Virginia Beach’s annual wish list for the state may again seek greater powers to control sudden gatherings that can become violent. The city also wants to expand a tax tool for flood prevention and make it harder to approve dense development in rural areas.
A public hearing on Virginia Beach’s draft legislative agenda is scheduled Tuesday at City Hall. Council should vote on the proposal Nov. 10.
A key ask will be passing a bill by Del. Virgil Thornton that was continued from this year’s session but was expected to be reintroduced. The ‘pop-up” legislation wants emergency tools for localities to handle unpermitted events, often fueled by social media, that draw large, unruly crowds. It isn’t just a Virginia Beach issue, but the city has struggled with the events, especially in the resort area.
Virginia Beach is now calling the areas established in response to unplanned gatherings that become a safety risk “community safety zones." Brent McKenzie, the city legislative affairs director, told council last week the term “pop-up” led to confusion about the bill’s intent.
A task force looking at safety issues in Virginia Beach may also contribute recommendations, though those haven’t been released. Its final meeting is Oct. 29.
In another matter affecting the resort, the draft legislative agenda wants to expand the Tourism Development Financing Program, which uses state and local sales tax revenue. The change would be a new tier of the program to help pay for redevelopment with state income tax dollars generated from new jobs.
Virginia Beach’s requests may also ask the state to expand a tax tool to pay for major flooding needs. This year, the General Assembly gave localities the power to hold local referendums on a 1% sales tax increase to pay for school building needs. Language also allowed communities in Northern Virginia to ask for that money to go to transportation.
“Here, we’re proposing to add language that would allow us to add the ability to use the funds not just for school construction but also for flood resiliency projects to help fund our CSRM obligations,” McKenzie said.
The Coastal Storm Risk Management plan for Virginia Beach is being developed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of a $13.5 million feasibility study. Earlier this year, council agreed to advance a Lynnhaven surge barrier portion of the plan while the study continues. A draft report and environmental report may be out in December.
City Manager Patrick Duhaney said the city would talk with other cities to guage support.
“In particular, Hampton and Norfolk, they’re all looking for ways to pay for their 35% share of the CSRM obligations,” Duhaney said.
Councilmember Jennifer Rouse noted that there could be a “mismatch in expectations” for local voters if that sort of request was placed on the ballot so it would need to be clearly spelled out.
McKenzie said the city and schools would determine how money would be split if the public supported a referendum.
The city may also again seek a charter change through the General Assembly that would raise the threshold of votes needed to approve certain types of development below Virginia Beach’s Blue Line, a city services boundary above the rural area.
The city previously asked the General Assembly to change the city charter so a supermajority of council — nine of 11 members —is needed to rezone property south of the Blue Line to a higher density or a more intense zoning district.
However, the measure failed in a committee because of concerns about requiring a supermajority for land-use decisions. Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson, who introduced it last year, said it was worth pursuing again.
A separate public hearing will be held for the proposed charter change.
The draft agenda includes other priorities, such as supporting affordable housing initiatives while maintaining control of land-use decisions. The city also backs more resources for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and programs to help people afford rent and for first-time homebuyers.
