The Virginia Beach Green Line

In 1979 the city of Virginia Beach created the Green Line, a geo-political boundary used to preserve the rural nature of south Virginia Beach. The Green Line was created as a response to the rapid urban development occurring at the time, the green line is an attempt to preserve the agricultural nature of the area. In 1994 an update of the city’s comprehensive plan produced the Agricultural Preservation Program. This furthered the attempt previously made by the Green Line. I believe this is an important program and that the Green Line created over 30 years ago should remain in place as a vital planning tool for the city of Virginia Beach.
Not only do these planning tools protect farmland in Virginia Beach, but they also protect Virginia Beach from the varying costs of continued sprawl, since the programs limit the development south of the Green Line. According to the Sierra Club Virginia Beach can save up to $300 million in infrastructure costs alone.
Another benefit achieved through this policy is the encouragement of utilizing the products produced and buying local. Without the preservation of the farmland in Virginia Beach the opportunities to purchase locally produced and sustainable food would be severely limited.
Another related benefit to the preservation of this land in south Virginia Beach is the protection of land for wildlife habitat, recreation and an overall addition to the quality of life.
The availability of previously undeveloped land in Virginia Beach is running out and creating pressure to develop the land south of the Green Line. It is now more important than ever to protect this land.