ITA Master Plan Update - Responsible Growth VB

Where things stand

Waiting on the Planning Department. The City’s public comment period on the draft ITA Master Plan update closed June 5, 2026. City Council reviewed the update on June 16 and sent it to the Planning Department for updates. Then, it will be sent to the Planning Commission for formal review and more public input (Citizen Portal).

As of Oct. 29, no Planning Commission hearing on the plan has been posted. When a hearing is scheduled, we will let you know what is being proposed and how you can make an impact. Get an email when that happens.

What’s proposed

The draft would guide land use in the Interfacility Traffic Area, between NAS Oceana and NALF Fentress, for the next 10 to 25 years. It updates the 2017 ITA master plan (WHRO).

Industrial expansion, in three phases. About 368 acres in all, including land for roads and stormwater, starting with 85 acres in Phase 1 (City presentation).
Public cost: the City’s estimates about $55 million for roads and stormwater. The City estimates $16.7 million for Phase 1, $22.7 million for Phase 2 and $15.2 million for Phase 3. The City’s estimates understate the true cost. They leave out land, which the City has sold to businesses here far below market value, and a resident’s financial analysis estimates the later phases could cost much more than the City will admit.
A large stormwater management area in the south. The City’s draft calls it a regional “stormwater park” with trails and cross-country courses. In our view, land designed to hold stormwater is unlikely to be suitable for recreation.

The draft plan keeps some aspects of sports tourism from the 2017 plan. The major change is that sports tourism will be overshadowed by the proposed 368 acres of industrial expansion.

Our position

Responsible Growth VB opposes expanding industrial land use in the ITA. The proposal leaves major questions unanswered: infrastructure costs, flooding, military compatibility, the Comprehensive Plan and public process.

Industrial zoning before data center rules is a gamble. Under today’s zoning code, data centers can be built on industrial land without a public hearing, because the code doesn’t define them as a separate use (WHRO). On Aug. 18, 2026, City Council paused new data center applications for one year or until new rules are adopted (WTKR). The City has no timeline for those rules. Once land is rezoned for industry, that zoning is permanent. The pause is temporary. Data center rules must be in place before any more land opens to industrial use.

Timeline so far

April 29, 2026. Public meeting on the draft concept (WTKR). The City called it a draft concept, not a final plan (WHRO).
May 2026. Briefings to City boards, including the ITA Citizens Advisory Committee. Public comments were accepted through June 5, 2026 (WHRO).
June 2, 2026. City Council unanimously backed rejecting large-scale data centers. Mayor Dyer said the City “will not entertain any data centers” (WTKR). During the discussion, a Council member cited the many emails residents had sent about data centers.
June 16, 2026. City Council reviewed the update and sent it back to the Planning Department for changes (Citizen Portal).
Aug. 18, 2026. City Council unanimously paused new data center applications for one year, or until the City adopts data center rules (WTKR).
Next: the revised plan goes to a Planning Commission public hearing, then a City Council hearing and vote. No dates are set. Click here to get an email from us when the hearing dates are confirmed.

Background and resources

Our spring 2026 analysis

During the City’s comment period, we asked City leaders to:

Take a measured timeline, with complete analysis and broader public input.
Expand opportunities for residents to take part.
Update the industrial-use definitions in the zoning code, largely unchanged since 1973, before expanding industrial uses.

Concerns we raised:

Infrastructure and flood-mitigation costs could exceed estimates, while projected tax revenue may be optimistic.
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan steers industrial growth to existing areas such as Burton Station, Oceana and Corporate Landing.
Current zoning may let modern high-intensity uses, such as large data centers, qualify with limited public review.
The 2017 ITA plan emphasized sports tourism, recreation, agriculture and eco-tourism, not industry.
Resident analyses (not City figures) estimated about $22 million in past City spending on Hudome Way generated about $290,000 in tax revenue, and that the expansion could need at least $40 million more in City spending. See Financial Analysis of Innovation Park Expansion.

Resources

Responsible Growth VB

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