New Draft Now Available -

Oceanfront Resort District Form-Based Code, May 1, 2012

Summary of Revisions to May 1, 2012 Draft

 

​Previous ORD Boundary	​Additions to ORD
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December 2011 Draft 

 

On December 2, 2008, the City adopted the Resort Area Strategic Action Plan (RASAP),

which provides a vision for the Oceanfront Resort Area and an implementation strategy to achieve this vision.  The plan revealed that, like many other "Euclidian" zoning codes throughout the nation, the City's existing zoning code does not support the urban resort vision identified for this area.  The plan concluded that the best way to provide clear, concise, and responsive regulations to enable the vision of RASAP is known as Form-Based Code (FBC).

Form-Based Codes provide a different approach to zoning as a means to regulate land development.  Rather than focusing on the separation of land uses, form-based codes focus on the physical form of development.  They address the relationship between buildings and public space and strive to create an integrated development pattern.  Unlike design guidelines, form-based codes are regulatory, not advisory.  

To help develop a Form-Based Code for the Oceanfront Resort Area, the City is working with Urban Design Associates (UDA) and CodeStudio, who introduced this effort at a public work session on December 10, 2009.  Download presentation, "FBC for the Oceanfront Resort Area"

 

In 2010, City Staff and consultants gathered field data and met with various stakeholders, including property owners, business owners, residents, and the Navy to develop a draft Form-Based Code for the Oceanfront.  Initial feedback resulted in a draft released in March 14, 2011. 

  

On Monday, April 25, 2011 the City held a Public Meeting and Workshop at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.  The meeting began with a presentation on the March draft of the Oceanfront Form-Based Code (view video of presentation).  The presentation was  followed by a workshop in which property owners worked directly with staff to find out how the draft code applies to their property.

 

Since this past March, City staff and consultants have been gathering feedback from property owners, residents, and citizens on how to refine the Code to achieve the community's vision for the oceanfront resort area.  Once the final draft is available, the Oceanfront Form-Based Code will go through the standard process of public hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council. 

 

The City held a Public Meeting and Workshop Thursday, November 17 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Room 2BCD.  The meeting began with a brief presentation on the October draft of the Oceanfront Form-Based Code followed by a presentation on the Resort Parking Strategy.  After the presentations, a workshop was held to allow citizens to find out how the Form-Based Code would affect specific properties and voice their concerns one-on-one with City staff.