Poquoson planners to begin targeted update of comprehensive plan for north side of Victory Boulevard

The Poquoson Planning Commission voted to begin a targeted update of the city’s comprehensive plan for the north side of Victory Boulevard following a staff debrief of a June retreat.

Staff outlined priorities identified at the retreat — protecting wetlands, encouraging cohesive rather than piecemeal development, planned connectivity, and community space — and proposed using a phased, multi‑year approach to change rather than immediate large-scale redevelopment. "We're gonna do the comp plan first," staff said, urging that zoning changes be enabled through the plan rather than imposed without public input.

Commissioners emphasized citizen engagement and landowner outreach. Several members said the city should survey property owners and the broader public to establish priorities before drafting zoning changes. Staff noted a 28% response rate on a past comprehensive-plan mailing and said it would draft both a property‑owner and a community survey and bring a draft back for commission review next month.

Discussion also touched on market constraints: commissioners cited the area’s distance from the interstate and nearby research-and-development clusters linked to NASA as factors that have limited commercial growth. Several speakers urged balancing commercial opportunity with preservation of natural areas and tailoring uses (for example, senior housing or a community center) to local needs.

The commission did not adopt zoning changes at the meeting. Instead members directed staff to prepare outreach materials and a draft survey and to return with those materials for commission review before broader public hearings and any code amendments.

Next steps: staff will draft the surveys and bring them to the commission at the next meeting; public hearings and joint sessions with City Council were discussed as subsequent steps in the planning process.