Envision Virginia Beach 2040 Committee The future of Virginia Beach in our region

Transcription

1 Envision Virginia Beach 2040 Committee The future of Virginia Beach in our region October 7, 2011 Strategic Growth Area Office 222 Central Park Avenue, Suite :00 am 11:00 am Aubrey Layne Bert Reese Daniel Edwards Don Horsley Dr. Deborah DiCroce Ed Hamm Gary McCollum, Co-Chair Georgia Allen John Malbon, Co-Chair Megan Paraiso Naomi Estaris Paul Hirschbiel Rob Goodman Steve Kelly Tim Stiffler Robert O Connor, Citizen Committee Members Guests Kathy Hevey Linda Stephenson ODO Office SGA Office Discussion Welcoming and opening comments John Malbon opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. John commented that two themes keep appearing. Light rail and our youth. John will be meeting with two youth organizations to help fill in the gap. Kathy Hevey offered help with facilitating the meeting. Megan Paraiso and Georgia Allen will take the lead and work with Kathy on this. Visioning Copies of the context map and notes from the 9/23/11 meeting were handed out (copies attached). Kathy Hevey explained the context map captures your understanding

2 of the current environment and how the environment is changing. It creates a high level view of the critical trends and issues that will affect and potentially shape the City of Virginia Beach in The tool creates the foundation for vision and is not intended to capture recommendations. Context Map. What is going and what is missing? PORT: It is a money maker or a catalyst for Economic Development. A clearer vision is needed. What is the role? POLITICIAL: Needs to be more effective Lack of regional approach/consensus Lack of municipal/legislative Level of engagement Community legislative agenda by business community Legislative agenda not thinking of region Legislative decisions (restrict government authority for condemnations (eminent domain) Election districts in council (plus and minus) CUSTOMER NEEDS: Sustainability of cultural organizations Still a gap in environmental (open space) Cleaning environment Comprehensive Comp Plan SGA Plan Resort Master Plan Higher Education in region Virginia Beach Public School Good vs. Great foundation Youth ECONOMIC: No tax mentality Tourism major impact economic driver Convention business Beach/Resort is upgrading amenities UNCERTAINTIES: Technology in 2040 Lack of identity Terrorism Future of farming Public safety LIFESTYLE: Brings people here but it also limited; mind set. OPPORTUNITIES: Camp Pendleton TRENDS: Aging Housing and commercial structures Blight Strategic Vision A compelling image of desired future (see attached sheet)

3 Unique What make Virginia Beach unique? Name Physical location Physical attributes: Port support and a lot of recreation opportunities Historical significances: 1 st Landing; all black rescue squad; volunteer rescue squad Strong military community Level of volunteerism Size of City variety; farm, suburban, urban Contemporary Leadership Resort unique Ocean Fishing impacts Convention Center Proximity to port Level of athletics coaching Good neighborhoods Tree canopy and open space Seashore State Park False Cape Park Leader in region Size and lack of blight Access to regional opportunities Virginia Beach Strengths City employees/staff talented Recreational opportunities including recreation centers Cost of recreation center membership Clean air Agriculture Religion: Good group of leaders High level of religious affiliations (churches) Giving community to community (walks, etc.) Aquarium Safe community Good education system Civic engagement Volunteerism - all levels Regional opportunities (Higher Education) Regional Strengths Chrysler Museum Regional cultural arts opportunities VA Opera VA Symphony Tides Baseball Team McArthur Memorial Largest city of Commonwealth Additional information/resources needed: Crime & Safety Stats Civic Engagement Election Stats

4 Are we welcoming? Customer Service (VB friendliest City in US) Tourist vs. Residents Defacto roll in community Work will continue. Next Meeting Friday, October 21 st, 9:00-11:00, SGA Studio Environment and Sustainability

5 ENVISION VIRGINIA BEACH 2040 CONTEXT MAP NOTES The Context Map captures your understanding of the current environment and how the environment is changing. It creates a high level view of the critical trends and issues that will affect and potentially shape the City of Virginia Beach in The tool creates the foundation for visioning and is not intended to capture recommendations. The following notes capture the Committee s work on identifying the current trends and issues. These appear on the Envision VB 2040 Context Map. Under each topic area there is also a section that captures statements, observations and recommended solutions. These are captured to retain the collective learning and thoughts of the Committee. POLITICAL FACTORS: (Current Reality & Trends) Outdated Funding Structure Reliance on Real Estate Tax Leadership vs. Politics -Short-term decisions Smaller government Cities go alone vs. regional Political changes with population changes Inability to fund transportation needs Emphasis on greater governmental efficiency Statements/Observations/Solutions: Need more regionalism Current funding structure for government Lack of business approach Need for additional funding sources Inability to fund transportation, so what do we do? Can technology help? Regionalism and Lack of Regionalism Regional planning cooperation ECONOMIC FACTORS: (Current Reality & Trends) Dependence on Military Low per capita income Fru Movement Lack of focus on creation of local businesses (Entrepreneurship) Unemployment Healthcare costs Growth of Port

6 Statements/Observations/Solutions: Economic Better Resourcing Finance Planning Development of cities/citizens needs Proactive ahead of curve Creating more of an exciting night-life Summer nightlife is great, but in the winter the nightlife is dead Military decline/economic replacement, diversification Military evolution and related economic impact Tourism - Specialized Tourism CCO Arts Sports Etc. Resort Development Promotes diverse activities for residents as well as visitors Economic Development Opportunities Education alignment Environment for Research Development How to develop resources into economic opportunity i.e., Wind Energy Better business friendly practices Business practices cumbersome, bureaucratic Need to attract large employers We have assets to attract trained, educated workforce Too dependent on military Virginia Beach natural resources and location allows it to be a leader in Green initiatives. Virginia Beach is We don t have a BHAG TECHNOLOGY FACTORS: (Current Reality & Trends) Hyper-Connectivity Telecommuting Technology replacing jobs Impact on the tax base Influence on Education Statements/Observations/Solutions: Technology Just hang on! But what does it mean for Virginia Beach?

7 Better Technology job decreases Telecommuting Impact on office space Technology Impact on traditional retail sales Education Technology will not remove need for excellent teachers The way we educate Push for more use of technology in schools and making class environment more Intriguing for students Teachers need to embrace technology that their students use every day CUSTOMER NEEDS: (Current Reality & Trends) Mobility Affordable Housing Demand for Services Education changes Learning Styles Good fresh good and have a safe food supply Business opportunities, youth and diverse communities Healthcare & access to services & facilities Young Professionals aren t staying Customer Needs - Statements/Observations/Solutions: Quality of Life Economically Successful Green Safe Aesthetic Interesting Healthy More city less suburbia will attract younger residents Youth Opportunities Attractions (Rudee Inlet area) Education Putting more thought and money into colleges Intentional outcomes + benefits intentional Neighborhood Preservation Key driver for the City s future success Massive ongoing housing stock, especially lower quality homes built in the 1980 s (What do you do to maintain neighborhood quality as these homes deteriorate?) More Creative Architecture with homes Apartments, townhouses, etc.

8 Jobs Creating more jobs for the younger population (students coming out of college) Attracting Young Professionals - What do young people really want when choosing where to live after school? Lifestyle How to attract and keep Transportation Better or we decline Need for mass transportation Smaller, more efficient buses Interconnectivity (community) similar to the Fairfax connector Arlington Net Access to healthy, whole foods at more affordable pricing UNCERTAINTIES: (Current Reality & Trends) Military decisions here or not Rising sea level More severe weather Statements/Observations/Solutions: The Rising Sea Level; Rising water levels - Planning for the impact Location of major regional airport versus expanding needs of Little Creek military base Oceana Transition GENERAL TRENDS: Demographics: aging, diversity, growing Impact of Gen Y in 2040 Multigenerational households Women s role: workforce & head of household Immigration Longer life span aging but not older More diverse population Insufficient transportation assets Aging housing stock & blight Increase in homeless Globalization Green is mainstream

9 Alternative Energies Healthcare costs Aging Housing Stock blight Road funding inadequate to keep up with required maintenance Statements/Observations/Solutions: Demographic Shifts Growing Population resources, services, revenue deficit Population aging, but not necessarily older year for year Threat and opportunity Aging Population implications Medical R&D Women in workforce Medical Colleges Single Head of Households Responding to Cultural Demographics Diversities Arts/Culture = Economic Development and Promotes Diversity Education starts at 0, not at 5 Lifelong Learning/Continuum Green and Healthy - Alternative Energy Opportunity for excellence Village Needs Connectivity Pre-planning for Road Projects really paid off for Virginia Beach. Good investment for our community Road funding inadequate to keep up with required maintenance Long-range Planning SGA s and development patterns Possible alternative uses for public school building in off hours Building on strengths Family friendly, Tourism, Good Reputation Need to utilize natural resources that we have in a better and more efficient way More creative use of space Having multi-purpose use of buildings More vertical housing needed

10 ENVISION VB 2040 CONTEXT MAP POLITICAL CLIMATE Outdated funding structure Reliance on Real Estate Tax Leadership vs. Politics short term decisions Smaller Government Cities go alone vs. regional Political Changes with population mix Inability to fund transportation needs Emphasis on greater government efficiency ECONOMIC CLIMATE Dependence on Military Low per capita income Fru Movement Lack of focus on creation of local businesses Unemployment Healthcare costs Growth of Port Mobility Affordable housing Demand for services CUSTOMER NEEDS Education Changes learning styles Good, fresh and safe food supply Business opportunities, youth & diverse communities Healthcare & access to services & facilities Young professionals aren t staying Military decisions Rising sea level More severe weather