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Advisory group urges regional stormwater solutions, cost‑share program and outreach
Summary
The Stormwater Management Advisory Group presented unanimous recommendations to Virginia Beach City Council urging investment in regional BMPs, stronger public and developer education, a funded and accessible cost‑share program, and aligning zoning and redevelopment incentives with stormwater goals.
Chris Pockta, chair of the Stormwater Management Advisory Group, told council the task force — a 12‑member mix of engineers, attorneys, residents and environmental stakeholders — reached unanimous consensus on every recommendation. "Every single recommendation that was made, we had unanimity," Pockta said, describing a collaborative review between May and September and six meetings totaling about 26 hours per person.
The group’s headline recommendations were fourfold: encourage regional stormwater solutions (including city‑owned or partner‑managed regional best‑management practices), facilitate redevelopment by coordinating stormwater approaches with planning priorities, strengthen public and applicant education about drainage‑basin differences and ordinance requirements, and design a cost‑share program with clear eligibility criteria and sufficient funding and outreach.
Pockta said the task force advised against adding basin‑specific ordinances because that approach could add complexity and unpredictability. Instead, the group recommended targeted education, improved GIS mapping (including an updated recurrent‑flooding layer), and alignment of the zoning ordinance update window with stormwater objectives.
On the cost‑share program, the group proposed mandatory criteria and a weighted factor list to evaluate projects: public benefit, demonstrated stormwater need, proximity to recurrent flooding, and opportunities for green infrastructure or multi‑use public spaces. The group urged the city to ensure the fund is sufficiently resourced and easy for applicants to find and use early in pre‑submittal phases.
Council members responded favorably, praising the collaborative process and urging staff to pursue implementation steps: consider pilot regional BMPs in candidate redevelopment areas (context areas and Strategic Growth Areas in the draft comprehensive plan), pursue state engagement where legal authority limits tools, and incorporate incentives — such as parking‑reduction credits, financial incentives, and flexible BMP design options — to encourage applicants to exceed baseline standards.
Next steps: staff to review the memorandum and proposed eligibility criteria, consider pilot sites and funding levels, and report back to council on potential ordinance alignment and implementation timelines.
