When the 2045 Comprehensive Plan draft came out, many people had the initial reaction that it was not actually about the needs of the people of Suffolk. Digging deeper into the plan and watching staff presentations about it has made it clear that the priority is actually for Suffolk to shoulder regional goals. Why has the City spent over three years, spending taxpayer money, tailoring its long-term growth plans to the needs of the Port of Virginia and the region?
Looking at the 2045 Plan’s steering committee might answer this question. It consists of selected individuals that are supposed to “help guide the process for and substance of the plan.” Of the 24 members, about half are either: not from Suffolk, have strong ties to development-focused regional organizations (such as Hampton Roads Alliance), and/or are in the real estate business. Nine members belong to at least one regional organization, with five of those currently or previously holding board or other leadership positions. One member is a Vice President with the Port of Virginia with his role listed as Port Centric Logistics. Another is a sitting council member representing the regional realtor’s association.
In addition, the person hired to manage the 2045 Comprehensive Plan previously worked as the Deputy Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, with one duty being to develop a “program to increase the region’s inventory of shovel-ready economic development sites.”
Our Deputy City Manager who oversees the Planning Department (responsible for the creating the comprehensive plan), also has a strong regional background. He previously worked as Business Development Manager with the Hampton Roads Alliance and is on the Suffolk Division Board of the Hampton Roads Chamber.
We have nothing against these individuals personally or Suffolk being part of the broader Hampton Roads community. However, there is a problem when individuals are selected by the City of Suffolk to represent the citizens, but instead they prioritize regional goals. The Port of Virginia wants more warehouses and workforce housing, Suffolk has the land they need, and the objective of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan is clearly to make it available.
Suffolk residents provided plenty of feedback letting city planners and managers know that they don’t want a congested warehouse city. We’re already an important “regional partner” with our existing 21 million square feet of warehouse space (which we’re having enough problems handling.)
We are also a critical partner with the lakes of Suffolk providing drinking water to many in Hampton Roads. Previous comprehensive plans explicitly state the need to keep these areas low density to protect this precious resource. Now our planners want expansion of the most intense types of development further into our drinking water watersheds.
The deck has been stacked against Suffolk’s citizens’ right to control their future through the regional influence in this plan. Regional collaboration is one thing, but we should not be accepting the role of subordinate. We are asking City Council to be bold on November 20th by voting ‘no’ to adopting the 2045 Comprehensive Plan and keeping the focus on what is best for the current residents of Suffolk. You can let them know if you feel the same way at council@suffolkva.us.
Please sign Care4Suffolk’s petition asking City Council to oppose the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.