The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
City officials once thought the patchwork of fields between Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach and Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake would be a perfect location for homes - lots of them.
However, the federal government's decision that more homes threatened Oceana forced Virginia Beach to reconsider its plans.
What development best suits the 4,700 acres is still unclear. Early next year, Beach officials will launch a study that is expected to provide some answers.
"Residential development in that area is not on the table," said Jack Whitney, the city's planning and community development director. "This effort is aimed at putting together more detailed uses and the infrastructure needed."
The city hadn't planned on conducting an in-depth, approximately $200,000 review of this land near the Virginia Beach Courthouse complex this budget year. However, developers and institutions have recently floated varying proposals from a church campus to an office development to an algae farm that produces biodiesel fuel.
"I think it will be far better to do this as an overall plan than if we tried to develop it piecemeal," said Councilwoman Barbara Henley, who represents the Princess Anne district, where the land is located. "I think we owe it to the property owners to help plan this area, so they know what to expect."
City officials are trying to put together funding for this study.
The federal government overturned the city's initial development plans for this section, called the interfacility traffic area, in 2005, when it threatened to move the master jet base out of Virginia Beach because too many homes surrounded Oceana.
Jets traveling between Oceana and Fentress fly over the interfacility traffic area, and federal officials were concerned that more homes would generate more jet noise complaints.
Because the base is one of the city's largest employers, Virginia Beach agreed to limit residential development in the area and even bought nearly 150 acres in the ITA since 2005 at a cost of about $5.8 million.
Navy officials will also participate in the study.
"We are aware of the city's efforts to plan for the use of their property in the ITA, and Oceana is actively engaged in the process," said Kelley Stirling, a spokeswoman for the Navy base.
The land's future is likely tied to light industrial, church and school uses, but city officials want to get ideas from people who live and own property there, Whitney said.
The study is expected to take about three months.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Algae farm a good idea
The algae farm is a good idea. Algae biodiesel is much more efficient than corn ethanol. And best of all, it's made in America.
I know,
How about an offroad vehicle park. I participate in events on weekends that regularly draw thousands of riders from all over the east coast. Since this is already a high noise area, no one will notice any of the motorcycle noise. There are national events looking for venues that offer what Virginia Beach has. Items like hotels and shopping for the attendees. Currently, we have a very large group traveling from Virginia to Sumter, SC for a large, national event. We could have those folks traveling here and spending their money.
www.vchss.org
Connect the Dots
What a great place for an OLF! The noise is already there and the area will benefit from the many jobs and environmental benefits (they may even bring in some woodpeckers) the Navy is promising the OLF host community. Think of the taxpayer money that will be saved on land purchases, construction cost, and fuel costs, its so close. In addition less wear and tear on the jets. Think of all the benefits the F35 will bring.
It's a WIN-WIN.
Your tax dollars hard at work!
Homes and more homes..build more homes that your average person cant afford and then we can have another lawsuit because of Jet Noise! Oh wait.. Myra is out of office it might not be so easy to get another neighborhood built around the airfield of Oceana. Better yet lets make a huge shopping center with a light rail stop... We certainly dont need another school!
Good Riddance VB!
WOW! I can't WAIT to move out of this "Welfare-Jet Noise Infested" area. Absolutely horrible housing for your money and poor jobs around here. I'm going to be like the "Jefferson's" ("Movin' On Up") to nicer housing and more yard for $225,000 newer built homes than live in DUMPS here.
Let Virginia Beach try to tax the military to support themselves and they'll find out there won't be any residents left to tax .... then what?
Good Riddance VB!
WOW! I can't WAIT to move out of this Welfare-Jet Noise Invested area. Absolutely horrible housing for your money and poor jobs around here. I'm going to be like the "Jefferson's" ("Movin' On Up") to nicer housing and more yard for $225,000 newer built homes than live in DUMPS here.
Let Virginia Beach try to tax the military to support themselves and they'll find out there won't be any residents left to tax .... then what?
Hmmm....
If the Navy gets a new OLF, will Fentress close? Won't the new OLF move the current ITA to a different area? I'm not big on more houses but IMHO the roads in that area won't support business needs.
Fentress will not close when
Fentress will not close when a new OLF is completed.
Spend, spend, spend
Let's spend more money so we can see the best way to spend more money! What is wrong with the current use of this land? I don't hear any of the farmers complaining about jet noise...
a major concern
for the council will be what do the developers want to do with that property. I'm STILL WAITING for that new shelter to be built the one of our local developers said they would contribute to. Where is it?? Anyone know?? We seem to have tons of money now, sidewalks, cho choos, etc, where's the shelter??