VB National Golf Club Redevelopment Proposal

Virginia Beach National: Protect Taxpayers, Transparency & Responsible Growth

City Council is scheduled to vote on August 11th on a proposal to sell the publicly owned Virginia Beach National Golf Club to Dragas for redevelopment. Responsible Growth VB urges City Council to reject the proposed sale because it raises significant concerns about taxpayer costs, transparency, and consistency with the City's long-term planning policies.

While the proposal is presented as a revenue generator for the city, independent financial analysis indicates that when long-term infrastructure and public service costs are factored in, the project could result in a net cost to taxpayers exceeding $22 million.

⏰ City leaders need to hear from the community by August 11th.

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City Council Public Hearing & Vote – August 11
City Council will make its final decision on the proposed sale of VB National Golf Club. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and consider speaking during public comment.
📅 Tuesday, August 11 | 🕔 6:00 p.m.
📍 City Council Chamber, Building 1 (2401 Courthouse Dr.)
→ View the agenda & register to speak
Community Town Hall - August 6th
Join Friends of VB National to learn more about the proposed VB National sale before City Council votes. Hear from community leaders, legal counsel, financial experts, and planning advocates.
📅 Thursday, August 6 | 🕔 5:15–7:45 p.m.
📍 Central Library (4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.)

What We’re Asking City Leaders to Do

Responsible Growth VB supports responsible growth, housing, and a strong local economy. However, this proposal does not demonstrate that selling this publicly owned property is in the best long-term interest of Virginia Beach taxpayers.

We urge City Council to vote NO on the proposed sale of Virginia Beach National Golf Club.

This proposal has not met several important standards residents should expect before public land is sold:

1. Independent Fiscal Analysis Needed:Require a full, neutral study that measures both new tax revenues and the ongoing public costs of serving 659 households.

2. Bidding Process Raises Serious Questions:Guarantee that all developers competed fairly under identical rules and that major proposal changes were made public from the start.

3. Protect Taxpayers from Unnecessary Financial Risk:Eliminate or justify any public grants, infrastructure subsidies, or cost-overrun guarantees.

4. Uphold Established Zoning & Planning Rules:Maintain long-standing protections around the Green Line, Transition Area, and military flight zones (AICUZ).

Why Your Voice Matters Right Now

City Council is expected to vote on August 11th.If you oppose selling Virginia Beach National Golf Club to Dragas, now is the time to make your voice heard.

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Questions VB Residents Are Asking

Was the bidding process handled fairly and transparently?

Many residents are asking if every company got a fair shot at bidding on this land, or if one developer got a head start.

  • Private Early Meetings: Documents obtained via a 2024 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by former Council Member Chris Taylor revealed that staff began direct meetings with the developer, Dragas, in April 2024. This was 17 months before the city officially invited other companies to bid on the property in October 2025.
  • Unclear Bidding Rules (the "Parcel Shuffle"): When the city asked for bids in October 2025, other companies were asked to bid on buying and running a golf course across 2 pieces of land. But the negotiated deal with Dragas grew to 4 pieces of land (including 110 acres of city farm land), acknowledging some could be used for a high-density housing development. Competitors were never given access to bid on this larger piece of property or expanded scope.
  • Secrecy and Limited Oversight: City officials signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Dragas in August 2024. This agreement kept city staff from sharing early project plans with local citizen oversight boards, including the Planning Commission, the Wetlands Board, and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board.
  • Ignoring Citizen Board Recommendations: The city's appointed advisory committee for this area (the TA/ITA Citizens Advisory Committee) was left out of early discussions and has formally voted NO on this deal twice (in January and July, 2026)
  • Deciding Zoning Decisions Before Public Hearings: Under the proposed deal, approving the sale forces the city to team up with the developer to help get the land re-zoned before the Planning Commission even holds a public hearing.
  • Pending Lawsuit: A lawsuit has been filed challenging how the city handled the bidding process, raising serious legal questions about whether standard rules were followed.
Does the City's financial analysis tell the whole story?

The city claims this deal brings in money, but independent analysis shows it could actually cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

  • The "Free Golf Course": Dragas is set to pay $17.9 million for the land, but the deal gives all $17.9 million right back to the developer to renovate the golf course they will now own. In short, the developer essentially gets the course for free while zero dollars go into the city’s general fund.
  • Surrendering a Profitable Asset: VB National is not losing money. It generated over $1 million in rent, profit-sharing, and tax revenue for the city in 2025 alone ($6.5 million since 2007). Selling it means losing that annual income stream.
  • Hidden Costs for City Services: The city highlights $3.4 million in future property tax revenue, but fails to subtract what it costs to provide city services—like police, fire, schools, and road repairs—for 659 new households.
  • Millions in Taxpayer-Funded Perks: The City is committing $19.9 million in taxpayer funds to cover costs associated with a private development project:
    • $4.3 million for road and utility upgrades (which will be handed directly to the developer's general contractor without open bidding)
    • up to $3.6 million for potential cost overruns on the golf course
    • $1.82 million in Development Authority funds
    • and $10.2 millionin future property tax dollars redirected straight back to the developer
  • Net Taxpayer Loss: When you add up public subsidies and the ongoing costs of public services, independent financial analysis (led by a local resident with a Ph.D. in Finance) estimates taxpayers could lose up to $22 million.
Is this consistent with Virginia Beach's long-term planning?

For decades, Virginia Beach has used zoning rules to prevent overcrowding and protect military flight paths. This project breaks many of those rules.

  • Too Many Homes in Protected Areas: Under the Transition Area Design Guidelines, land south of the Green Line is normally capped at 1 home per acre, and jet noise zones (AICUZ) are limited to 1 home per 15 acres. This plan will crowd 659 units onto roughly 42 acres—averaging approx. 14 homes per acre.
  • Conflicts with City Master Plans: The citizen advisory committee found that this high-density project breaks 4 out of 6 main goals in the city's Comprehensive Plan. Also, moving golf holes also conflicts with the city's official plans for the surrounding area.
  • Flood Risks & Environmental Costs: The site sits on poorly drained hydric soils in the Southern Rivers Watershed. Paving over open green space increases runoff and regional flood risks. In addition, the property features two active bald eagle nests. Any development must comply strictly with federal wildlife laws.
  • Undoing Past Land Conservation:Part of this land was originally bought using state grant funds to prevent development near NAS Oceana. Selling it for housing unwinds that agreement and forces the city to repay an estimated $178,000 to the state.
Housing Reality: Can our workforce afford it?

The project claims to offer "attainable" or "workforce" housing, but the actual numbers show local public workers will be priced out.

  • The Price Tag Is Too High: The city's own financial model prices the "attainable" homes (Garden Flats and Terrace Homes) at $374,600.
  • Priced Out on Day One: At current interest rates, buying one of these homes requires an annual household income of roughly $136,500, while Average Median Income (AMI) is only around $107,000.
  • Unaffordable for VB Public Servants: A local teacher ($62,268/yr), police officer ($70,450/yr), or firefighter ($66,082/yr) with 5 years of service would have to spend 54% to 61% of their gross monthly pay on housing alone. Mortgage lenders cap housing payments at 28% of a person's income.
  • No Mandatory Rules to Keep Prices Low: The proposed contract does not include any legally binding price caps, income checks for buyers, or deed restrictions. It only asks the developer to use "best efforts" to target households making up to $129,240 a year.

Why This Matters To Every Virginia Beach Resident

This isn't just about one golf course—it affects citywide resources and future policy:

  • Diverted Tax Dollars: The $18.1 million committed in public subsidies and tax grants comes from funds that could otherwise fix roads, improve citywide flood defenses, or support local schools in every district.
  • Sets a Dangerous Precedent: Breaking density guidelines south of the Green Line opens the door for redeveloping other protected open spaces across Virginia Beach.

Whether you live in Bayside, Kempsville, Great Neck, Oceanfront, or Princess Anne, this decision will shape how Virginia Beach manages public land, taxpayer dollars, and future growth for years to come.

Take Action Now

Tell City Council to Vote NO on the Proposed Sale.

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