VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The City of Virginia Beach is planning ahead, looking toward the year 2040 with its latest comprehensive plan.
Part of the planning process is hearing the public’s input on proposals for the future.
All cities are required to update their comprehensive plan every five years by gathering input from the public. City leaders say those comments are key in identifying goals and projects for the future.
Virginia Beach resident Bunny Fontrier eagerly attended the first of five public open houses on the developing plan Monday night.
“I want to know what’s going on in the area,” she said. “I’m very happy to be in Virginia Beach, but there are a lot of questions I have about where the money is going.”
City employees across different departments gathered to share their portions and ask for more input. Comprehensive planning administrator Hank Morrison says they need the community’s help to get the job done.
“Our residents are our greatest resource,” he explained. “This is going to affect people’s lives in the future.”
City planner Chris Sinclair with Renaissance Planning says this batch of ideas for the future came directly from residents.
“Across our focus groups, we got very consistent feedback about what was important to the City of Virginia Beach, so coming up with the themes was not hard at all,” said Sinclair.
Those themes he mentioned are key issues Virginia Beach residents think need to be focused on in the coming years. They are environmental sustainability, balanced growth, economic and cultural diversity, a sense of community and access by all modes. Morrison says the environment and the city’s growth were especially important to residents surveyed.
“Trying to balance open space and development, protecting natural areas and things like that.”
For residents like Fontrier, knowledge of the city is power. “This is a very important year with the election coming up,” she explained. “I think they’re doing a pretty good job, but that’s why I’m here tonight I want to learn more about it.”
In addition to those key themes, Virginia Beach officials are also focusing on nine "big ideas.” Those include connecting parks with bike paths and trails, protecting natural areas at risk of rising sea levels and improving pedestrian safety near major roads and central shopping centers.
There will be four more of these open house-style meetings in the coming days:
Wednesday, May 8 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Point O’View Elementary School, 5400 Parliament Dr.Thursday, May 9 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Trantwood Elementary School, 2344 Inlynnview RoadSaturday, May 11 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Zeider’s American Dream Theater, 4509 Commerce St.Monday, May 13 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Landstown High School, 2001 Concert Dr.Thursday, May 16 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Kellam High School, 2665 W. Neck Road
Residents can also voice their opinions through an online survey by clicking here.