City of Virginia Beach Resort Area Strategic Plan Update · • Need parking for Old Beach Farmer’s Market • Less surface parking and more structured parking • Losing business

City of Virginia BeachResort Area Strategic Plan UpdateSummary of August 22, 2019 Public Workshop & Public Survey

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AGENDA

3:00

3:30

3:40

4:45

Review Results of Public Workshop and Survey

Rudee Loop Discussion (Ron Williams, Deputy City Manager)

RASAP Steering Committee Working Session

Schedule / Next Steps

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Public Workshop & Online Survey

Approximately 200 Attendees at Public Workshop

1,351 Participants completed the On-line Survey

29,607 Responses

2,779 Comments

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August 22, 2019 Public Workshop

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The Virginia Aquarium is the most visited cultural attraction in the

Commonwealth of Virginia with approximately 700,000 visitors each year. The

Aquarium’s expansion plans include:

Warm-Up Exercise: The Virginia Aquarium

• A new entry with a new exhibit for sea lions, seals, and other pinnipeds

• Addition on the existing parking lot

• Interior renovation

• Landscaped pedestrian bridge

• New 1,800 space parking structure across the street (multi-purpose serving the oceanfront during events, with shuttles to the center of the resort area)

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Warm-Up Exercise: The Virginia Aquarium

N0 75 150

PHASING DIAGRAM

EXPANSION BUILDING

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

FUTURE RENOVATION

FUTURE PARKING GARAGE LOCATION

NEW ENTRY & PINNIPED EXHIBIT

A

C

D

B

A’

What are you most excited about in the Virginia Aquarium’s proposed

expansion plans?

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Warm-Up Exercise: The Virginia Aquarium (workshop summary)

LOVE IT • Landscaped pedestrian bridge

• New entry addition and building renovations

• New 1,800 space parking structure (serving the oceanfront during events)

Additional Comments:

• Make the pedestrian bridge a gateway

• Redo the theater

• Keep parking for boat ramp

• Create more rotating exhibits

• Shuttle to the Oceanfront

• Needs to feel a part of the Oceanfront

• Lush landscaping (native vegetation)

• Worried about Birdneck congestion

• Design the pedestrian bridge to reduce

vehicular speeds below

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Warm-Up Exercise: The Virginia Aquarium (survey summary)

Survey says...

What are you most excited about in the Virginia Aquarium’s plans?

LOVE IT / LIKE IT • Landscaped pedestrian bridge (81%)

• New entry addition and building renovations (82%)

• New 1,800 space parking structure (serving the oceanfront during events (72%)

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Exercise 1: 21st Street Gateway - Sense of Arrival

GATEWAY CONCEPTAUGUST 21, 2019OCEANFRONT SENSE OF ARRIVAL

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Exercise 1: 21st Street Gateway / Sense of Arrival

1. The 21st Street Gateway was selected as the most important to create

a sense of welcome and arrival to the Resort Area. Take a look at the

rendering and tell us what your top five favorite items are:

1. Naturalized Area2. Stormwater Pond3. Deck Overlook4. Looped Trail5. Public Park6. Public Art - Gateway Sculpture

7. Horticultural Display Gardens8. Parking Area for special

events9. Fountain & Interactive Art10. Projected Art (images/video

projected onto structure)

2. What other features would you include?

3. What features would you specifically not want to include?

11. Visitor Center/MOCA campus extension

12. Welcome Arch/Pergola13. Perimeter Trees & Lights

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Exercise 1: 21st Street Gateway (workshop summary)

LOVE IT • Gateway sculpture

• Welcome Arch

• MOCA Expansion

• Naturalized area

• Stormwater retention

LIKE IT • Looped Trail

• Public Park

• Public Art

• Projected Art

• Fountain and Interactive Art

Additional Comments :

• Good concept, wrong location (should be farther east)

• Uncomfortable between two interstates; no one would use it

• Re-purpose Visitor Center; YES to MOCA expansion here

• Park fighter jets there

• NO to a park, hangout area

• Low-maintenance natural vegetation

• Visitor center should be minimal (bathrooms, 1 person, rack cards)

• Welcome arch will slow down traffic; try to slow traffic sooner (at Birdneck exit)

• Make better pedestrian connections (pedestrian bridges)

• More passive park vs. programmed

• Add a renewable energy source (wind turbines, solar?)

• Add a living wall and photo/Instagram spot

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Exercise 1: 21st Street Gateway (survey summary)

Survey says...

What do you think about the elements shown in the rendering?

LOVE IT/ LIKE IT• Parking area for special events (71%)

• MOCA expansion at Visitor’s Center (69%)

• Welcome Arch / Pergola (60%)

• Public Art / Gateway sculpture (59%)

• Projected Art (52%)

Eh...(significant percentage)• Public Art / Gateway sculpture (21%)

• Projected Art (23%)

Write-in Survey Comments:

• NO Concrete

• NO Palm Trees (native landscaping only)

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Exercise 1: 21st Street Gateway (survey summary)


• Green / open space / stormwater management / trees / shade

• Walking Trails / Bike paths (connect to Oceanfront)

• Debate over modern vs. traditional public art

• Desire for local artists to be included

• Art should allude to natural beauty of the local area / be connected to nature

• Difficulty understanding the scale

• Cover the back of the Convention Center

• Very SMALL visitor center w/ restrooms; Make a physical connection to MOCA (expand) and the Convention Center

• Changeable electronic sign for art, events, and public safety announcements

• Think about the length of time will stay here and design for that / could be an uncomfortable pace between two highways

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Exercise 2: Getting Around the Resort Area

A comprehensive mobility plan has been requested to address issues like

parking, traffic-calming, pedestrian circulation, shared mobility devices

(bikeshare, e-scooters, etc.), curbside management, public transit, vehicular

circulation, etc.

1. What streets should be emphasized for bike/pedestrian/micro mobility

routes?

2. What streets should be emphasized for public transit circulation

(predictable, convenient trolley routes or shuttles)?

3. What streets should be emphasized for free- moving vehicular circulation

(clear routes to avoid congestion)?

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Exercise Map: Mobility & Transportation Routes

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Exercise 2: Getting Around the Resort Area (workshop summary)

Pedestrian Emphasis:

• Atlantic, Norfolk, 17th, 19th, 24th, Mediterranean

• ViBe Creative District

• N/S streets for schools

• All streets west of Arctic

• Laskin

• Norfolk Southern R.O.W. (trail)

Transit Emphasis:

• 17th, 18th or 19th Streets

• Atlantic & Pacific

• General Booth, Birdneck, Laskin

Vehicular Emphasis:

• Birdneck, Pacific, General Booth

• 21st and 22nd


• Concern that people don’t use the trolley

• Create a transit loop system

• Add a ViBe shuttle

• Laskin is in most need of safe bike/ped crossings

• Reduce speed limit on Pacific form 5th to 42nd streets

• Major corridors should accommodate bike/ped with vehicle fo-

cus, all others should prioritize bike/peds first

• Need dedicated bike trail

• Reduce cut-through streets

• Need curb and gutter; no ditches

• Traffic light timing should be adjusted

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1. Take a look at the parking shown on the map. Mark on the map (or list locations within the Resort Area) where you think additional parking is

needed?

Exercise 3: Parking

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Exercise 3: Parking (workshop summary)

Where is additional parking needed:

• 17th and Pacific

• North of 31st street, every 3 blocks

• Atlantic Ave during the off-season

• Atlantic Ave year-round (eliminate the trolley)

• 4th-9th Streets (parking desert)

• 34th Street

• Birdneck Road

• ViBe

• Visitor’s Information Center

• 21st Street/Dome Site

• Between Pacific and Arctic (space out parking)

• The Jetty


• City needs to participate in Public/Private development of parking

• More opportunity along Atlantic and Pacific Avenue.

• Manage/reserve spaces through parking app to alleviate stress

• Free parking for residents

• Private parking lots price gouge (ordinance to prevent this?)

• Add a parking map at the Visitor’s Center

• Need parking for Old Beach Farmer’s Market

• Less surface parking and more structured parking

• Losing business development opportunities in central beach due

to surface parking; no surface parking within 5 blocks of beach

• Work with business owners to allow private lots to be used for

public parking in off hours

• More ADA parking near connector parks

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Exercise 3: Parking (survey summary)Survey says...

Where is additional public parking needed in the Resort Area?

52% 17th Street east of Pacific Ave.

48% In the ViBe Creative District

45% 21st Street area east of Pacific Ave.

39% 36th Street area east of Pacific Ave.

15% Other (write-in)

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Exercise 3: Remote Parking (workshop summary)

Good Remote Parking Options:

• Convention Center (***)

• Aquarium (***)

• Sports Center (***)

• Ocean Breeze

• LETA training facility

• Camp Pendleton

• Lynnhaven Mall

• Town Center

• New Birdneck Road Industry

• Virginia Beach Elementary/Cooke Elementary

• Old Birdneck Elementary site

• Louisa & southern Blvd.


• City needs to participate in Public/Private development of parking

• Willing to walk if parking is free

• Make sure shuttle stops every 5 or so blocks

• Need a free remote/shuttle parking lot for employees at the

Oceanfront

• Consider church lots for valet/drop-off

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Exercise 3: Remote Parking (survey summary)Survey says...

Where would you use remote parking if a fun, free, predictable, comfort-

able shuttle were provided??

53% Sports Center on Birdneck Road

53% Aquarium Parking on General Booth

35% Virginia Beach Middle School

27% Cooke Elementary School on 14th Street



• Rudee Loop

• Dome site

• 30th-33nd

• NO MORE parking (focus on transit)

• Everywhere

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Atlantic Avenue Concept - Summer Season (trolley)

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Atlantic Avenue Concept - Off-Season (on-street parking)

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Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - Atlantic

1. Atlantic and Pacific Avenues from 15th to 25th streets have been voted in need of the most immediate streetscape improvement. Take a look at the interim rendering (existing curbs remain in place) and give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to the following ideas:

• Wider sidewalk with decorative pavers and improved street furnishings (benches, bike racks, trash cans, pedestrian lights)

• Southbound trolley lane in the summer turns into on-street parking in the off-season• Designated bike lanes• Opportunities for flexible seating and micro performance spaces in-between landscaped

areas at street edge• Permanent Signage for Placemaking & Wayfinding• Shade Structures

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Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - Atlantic (workshop)

Thumbs up:

• Wider sidewalks

• Southbound trolley lanes

• Signage & Wayfinding

• Shade structures

• New street furnishings

• Flexible seating, micro-performance

space, landscaping

• Bike racks

Thumbs down:

• Bike lane in between trolley & car

lane

• Flex space


• extend time for on-street parking on Atlantic

• One way streets? Atlantic and Pacific

• More trees!

• Respondents are split over safety of bike lane (debate

over shared lane with trolley and separate bike lanes)

• suggest protected bike lane next to curb

• Let scooters use trolley lane

• Don’t need a trolley

• A few people/groups are against wayfinding (any location)

WPA note:

Consensus over improving Atlantic;

no true consensus over exactly how

to do this; needs further study

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Survey says...


LOVE IT / LIKE IT• Wider sidewalks with new pavers, benches,

trash cans, bike racks, pedestrian lights (85%)

• Southbound trolley lane in the summer turns into

on-street parking in the off-season (79%)

• Designated bike lanes (62%)

• Shade structures (79%)

Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - Atlantic (survey)

EH ...• Flexible seating / micro performance spaces

(22%)

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Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - ViBe

VIBE CREATIVE DISTRICT CONNECTIVITY PLAN 6

3.0 ViBe DISTRICT CONNECTIVITY

VISION PLAN

STRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS0 100’ 200’

The plan to the right depicts the long-term vision for streetscape improvements in and around the ViBe District. Proposed improvements to individual streets and blocks are discussed in more detail in the following sections. The major features of the Connectivity Vision Plan include:

• A continuous sidewalk network and accessibility upgrades

• Crosswalks on all legs of every intersection

• Additional street trees and pedestrian-scaled lighting

• Two primary north/south corridors for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the form of on street bike lanes on Cypress Avenue and wide sidewalks Mediterranean Avenue

• Two primary east/west corridors for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the form of an 8’ side path on 18th Street and wide sidewalks and on-street bicycle facilities on 17th Street

• More defined on-street parallel parking opportunities to support businesses and residents on Mediterranean Ave, 18th, 19th and 20th Streets

• Designated open spaces along 18th Street for informal gatherings, events, outdoor art displays, and low impact development (LID) facilities

• Stormwater and utility infrastructure upgrades

2. 19th Street improvements are underway and 17th & 18th (Pacific to Cypress)are now fully funded. The ViBe Creative District is thriving, and its Connectivity Plan from 2017 still needs to be implemented. Take a look at the plan. What do you think are the five most important aspects?

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Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - ViBe

• Permanent signage for placemaking & wayfinding

• Connection between ViBe Creative District and Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

• Crosswalks at every intersection

• Additional street trees and pedestrian-scaled lighting

• Two primary north/south corridors - on-street bike lanes on Cypress Avenue and wide sidewalks Mediterranean Avenue

• Two primary east/west corridors - 8’ wide multi-use path on 18th Street and wide sidewalks and on-street bicycle facilities on 17th Street.

• More on-street parallel parking on Mediterranean Ave, 18th, 19th & 20th Streets

• Designated open spaces along 18th Street for informal gatherings, events, outdoor art displays, and environmentally-friendly stormwater amenities (water storage parks, etc.)

• Stormwater and utility infrastructure upgrades (underground power lines, mitigate flooding)

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Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - ViBe (workshop)

Most Important Aspects:

• Sidewalk improvements

• Wayfinding and signage

• Connection to MOCA at Cypress &

Parks

• Improved pedestrian safety

• Crosswalks

• Traffic lights

• Gateway to ViBe

• Stormwater upgrades

• Street trees and pedestrian lighting

• Shared use path


• Need obvious way to know where you are and

what the art work is

• Ensure existing character remains

• Promote sidewalk cafes

• Expand farmer’s market

• Need closer connection to Little Theater

• Design guidelines

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Survey says...

ViBe Connectivity Plan - what are the most important aspects to implement?

68% Stormwater, utility upgrades, underground power lines, mitigate flooding

45% Designated bike lanes on 17th Street

39% Wide sidewalks on Mediterranean Ave.

35% More on-street parallel parking

28% Permanent signage for placemaking and wayfinding

25% Artistic crosswalks

22% Clear connection between ViBe and MOCA - this was ranked much higher in the workshop

Exercise 4: Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes - ViBe (survey)

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Exercise Map: Connected Open Spaces | Parks and Recreation

1. We’ve heard consensus that more parks and green space are needed both at the Oceanfront and connecting west into the neighborhoods. Take a look at the proposed open space map and mark areas/list where additional green space is needed and how it should be used.

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Exercise 5: Connected Open Spaces (workshop summary)

Where is green space needed:

• ViBe District

• 15th-19th 19th Streets

• Norfolk Ave.

• Central Beach

• Birdneck Road

• Seabridge Square

• Mixed in with hotels

• General Booth and Birdneck

• Seatack Community

• East end of Convention Center & Sports Center

• MOCA

• Marshview Park

How should new green space be used:

• Passive / open green space

• Skate park in the resort area

• Shady places to sit near the beach

• Parks connected to and accessible from multi-use trails

• Add more parklets

• Enhanced with amenities

• Green corridor parallel to VB Blvd.

• Bike rental areas

• Connected micro parks and green belts

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Exercise 5: Connected Open Spaces (survey summary)Survey says...

Where is additional green and open space most needed?

48% Rudee Loop

24% 17th Street oceanfront park expansion

18% Dome site

7% Seabridge Square park expansion

3% Other (write-in)

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2008 Vision - Hotels + small park

Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park - 2008 RASAP Vision

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Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park - Existing Conditions

Town Point Park - 5 acres

Rudee Loop - 11 acres

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Exercise 5: Precedent Study (South Pointe Park - Miami)

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CONCEPTUAL PARK PLAN

RUDEE LOOP PARKAUGUST 22, 2019

Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park - Conceptual Rendering

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Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park

1. Rudee Loop was voted the park to design and implement first. Take a look

at the rendering and tell us what your top five favorite items are.

2. What other features would you include?

3. What features would you specifically not want to include?

1. New Development & Parking Garages2. Fishing Area3. Dog Park4. Public Seating5. Skate Park6. Bike Racks

7. Discovery Meadow8. Restrooms9. Game Deck10. Playground11. Sculpture & Shade

Structure12. Accessible Parking

13. Surfboard Lockers14. Outdoor Showers15. Sculptural Alley16. Stage & Plaza17. Basketball Courts18. Surfing Area

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Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park (workshop summary)

Top 5 features to include:

• New Development/Parking

• Open space

• Shade/trees (native species)

• Fishing areas

• Skate Park

• Stage and Plaza

• Dog Park

• Upgraded Restrooms

• Roundabout

• Surfing Area & free morning

parking

Other features to consider:

• Splashpad

• Food trucks/food vendors

• Artist spaces

• Surf / Skate history

• workout stations / workout loop

• Retail / food / restaurants

• Surfing parking close to beach

• Volleyball / Soccer court

• Move the basketball courts away

from beach (or on top of garage)

• Outdoor amphitheater with shops

• Better restrooms

• Fishing pier

Features that should not be included:

• Hotels/development

• Tall structures that block views

• Basketball courts

• Dog park

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Exercise 5: Rudee Loop Park (survey summary)

Survey says...


LOVE IT / LIKE IT• Green / Open Space (88%)

• Stage & Plaza (71%)

• Surfboard Storage and Outdoor Showers (71%)

• New Parking Garage & Development (63%)

• Skate Park (63%)

• Dog Park (63%)

• Sculpture Alley (53%)

PLEASE NO• Basketball Courts (31%)

Significant NOs• Skate Park (33%)

• Dog Park (31%)

• New Parking Garage & Development (26%)


• Splashpad

• Food Trucks

• Theater

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Exercise 6: Central Management Entity

The City of Virginia Beach uses the Tourism Investment Program (TIP) fund

to fund services and projects in the resort area. The Resort Area is both high

density and highly-trafficked, and therefore additional services are needed to

keep it green, clean, safe and welcoming. The City is considering layering on

additional services to expand and improve resort amenities and services.

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1. What additional amenities and services do you think are needed in

the core of the resort area?

2. Where are these additional services needed?

• Placemaking and Wayfinding• New types of Special Events / Parades

& Festivals• Strategic Initiatives• Street and sidewalk improvements• Enhanced Maintenance (street

cleaning, litter pickup)

• Visitor Engagement• Ambassador Program• Vibrancy Grant Programs• Beautification• Public Art• Other

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Exercise 6: Central Management Entity (workshop summary)

Additional amenities and services:

• Street and sidewalk cleaning

• Street and sidewalk improvements

• Beautification (public and private property)

• Trash pickup, litter control, cigarette butts, etc.

• Pressure-washing

• Safety and security

• Bathrooms

• Ambassador program

• Public Art

Where are these amenities and services needed:

• Atlantic Avenue

• Pacific Avenue

• West of Pacific Avenue


• Empowered Resort Manager

• Need to attract higher quality retail/businesses

• Already doing a great job everywhere!

• Start a block of the month award

• Vibrancy Grants to improve exteriors of buildings

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Exercise 6: Central Management Entity (survey summary)Survey says...

What additional amenities and services do you think are needed?

69% Beautification and landscaping

50% Enhanced maintenance (street cleaning, litter pickup)

35% Public Art

30% New types of Special Events / Parades & Festivals

29% Placemaking and Wayfinding



• security and policing

• assisting with homeless /

preventing loitering

• more diversity in music festival performers

(all-white/country music; SITW proved that

other options can be successful

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Exercise 7: Potential Redevelopment Opportunities

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Exercise 7: Potential Redevelopment Opportunities

1. Currently, there are limited places for people to live in the Resort Area. Adding new apartments, condominiums, and townhouses enlivens the Resort Area during the off-season and helps support area businesses. Where would you locate new housing? workforce housing?

2. Where should housing be limited/prohibited? Workforce housing?

• Rudee Loop• Laskin Gateway• Central Beach

• ViBe District• Marina District• Pacific Avenue

• Atlantic Avenue (both east and west sides or west side only?)

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Exercise 7: Redevelopment Opportunities (workshop summary)

Key places to develop workforce or other housing:

• ViBe District

• 17th Street & Parks

• Central Beach

• Birdneck Road

• Seabridge Square

• Mixed with hotels

• Laskin Gateway

Where should new workforce housing be prohibited:

• On Atlantic Avenue

• East side of Atlantic

• Within 5 blocks of Atlantic Avenue

• Within 1 mile of Atlantic Avenue

• Rudee Loop

• Marina District

• Nowhere - let the market decide


• Along transit routes

• Disperse; don’t concentrate

• Mixed use - put apartments above shops

• Make it a percent requirement for hotels (like school fund)

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Exercise 7: Redevelopment Opportunities (survey summary)Survey says...

Where are key places to develop workforce housing?

55% Central Beach (17th -22nd Street, Arctic Ave. to Birdneck Rd.)

44% Laskin Gateway

23% Pacific Avenue (East and West sides)

22% Marina District (Winston Salem Avenue Area)

15% West side of Atlantic Avenue

11% Rudee Loop


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Extra Survey Question (survey summary)Survey says...

How would you describe Virginia Beach of the Future in 3 words?

Friendly, Affordable, Fun

Promising, Productive, Pristine

San Diego East

Limited by Politics

Does Not Flood

Modern, Accessible, Clean

Exciting, Enticing, Home-y

Surf-Friendly City

Overbuilt, Overcrowded, Congested Green, Safe, Entertaining

Colorful, bike-friendly, Eco-friendly

Fix the Flooding

Rudee Loop Discussion

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Steering Committee Working Session

-Discuss open items that need Steering Committee Consensus• Depiction of future devleopment opportunities on private property

• Atlantic Avenue street section

• Rudee Loop graphics

-Review DRAFT RASAP 2030 document

-Propose necessary edits and revisions to text and graphics

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Schedule

MAY NOVEMBEROCTOBERSEPTEMBERAUGUSTJULYJUNE

• RASAP Steering Committee Meeting

• Internal Stakeholders Meeting & One-on-one Interviews

• WPA to provide a Recommended Outline for Document

• RASAP Steering Committee - Interview Debrief and Workshop Brief

• 1st Public Workshop

• Workshop follow-up/debrief

• RASAP Steering Committee - Summary of Open House/Workshop

• Draft RASAP Update due

• RASAP Steering Committee - Final Draft RASAP Document

• Planning Commission Public Hearing

• City Council Public Hearing/Vote

• RASAP Steering Committee

• 2nd Public Open House

• Initial Draft RASAP Document

• RASAP Steering Committee - Summary of Public Meeting /DRAFT RASAP update

• Final Draft RASAP Update Document

• Brief Planning Commission – Informal Session

• Brief City Council

Thank you!

Documents

City of Virginia Beach Resort Area Strategic Plan Update · • Need parking for Old Beach Farmer’s Market • Less surface parking and more structured parking • Losing business