We want to be able to walk. We want to be able to use transit. We want to be able to use bicycles to get to where we want to go.

So those two things come together under this particular goal. Uh again a series of goals and objectives to support how the city is going to get there. The big idea is centers and quarters. Uh what you're seeing on the map on the screen uh are the quarters, the multimodal quarters that have been identified in the comprehensive plan. And along each one of those quarters, there's a series

of centers uh that that are showing up in the purple and the blue colors that you see on the map. Uh those centers are where mixed use compact walkable development will happen. Um those centers were organized and designed around several concepts. The the key concept being uh what we looked along each one of the different corridors and we identified where there was existing business or commercial zoning or multif

family zoning and they became areas eligible for a center redevelopment.

They did not encroach into single family u areas that are zoned for single family uh homes. So you can see that not all of these areas are perfect circles. The areas are designed around a focal point with a within a walkshed. There's a quarter mile uh core area. There's another quarter mile edge area. The core areas where the highest intensities take place. The edge areas are where

development densities start to decrease and get down to the same level and size as the surrounding neighborhoods. We put together a series of design guidelines that should support the update of the zoning ordinance. Uh those design guidelines in the comprehensive plan were used to help us put together the central beach plan that you all have seen. There are three center types. One

is regional center. There's two regional centers that are in the plan. One is the town center. The second is the central beach area. Uh highest intensities, more job oriented. You have city centers which are lower intensity balanced between city I mean jobs and housing and then local centers which are more residentially oriented uh and even lower density. So that's the organizations of the centers

and they're supported by multimmoal quarters primarily the Virginia Beach Boulevard and the uh Princess Sanro Independence Prince Sanro Independence Boulevard corridors in terms of making sure that whatever happens along those multimodal corridors is supportive of multi the centers themselves in multimodal transportation. I need to say before I go into the next slide that the SGAAS the currently adopted SGAAS are

are considered centers in the plan.

uh economic sustainability and diversity being able to take the assets of Virginia Beach which are typ which are the natural features and resources of the city to attract uh businesses uh to sustain the businesses that are here and help diversify businesses um in the city. One of the things in the economic development plan was that the importance of town center in terms of attracting

new kinds of jobs. Um so that is one of the reason that's one of the motivations behind uh creating additional centers uh in the city. One of the things we heard uh consistently as we were talking to the public was a concern about young people in the city moving away from the city because there weren't places for them to be within the city. And again that reflects back on the center concept

uh places that are more urban in context. Again, there's a series of econom economic sustainability and diversity goals within the excuse me, within the plan. Um, and I'll come back to that in just a minute. The focal point for economic development in terms of land within the city are the strategic growth areas and other centers that have been identified in the plan as well as the uh special economic growth

areas. Most of those are located around Oceanana and there's some opportunities potentially for more land around the Oceanana Naval Naval Air Base. Burton Station I think presents some interesting possibilities in terms of economic development. And then the last is the Princess Commons area which is being guided by the ATA ITA uh master plan. So those we've we've targeted areas for economic development within

the city in support of that overall goal. The other thing that we heard from people was a need for community identity and connections and community. This is a big city. There's a lot of different communities throughout the city, whether you're in Centerville, uh, Green Run, North End, Little Neck, Great Neck, down um down um in Kempsville. And the idea here is to start recognizing and

embracing the unique character of all those communities so that they can can embrace and let other people embrace the identity of those communities. So that's that's uh facet number one of this particular goal. The second is we heard from a lot of people that they wanted to have a place that was within walking biking distance of where they lived where they could congregate with other

people within the communities and other neighborhoods within communities for farmers markets and other civic uh activities. And again, there's a series of goals and objectives behind that. A neighborhood well-being and safety was on everybody's mind. The focal point here is on um making sure that neighborhoods uh the city pays attention to neighborhoods through a neighborhood monitoring program and that existing

neighborhood plans are updated as needed. New neighborh neighborhood plans are put together uh as needed. Um and to give you an example short drive is a plan that needs to be updated and we heard from the people in CEKC about that being a plan that needs to be updated.

And then finally, housing attainment and diversity. You all were talking about that earlier. Again, there's a series of goals and objectives uh focused in on that particular objective. So, how's the plan updated? Um first thing is is is making sure that um you start paying attention to how you create the environmental open space framework and the linear park system that within that

framework continue existing programs to support agriculture including rural zoning the maintaining the agricultural reserve program the open space program and conservation easements. Uh, one of the things that's going to have to happen is being able to support and and and and and and enhance and incentivize the development of centers along the multimodal corridors. Economic development and making sure that that's

happening in a way that's consistent with the economic development plan and then the transformation of corridors through the city to make walking and biking and transit safer and more viable options. And then back to the housing and neighborhoods update the uh neighborhood plans as I mentioned before. Uh creating the pro the wall quality pro neighborhood quality program and then uh uh uh um implementing

recommendations from the affordable housing study which you all recently reviewed.

So the last thing we presented to the public at those meetings is what's next in the update process. We told them that uh once we got through with the public meetings, we would take that back to the planning commission, which we did on October the 8th, that we would brief you all, which we are doing this uh this afternoon on the 14th. We're continuing to receive comments through October the

31st um uh to to to make sure that we have everybody has a chance to chime in, including comments from you. uh planning commission as Kathy said uh will have another chance to review uh the final draft plan and then make a recommendation to you about whether to approve or deny the plan. So uh moving on to that was the information that we presented at the public meetings. Um and

then we did have two public meetings in September. The first was on the 17th. Uh it was at the convention center. 45 people attended, 25 people signed in.

The second was held on the 18th and that was down at the municipal center across the street. 32 people attended. Uh these are the comments that we received at the the convention center meeting. Um will people change the way they live and travel? And the response is if you change context, yes indeed they will change uh how they they get about and travel and live. Uh the town center is

an example of I remember back in the day it was Pemroke Mall and that was pretty much all that was there and the only way you could get there was by automobile.

Uh now when you get there there's an opportunity to walk and be in a very different environment than it was um back when I was a kid. Need to incorporate health uh care into community hubs. A policy was added uh to reflect that. Will the CATAC plan be updated? Uh the plan right now CATC is a suburban focus area uh that there's some policies that are attached to that. They they will be revisited and um a

neighborhood plan developed for SeaTac.

Why haven't strategic growth area plans happened? Uh they have happened to a certain degree. Uh Pembroke Resort area uh and Burton stations are act have actively are being actively redeveloped.

Um but there's there's more to be done to make these things happen. One of the first and foremost things is to update the zoning ordinance uh to make sure that it's uh clear to developers what the expectations are in terms of developing within these areas. And the other thing is just getting a city getting a better handle on what it's going to take from a a market perspective in order to make these

things happen. Um need to incorporate schools and save travel to schools. uh that objective was added to the plan based on the comment. Uh will there be an urban train a tree canopy in the plan? Uh policy was included in the plan uh in the earlier draft as well as references to the urban forest man uh forest management plan. Uh have citizens bought into SGAAS? I think when we went

through the process, I think there was a clear recognition that in order to protect the green line, there had to be and for the city to continue to grow, there had to be a different way of developing within the city. So, there was support uh from just about everybody we talked to about infill development and redevelopment. Uh has the plan been evaluated for success success or failure? Uh we've had a number of public

meetings, meetings with staff, meeting with the planning commission. Uh so this has been thoroughly vetted uh and what can happen quickly and and in inexpensively. I don't think anything is inexpensive these days, but the zoning ordinance update is is is something that should be a top priority. And then I think there's an opportunity to start working on creating the environmental

and open space framework just more than anything else just to understand where the synergies can come from to make that happen. And I think there quite a few uh the public comments that we got from the municipal center meeting most of those focused in on the green line rural uh context area. a lot of questions about what's going on in that area. How are things going to change in that area

moving forward? The response is that uh the existing plans and policies in that area are not going to change. The boundaries for the transition area, the boundaries for princess Commons and the ITA master plan will not change. We did let them know that you all are looking into the possibility of updating the ITA master plan. Whatever comes out of that uh update will then be reflected in uh

an amendment to the comprehensive plan uh a after it's adopted. Uh we received a a question about a data center that was being proposed u in in Pongo. Uh no one was aware of that u concerns about battery en energy storage systems. So that would have to that level of detail would have to be addressed in the zoning update. Uh and then uh a comment was made uh the plan focuses on landscape

rather than people. Uh we we we let them know that there are some people related elements within the comprehensive plan in terms of attainable housing, neighborhood monitoring, uh economic development, but then there's other city plans and programs that get are more specifically addressing those those those those kinds of things. Um so that's the feedback we got from the public meeting. Um, we uh are in the

process of updating the the plan itself.

We have addressed all of the comments we've received so far from the planning commission as well from city staff. Uh we are working on streamlining chapter 7, those design guidelines to make sure that they line up with what the city needs to to have in order to review developments more effectively and how to make sure that the zoning up uh zoning update happens as effectively as

possible. And then we did uh present all this information to the planning commission and uh they had a few comments that they wanted us uh to consider. Kathy mentioned one of them was uh to emphasize economic development. Uh in the current draft uh economic development as you saw is one of the overarching goals environmental I mean economic sustainability and diversity. uh but in each one of the

chapters in each one of the context areas we do address economic development and the special economic development that happens within those areas. So for instance in the inland area it's maintaining uh traditional industries and diversifying uh as u as as envisioned by the economic development plan. In the coastal area it's year-round tourism and making sure that that's healthy and vibrant. In the green

line, it's those unique and special uses that happen within the Princess Commons area. And then finally with rural, not not to be u overlooked as an economic resource for the city is make maintaining viable AR agriculture. As I mentioned earlier, uh we have focused in on the locations for economic development including the SGAAs, Seas, um the um additional land around N North Ocean Naval Air Station and and whatever

happens with the update of the ITA.

Having said that though, uh as Kathy mentioned, we recognize we we need to embrace economic development a little bit more in the introduction, which we will do. uh and just to make sure that it's clear that that's an important uh aspect of to the city. Uh we also uh had a comment about the uh population forecasts that are in the plan. Um so the population forecasts are based on what's prepared and provided by the

University of Virginiaian's Welden Center. Uh they have forecast out to 2050. We reported those forecasts. Those forecasts typically reflect historical trends. uh they don't get into dynamics sort of moving forward and what what happens in terms of policies and investments that different places make.

So the region itself overall Hampton Roads region by the year 2050 is int is expected to grow by 300,000 people which is a pretty robust rate of growth.

However, the city according to the Welden Center is only going to attract about 30,000 pe which is 30,000 people which is about 10% of that growth. So the comprehensive plan has been put together primarily and purposely to attract more of the region's growth, economic development growth and population and housing growth and and and different strategies are needed in order to make that happen given the fact

that the green line and the blue line are going to limit what you can do in terms of expansion. So, and and and I guess the the the the the silver lining in this is the city of Richmond, I took a peek at their population forecast and population trends. Uh they're a landlocked entity, but their population has been growing over the last 10 and 20 years. And that's because of the city

being more aggressive about how it's going to attract growth into the city.

And we did hear from a lot of people that the the young people in Virginia Beach, a lot of them are heading up to Richmond because it's a more vibrant place. So, you know, that's that's the intent here with the comprehensive plan is creating uh a context that's going to attract a greater variety of people to the beach and really take advantage of the natural resources the city has. Um

so the plan positions the city to attract more economic development u and redevelopment through the the centers and the other strategies. Um, one of the comments that was made at the planning commission is have we over uh allocated or overidentified centers in the plan and the answer is um I don't think so because u market demands are going to dictate what happens within those centers and the centers still allow the

possibility if you want to redevelop within the center according to existing zoning you can certainly do that but if you want to do something different more intense within that area then the goal is to have that more intense development come together in a way that creates a compact walkable uh vibrant kind of place. So that's where we are. Um we next steps in the process again is for

you all to review give us comments in terms of your your review. will take that back to the planning commission uh in December um and then have them recommend uh how to move it forward uh back to you. So I'll be glad to answer any questions that you may have.

Stacy Jennifer then work.

Thank you. Um so that for us to review and then get back to you with comments or questions.

When is that? How do we We'll take comments now.

Okay. and then if there's any additional comments that you want to send our way, please do so.

Um, one, there have been a number of items that have come before council in my short time on council on land use where staff has denied the application.

the planning uh overwhelmingly approves and then the council approves. And um so it leads me to believe that obviously there are items that are tying staff's hands and their ability to um approve a project. And one of those I ask is a there's a pattern book commercial. Yeah. Yeah. And um you just in this whole idea of getting back to making infill a uh a priority, you know,

do we not need to look at some of these items that um are going to keep coming up?

So yes, that's a great question and I know we've been dealing with this a lot with the commercial area pattern book and the reuse of write aids for instance turning into um car washes. So this is this is the nice thing about plans. When we see something is not working, we can go back look at it and and amend it where we need to. And that's what we're talking about right now is whether or

not we should take a look at that at that plan and amend it to reflect market needs and the desire of planning commission city council.

Thank you. Uh one other question I have well um we talked about the green line and we need to look at land use south of the green line. You mentioned light industrial being in there. Have we identified any areas south of the green line that might be prime or or available for residential development?

So what we're waiting for as part of the comprehensive plan, you know, the ITA plan is part of the comprehensive plan and city council has given us direction to look at the ITA plan and consider updating it in future steps over the next few months. So that's where that would specifically identify those areas for potential light industrial development for instance and then that would just become part of the

comprehensive plan. This is overarching and then those specific plans give the details of what should go where.

Okay, we're gonna go Jennifer and then Worth Barbara Michael.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for the presentation. Will you go to uh slide 45 please?

for this third bulleted point. How I don't if this was a question from the public, but how would you define how would you measure success and failure? So, I guess that's my question.

When thinking about the successfulness or um failure of our plan, how do we define if it's working or not? So, that's how did you address that question? Yeah, I think u as as again I think we went out and we asked people through a number of meetings about what's important to the city of Virginia Beach. So as I said what the the kind of feedback that we received all the way

from the very first focus groups that we had u there were some things that were very very consistent um no matter where we went. Uh one was environmental protection, the second was maintaining the green and the blue lines. The third is and that this kept coming up again and again the ability to uh walk and bike and use transit to get to destinations. Uh attainable housing was on people's mind and safety and security

of of neighborhoods. So that all of that became sort of the foundational pieces of putting the plan together. And then what we've been doing through the process is just making sure is is are the the the the objectives, the policies, the concepts we're putting in the plan, are they actually achieving those goals moving forward? And and we kept getting feedback through meetings, through surveys that we had. It wasn't

unanimous, but it was it was, you know, well past the majority of people are saying, "Yes, this does help us achieve those goals.

Okay, worth and then Barbara, Michael, and Josh.

Hey, Mayor. Uh, thanks, Mr. Sinclair, for the presentation and your work on it. Uh, this page here, 45, the fourth bullet point, what can happen quickly and inexpensively. Can you give an example that first response zoning update is top priority? Would is this contemplate changing current?

Yes.

Yeah.

Like B4 to B2 or I won't speak to those details. I'm not want to speak to those, but I'll speak at a high level concept. Um, our previous plans before assumed Virginia Beach was on like a perpetual growth pattern, right? And there will always be land available for us to grow in. This um comprehensive plan is really pivoting us to focus more on infill and redevelopment, right? You know, so the

zoning code doesn't reflect that. There have been spot updates to this um to the zoning code to kind of accommodate for it all, but this zoning code sometimes is inconsistent with what is actually happening in Virginia Beach and from what the market is bringing to us as well. So, that needs to be evaluated in a comprehensive way and then brought back to the public planning commission

and city council for you all to adopt.

It's going to be a lift similar to the comprehensive plan process, but it's really needed. We we've been hearing from developers, from homeowners, from builders that the zoning code is inconsistent with what's actually happening in real time in Virginia Beach. And Kathy, I don't know if you want to add anything.

And we can do that legally.

Um, yeah, legally you can.

Yeah. The process that I spelled out.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The property rights.

The process I spelled out. Yeah. I mean, there's a down zoning and things like that. Those are some things that you're going to have to navigate as well. and you don't you don't necessarily go to that level, but yeah, we we wouldn't have to take all those things in account. The city attorney's office will look at it as well to make sure that we're not giving you all anything that'll cause a legal issue. Yeah.

Page Thank you. Page 51. Okay.

You cite an economic development plan.

Is that Can you show us or tell us where that is?

The economic development plan that the city put together. Yeah, that's the economic development strategy that's through the department of economic development.

So that that gets updated as well, right? So the last one we did was kind of right around co so I think and it does.

So that's a part of this kind of reference a little bit.

All right.

Reference. Yeah. Thank you Barber. Uh yes, I have I hope I can have several questions here. Uh you said that we had directed you to update the ITA plan. Is that by going out and doing what we did before, hiring a consultant and doing the whole thing or what are we planning on doing and updating the ITA plan? Um so city council at the retreat gave us direction to work on reconciling

three uses in the ITA active and passive recreation municipal uses and also expansion for economic growth and economic development. We're working on a plan right now to um to scope out how we're going to do that with city council. It likely involves using uh um a consultant to some extent and they'll work with us to amend that plan and then we'll present that plan to um planning commission and city council for

consideration.

Well, I would hope that the public would have input at the first, not at the end.

Uh so that we know whether we're heading in the direction that the public is interested in or the council for that matter. So to do something and then bring it in I think is kind of backward.

Um, and as far as the ITA, I thought it kind of came up with the development when when the development authority suggested that we have an industrial park in that area rather than what we had always planned it to be. Uh, and so I I think that has not been resolved. But one of the things that I see and and it's having these all these different versions, it's kind of

hard. I'm not sure if I'm looking at the final version or not, but I do notice that industrial development has been inserted in the area below the green line, which it never has before. And I think we really have to determine what we mean by industrial development. And it usually says light industrial. And what I find out now is that we really don't have a specific difference between

light industrial and heavy industrial.

It's what did you say, Mark, in your answer to me? something like it's not a bright line but this this whole concept of industrial development I think somebody needs to talk about just what we mean by that and what what it's going to involve and um I see that really taking on ahead of everything else but when we don't have a difference between heavy industrial and light industrial

and we always say it's going to be light industrial what are we I'd say that's probably Mark. He had given me the def the distinction probably could be handled as part of the zoning code adjustment.

Well, it definitely need can be addressed at that point, but there isn't a clear definition or distinction between light and heavy industrial in the current code.

And that's why why I said to you there's there's not a bright line distinction.

It really talks about what is and what is not appropriate in relationship to the adjoining uses. And so part of that is is is left to the eye of the beholder. And so um it probably is something that we need to look at from a definitional perspective.

I notice every time it's mentioned it's called light industrial, but then I see some of the things that have been approved and if it's got to be heavy industrial, there's got to be a difference there. And I think if we're going to head down this track of saying, "Okay, we're now going to have light industrial in all this area below the green line, we really need to know what light industrial is." And right now it's

anything. And and I I'm I'm afraid that we're going to be getting ahead of the public when we're we seem to be adopting policies before we're adopting changes in the plan. And I really have to wonder about some of these statements about, well, the green line is in the same location and hasn't changed. Well, maybe the line hasn't, but the policies sure have. And I think we really need to make a

distinction between policy and whatever else we're talking about because we are making a lot of policy changes as I see it and we're getting ahead of the public and the comprehensive plan.

It's a great concern that I have and I hear it from people and of course district two seems to be where a lot of this is more likely to happen. So maybe I'm just hearing it from my constituents.

Uh and that's something that we we really need to to be aware of, but I'm certainly hearing a lot of it.

Michael Josh Worth.

Thank you. Well, Mayor, uh like others, I have a few questions, so please bear with me. Um could you help me understand first of all restate in very simple terms what is a comprehensive plan?

A comprehensive plan is an overarching document that focuses in on land use and development patterns and again those impacts to the things like the natural systems, infrastructure and things like that. It is a policy document. It's not a regulatory document. It guides regulatory documents. It it guides investment the city makes. Uh but it it it is intended to be a policy document.

How is that different from a regulatory doc?

So the comprehensive plan informs a zoning ordinance and this is where legal opinion is probably going to be warranted. But the zoning ordinance is where legally that legally defines the rights of what you can do with a piece of property. U the comprehensive plan does not do that.

Would you say in some respects a comprehensive plan is an aspirational guiding document? It is but not a um say it's a policy document but it's not a um and to use your word um the a regulatory document. It's not. And and the reason I'm drawing this out is because a lot of the conversations that um I've heard many conversations in the time that I've been here that I think many people who participate in these

convers in these discussions um and I'm still learning too, but that there's a difference between a zoning ordinance and an ordinance and a comprehensive plan which is just that it's a plan.

Right. Because sometimes correct do you deviate from a plan. And you're are you a consultant?

Yes.

Yeah. Do you assist cities with developing their comprehensive plans across the country?

I do.

Yeah. And so how often do you think um is it a norm that a that city would be change their comprehensive plan or potentially deviate from it if needed?

Uh that's up to the jurisdiction and the dynamics of the jurisdiction. If you have a stable jurisdiction that hasn't been changing much and it doesn't anticipate changing, then uh the updates are infrequent.

Uh place like Virginia Beach where um the uh dynamics are changing dramatically in terms of if you think about it um since uh the city was uh first uh incorporated back in 63 I believe it grew out. It was a suburb of Norphick and it grew out. um that no longer can happen. The city has run out of land unless it starts developing south of the green and blue lines and

that's a policy decision that the city started making back in 1979. So the Sorry, could you repeat that?

So the city made a policy decision back in 1979 to establish the green line to keep growth from going down into rural areas and it reinforced it with the blue line transition area. Correct.

Yeah. Yeah. So But I think that and I'm not trying to be combative, but I think the some of the way you're presenting the information gives the impression that there's supposed to be no activity below the growing line, but it was established as a transition area.

Right. Right.

Um and then uh the process for developing a comprehensive plan and and I mean this with no no I mean this very respectfully, but this is the first time I've ever seen you. Um is it normal to develop a plan without the input of the um elected officials or other sort of uh stakeholders?

It again depends on the jurisdiction that we work for. Um so we we follow the the guidance of the guidance. Yeah. and and and I'm not, you know, I guess I'm I'm just curious why um since the 11 members of this body um are the elected representatives of the people of our great community, the incredible people, uh why we get to this process without being um invited to participate ourselves on behalf of the people we

represent. Is that prescribed by state law?

No sir. And I believe that along the way when we had our focus groups and our public meetings, we did invite city council members. We did provide uh links and continuous CCSRs, city council staff reports indicating where we were in the process and the link to the latest draft on the web page and asked for comment along the way. I know that we also provided two hard copies of the document. So, you had the most recent

draft and we were looking for comment on that and we did receive some comment from our council members, but no formal invitation to participate or to um or to uh provide an opportunity for um for certain individuals that um in our service to the community we determined would have valuable input to to participate in that conversation. I think we could do better actually having gone through this. This is the first

time I've done it. I don't I'm not, you know, here to indict the process, but now having participated in it or not, um I actually think it could be a lot better. Um so I that's some feedback, but we still have time. That's the good news.

We do.

Um uh could you go to uh slide 24?

And that's about the context areas.

While you're pulling that up, I'll just start my question. Uh, are those so-called context areas, are they new to the U comprehensive plan?

Yes. And how were they determined?

Uh, they were determined based on primarily the green line and the blue line. Um, and recognizing that what happens south of the blue line is going to be different than hap what happens between the green line and the blue line, which then left the the land to the north of the green line. And then we recognized that the coastal area of Virginia Beach is really unique in a lot of different ways. So we uh separated

that out as a context.

Well, I guess my critique here is that so is the inland. I my the district that I serve entirely is comprised within the inland district and I grew up within the inland district and I know the diversity of uh pl of um zoning and planning that exists within. So it sort of feels like this was created around the transition area. Um at the exclusion of the diversity and robustness I would a large portion

largest portion of residents live above in what you call the inland area. Um, and I guess I'll have to read the chapters a little bit uh further in depth to determine how that is accounted for in the plan, but um I think the presence of simply four of those categories leaves out um the majority of the people who live here.

So to that point, so what we were looking for here is basically structurally um how is the city put together and the development patterns in the inland area are very similar uh throughout the communities may be different but the development patterns are it's a suburban development pattern. Um but to address your specific I mean there was something we heard through the process and that's

why that foundational goal of community identity and connections was is in the plan. So within the inland area within each of the the different areas there's a recognition that there are unique communities throughout each of these areas that should be embraced and um worked with as unique uh entities within this overall area. So that's the purpose of that that particular foundational objective or goal.

Yeah. I guess I'll have to learn a little bit more about it. I have some issues interpreting that. What might be true in Little Neck is this applies in um Centerville. They're quite different.

Um on the positive note on slide 25, I'm happy to see the inclusion of arts and culture as an identification of um what part of what makes a community great.

Appreciate that. Um the um sorry I'm trying to organize my thoughts here. Uh how um you said you have received feedback, community participation, and has that feedback and participation mostly been driven by the surveys that you pres that you um released online and the um meetings that you held, the public meetings.

Yes.

So I guess I'm just curious if that's a true reflection of the people who live and work here. And I'm not in any way discounting the concerns that were generated during those workshops because I know they're meritorious. I hear them myself and I and I agree with them. Um but I also hear the prioritization of jobs, economic prosperity, uh access to economic prosperity, desire for low taxes,

um that schools, access to excellent schools and educational opportunities and excellent services and um and uh concern about out migration which you noted um but when if you just read the report at least as it's been presented in this format Matt, I'm not sure those come through.

Thank you.

Okay, Josh. And then work and then Thank you, Mr. R. Thank you very much, sir, for the presentation and um the years of work, Kathy, to you and your team, Hank. Um I know it's a lot of work.

um a couple of just comments and I've heard some of the you know um the conversations around the you know what may seem to be um you know a lack of references to economic development and and growth. Um, a lot of that is in here and I mean especially and and the housing stuff in particular um and the SGAAS growing in SGAAs and using you know kind of responsible and resilient um approaches to growth. But

what struck me is in these goals the overarching goals um I don't know if you've got one on you that where they're listed in the slide but yeah let me go back there.

it just it reads almost inverse to what our council priorities were during our during our strategic retreat. So, uh I think to Council Member Luchi's point, I you know, you know, we we we are resolved in in terms of, you know, focused on, uh workforce development, job growth, um economic growth, um economic growth that reaches everybody and and um and and it's so important too because the all of those things pay for

everything else underneath it. Um and and so I think and even even reading through the document because the overarching goals are repeated throughout the context areas and and and some of this ordering kind of almost reinforces itself and upon itself. So so I think if you kind of took a look at it with that those lenses you you might actually work, you know, working with substantially the same document kind of

meet some of the concerns that that were raised.

Okay. Um, the other thing I wanted to, um, and I'm going to pile on to Council Member Luchi's comments about the arts, uh, and culture being being a something we should feature and talk about in the count plan. And it's also a really good opportunity to throw in some references to the creative neighborhood grants and and some of the arts funding opportunities that we've unlocked. Um, and

just a general observation. I mean, if the public after, you know, these years of meetings and and input that we've taken in um has has and as we should a strong desire to protect our rural and agricultural south that necessarily means a turn toward infield development and redevelopment.

um that has important com you know consequences when it comes down to planning commission applications and downstream when we're talking about you know the right aid on down the corner or the church um down the street or you know some of these kind of um places where where where we've seen some resistance from the community so so it's difficult I mean I you know and I know we all share in this difficulty where

you know people say oh we don't want it here but we don't want it here either and and so it kind of it kind of puts us in a in a tough spot. So, um and I guess lastly, uh I remember a prior version of this document with the names of the context areas and the context area that you now call the green line context area was named something else and it was

named the courthouse context area.

Correct.

That's correct. Yeah. Um, and I just I I mean I understand I've watched a planning commission, you know, workshop where where the the naming issue is discussed and I understand kind of where where where where you're coming from and where they where they were coming from, but I think, you know, Green Line really just seems to me like uh like build like build a wall, you know, and and I don't

think that's what we want it to mean. I mean, because there's a lot of other things that go on down here, and I wish the counciloman was here. Um but uh you know athletic uses, our city government is here, you know, we've got um retail, we've got medical, we've got military.

So um just to characterize this area, which is a really important area and one that we do need to have an eye toward preservation. Um I think it oversimplifies things and I kind of I think it sets the community up for confrontation where none is necessarily.

That's all I got. Um, and I'll I I I'll have some comments and I'll send them to you on specific sections and chapters, but thanks for the work.

Thank you.

Go. Worth touch cash.

Thanks, mayor. Just a quick followup question on the issue of light industrial and the definition of Mrs.

Warren if you could answer the question.

Currently right now in our zoning ordinance zoning code we have I1 is light industrial I2 is so I1 permits certain is specified item by item.

That's correct. There's a use table associated with both. Yes.

Okay. So, um, just to dubtail off what council member Beluchcci was saying on his one point, um, you had many good points, I thought, Michael, um, the plan, like we said, is a starting point, you know, right? And it's aspirational.

Doesn't mean it has to change, but it's it's aspirational. Um and and just having a little bit of experience, well quite a bit of experience from the fire department and the emergency management of our snowstorms, our active shooter, hurricanes, and then being on the USAR team with the I was the plans officer for a number of years. So Haiti and some different things is, you know, you you

have you have great plans and you have all the best intention of following them pretty well to the tea until you're in Haiti and there's two children that are trapped subterranean and you know, you have a safety plan. what what exactly is your safety plan at that point? You know, you're trying to trying to bring two children out or or the gentleman out of the uh you know, in the in the in the

department of um it doesn't matter in Haiti, but the whole the whole building's on top of him and he's been there for 7 days. So, you know what I mean? You're trying to do the best you can with the tools you have. Um is what I'm trying to say. And I just think we have to be uh careful when we're doing that to uh not tighten the screws down

but so much so that we have some room to maneuver. It's what we had just said for Mr. McKenzie on the legislative stuff some of the issues that are very important to us. Um so I I just think we have to pay attention to that. Then I just have one question. Um did we do a uh a district level uh attendance or anything like that? Did we find out in

during any of these processes or all of them like was district one most represented district two or was there a breakdown on any of that cuz I think quite honestly when I see some of that and the way the order is as what Councilman Schulman was saying and not that we're trying to draw it not that it matters cuz who shows up can make the deal right I mean that's that's only

fair but you know seeing that the way that is it does feel like there might have been a large number of District 2 people that uh attended um which is a good thing and again if they're the ones that show up they can help develop the plan.

That's a great question. Um we made sure that we hosted meetings in every single district several times and we have a map that shows that pretty much the entire uh city was covered within a 15-minute drive to a public meeting.

But they the attendance is really what I'm I understand we did our due diligence.

What I'm asking is was district one represented in a good amount? Was district 7, district four?

They were all fairly lightly attended to be honest. That's why we were so aggressive with sending out emails and going out to the public. So that we kind of noticed that uh attend attendance was and I get it. You still get you still get the flavor of what people are want.

I'm not I'm not suggesting that there's also an issue of people not signing in. So, we had sign-in sheets at every meeting that Sure.

So, we've got a rough estimate on each meeting that we had, but we don't have the specific numbers because not everyone signs in.

Yeah. And I do believe that we have subject matter experts for a reason to to compile it. But again, back to what Councilman Beluchcci was saying, I think this is and I'm glad we have this time built in in the end. And I know y'all did invite us. I was I've got it, you know, and you know how that goes. And then we we try to read it, you know, and

it's a it's a big document, you know. I need a lot more pictures for me. But um you should see the last one.

But uh no, it's fantastic. But the bottom line is is that we just have to make sure if we're doing this due diligence, we need to make sure that we are putting that in at this point and don't miss our opportunity is what I'm saying. Thank you very much.

Okay, Patrick.

And Mr. Mayor the the planning commission took time, right? So remember this got started before CO and then we came back and presented to you all. Hey council co happened and we probably should stop this, right? And council agreed and said stop it and start it up after um co then planning commission got it and planning commission asked for more time as well.

Council can ask for more time. There is an illegal requirement to say you got to get this done by like January 1 or something like that. So, if you all feel like it's not cooked and there's more feedback that you all need, right? Take your time and let us know, right? Cuz this is not poured in concrete, you all determine when the concrete is poured and set, you know? So, if you feel like

you need more time and more engagement, more dialogue on it, by all means, you know, let us know.

Cather Rosemary.

Yeah, I want to thank you. You are the expert on this and but you know, I'm listen to the people. So, um I think um city manager Patrick Duhaney said it best. Um this was started um during CO or before CO I wasn't in office. So, I'm very uh engaged in my community. So, um with that being said, if you sent me an email, I get a lot of them. Um, and so I

think a um I think uh Councilman Baluchcci said it best that you know we we are very active and uh so if you're having it in District 7, I I want to be there. Um and and sometimes I need like a second reminder. Hey, this one is about the um comprehensive um meeting that's very important, right?

And so um Cash Green is very active in his district. With that being said, the um sidewalks, I want to make sure that this is a very important point for my district from district 10 leading to 7 uh Linhaven Parkway, right? Crosswalks, man, that's I mean, we've had some fatalities.

And so, if I were at one of these meetings, I would want to make sure to highlight crosswalks, right? We we built a large portion of our city without crosswalks. Right. So, um going forward, thank you sir for your expertise. I lots of schooling. I have lots of heart.

To to your specific point though, uh what we did do in the plan was we identified quarter types, multimodal quarter types. Linhaven Parkway being designated as a multimodal corridor which included guidelines design guidelines to to to make walking, biking, transit more safe and more viable options. So the plan lays down that framework that then needs to get picked up by uh the uh investments that

city is making through the capital improvement program.

Okay. So, in closure, I I would just love uh the opportunity for um I don't know how we can do this, but um I I would love for you to at least um have participation for uh I think my district because I was sworn in in 2024.

I would love to make sure that I can help with marketing that uh because sometimes we miss like I think someone said it best uh maybe uh district 2 was represented but I I don't know if district seven um was represented everyone was whole city.

Okay.

I but I think council member Jackson Green like you said you got on and maybe some of the um some of the the meetings were already done before you got there.

If you'd like a comprehensive plan specific town hall, we can work with you all on that. If any council member would like a council member specific town hall, we can work with you all on that.

Okay.

Um, he answered it. So, thank you and great job. I have the the the thick book at home, too. So, I've got a lot of reading, right? I I'm grateful for the pictures, but most importantly, I just want to make sure we have public input that's relevant uh to me being on council. Thank you.

So, I want to I know this is a lot of hard work and it's very extensive and long and it's taken a very long time to get to this point and I really appreciate everything that's been put into it. Um, you're asking for comments. Um, I do have a couple. Uh, one, Councilman Schulman, I really agree with the points that you brought up. I thought they were really, really important. as well as council Hutcherson.

I think the overarching goals should reflect what the goals of the council were. I mean, when we had our retreat, we had economic development as our number one goal and it's kind of lost in um attainable housing.

It's not at the the bottom.

I think that's really where we have set our goals. So, I I'd like to look reook at these overarching goals and maybe could realign them more with what the goals of this council are. Um, on these context areas, my comments are I I think most of them are pretty clear. Like the rural area, we we know where the rural area is.

Coastal, we know where the coastal is.

Emil, we know where the Emma is. But the green area, I don't think that's I don't think most people would know where the green area is. This used to be called the courthouse. I think everybody knows where the courthouse is. So, I'd like to see if we go back and rethink the name for that context area because I don't think it's as reflective as the others are to really tell people what those

areas are. So, those are that's my two my two comments on this.

Okay, Michael. And I I want to revisit the concept of participation um and because um the numbers that I saw and and I don't I don't have the um information about how many people participated virtually or online with the sur through the surveys um at least not on hand, but maybe it's available.

But um but I did see the those who participated in the in-person forums and and Hank, I know you put a lot of work into this and I respect that work. Um I also wonder though if I'm just trying to understand the responsiveness to the citizen input that was received because if you're angry about something or if you're not happy with something, then you're driven to go to a public meeting.

But most of the people that I know of the 400 50 plus thousand people who live in the city of Virginia Beach, they love living in Virginia Beach. And our citizen satisfaction um survey shows that more than 80% of the people are happy with the direction of the city and the services they receive. And those people I need to understand a little bit more were how those people's perspectives

were incorporated into this plan or was it or was it largely driven by the people who showed up? Uh, and I don't know what district they're from and frankly neither do you.

Um, how was how what is the connection between the responsiveness that's reflected in here and because happy people don't necessarily show up and and they need to be accounted for too and there's a lot of them out there.

Yes.

So, go ahead.

Okay. So um this started out with surveys and then also there was like focus groups and there were several focus group meetings and then there was um community meetings around the community and some of them were virtual, some of them were in person as well. The in-person meetings and the surveys and also the um the inperson meetings, you always end up getting a similar flavor to the folks that come to council for

public comments and things like that, right? It's never truly fully representative of the entire community, right? This is the this is the process, right? The process was it went to plan commission. They got some feedback. They also had some public convenings that for the public can listen to them and provide comments and feedback as well.

This is the process as well where it comes to the governing board and the council who's going to adopt this to see if it's if it's ready to go. Right.

We're hearing some feedback from you all because you all have to adopt this that there's still some more things that you all want to be done to make it more reflective of where this body possibly wants to be. So, we'll make those changes, but the participation is never perfect. We tried to hit it from multiple angles, right? There was a focus group of um several people as well. How many focus groups meetings

were there?

10.

But there were 10 focus groups meetings, right? Yeah. Then there were How are they comprised?

Are they comprised?

What we what we got was a an we had at least one council member at at several of the focus group meetings. Um we asked the city to provide us with stakeholders from different perspectives.

Uh so we had community associate, homeowners association presidents, we had people representing the active transportation group, people representing economic development, people representing um just various perspectives and we list we can we can put it in our report and and we purposely started out with that to deal with what you're talking about. Very open-ended the way we set

that up. Uh we didn't put any issues out there on the table. We just said, "Okay, what what matters in Virginia Beach?

What is working in Virginia Beach?

What's not working in Virginia Beach?

What are your aspirations moving forward?" And so, they were very very uh as I said it in my presentation, the feedback we got from every one of those focus groups is really consistent. And by the way, it was consistent with the visioning work that was done, I think, back in 201 14, something like that. Um, so we that really created the foundation for what we did and it wasn't oriented again

toward any issue any specific issue. It was just what's working, what's not working, what what do you envision for the city of Virginia Beach. That's when we started hearing about like for instance we were concerned about our kids leaving Virginia Beach and moving to other places. I mean, we got a lot of um very very similar concepts that was then used to set the stage for our first

round of of of public meetings where we had people chime in. What do you think of these uh are are there these resonating with you?

These aspirations resonating with you.

Again, not into any specific issues, but so these goals that you see here, which I hope reflect, in fact, I've taken a look at what you all did in terms of your priorities, and I think they're all embedded in here. The order may need to change, but where where you're thinking and what we were hearing from people that we talked to in the focus groups and follow-up to the focus groups are

very consistent with these overarching goals.

Well, they're not going to stay here without jobs.

Right. Right.

And it's hard. I mean, you know, where do you start the list? But I think going back and revisiting based on what you all came up with is is something we can certainly do.

Okay. Josh and Amelia. um just really quickly and um I went to a couple of your focus groups and um and I thought um you know the early ones were small and then you kind of made them a little larger and were there the same you know half a dozen people probably you know going to multiple of them um yeah they were but I'm sure you all discounted for

that and um and I know um the ones I saw were really good and and and people did really hone in on especially the these these corridors and the connectivity and those themes and certainly environmental sustainability. I mean a lot of people were talking about that and really I think accurately reflected what I saw.

Um but but yeah, I'm sure there were like I said, you know, the same as our usual folks that that kind of go to more than one meeting and have their input heard more than once.

Okay, Amelia, then worth Well, to your defense, again, thanks so much for the uh report that you've given. I remember where at one point you actually asked council members to make sure to go out into their district and identify certain groups of, you know, people to come. And then at that point when they came, we try not to put them all on one table or one group. had them disperse in different places so that

people could hear because active listening is very important and so I you know appreciate that you all did make that effort of course some voices didn't come out as loud maybe some felt a little shy or intimidated and that they weren't with just their group but that was the point was trying to get a more diverse uh feedback from everyone so maybe next time you go out you may have

something like what Um, Councilman Green said specific district where of like minds they may be much more open to um, you know, saying more than what you see cuz yes, we have some districts that you know maybe that meet almost every week or once a month and so forth sort of already gelt into a certain mindset. So that would be my suggestion is having you know something per district.

Hey work just real quickly if I could add in to on the local meetings I also attended several and I did see really a widespread representation of the community business leaders developers but also civically residents families was not you know overflowing but I still think and I think you're hearing it today that we want some more public input. I'd like to hear from my constituents more folks are not

necessarily driven to come to these meetings because a lot of folks are interested in certain issues but I think it does need some more airing but I also would say we need some maybe some consultants recommendation as well you all are trained experts on land use and you see our overarching goals how can we get there with a comprehensive plan so I mean we're not we're not perfect and the

public we need to hear from them but let's also hear from the consultants.

Okay. Yeah. I just want to say thank you all very much and I think it's uh pretty obvious that with this exercise we went through today, it just reaffirms that we really all what we already know Virginia Beach is a very large complex uh complicated magnitude city of many facets and uh once again you know managing a city uh with I believe around 460,000 people, you know, as diverse, you know,

uh, you know, we got agricultural, we got a we got a downtown, we have, uh, Mount Trashmore, we, you know, we got a lot of things. We got a lot of moving parts here and, you know, trying to come up with a plan that equals the complexity and the magnitude of what we're doing. You know, it's a difficult it's a lengthy process. Um but you know let me just you make a couple points.

Okay. Um you know also you know when we're developing the plan the biggest gamecher that I think we had in our history was uh hurricane Matthew that caused a major paradigm shift in the way that we function as a city and you know Patrick you know bring you know and I bring up that uh before you know the percentage of uh CIP uh that went into storm water projects before Hurricane Matthew dramatically

changed after and that changed the way that we focused our economics and then the economics changes that we had uh postcoid the inflation that we had these are all drivers you know Hutch was talking about changing you know the plan you know because what's true today may not was true yesterday may not be true today the United States Marine Corp no longer has assaulting beach heads as part of their game plan during a

conflict because you got to change the plan according to the reality of the world that we live in. And it's been a very very changing world and you know this kind of reminds me it's analogous to way that we do the budget. It's long in process. We let the experts, you know, come up with a framework and then they put the pile of clay on the table for us to, you know, to work it through.

And I think Patrick was right. If we need more time on this or more input, you know, definitely, but I've been to public engagements at, you know, on a number of things over the years at the uh convention center and we have more staff there than people showing up. And, you know, that's God's honest truth. You can't compel people to participate. And I think uh to a valid point, the only

people that show up have a vested interest or a single interest or what.

You know, it's rough getting the pulse on you know a you know a situation as complex as this. But I'll tell you what then the other thing is the advantage of using a uh you know consultant also we find you know best practices other cities are doing too uh to find out how you know and do a compare and contrast of things but once again you know this is a huge huge undertaking and you know

it's a guide but once again I think one of the reasons that we're a deliberative body we have to adapt to whatever comes We don't vote the same way on every uh you know short-term rental project.

Everyone is somewhat different. It's so unique and it's up up to us to be deliberative, get the information we need. But once again, I want to compliment uh Kathy and you know the effort that's gone into it so far. Uh you know this is a marathon, not a sprint. We got a ways to go and we will get to where we need to be. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right.

Okay. Uh, yeah, we're going to get into council comments. I'm going to make something in, uh, you know, let me go ahead and kick it off. I think this is a very important thing and I think Stacy brought forward a uh, you know, a situation with the electronic bikes uh, that we really have to, you know, make a priority because obviously we're getting a lot of feedback on it from people. And

I tell you what, when I see, you know, maybe ninth graders riding around electric bikes without a helmet, all that other thing, I think, you have a problem of magnitude. Um, and one of the things, you know, with your concurrence as a body that, you know, they'll put together a mayor's designated task force. And what I'm going to ask is each of one of you to first of all go

along with the concept and find try to find somebody who you think would be a benefit of this uh that really can bring something you know to the table. Um you know the thing is I have an authority uh you know I can do this and it would save a very long commit you process going through and I think this would you know really accent the fact that we consider the immediaccy of the problem and you

know to you know to confront it you know dealing with it through uh Richmond and everything that's time uh consuming with no guarantees and we can let's see if we and control our own destiny. Um and you know the objective of the uh task force to renew the state and local laws uh study public safety healthc care risks uh you know along that way we can you know once again look at best practices

what's going on in other cities uh you know and uh recommend realistic and enforcable solutions you know and then also come up with a none of that is going to be meaningful unless we come up with an effective communication ation uh process and get it out to the public.

So, I encourage you to take a look at the list here. And we have two council members uh you know, Cummings and Hutchinson uh you know, that have a vested interest uh is what's going on.

You know, once again, you know, I kind of convened uh the uh process improvement team, but you know, I kind of turned it over to other liaisons.

But, you know, if you two gentlemen would be, you know, willing to, you know really you know, you know, get this, you know, going in a meaningful way and, you know, show the direction. Uh I think that, you know, that your interest in this would really help facilitate things. But once again, if it's okay, I'm going to ask uh get in touch with me. Come up with somebody that you would think uh you

know, would be on it. Um and uh you know, let's not uh you know, limit it to a certain number right now. Let's see what we get and uh you know, to work with Mark and uh you know, just you know, you know, let's get to an answer on this. Yes.

So um Mr. to Mayor, members of council, the mayor contacted me on Friday and asked um how best to expedite this. As you guys council know, if the council was to create a task force, the council would have to create legislation, vote for it, then appoint it. Right. The mayor is afforded authority to create a mayoral task force. So, last time he's he probably done more than this, but the

last one that really stick speaks to me is when the mayor created a youth violence task force and they came up with the recommendations for parks after dark, right? Um Atlantic Avenue.

Atlantic Avenue. No, I think that was a council one, too.

It wasn't. Okay. The mayor. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. So, he This could go faster than it would take for us to go through the regular process. The mayor's asked that, you know, you contact him and let him know. Um I'm going to work with him to kind of send out a report to you all on on whoever you all pick or even some options that he may have for you all to consider, you know, and then um with

that, we'll if council's okay with that, then we can move the we can probably save a month. then the then the legislative process of getting a a task force set up and also um getting them appointed as well.

Yeah. Stacy, you have a date when we're trying to kick this off ASAP.

Yeah. As soon as possible. That's why we're bringing it up today. Uh get the information to me and uh we'll we'll we'll start get it rolling within a week or two. I'm having a town hall meeting on Monday with uh focused on ebikes and so I I would imagine we'll have some folks there that would be very anxious to be part of this.

Yeah. You know, one of the uh you know things I know that drives people um nuts sometimes. I got my doctorate in organizational leadership. So I'm a polit a process wonk. You know what we could do? Even if we get a number of volunteers, we could identify subject areas and then we could do little mini ad hoc uh you know groups that could get together to work on legislation, safety

and a few other things. Uh you know the more people we involve the more we get out. We don't want to make it complex or overburden. Uh you know let's get people that are willing to you know to really participate. Uh especially, you know, Hutch, you know, you if you don't mind, you you had an accident on a bike.

Yes, I did.

And uh it was pretty serious.

Yeah.

And uh you know, once again, when we think about bike safety and we think about some of the casualties we've had on Shore Drive over the years all over the city, I that's why I said this has to be, you know, a very high importance thing. So, let's get it rolling and let's make it a work in progress and, you know, we'll get to where we need.

Michael, mayor, uh, would you like us to email our recommendations to you? Just what's the mechanism? You can do it.

Yeah, go ahead. I'll tell you what. Go ahead and text me. That's that thing and all that way it's rapid.

No, we can't do it.

Email email or just send it to him in writing and then we'll I'll report back out on on a on a list and then council can confirm it. Okay, that'll be good.

That's best.

email or an official email.

Yeah, that's right. Because I The other thing is we want this subject to foyer.

We want this transparent.

Yeah.

Okay. So, let's go ahead and do that.

All right. Anybody else for council comments?

Yes.

Um, thank you, mayor. Um, as you know, we're excited. Um, thank you council for passing where we could honor a four-time Grammy award winner uh Timberland. And it has just been a boost to um not just District 7, but District 1 is included in that because of Bridal Creek Boulevard. Um, and it not just district 7 and one, all of the seven cities have really been calling in and um, and I'll

tell you this, it has been a highlight for our public school system that we have here in Virginia Beach. I'm going to tell you that's what really the overarching theme is our public school system and ourmies, specifically the key word, ourmies. So, I'm grateful that council was gracious enough to um pass where we can have a street naming which starts October 18th this Saturday at

9:00 and then the uh mayor will be will be presenting uh Timberland uh with the key to the city. So, I'm so grateful for that because it has inspired our creatives. It's also inspired our uh Virginia Beach public library system.

He's got several books that he's written. Um, and so, uh, kids are reading and kids are responding. So, it's not just all about music. It's about really connectivity. And so, I'm grateful for council's a vote. Um, and I look forward if you can be there. I'm asking the public uh to be there at 900 a.m. and then we'll have celebrations at uh Salem High School. Um which is not just my high school, it's your high school.

That's a speech.

Bravo.

It is Saturday.

Thank you, Mayor. Well, um, as a segue, I'm sorry I can't be there, Councilman Green, because, um, we're dedicating the sign for Princess Anne Plaza. There's two signs that were, um, created to destroy sign, a sign that had been destroyed by a drunk driver, apparently a drunk driver. And then um with the funds, the civic league and the city work together to identify a new um sign

placement which further helps to create a sense of community neighborhood identifying place. And guess what? We're dedicating them at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.

So that's where I'll be. But um I want to thank the council and I want to thank the staff and I certainly want to thank the Prince San Plaza Civic League and the and the um and that community for advocating um on behalf of themselves to ensure that we continue to invest in neighborhoods um like they expect us to.

And this council answered the call when I raised their request and um like a year and a half later we're dedicating a sign. And I think that's very exciting.

It's not as splashy, uh, but it's very meaningful and, um, I'm really, really excited about that.

So, thank you. Um, I want to go back to last weekend. There were two events that I attended that I I just want to call out. The first is the Rainbow Run with Hampton Rose Pride, one of our ongoing collaborative nonprofit partners, and it was um, a really nice morning at Mount Trashmore um, where runners um, from the Pride community came together and ran. and I walked um and um I think it's a very

special way to step into the future together and that's what we did that morning with Hampton Rose Pride and I want to commend them and thank them for their efforts to bring the community together. Um, and then as one of two liaison with to Virginia Moo with council member Remick, um, I know we both attended the, um, Boardwalk Art Show, the 69th annual Boardwalk Art Show, and I know other members of

council were there as well. Not going to call you out cuz I'm not sure I'll get everyone, but if you'd like to talk about it, I welcome you to because it's a very special Virginia Beach tradition that really celebrates the role that creative expression plays in our lives and connecting us as a community.

Virginia Mocha and its predecessor have facilitated this program for as I said 69 years this year. Um, and it generates economic activity. It connects us as a community. You see friends, you see neighbors. It's very, very, very special. My aunt used to take me out of school on that Friday and take me down to um, my aunt Maryanne and she would take me down to see the boardwalk art show. Just has a special place in my

life. in memory, but that that's my memory. So many people in Virginia Beach have a special memory like that, too.

So, congratulations to Mocha and um and thank you.

You know, I think Michael, you highlight the fact that we got a lot of good stuff going on in Virginia Beach all year round. And, you know, we're definitely becoming an all year round uh destination and things for do. And I tell you, good stuff, Ameilia.

Well, first of all, I want to thank God because as you know, Saturday, initially it said by about 12 or 1 1:30 Oh, 1:30 and we were able to go through our entire event on the land up to 4:30, 4:45, no rain. We had people come out.

We had the history tent where history lives and we invited this year Portsmouth as well as Chesapeake. So they had their displays out and we honored the two um Patricia Turner, Dr. who was part of the Northolk 17 and she was there. We had a good time. We had elected officials come out and we had a strong support. I had Patrick Tohaney on the phone. We had Noah reaching all the way out there to

just double check we're going to be okay. Hawks and Rick Mark Kershman's on the phone and you know people are calling is this gonna happen with this?

Yes. You going to cancel? No, we're going to still go through as far as we can and it happened and people who came out enjoy themselves. We had Jen Hkins come out Kekkins. We had uh delegate Jackie Glass. We had over here one of our board members worth Remick and many others from different cities came out and we had a good time and at the end they did that crazy old boots on the

ground dance. We had the fans but they're all VACC fans. So, we rarely had a good time and I thank you for having such a supportive group like our staff who on the phones with me and reassured me and we had a good time.

So, thank you. Many things are going on throughout the city and enough people are showing up, you know, to uh support the groups.

Great. Anybody else facing Go ahead.

Um, Vice Mayor Wilson and I attended the U school modernization meeting today, joint session with um, representatives from the school board, school board superintendent, uh, city manager was there and the discussion was uh, basically centered around how to move forward on Princess Anne High School given the where we are with their uh CIP and the funding and their ability to do additional funding if needed. And

um I guess the last meeting we had, they tabled it and it looked like it was be pushed out. It wasn't even be discussed until or wasn't on the board till 20 2040. So um in working with the school board, great collaboration with the city manager and the um school board superintendent.

Um they're going to make the recommendation tonight to the school board to uh send out an RFQ to identify potential builders that they can partner with to determine uh to be able to come up with an RFP to determine what they can get with the resources they have. And hopefully that's going to greatly expedite this entire process and we can finally get Princess Anne High School on track and moving forward. So it was an

amazing uh degree of collaboration between the city council, city government, and the school board. So everyone's to be commended on that.

No, that's definitely good uh good news.

Okay, Rosemary, anything?

I it was just a great meeting. One of the better meetings I've ever had where we've had joint the school board representation and it's it's really nice because we're we're coming together collaboratively uh not the school board and the city council but together and moving forward what's best for everyone. and uh they they've got some real creative ideas too of moving forward not just with Prince

High School but some of their they're recognizing that they have uh declining enrollment and they don't want us to be doing like some localities say and like go close 10 schools. They don't want us to say that. So they're they're looking at things themselves to figure out where they can be the most u efficient and uh keeping taxpayer dollars in mind and and so they'll be looking at some different things as

well. But it it was just a really great meeting. I think they want to have in their CIP for the at least some dollar amounts and expectations, but it it's like everything else. It's going to take time, but I I think this is a great first step.

Be great. Um, and a couple things I did over the weekend, you know, they had a great pickle ball tournament.

It was really kind of cool that we got TV coverage and everything. And uh hopefully they might have been able to get the finals in on Sunday, but what a crowd and doing very well. and uh I didn't go to your event. I had the pleasure of welcoming pastor Dunore uh you know coming in he had an installation at u Ebenezer church and everything with pastor Gavand and uh I

tell you what you know we're so grateful to have a faith-based community here in Virginia Beach.

Okay, anybody else at this point? Okay, here we go. Um, the chair will entertain a motion to recess into a closed session pursuant to the exemptions of the open meetings allowed by section 2.237 11A code of Virginia is amended for the following purposes. Personnel matters, discussions considerations interviews prospective candidates for employment, assignment appointment promotion performance demotion salaries

disciplining or resignation of public officers, appointees or employees pursuant to section 2.237 11A1 and council boards, commissions, committees authorities agencies and appointees. I have a motion.

Second.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

I Okay, we are recess.

Spinning back to order. Do I have a motion to approve the close session?

Second.

I

faster than Jennifer Ross. Yes. Uh yes.

Hi.

Thank you. I

have a Thank you all very much. Goodbye.