The SGA Now
The Virginia Beach Resort Area has seen tremendous progress and success since the first Resort Area Strategic Action Plan (RASAP) was adopted in 2008. This success can be credited to dedicated citizens, property owners, business owners, stakeholders, and city staff who have spearheaded and supported the growth and transformation of the area. However, not all goals were realized, and the need for the resort area to transform and adapt to changing lifestyles and preferences persists.
The Plan
Adopted by City Council on June 2, 2020, RASAP 2030 is a strategic plan that establishes new goals for the Resort SGA in the next decade. A series of public workshops and surveys involving over 3,000 stakeholders resulted in the following clear set of priorities:
RASAP 2030 Adopted Priorities
Adopt the best practices of a Central Management Entity with increased funding for beautification, placemaking, wayfinding, events and programming, incentives programs, enhanced infrastructure and green infrastructure to alleviate coastal flooding problems.
Complete a Mobility Plan for the Resort Area to form a strategy for traffic calming, pedestrian circulation, bike circulation, shared mobility devices, curbside management, vehicular circulation, public transit, and parking.
Complete detailed Streetscape Designs for high-priority streets such as Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Avenue, 17th Street, and the Central Beach district. This design will be used to reinforce a unique sense of place filled with public art, great lighting, resilient landscaping, and outdoor amenity spaces that are easy to access and navigate with all modes of transportation.
Provide Connected Green and Open Spaces that connect west into the neighborhoods. It will also provide spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors in both programmed park spaces and natural, passive green spaces that slow, store and filter storm water. It will also provide a connected, urban wildlife habitat.
Create a Sense of Arrival and Welcome by designing and constructing a large public art gateway. There will be a primary gateway at 21st Street with secondary gateways into the Resort Area.
Support Impactful Projects that benefit the Resort Area and the City of Virginia Beach. The focus will be to adaptively reuse and rehabilitate historic properties whenever possible, as well as respect those buildings with new, contemporary compatible urban infill projects. This type of development is both sustainable and authentic and will preserve the sense of place that so many residents love.
Support Residential and Mixed-Use Development in the Resort Area. This is a necessity to achieve the goal of a year-round resort and will enable the Resort Area to become a walkable community, aiding in the alleviation of congestion and parking issues.
Interested in Developing in the Resort Strategic Growth Area?
Pre-design meetings are strongly encouraged for all new developments located within a Strategic Growth Area. The purpose of this meeting is to address how the proposal complements the SGA Plan and critical issues associated with the proposed land use, site design, building design, supporting infrastructure needs, and any other concerns about the project. These Pre-design meetings will also help identify expectations and assist in establishing lines of communication to help the project move through the land development and plan review processes smoothly.