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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group UpdateStormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group City Council Presentation Amanda C. Jarratt Deputy City Manager August 25, 2026 Purpose 2 •Provide an overview of the Stormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group •Provide an overview of recommendations previously briefed to City Council in November of 2025 •Provide an overview of actions and implementation to date •Seek City Council direction on next steps City Council passed a resolution to establish a Stormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group to: 3 Review stormwater management & its impact and consequences on land use & redevelopment issues Identify opportunities, advantages, or disadvantages to strengthening regulation alignment and specificity based on the City’s varied drainage basins, and a property’s land use & zoning characteristics Formalize a cost-sharing program relative to stormwater infrastructure and policy to include developing criteria for cost-sharing eligibility Determine whether there are opportunities to advance/incentivize Council-adopted policy and/or planning objectives through stormwater management, such as: •affordable housing •preservation and enhancement of tree canopy and open spaces •enhanced water quality •more sidewalks and paved paths •strategic and resilient approaches to redevelopment in: •Strategic Growth Areas •areas less at-risk of flooding and that do not abut neighborhoods or environmental sensitive areas •utilization of nature-based stormwater management practices •implementation of regional stormwater solutions •other preferred land use approaches Task Force Members 4 •Christopher Pocta, Chair •Carol Considine, Vice Chair •Jason Barney •James “Rick” Boyles •Richard “Tuck” Bowie •David Dallman Non-voting members include George Alcaraz and Mike Mauch who served as Planning Commission liaisons and two high school students, James “Tallis” Elam and Gavin Gerling. Councilmembers Barbara Henley and Joash Schulman served as City Council liaisons. •Karen Forget •Michael Gerel •Brad Martin •Bryan Peeples •Mark Ricketts •John Zaszewski Vision Create a more efficient, effective, and well-understood program •A more flexible and practical program •Prioritize communication, education, and understanding •Look for opportunities to strengthen alignment to other, related ordinances Support economic vitality •Continue to (re)develop while considering and protecting Virginia Beach’s unique reality 5 Reduce negative impact of stormwater and flooding •Content stakeholders Protect and preserve Virginia Beach’s future •Use stormwater management to meet City Council priorities and objectives •Prioritize redevelopment •Align (re)development with environmental needs Recommendations Overview 6 After extensive education and support from staff subject matter experts, deliberation, and collaboration amongst the Advisory Group members, the Advisory Group reached unanimous consensus on every recommendation, a testament to our shared commitment to the future of our City. These recommendations reflect a broad and unified vision, and we believe they provide a clear and actionable path forward. Recommendations Overview 7 The City of Virginia Beach has unique stormwater challenges and needs from other Virginia localities and therefore requires regulations capable of meeting those unique challenges and needs. The Advisory Group supports predictable processes and simultaneously recognizes we need sufficiently strict regulations to reduce flooding, protect water quality, support economic vitality, protect against loss of life and property, and to create a resilient City. Recommendations Overview 8 Objective 1: Stormwater Management, Land Use, and Redevelopment •Regional BMPs (Best Management Practices) •Facilitate Redevelopment •Holistic Stormwater Approach Recommendations Overview 9 Objective 2: Drainage Basins, Land Use, and Zoning Characteristics •No Regional Drainage Basin Changes •Public and Developer Education •Align Land Use and Zoning Ordinances Recommendations Overview 10 Objective 3: Stormwater Cost-Share Program •Develop a Cost-Share Program •Ensure sufficient funding and access Recommendations Overview 11 Objective 4: Incentivizing Council Policy and Planning Priorities •Incentives Objective 1: Stormwater Management, Land Use, and Redevelopment 12 A.Encourage and increase investment in regional stormwater solutions •The City is advancing the design and construction of the 17th Street Regional Stormwater Management Facility along 17th Street between North Birdneck Road and Cypress Avenue. The facility will treat and manage stormwater to support future private redevelopment and improve environmental quality. Additional system upgrades will extend east to Washington Avenue, redirecting stormwater to the new facility, with downstream improvements ensuring efficient discharge. B.Facilitate redevelopment •City Council adopted the ImagineVB 2040 Comprehensive Plan on April 21, 2026 with a strategic focus on redevelopment specifically in Strategic Growth Areas . •The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Zoning Ordinance update was published in August. The update to the ordinance wasbdrafted to ensure alignment with City policies and plans as it pertains to stormwater management and policies. C.Continue to tell the story of sustainable practices •The City is promoting sustainable practices by using its Flood Protection Program outreach framework to show residents how everyday actions directly influence flooding. Through a robust multimedia approach — including dozens of educational videos and targeted blog posts. Objective 2: Drainage Basins, Land Use, and Zoning Characteristics 13 A.Do not create additional regional stormwater ordinances •There are no recommended changes to existing ordinances based on different drainage basins. Consistency and predictability across the City are important and differing ordinances or regulations cause confusion. B.Increase public education on City’s drainage basins and the impact of stormwater •The City has expanded public outreach through new Flood Protection Program videos, blog posts, and updated online resources that explain how each drainage basin functions and how stormwater affects neighborhoods. Interactive basin maps, community meetings, and targeted communications in flood-prone areas are improving access to information and helping residents understand the risks of heavier rainfall, sea-level rise, and aging infrastructure. C.Align land use and zoning ordinances to encourage redevelopment and preservation where appropriate •The ImagineVB 2040 Comprehensive Plan was recently adopted which focuses on redevelopment and furthers the goals of the Sea Level Wise strategies. Objective 3: Stormwater Cost-Share Program 14 A.Create cost-share program criteria that meet stormwater requirements and prioritize the needs of the City •The Taskforce provided a series of criteria that staff can utilize when reviewing and making recommendations on the Cost Participation Program. These can be formally incorporated through the upcoming budget process. • A.Ensure the cost-share program is accessible, well known, and sufficiently funded •$2M is added to the fund annually accumulating a fund balance for use on future projects. Objective 3: Stormwater Cost-Share Program 15 Project Criteria Mandatory Weight Project has a public component and enhances/upgrades existing public stormwater infrastructure. Funding should be proportional to the benefit to the public. Yes The project must surpass the minimum stormwater requirements for the site. Yes Project includes green stormwater infrastructure that offers defined co-benefits to the community (e.g., tree canopy/open space requirements, offsite flood management, public amenities, bioswales, pervious pavement, wetland benches, etc.). High Project is in an area of high flooding.High Project is in an area with higher development/density.High Project addresses identified City need and/or priority (e.g., watershed priority areas, project creates attainable housing). High Project is in a targeted area (e.g., an SGA or other area targeted for redevelopment). High Project is a regional BMP.High Project is more cost-effective for the City High Project is more time-effective for the City High Project is redevelopment. Project preserves and/or enhances the landscape, greenspace, tree canopy, and/or open space above what is already required by the minimum code. Project reduces runoff, addresses existing stormwater problem, or mitigates or prevents a future stormwater problem. Project complies with all City permits and other requirements. Project can be completed within a reasonable time frame and with limited disruption to the neighborhood or district. Project handles a specified minimum stormwater volume criterion.15 •Criteria recommended by Task Force for use by staff •$2M is added to the fund annually accumulating a fund balance for use on future projects. Objective 4: Incentivizing Council Policy and Planning Priorities 16 A.Incentivize Council priorities that align with the City’s stormwater needs •Staff will explore how best to support this objective as various land use codes and City ordinances are revised based on direction from City Council. Recommendation to Council 17 •Virginia Beach has been proactive in its stormwater regulations. •Virginia Beach has stormwater challenges and needs unique from other Virginia localities and therefore requires regulations capable of meeting those unique challenges and needs. •SWAG supported predictable processes and simultaneously recognized the City needs sufficiently strict regulations to reduce flooding, protect water quality, support economic vitality, protect against loss of life and property, and to create a resilient City. •Staff would propose formalizing criteria for the Cost Participation CIP as a part of the upcoming budget process. •Staff has begun to implement the recommendations as provided. Questions and Discussion 18