Comprehensive Plan Meeting

On Wednesday, November 8th, residents gathered at the Bayside Rec Center to give their input on the update to the Comprehensive Plan. On the plus side, residents heard about the themes and place types which yielded Big Ideas which came out of earlier focus group meetings: Innovative-Sustainable Businesses, Enhance Community Centers, Neighborhood Walking & Biking connections, Mixed Use & Walkable Corridors,Multimodal Corridors, Enhance Natural Areas, Linear Park System, Preserve Rural & Agricultural Lands, Protect existing Homes & Neighborhoods.

Each table was asked to discuss these and using sticky dots identify which big ideas they felt were the most important. In effect, the audience was being asked to rate pre-selected material. It was clear that people had come with questions and concerns and wanted an opportunity to voice those not just choose from a preselected menu. A limited number of questions etc were allowed before being cut off so the planned program could proceed. In practice, the room was too small for the number of attendees so discussion was difficult. Each group did report out and every single group identified the same two big ideas as the most important: Preserve Rural and Agricultural Lands and Protect Homes and Neighborhoods.

If you have comments on the process or substance of the Comprehensive Plan development, email the City Council.

Links for more information:
Virginia Beach Existing Conditions: Demographics, Land Use, Housing, Sea Level Rise,Transportation, City Services.