Virginia Beach Council approves plan to use former borrow pit for dredge spoils after heated public hearing

Virginia Beach City Council voted unanimously to approve a modification to a conditional use permit that will allow the city to place dredged material at a former borrow pit on Oceana Boulevard, a decision that followed more than an hour of public testimony on environmental and public‑health risks.

At a public hearing, residents, conservation groups and local business owners argued the 19‑acre Oceana Pond functions as stormwater infrastructure and wildlife habitat and warned that placing dredged spoils there could contaminate local wells, harm migratory birds and reduce property values. "This plan is deeply flawed both environmentally and scientifically and poses long term risks to public health, drinking water, wildlife, and our city's flood resilience," said Lisa Johnson, chair of the Surfrider Foundation Virginia chapter.

Opponents cited U.S. Geological Survey reports and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality concerns about the Yorktown confining unit and vertical migration pathways for contaminants. Several speakers described flooding events downstream, with one resident presenting photos from a 2018 storm and another describing repeated flood damage to his business and property.

City staff and engineers told council the site was purchased in 2017 for dredge disposal, is zoned industrial and holds an existing conditional use permit that requires only a modification. "We test each and every site prior to placement for various contaminants of concern," the city's engineer said, adding that material exceeding clean‑fill limits would be diverted to alternate locations and that three monitoring wells around the site will be sampled regularly. Staff noted that Whitehurst, the city's existing dredge material management area, has been used since 2011 and is approaching capacity.

Council members acknowledged residents' concerns but emphasized the city's obligation to provide disposal capacity for scheduled dredging projects tied to special service districts and navigation maintenance. Council member Remick moved approval; the motion was seconded and the clerk announced the vote as 9 to 0 in favor.

The approved application authorizes phased placement of dredged material at the Oceana/Whitehurst site under the modification to the conditional use permit. Staff said spoils will be staged and allowed to dewater over time, that material testing will determine whether loads qualify as 'clean fill,' and that contaminated loads would be sent to alternative facilities. Monitoring wells will be sampled on a regular schedule and the city said it will remediate if monitoring shows impacts beyond permitted levels.

Votes at a glance: The consent agenda — a multi‑item package of ordinances and grant acceptances including a $1,900,000 award from the Virginia Department of Social Services and other school, public‑works and public‑safety grants — was read into the record and announced approved as presented; the council also approved a set of advisory‑board and student liaison appointments as read by Council member Henley, both votes recorded by the clerk as unanimous in the transcript.

What happens next: Staff will implement the monitoring plan described at the hearing, test incoming dredge loads against clean‑fill limits and route any material that fails testing to approved alternative sites. Residents pressing legal or technical challenges, or seeking additional review, may pursue further administrative processes or legal remedies, and council discussion referenced the potential for remediation obligations if monitoring indicates problems.

Reporting note: Quotes and attributions are taken from the public hearing transcript. Several residents and speakers cited USGS and DEQ materials by report number during testimony and cited the Migratory Bird Treaty Act when raising wildlife protection concerns.