economic impact – Care4Suffolk https://care4suffolk.org Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:13:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://care4suffolk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-Care4Suffolk-32x32.png economic impact – Care4Suffolk https://care4suffolk.org 32 32 The Loss of Farmlands: A Loss for All of Us https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/21/the-loss-of-farmlands-a-loss-for-all-of-us/ https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/21/the-loss-of-farmlands-a-loss-for-all-of-us/#comments Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:59:04 +0000 https://care4suffolk.org/?p=3412 Read More »The Loss of Farmlands: A Loss for All of Us]]>

We recently wrote about the City of Suffolk’s plan to increase its Growth Area by 24%. Now we want to explain why this is a short-sighted plan on the part of City Planners and why it is critical for our community to stop what will be a massive hit to our agricultural community and have negative impacts on our citizens for generations to come.

The City of Suffolk is 429 square miles, but 72 square miles of that is the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Source: City of Suffolk). While the refuge is an ecological and historical treasure for our state and the nation, none of the 72 square miles can be developed. That leaves 357 square miles of already developed and potentially developable land in the City of Suffolk. The current growth area is 74.5 square miles (about 21% of the non-swamp land in Suffolk). The Planning Department is recommending expanding the growth area by 18 square miles (a 24% increase to its current size) which would bring it to 92.5 square miles. That will create a total growth area that is equal to 26% of all non-swamp land in Suffolk.

Only 17% of all land in America is ideal for farming. (Source: Modern Farmer) As a country we have lost 11 million acres of farmland and ranchland between 2001-2016 due to development. (Source: American Farmland Trust) Further, 62% of all development has happened on agricultural land. (Source: Modern Farmer) As the world population grows, the natural resource of farmable land becomes increasingly valuable. The world’s population is expected to increase by 35% by 2050 and “nearly all new food production in the next 25 years will have to come from existing agricultural land.” (Source: National Geographic Magazine)

Those are just some quick facts to show that this problem is not localized to just Suffolk, which has lost 17% of its farmland in the last 20 years. (Source: Suffolk Agricultural Advisory Committee) This is a problem throughout the country. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the number of farms in Virginia decreased from 43,225 in 2017 to 38,995 farms in 2022, losing about 500,000 acres of farmland. (Source: 2022 Census of Agriculture (Reported by On the Farm Radio)) That’s a 6.4% in just 5 years. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, in response to the 2022 Census of Agriculture stated, “This survey is a wake up call…Are we okay with losing that many farms? Are we okay with losing that much farmland? Or is there a better way.” (Source: AgWire)

“This survey is a wake up call…Are we okay with losing that many farms? Are we okay with losing that much farmland? Or is there a better way.”

Here is why you should care about this loss of farmland:


Farmland keeps property taxes lower. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, they broke down the impact of the cost of services for agriculture, residential and commercial properties. For each $1 collected in property taxes for each type of land, the city has an associated cost of services. The results may surprise you. (Source: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania)

 

$1 of agricultural tax revenue = $0.36 spent in public service

$1 of commercial tax revenue = $0.99 spent in public service

$1 of residential tax revenue = $1.30 spent in public services

 

Turning farmland into commercial and residential land actually costs the city (or the taxpayers) more money. Cities lose money on residential properties because they require schools, improved roads, and other additional services such as water, sewers, police, fire, and medical. The city actually makes significantly more money on agricultural land than it pays in services. If citizens (and responsible city planners) want to save money, they should stop rezoning agricultural land to build houses and warehouses.

 

Other benefits of preserving our farmland (Source: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania): 

  • It provides locally grown foods that are more nutritious and less expensive than food that has to be transported over long distances.

  • It improves water quality by filtering runoff water through topsoil versus going directly from paved surfaces into drainage. This is particularly important in Suffolk, home to many of the reservoirs that provide drinking water for so many people in Hampton Roads.

  • It benefits the environment by protecting against soil erosion, offsets greenhouse gas emissions, and provides habitat to many wildlife species.

  • Open farmland is more visually attractive and creates a higher quality of life for citizens.

  • Additionally, Agriculture is big business. Agriculture generates roughly $462 million of direct and indirect economic impact for Suffolk. (Source: Suffolk Agricultural Advisory Committee) 

 

 

It is nearsighted planning that will destroy the valuable natural resource of Suffolk’s nutrient-rich farmland to build houses and warehouses. The huge expansion of the Growth Area in the upcoming Comprehensive Plan will facilitate this loss of farmland. Its destruction will be permanent and will be a loss to our city, our community, and future generations.

 

 

Let City Council know what you think about this new growth area: council@suffolkva.us 

Michael D. Duman, Mayor

mayor@suffolkva.us

Phone: 757-514-4009


Lue R. Ward, Jr., Vice Mayor

(Nansemond Borough)

nansemond@suffolkva.us

Phone: 757-377-6929


Shelley Butler Barlow,

Council Member

(Chuckatuck Borough)

chuckatuck@suffolkva.us

Phone: 757-346-8355

 

Leroy Bennett, Council Member
(Cypress Borough)
cypress@suffolkva.us
Phone: 757-407-3750

Timothy J. Johnson, Council Member
(Holy Neck Borough)
holyneck@suffolkva.us
Phone: 757-407-0556

 

Roger W. Fawcett, Council Member
(Sleepy Hole Borough)
sleepyhole@suffolkva.us
Phone: 757-377-8641

John Rector, Council Member
(Suffolk Borough)
suffolk@suffolkva.us
Phone: 757-407-1953
 

LeOtis Williams, Council Member

(Whaleyville Borough)

whaleyville@suffolkva.us

Phone: 757-402-7100

 
]]> https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/21/the-loss-of-farmlands-a-loss-for-all-of-us/feed/ 1 Port or People: What is the City’s Focus? https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/06/port_or_people_what_is_the_citys__focus/ https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/06/port_or_people_what_is_the_citys__focus/#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2024 01:11:05 +0000 https://care4suffolk.org/?p=3237 Read More »Port or People: What is the City’s Focus?]]>

The Comprehensive Plan provides the framework that guides the development of the City of Suffolk for the next several years. Over the last year, the city has been actively seeking community input to help guide what this new plan will look like. 

Community Engagement sessions and Open Houses were held throughout the city and during these, the collective voice of the citizens was clear: people were frustrated with traffic and didn’t want any more warehouses. Time after time, the residents from all areas of Suffolk expressed concern that their quality of life was being negatively impacted by warehouses and the heavy truck traffic that comes with them. 

 

Above is a photo from the June 15, 2023 Open House that Suffolk hosted to interact with the public about the proposed plans and obtain feedback. In this snapshot, you can see that the green dot stickers (given to the public to express their opinion) are placed on the ‘thumbs down’ side to show their disapproval of more warehouses in Suffolk.

Fast forward to the January 17, 2024 City Council Work Session: Suffolk’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan Lead Planner, Keith Cannady, gave a presentation about the new Comprehensive Plan draft that included Planning Staff’s recommendations for Growth Area expansion. He touted the opportunities that the Port of Virginia provides. He stated that the Port of Virginia is “changing the dynamic for the state and the region in terms of economic development opportunities” and that this is a “major driver of what’s happening here in Hampton Roads.” He claimed that Suffolk is considering “opportunities that the Port provides as we consider Growth Area boundaries.” 

Below are some of the Growth Area slides presented at this City Council Work Session. The corresponding written descriptions reflect what was explained verbally by Mr. Cannady while discussing the slide. 

(We apologize for the poor quality; these were screenshot captures from the online work session which were not high resolution to begin with.)

Northern Growth Area Option Slide

The current growth area is within the dark blue border. The only option (Option A) presented for Northern Growth Area expansion is the area within the greenish border. This is the Nansemond Parkway area and would connect the Northern and Central Growth Areas. According to Planning it is “logical” to combine the two and use the railroad as the boundary. 

(There is an “Opportunity Area” along I664 that will be discussed at City Council on Feb 7th.)

Central Growth Area Options Slide

There are 5 options being considered for expansion of the Central Growth Area. The current Central Growth Area is within the dark purple borders.

Option B: within the yellow border; expands the current growth area all the way to the city/county line along Rt. 460. The other boundaries would be the Western Branch Reservoir and “a wetland area that forms a logical boundary” to the south.

Option C: within the blue border; expands from the yellow border south to the railroad line and includes the Lake Cohoon area.

Option D: within the green border; expands west on 58 from the Centerpoint & Westport Commerce Parks down to Chapel Road.

Option E: within the red border; extends down 58 to Buckhorn Road.

Option F: within the orange border; extends north up Rt. 10/32, including Sack Point Road and up to Kingsdale Road. 

Recommendation Slide:
The Planning Department is recommending that Suffolk incorporate Options A, B, D, and F into the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.

Breakdown of Future Land Use within Growth and Opportunity Areas:

Future Land Use Slide
The City is considering changing/adding new land use categories, listed in the map key on the left side and signified by the solid-colored rectangle. Currently, there are only six or seven land use categories.

Central Growth Area Future Land Use Slide
Within the borders of Option A (within the lighter green border at the top right), Planning is recommending land use categories for residential development.
For the Central Growth Area, Planning is recommending these land use categories:
Option B: residential development to the north of Rt. 460 and “employment center” to the south all the way to the city/county line.
Option D: “employment center” to the north of Rt. 58 and residential to the south up to Chapel Road.
Option F: residential on both sides of Rt. 10/32 all the way to Kingsdale Road.

While making it clear that Suffolk is prioritizing the Port of Virginia, Mr. Cannady provided only vague comments as to the opportunities that justify expanding the Growth Areas to such a great extent. Some of his reasonings were:

  • Rt. 460 and 58 corridors offer “what we believe are significant economic development opportunities in that area.”
  • Coming south (of Rt. 460) “to a wetland area that forms a logical boundary for that corridor and would allow us to capitalize on some of the options that are out there.”
  • Option D “looks to take advantage of some of the opportunities going west out of Rt. 58.”

The recommended Growth Area expansion will total almost 17 sq mi, increasing the current Growth Area (from the 2035 Comprehensive Plan) from about 74.5 sq mi to a total of about 91.5 sq mi. That is an increase of about 23%. That is a lot of growth!

While we expect a certain amount of Growth Area expansion, it hasn’t been made clear how enlarging them to such a great extent specifically benefits the City of Suffolk and its citizens. How much economic benefit will Suffolk see with port expansion growth? This question is not answered.

Adding huge swathes of land (light purple on the Future Land Use map) designated as Employment Centers (warehouses), doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We all want Suffolk to have a vibrant economy, but all those warehouses come at a cost to citizens. They bring truck traffic, higher road maintenance costs, and pollution, as well as destroy forever fertile soil that makes up our agricultural economy, which is itself an economic powerhouse generating $462 million of direct and indirect economic impact for the City of Suffolk. In no uncertain terms, development of warehouses is to the detriment of agriculture in Suffolk. This may be what the Port of Virginia wants, and what the Planning Commission wants, but is it what the people of Suffolk want?

These recommendations go counter to public feedback during the Community Engagement Sessions and Open Houses. Was the city genuine in its efforts to include its citizens in this process? From this presentation, it doesn’t seem like it.

]]> https://care4suffolk.org/2024/02/06/port_or_people_what_is_the_citys__focus/feed/ 1 The State of Agriculture in Suffolk https://care4suffolk.org/2024/01/26/the-state-of-agriculture-in-suffolk/ https://care4suffolk.org/2024/01/26/the-state-of-agriculture-in-suffolk/#respond Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:57:30 +0000 https://care4suffolk.org/?p=3137 Read More »The State of Agriculture in Suffolk]]>

The Agricultural Advisory Committee Chair, David Bosselman, spoke before the City Council at the Work Session on December 20, 2023 [Link to video], presenting the State of Agriculture in Suffolk. The Agricultural Advisory Committee consists of nine members from the agricultural community in Suffolk who are nominated by City Council members. The committee is all  volunteers who give their time to provide feedback and input to the city regarding agricultural issues. 

The City of Suffolk does not track its own statistics related to agriculture, but the Agricultural Advisory Committee was able to obtain data from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). Even Governor Younkin has recently made note of the following facts:

  • Virginia Agriculture creates more than $100 billion of annual economic impact
  • Virginia Agriculture employs about 500,000 people
  • 97% Virginia farms are family-owned
  • Agriculture is Virginia’s #1 private industry
  • There are 7.7 million acres of cropland in Virginia
  • An acre of agricultural land in Virginia generates an average of $11,000 of economic impact annually

There are nearly 47,000 acres of Suffolk cropland. Based on the figures from the state, that generates roughly $462 million of direct and indirect economic impact for the City of Suffolk. It is clear that agriculture plays a major role in Suffolk’s economy. 

According to Mr. Bosselman, the City of Suffolk does not have an Agricultural Department, despite it being specifically mentioned in the 1974 City Charter. It is unclear why this department was never created considering agriculture is such a huge part of Suffolk’s industry. Chesapeake and Virginia Beach both have Agricultural Departments, despite having less farmland. How can the city make informed decisions regarding agriculture and agricultural land if it doesn’t even have a department to track information and collect data? 

As part of the State of Agriculture presentation to the City Council, the Agricultural Advisory Committee recommended that the City of Suffolk establish an Agricultural Department. Mr. Bosselman stated the need and benefits of having this department:

  • It could bridge the gap between “growing” Suffolk and agricultural Suffolk
  • It could serve in conjunction with the Virginia Cooperative Extension in Suffolk
  • It could  oversee the implementation of the many public and private preservation and conservation programs available to farmers.
  • It could contribute to the formation of the agricultural aspects of the  Comprehensive Plan
  • It could manage the Suffolk Farmers Market with the goal of funding itself via this revenue (as is done in Virginia Beach)

Mr. Bossleman also discussed the loss of cropland in Suffolk. He stated there has been a loss of about 17% over the last 20 years. As Mr. Bosselman said in his parting words to City Council, “I find it quite ironic that we are here today, and I am trying to convince not only the city council, but all people, that are here to listen to me today, to preserve land that is growing food for us to eat, fiber for all of us to have clothes, and plants that clean carbon dioxide and impurities out of our air and provide oxygen for us to breathe.”

Mr. Bosselman should NOT have to plead the case for protecting agriculture in Suffolk. It is a major industry in the city and a way of life for many of its citizens. We all benefit from its continued existence in our city and everything our farmers produce. It is well past time for the City of Suffolk to create an Agricultural Department that can advocate for this essential industry and protect agriculture here for generations to come. 

 

Relevant Links:

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The Economic Impact of the Agriculture and Forest Industries in Virginia

Governor announces that agriculture and forestry are still Virginia’s most robust industries, despite pandemic setbacksVirginia Farm Bureau publication: 

Virginia Farm Bureau publication: New report shows number of Virginia farms, farm acreage remained steady last year

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