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Virginia Beach council approves removal of Southeastern Expressway reservation to clear way for industrial expansion
Summary
The City Council voted 10–1 to remove a reservation of the Southeastern Expressway and Greenbelt from the comprehensive and master transportation plans, allowing the Virginia Beach Development Authority to sell the parcel to Acoustical Sheet Metal for a planned 250,000-square-foot expansion. Council members debated process, public notice and future corridor preservation.
The Virginia Beach City Council voted 10–1 on Sept. 16 to amend the 2016 comprehensive plan and the city’s master transportation plan to remove a section of the Southeastern Expressway and Greenbelt reservation so the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) can sell the parcel to Acoustical Sheet Metal for an industrial expansion.
Lisa Murphy, chair of the VBDA, told council Acoustical Sheet Metal’s proposed expansion would roughly double the company’s footprint in Innovation Park and, when completed through future phases, would bring the firm’s campus to just under 500,000 square feet. "Acoustical Sheet Metal is a true Virginia Beach success story," Murphy said, adding the company’s planned growth would substantially increase local jobs.
Company representative Mike Ireland said the firm currently employs about 650 people and asked council to ‘‘allow us to grow more, hire another 350 employees and keep our success story going.’’ He said bank financing for the $45 million capital project required removal of the reservation.
Opponents at the public hearing urged caution. Martha Thoreau said the city bought the land with taxpayer funds for transportation needs and criticized moving the item quickly, noting the VBDA’s planned sale price of $150,000. "A $150,000 for land that is irreplaceable," Thoreau said, and she suggested an internal audit and possible state attorney general review.
City staff responded that the bank financing timeline drove the expedited schedule. Natalie Gilmies, deputy director of economic development, said the lender "made very clear that they would not be able to secure financing as long as the reservation remained" and that staff received that information in the prior three to four weeks.
Council discussion split between members urging more vetting and those emphasizing jobs. Council Member Henley repeatedly expressed concern that the change to the comprehensive and master transportation plans was "hastily" before council without the usual public notice and study, saying the city has purchased right-of-way historically to preserve future transportation options. Public works staff noted the Southeastern Parkway alignment is conceptual and not currently funded, and said alternative alignments and trail connections would be studied if council directs.
Economic development and the applicant said the company committed to an 11-foot trail around the eastern portion of the property "in lieu of the reservation" to preserve active-transportation connectivity.
After debate the council opened the vote and approved the ordinance amending the comprehensive and master transportation plans by a recorded vote of 10 to 1. The council also noted the related conditional use permit for final site approvals is scheduled for a later hearing in October.
Authorities and next steps identified at the meeting include the 2016 comprehensive plan and the city master transportation plan; staff said alternative alignments, trail commitments and further design work would be part of any future transportation planning if council so directs.
