Amid an effort to grow the Virginia Beach economy, a new review of city-owned properties identified more than 1,100 acres that could accommodate industrial or business development.
About three-quarters are in one council district and most of that is located within the Interfacility Traffic Area, according to a presentation Tuesday at City Hall. The zone is also below the city's anti-sprawl boundary called the Green Line and attempts to expand light industrial uses there have been controversial.
The ITA is between Naval Air Station Oceana and Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake. Development is constrained there to prevent encroachment on the military base, especially for residential uses.
However, some development is possible and uses such as recreation are encouraged in the plan for the area.
Earlier this year, economic development officials looked at some of the land for light industrial uses and an expansion of the existing Innovation Park. The ITA plan is expected to be updated to include light industrial with recreational uses and a possible home for a new Law Enforcement Training Academy.
The property review discussed on Tuesday included narrowing candidate parcels based on acreage and criteria such as utility access and environmental issues, according to Emily Archer, the Economic Development deputy director.
“We cast a wide net,” Archer said. “Anything that had any potential or a passing score was advanced, but we were very much aware that there were ones that were just not suitable.”
The numbers discussed don’t mean all the acreage can be developed.
Eight hundred and seventy-four acres of the 1,163 identified are within council District 2. It is represented by Barbara Henley, who has spoken against expanding light industrial uses there.
“Part of me is surprised how much property you were able to locate,” City Councilmember Joash Schulman said during the meeting. “And then most of the rest of me is not really surprised by how much property there isn’t available after going through a multiyear analysis through thousands of parcels.”
He supported examining privately held land, including that which might be adjacent to some city-owned parcels under discussion.
“That’d be nice to know what other people have in relation to what we have,” Schulman said.
City Manager Patrick Duhaney recommended that examining privately held land should wait until the adoption of an updated comprehensive plan, which is anticipated in the coming months.
Henley said a consulting firm is expected to oversee the update of the ITA plans and possible incorporation of light industrial uses. She said more public engagement in the process is needed.
“This is going to be a game-changer for everything below the Green Line,” Henley said.
