The inland context area is north of the Green Line and lies south and west of the coastal context areas. This context area will absorb most of the city’s growth as redevelopment within major corridors and centers.

  • Communities would be identified, named and planned collaboratively by the City and community residents.
  • Community hubs would be collaboratively located and planned.
  • The City would plan for and build walking and biking paths between neighborhoods and community hubs
  • Suburban focus areas in the current comprehensive plan, such as Seatack, would continue to be guided by those plans and will be considered “unique neighborhoods” within the different planning areas.
  • Neighborhoods would continue to be guided by comprehensive plan policies and zoning regulations
  • New transition zone policies and regulations would protect neighborhoods adjacent to centers and corridors.

Inland Centers

  • Design concepts and policies of the comprehensive plan’s Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs) would continue to guide development in the SGA areas.
  • The Pembroke SGA, which includes Town Center, would be designated a regional center, and new policies adopted to foster the location of regional businesses and civic uses into the center.
  • The remaining inland SGAs would be designated as city centers, destinations for surrounding communities.
  • New city centers would be collaboratively located and planned along newly designated multimodal corridors.
  • Design guidelines and form-based zoning codes would be created to guide development in centers.

Map of inland centers in Virginia Beach.
Map of inland centers in Virginia Beach (select image to enlarge).

Inland Multimodal Corridors

  • The Virginia Beach Boulevard/I-264 and I-64 corridors are designated as regional corridors and would be designed to provide multimodal access from the City to the Hampton Roads region and beyond.
  • City corridors would be designated along major arterials and designed to provide multimodal access from communities into centers.
  • The City would plan regional and city corridors that support the possibility of premium transit, such as bus rapid transit. Transit-oriented developments (TODs) would be designed around potential stations.
  • Regional corridor design guidelines and form-based codes would be created to address gaps between SGAs along Virginia Beach Boulevard.
  • City corridor design guidelines and form-based codes would be developed.
VB Trail pedestrian bridge rendering of Independence Blvd crossing

Inland Planning Areas

  • The future of the military installations is and will continue to be planned by the Navy.
  • Special Economic Growth Areas located near the Oceana and Little Creek Naval Bases continue to be guided by plans and guidelines in the current comprehensive plan.
  • Suburban focus areas, such as the First Colonial Medical Corridor and Virginia Aquarium and Owls Creek Area, would continue to be guided by plans and guidelines in the current comprehensive plan.
Navy pilot greeting family on tarmac with F18 jet behind them
  • Comprehensive Plan
    • Comprehensive Plan Draft Policies Rural Context Area Transition Context Area Inland Communities & Neighborhoods Coastal Communities & Neighborhoods 2016 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Planning Strategic Growth Areas Burton Station SGA Centerville SGA Hilltop SGA Lynnhaven SGA Newtown SGA Pembroke SGA Resort SGA Central Beach Small Area Plan Resort Area Mobility Plan Resort Area Outdoor Café Franchise Program Rosemont SGA Princess Anne Commons & Transition Area Special Economic Growth Areas Suburban Focus Areas