OPEN SPACE, BIKES, & TRAILS | While the beach is clearly a defi ning

open space asset for the community, the plan also brings focus to untapped natural assets beyond

the beach, including myriad inlets, lakes, bays, marinas, neighborhood parks, and existing city park

investments. By revealing the assets that are found inland and connecting them via an expanded trail

and bike network, the open space framework makes Virginia Beach’s natural systems more accessible

to the community as a whole. The open space strategy is developed on principles of environmental

sustainability and preserves open space, habitat, buffers, and corridors to minimize impacts to

the ecosystem.

To complement the existing oceanfront bikeway, an expanded system is proposed to complete a loop

into the convention center area and neighborhoods, and includes walking trails and bike paths that

tie the built environment with the natural environment. A new north-south route will run along

Cypress Avenue, linking into the oceanfront north near Laskin Gateway and south near Rudee Inlet

via Mediterranean and Winston-Salem Avenues. Along the railway on Norfolk Avenue, a shared bike/

multi-use trail is proposed for the short term, and will expand to a shared on street bike/ travel lane in the

long term. Similarly, bike lanes will integrate with traffi c fl ow on several corridors, including bike-trolley

lanes on Atlantic and Pacifi c Avenues and an on-street bike travel lane on 17th Street. Bike parking is

distributed throughout the system, with frequent facilities along the oceanfront, as well as at the

convention center and Rudee Marina.

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STREET NETWORK | Walkable environments and destinations within bicycling distance or a

trolley ride are an important component, but can only be achieved through the careful design of streetscapes

that can accommodate many modes within the right-of-way. With the introduction of coordinated transit

and enhanced pedestrian and biking opportunities, non-vehicular modes of traffi c and multi-modal

accommodations will increase. To accommodate multiple modes, typical street sections will expand, while

travel lanes may narrow to incorporate wider sidewalks, bicycle parking, transit corridors and facilities.

The plan establishes a set of vehicular priority streets and a second set of pedestrian oriented streets. Pacifi c

Avenue, 17th Street, and 30th/32nd Streets are auto-oriented and reconfi gured to improve operations for

vehicles. Atlantic Avenue, 19th Street, and 31st Street are enhanced to give priority to pedestrians. Design

changes allow for alternative transportation opportunities and elevate the pedestrian experience. Signifi cant

changes include a new dedicated transit lane on 19th Street and wider sidewalks on 31st Street.

DISTRICT PARKING | Several properties along Pacifi c, Atlantic, and Arctic Avenues are

underutilized as surface parking lots. To accommodate denser development and parking needs, a system of

centralized, shared parking will alleviate growing traffi c by concentrating traffi c fl ow and will also reduce the

patchwork of surface lots. Seven parking locations are distributed throughout the area, addressing demand

at Laskin Gateway, Rudee Marina, the Central Beach, the Convention Center, and points in between. They

are tied to the primary vehicular access to the beach and other destinations via Norfolk Avenue, Laskin

Road, and 22nd Street. By wrapping the garages with retail or creating an interesting design, the structure

can fi t in aesthetically and contribute to the vitality of the district allowing the properties to reach a greater

developmental potential.

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TRANSIT NETWORK | The plan proposes a new Light Rail Transit (LRT) Link

connecting Norfolk to Town Center and the Oceanfront, with stations at the current Convention

Center and future development at the Dome Site. The LRT ties in to a local trolley line that will

serve as the primary north /south connector. The trolley runs along Atlantic and Pacifi c Avenues,

running two-way on Atlantic south of 25th with a one-way loop around Atlantic/ Pacifi c north

of 25th Street. A water taxi shuttle links the southern terminus of the trolley at Rudee Marina to

the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center further inland on Lake Rudee. The enhanced

transit service will bring economic benefi ts to adjacent development, and support sustainability

goals of engaging alternative transportation options, minimizing auto reliance, and creating focused

opportunities for compact development around the transit lines.

AREAWIDE NETWORK | With nearly 3 miles of beachfront and 1,200 acres in the planning study area, the connections forged between the various places and destinations are crucial components of the plan. The open space and trails, transit, street network, and parking systems address the aesthetics of streetscape design and open space and the realities of a multi-modal transportation system and seasonal parking demand. A comprehensive transportation management and urban design strategy within the Resort Strip will create an environment that is much more pedestrian friendly and encourages street level activity. W

HISTORY | Virginia Beach has been popular as a

seasonal vacation spot since the late nineteenth century,

and has historically recognized the signifi cance of its

extensive waterfront. With the arrival of rail and electricity

in the late 19th century, the resort area’s development was

launched by the original Princess Anne Hotel, occupying

two oceanfront blocks. Today, hotel development

continues this pattern, occupying many of the beachfront

parcels along Atlantic and Pacifi c Avenues. The original

1930 plat map shows the intent to connect all east-west

streets directly to the waterfront, with unobstructed

views to the ocean. The popularity of the area shaped its

growth and as hotels went up along the beach, Atlantic

and Pacifi c Avenues quickly became automobile-oriented

with several lanes of traffi c and parking lots now dotting

the landscape.While these roads serve as a spine moving

people through the area and connecting attractions,

they also have created a barrier to pedestrian movement

between the beach and both the resort center and the

residential neighborhoods, and an unfriendly walking

environment between destinations.

Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront Resort Area is poised to successfully transition from a seasonal vacation spot to a year round, world class urban resort destination for recreation, entertainment, and conventions, along with a dedicated, active local community that adds unique local fl avor in the form of restaurants, bars, shops, and boating activities.

With a vision fully supported by the community, the plan identifi es the potential for three great districts at Laskin Gateway, Central Beach, and Rudee Marina each with distinctive identities to complement the Resort Area. While the beach is a successful destination in and of itself, the plan is a practical vision for enhancing the area by extending the energy at the beach into the adjoining blocks of the Laskin Gateway District and the Central Beach through streetscape improvements, connective uses, and view corridors. Rudee Marina is envisioned as a new destination that takes advantage of its unique setting, waterside restaurants, and working waterfront.

This plan develops synergies between the cultural and commercial life of the Resort Area, the recreational and natural life along the water, and an overall focus on drawing residents and visitors into the area, creating confi dence for investment, and focusing public investments. Implementing this project over the next two decades will raise the image of the Resort Area within the City and the region and put the Oceanfront on the map for quality of life, real estate land values and civic pride. The City’s dedication and the community’s passion for this extraordinary area will have a remarkable effect on transforming the image of the Resort Area into a vibrant diverse neighborhood and destination. W

Virginia Beach resort area W STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Within the extensive Resort Area, the 19th Street/Central Beach, Laskin Gateway, and Marina

Districts have been identifi ed as areas that—with strategic and guided investment—can raise Virginia

Beach to the next level. ATLANTIC AVENUE AA and PACIFIC AVENUE PAwill connect these three districts, with new development opportunities on the blocks between them

and transit, bike, and pedestrian enhancements that improve the navigability and vibrancy of the

corridors.

19TH STREET/CENTRAL BEACH 19 The vision for the Central Beach District

is a pedestrian-scale, mixed-use entertainment district that connects recent investments at the

CONVENTION CENTER CC with the heart of the beach. Development of the prime

DOME SITE DS will provide an indoor activity counterpart to the beach, and will generate

activity inland that enlivens the transition from the Convention Center to the beach along the 19th

Street Corridor. A tree lined boulevard along 19th Street further emphasizes this connection while

improving the pedestrian experience on the streets in between. With the introduction of Light Rail

Transit from Norfolk into Town Center and the Oceanfront, the COLONY SITE CS will

also be a prime location for multifamily housing and transit oriented development. Offi ce uses will

be clustered near the Convention Center and Birdneck Road, taking advantage of the Convention

Center LRT station and easy access to the highway.

LASKIN GATEWAY LG With direct access to the oceanfront along Laskin Road, this

key gateway district anchors the northern end of the Resort Area. Distinct from the other focus

areas, Laskin Gateway is the Oceanfront Resort Area’s best location for a concentration of high-end

retail that diversifi es the retail offerings for tourists and locals alike. The plan envisions a corridor

with a coordinated transportation and retail strategy that gets people out of their cars and on foot

in a village-like setting. Development is sensitively scaled to the needs of adjacent neighborhoods,

and mixes new residential opportunities with active street level retail uses that front on widened

sidewalks to accommodate pedestrian traffi c and outdoor dining. New development is reinforced

by an open space system that combines streetscape improvements with strategically located public

parks, including one at Arctic Avenue and a second marking the arrival of the Laskin Gateway

corridor to the beach.

MARINA DISTRICT MD Marking the southern tip of the Resort Area, Rudee Marina’s

exceptional location is an untapped asset waiting to be transformed into a district with generous

access to the water. The vision for Rudee Marina builds on the area’s history and reorganizes

Rudee Marina into a concentrated working waterfront for commercial activities and recreation.

Development along the marina creates an opportunity for residents and visitors to observe boating

activity from the extended boardwalk or an outdoor café along the water. Transforming the surfaces

lots at the marina into mixed-use development also creates an alternative destination to the beach

and provides a variety of housing options at the Oceanfront.

The adjacent RUDEE LOOP RL has the greatest potential in the long term for large scale

mixed-use development to create a major anchor at the southern end of the beachfront and create a

connection with the Virginia Aquarium, yet the plan still sensitively responds to the neighborhoods

beyond. A new hotel development will bring increased tourism and economic activity to the southern

end of the Resort Area, while an enhanced boardwalk connection and public park will retain the

waterfront edge for public access as private development moves forward. The urban design and

open space system in this district emphasizes the area’s connection to both the ocean and the inlet,

and capitalizes on views to the beach and the marina.

The master plan defines the future of the Resort Area for the next five, ten and twenty years, shaping a sustainable urban lifestyle for the Virginia Beach community. The Oceanfront’s success posed some challenging decisions to the community, such as the character of new development, the balance between neighborhood and national retail, how to accommodate parking, and how best to design streets to accommodate pedestrians and get people out of their cars. Capital projects have been prioritized to make the greatest use of public dollars and to leverage private investment. With several development sites now available, including the Dome Site, the area adjacent to the new Convention Center, and Rudee Marina and Rudee Loop, the Resort Area will integrate multiple roles as a business location, urban neighborhood, and cultural and recreational destination.W

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Virginia Beach resort area W STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

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BIRDNECK ROAD

LASKIN ROAD

19TH STREETVIRGINIA BEACH BOULEVARD

NORFOLK AVENUE

PACIFIC AVENUE

ATLANTIC

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19TH STREET

Aerial view, looking east.

Street view, looking east.

Aerial view, looking east.

PACIFIC AVENUE

Street view, looking south.

Aerial view, looking south.

MARINA DISTRICT

Street view, looking east.

Aerial view, looking west.

ATLANTIC AVENUE

Street view, looking south.

Aerial view, looking south.

LASKIN GATEWAY

Street view, looking east.

Aerial view, looking east.