Virginia Beach is among the cities facing severe flooding as climate change marches forward and the sea levels rise.
Aware of the dangers facing the area, the city is proposing new guidelines for future development, which would require developers to plan for 3 feet of sea level rise, more intense rainfall and higher groundwater levels, according to the Virginian-Pilot.
The new standards, which are meant to protect new properties from increased flooding, have yet to be approved.
Phil Pullen, the city engineer leading the project, told the Pilot that the goal was to prevent flooding by requiring developers to provide more details before the city approves a plan.
Projects involving important infrastructure such as hospitals would have to plan for 3 feet of sea level rise, while other developments would need to prepare for 1.5 feet.
A recent study commissioned by the city found that sea levels could rise by 3 feet between 2065 and 2085, which would cost Virginia Beach $271 million per year unless the city intervenes.
This plan would be one step in such an intervention, and has been met with praise from environmental groups.
The draft of the plan is currently in the midst of a 60-day public comment phase and a public meeting will be held on June 13 to gather comments from the design and development community.
Pullen told the Pilot that he’s unsure if all of the new regulations will pass, but said the process was a negotiation with city leaders and developers and acknowledged the development community would have a “very strong word” in the process.
Photo © Jeff Futo
Politics
Trump says he would allow red states to track pregnancies, prosecute abortion ban violators
In an interview published by Time magazine this week, former president Donald Trump detailed his plans for a potential second term and said he would...
VIDEO: Youngkin, Democrats to start over on budget talks
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democratic leaders in Virginia's General Assembly are re-starting state budget negotiations on friendlier footing...
Local News
The zodiac signs of 12 iconic women offer insight into their historic accomplishments
Zodiac signs can tell you a lot about someone’s personality. Whether they’re an earth, water, air, or fire sign, these 12 categories (which are...
Virginia verses: Celebrating 5 poetic icons for National Poetry Month
There’s no shortage of great writers when it comes to our commonwealth. From the haunting verses of Edgar Allan Poe, who found solace in Richmond's...