The Flood Bond Referendum was the elite’s way of forcing the public to pay for flood protection while simultaneously allowing developers to continue to cause flooding.
That is not in jest — builders have been controlling City Council and the Planning Department since they overturned Citizen’s vote for a tree protection ordinance in 1993. Back then it was Tidewater Builders Association and today they are known as Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association.
Here’s what happened…
2019 – City (Citizens) succeed in blocking Argos Properties from developing in floodplains and swamplands.
2020 – City (Citizens) passes stormwater provisions in compliance with state law.
The public is taken care of…right…? Nope.
PRIVATE BUILDERS INTERVENE TO BYPASS STATE STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS AND KNOWINGLY HARM THE PUBLIC
Summer 2020 – Coastal Virginia Building Industry overrides public concern and initiates “ongoing discussions between the city leadership and representatives of the development community who is upset about the stricter stormwater regulations.”
Not looking promising, on September 7, 2021, city council unanimously approved a resolution promising residents that if they approve of the referendum council will prevent builders from the ability to cause flooding. An amendment to the Comprehensive Plan recommending denial for any development project that generates a net increase in water discharge demand.
October 8, 2021 – letter to council from Virginia Beach Vision and Ann Crenshaw, President and attorney for Argos Properties.
Approved by 73% on November 2, 2021 – the City of Virginia Beach still allows developers to violate local, state, and federal law and continue in developer-caused flooding.
November 10, 2021 – Virginia Beach Planning Commission DENIED the provision.
Planning Commissioners:
David Weiner, now on VBDA
Whitney Graham, TowneBank advisory boardmember notoriously voting on planning items financed by TowneBank pulling a ‘Sessoms.’
Michael Inman, TowneBank advisory boardmember
George Alcaraz
City employees (Bookholt) hold meetings with developers Coastal Virginia Builders Industry Association to override the Citizens’ vote.
November – December 2021 – Eddie Bourdon argues that developers should not have to abide by stormwater regulations because Virginia Beach would be ‘closed for business.’
Bourdon‘s admissions, “I was at the City Council meeting when this Resolution was adopted, but there was no opportunity for anybody to discuss. And frankly, couldn’t be more ecstatic and proud of our City for having approved the referendum 70% plus. And I frankly don’t think anybody at that point who cares about the future of the Virginia Beach was going to stand up and start asking questions about what they were doing.”
So the development community watched the commitments being made to voters, stayed silent so as not to jeopardize the referendum’s passage (which funded $567.5 million in public works from which the construction industry would benefit) and then moved to gut the regulatory commitment after the votes were counted.
On January 4, 2022 – Council unanimously defers, “to hear additional concerns from the development community.” Not the public – we already spoke at 73%, and this is city councils multi-year screw-over of the public to favor illegal development.
February 1, 2022 – Council votes 8-2 to defer again after Tuck Bowie (developer) opposes complying with law. The voice of reason, John Moss, makes clear, “What is really desired is developers want relief from having to comply with stormwater regulations.”
8-3 vote to send the promised amendment back to the Planning Commission on February 15, 2022.
2024 – Mayor Bobby Dyer states he, “Wouldn’t have voted to include the comprehensive plan amendment if he knew it would increase regulatory costs for developers.” Screw the public who is paying half-a-billion!
2025 – Home Builders Association of Virginia is upset that regulating stormwater causes upfront costs. Governor Youngkin is quoted, “Why in the world do we have a stack of over 24 inches of stormwater regs?” Yes…seriously, he did.
2026 – City council passes Comprehensive Plan without the promised amendment AND increased density ensuring developers can continue to cause flooding.
THIS IS WHY WE FLOOD!
More on this from our Facebook page
- Developing raw land in a city inundated by flooding
- Video: councilmembers were warned this would happen
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