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Poquoson EDA elects officers, agrees to join Start Peninsula and approves wetland-delineation submission
Summary
At its April 1 meeting, the Poquoson City Economic Development Authority re-elected key officers, authorized participation in the Start Peninsula entrepreneurship program and approved submission of wetland-delineation findings to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The Poquoson City Economic Development Authority on April 1 re-elected its officers, voted to allow the chairman to execute a memorandum of understanding to participate in the Start Peninsula entrepreneurship program and approved submitting wetland-delineation findings to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The actions matter for the city's small-business outreach and an active planning project: the MOU would keep Poquoson eligible for Start Peninsula, a regional micro-pitch program that offers seed grants and mentoring to early-stage entrepreneurs; the wetland findings move a local property closer to state review and potential permitting outcomes.
The board approved an amended agenda and its consent agenda (minutes from Feb. 4, 2025, and the treasurer's March report) by voice vote. The board then conducted elections: Christie was nominated and approved to continue in the secretary role; Chairman Booth accepted nomination and was re-elected; Kathy (vice chair) and Cara (treasurer) were re-elected together. The motion to reappoint the vice chair and treasurer carried with a recorded outcome described in the meeting as "5-0-1 abstention." The meeting record does not provide full first names for some directors.
On Start Peninsula, Assistant City Manager Tanya O'Connell briefed the board that the program's local share requested from Poquoson is $1,246 per year; the program itself has operated since February 2016. O'Connell told the board the requested funds currently sit in the city general fund rather than the EDA budget and asked for the chairman's authority to sign the MOU so Hampton's EDA could proceed with program administration. The board approved the motion to allow the chairman to execute the MOU for fiscal year 2026 and the following four years; the floor vote recorded five "yes" votes and no recorded no votes.
O'Connell said Start Peninsula runs four pitch sessions; winners receive awards (top three receive $5,000 each; additional awards of smaller amounts such as $500 may be given). She also said staff will return with data on how many Poquoson entrepreneurs have participated historically. O'Connell said the city will track entrants and local participation so the EDA can evaluate future continued participation.
The board also approved submitting the wetland-delineation report prepared by Studies and Solutions to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Staff said the study found that the ditches on the site are jurisdictional and that a limited area of wetlands exists on the back parcel but not on the front parcel. The submission requires updating contact information (removing the late Dave Callison as primary contact) before it is filed; a motion to allow the chairman to sign the submission carried on a recorded "yes" vote from the directors present.
Other items on the agenda included ongoing EDA budget discussion and follow-up work on a potential Hampton Roads Alliance partnership; the board asked staff to return with more information. Staff and board members also discussed local right-of-way and road-connection options related to City Hall Avenue and Wythe Creek Road as part of longer-term planning but took no formal action on property swaps or eminent-domain steps.
The meeting record shows the board will forward zoning items and other matters to City Council for final action when appropriate. Staff said the City Council will consider budget items and certain zoning amendments at its April 14 meeting.
