Helping the environment while enhancing the beauty of your yard
2013 Virginia Beach Stewardship Awards
Submit your application between April 1 and July 15, 2013
Have you made any environmentally-friendly improvements to your home, business, or community facility?
If so, please let us know and encourage others to do likewise by submitting the Virginia Beach Stewardship Awards nomination
form. Please email your images to
eso@vbgov.com after submitting the form. In addition, the applications are available for download
here.
The Virginia Beach Stewardship Awards program began in 2009, with the first awards being presented by Mayor Sessoms at the 2010 Earth Day celebration. The success of the program has led to its expansion and now it comprises more diverse applicants and projects. Outdoor projects eligible for awards can include installing a buffer, where lawn areas are replaced with landscaped beds, or replacing impervious areas with permeable pavers, mulch paths or stepping stones. Installing an edible garden, butterfly garden, or even creating wetlands or oyster reefs also could be nominated.
The purpose of this program is to:
- Recognize residents, organizations, and businesses who demonstrate initiative and leadership in achieving a healthier outdoor environment.
- Encourage interest and participation by residents and businesses in becoming involved with "green" initiatives in the community.
- Provide various local resources for ideas and instruction on green practices including demonstration projects, educational brochures, and websites.
Award Categories
- Residential
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Builders /Non-Residential
- Business/Residential
- Special Recognition
Eligible Projects
Environmentally-friendly home, business, or community projects such as:
- Replace lawn areas with landscape beds
- Replace non-native vegetation with native
- Remove unused impervious areas such as concrete patios and sidewalks and replace with an attractive bed of flowers and shrubs that also serves as a bioretention zone.
- Replace impervious areas with permeable pavers, mulch paths or stepping stones.
- Replace concrete or asphalt driveways or parking areas with permeable pavement.
- Install an edible garden, butterfly or rain gardens.
- Install a rain barrel for irrigation.
- Construct a vegetated roof on an existing on new structure.
- Install a buffer in a riparian or dune area.
- Create wetlands areas or oyster reefs.
Commercial and residential development and redevelopment projects
Implement construction practices that exceed the City's minimum development requirements for any combination of these elements: runoff reduction, stormwater treatment, erosion and sediment control, tree preservation, landscaping, preservation of natural resources or natural amenities, as well as incorporation of outdoor activity areas (sitting areas, walkways, exercise or garden areas) for public or private use.
Permit Requirements
Not all projects require permits, but many do. All applicants must follow city, state, or federal rules and regulations for plan approval, if required for the specific project. To check for permit requirements, please call the Planning Department/Permits and Inspections Office at (757) 385-4211. Projects located in the Resource Protection Area (RPA) of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area or the Southern Watersheds Management Area buffer, may require a separate approval. For buffer locations and approval requirements, please contact the Planning Department/Development Services Center at (757) 385-8277.
2012 Virginia Beach Stewardship Award Winners
Applications were received from a diverse group of residents, businesses, groups, builders and developers. Judging was provided by volunteers from the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners Program. Winners were recognized by Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center during the
Hampton Roads Sustainable Living Expo on September 29th. To view the winners, click
here.
2011 Virginia Beach Stewardship Award Winners
The City of Virginia Beach Green Ribbon Committee and the Environment and Sustainability Office are pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Stewardship Awards program. Learn more...
Entries have been received in the Residential, Business and Non-profit, Youth Groups, Clubs and Associations, and the Landscape/Green Industry categories. The judging was performed by City staff as well as volunteers from the Virginia Beach Master Gardener Association. To view the 2011 winners, please follow this
link.
