A proposal released last week summarized an ambitious plan for industrial, sports tourism and municipal uses in an area below the Green Line, a longstanding anti-sprawl boundary.
An overview presented by Clay Dills of Dills Architects included images that show the transformation of city-owned land within the Interfacility Traffic Area. A 2017 master plan for the ITA and nearby areas is being updated for expanded industrial use.
The ITA is between Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach and Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress in Chesapeake. The city bought a large amount of land in the flight area to prevent encroachment on the master jet base.
The plan covers possible changes in the ITA during the next 25 years. It calls for extending Landstown Road and Hudome Way. Municipal uses are also shown, as they were in the existing plan for the area. Industrial uses could be expanded from Innovation Park.
An initial phase of expanding light industrial uses could lead to 85 acres, costing $8.8 million for roads and $7.9 million for stormwater while creating about 1,150 direct and indirect jobs and an estimated $1.2 million in tax revenue.
A second phase for 135 acres could cost an estimated $8.1 million for road development and $14.6 million for stormwater improvements leading to about 1,750 direct and indirect jobs and $2.05 million in tax revenue.
The sports industry uses are near the Virginia Beach Sportsplex and the Princess Anne Athletic Complex. These could include a multi-use stadium that could cost $12.5 million while generating an estimated $820,000 in annual taxes; a tournament baseball complex could cost $44.5 million and generate $2.4 million in taxes. The facilities are expected to generate jobs and hotel stays.
Sports proposals include cross-country courses, which have been discussed to attract NCAA-level competition while serving local schools. Development might cost $5.8 million and could generate jobs, visitors and $90,000 in annual tax revenue.
Agricultural land would be nearer to North Landing Road and recreational areas, including trails, are nearby. Soils in this area are less suitable for development and stormwater requirements are greater, according to the presentation.
Councilmember Stacy Cummings said the concept seems well thought out and that there is room for various uses.
“We have a scarcity of available land in Virginia Beach, so expanding the opportunity for more commercial enterprises there is the right decision,” he told WHRO.
He said there seems to be support for moving forward with making a cross-country destination and that the plans presented so far would ensure the majority of the land is preserved.
“The public is going to have involvement,” Cummings said. “Everything involved in this ITA plan, they’re recommendations. There will be more discussions about it.”
A new Law Enforcement Training Academy could be included, but he said there is still discussion about whether LETA could go elsewhere.
Councilmember Barbara Henley represents the district that contains the ITA and is against expanding industrial use. She told WHRO she hopes the city can move forward with sports tourism, which she said is consistent with existing plans.
“I just don’t see that opening it up for industrial,” Henley said, adding that there are sites at Corporate Landing and around Oceana that are more suitable. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
City Planning Director Kathy Warren said during the meeting last week that the city wants to gather feedback and that a public comment period will close May 31.
“This is a draft concept,” Warren said. “It is not set in stone.”
A city spokesperson said public comments being gathered will shape a draft of the master plan update that will be released later.
The overview will be briefed with several bodies that deal with parks, open space, farming and economic development. On Thursday, it is scheduled to be discussed with the city’s Transition Area/Interfacility Traffic Area Citizens Advisory Committee, which advises the city on land use decisions within the ITA.
Melissa Draudt is the lead of Responsible Growth VB, a citizen group that focuses on land-use decisions. She attended the presentation and said it included "aspirational" ideas but the public needs more specifics.
Public hearings are scheduled with the Planning Commission on June 10 and City Council on July 14. The presentation and supporting studies can be reviewed online at the city website.
