Welcome to the Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan Update web page, where you’ll find useful information about this long-range planning tool and ways to actively participate in our update process.  The Comprehensive Plan, required by state law and adopted by City Council, is the official land use planning guide for Virginia Beach and is used to help channel growth, protect neighborhoods, improve our economy, help manage our limited resources and, ultimately, advance the overall quality of life for citizens.

The last two plans, one adopted in 1997 and the other in 2003, received the highest award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association for a professional planning document.

Last fall, the city held 12 public open houses to learn what planning issues and goals were most important on the minds of our citizens.  We also met with a wide range of stakeholder groups to gather information of interest to them.  After carefully considering all comments, a final draft of the Comprehensive Plan was completed on October 1, 2009.   This Plan includes a:

• Policy Document that embodies the key planning recommendations affecting land use, neighborhood preservation, transportation systems, natural resources and economic vitality, among other topics. 
• Technical Report that includes a wealth of data and information on a wide range of planning elements.  
• Reference Handbook, a new entry that includes information on community design, a list of other plans and studies adopted as part of the comprehensive plan by reference and an Agenda for Future Action to be used to help advance certain policies of the Comp Plan.
• Princess Anne Corridor Study that has been amended and updated to reflect current realities in this area.

Three advertised public information meetings were held in late October to afford citizens the opportunity to learn more about the final draft plan and talk to city planners about issues of interest to them.  These meetings occurred on October 22nd at Bayside, October 26th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and October 29th at Creeds Elementary School. Comments from the public information meetings and stakeholders are available for review under Related Documents.

The Planning Commission considered all comments received and held a public hearing on November 12th  to obtain further public comment on this plan.   Following discussion of these comments, the Planning Commission approved their recommended changes to the Comprehensive Plan Final Draft for City Council consideration.

• Exhibit 1A (Planning Commission Recommendation)
• Exhibit 1B (Other Suggested Revisions)

You can access the final draft of the updated Comprehensive Plan and the Planning Commission’s recommended changes to this Plan by clicking on the links above or those listed under Related Pages to the right.  These are also available at any Virginia Beach Public Library location, or at the Department of Planning and Community Development, 2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 115.

Next Steps in the Public Review Process
The final steps in this process to update the comprehensive plan include two City Council public meetings. The first is a session to obtain additional public comment and is scheduled for

Tuesday, December 1st at 6:00pm in the City Hall Building (2nd floor City Council Chamber).  

At the second meeting, the City Council will consider final action to adopt the Comprehensive Plan.  This meeting is scheduled for

Tuesday, December 8th at 6:00pm in the City Hall Building (2nd floor City Council Chamber).

For further information regarding the Comprehensive Plan Update, please contact the Department of Planning at 385-4621 or e-mail cpupdate@vbgov.com.

Thank you for your interest in this update to the Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan. It truly reflects our community vision and collectively, It’s Our Future!