The Pembroke Strategic Growth Area
Pembroke/Town Center
Virginia Beach's Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs) were first identified in the city's 2003 Comprehensive Plan and later refined in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan as areas designated to absorb future growth in our City. SGAs accommodate growth at higher densities to avert continued suburban sprawl. Each SGA has a long-range master plan which describes the future vision and guides policy decisions for growth and development in each area.
Pembroke Strategic Growth Area (SGA)
The Pembroke SGA is a 1200 acre tract of land generally bound by Thalia Creek to the east, Jeanne and Broad Streets to the north, Clearfield Avenue to the west, and Bonney and Baxter Roads to the south.
This SGA primarily reflects a classic suburban pattern of development. It includes some residential and institutional uses, but is dominated by commercial and industrial uses. An exception is Town Center. This vibrant, mixed-use urban center has established itself as a special destination within Virginia Beach and the larger metropolitan area. It is a well-designed urban center with a complement of office, retail, residential, educational, entertainment, cultural, restaurant, open spaces and other uses.
The Pembroke SGA is served by Interstate 264 and two major arterial roadways, Virginia Beach Boulevard and Independence Boulevard. An unused rail line passes through this area extending from the Norfolk city line to the vicinity of the oceanfront resort area.
The Future of the Pembroke SGA
The design intention for future development of the Pembroke SGA is to create a central urban core with a vertical mix of urban uses; great streets, mobility and transit alternatives; urban gathering places; environmental and neighborhood preservation and enhancement; green buildings; and infrastructure opportunities providing a variety of civic, commercial, artistic and ethnically diverse areas.
Pembroke SGA Plan
The Pembroke SGA Implementation Plan describes and provides planning policies for six subareas as shown on the Urban Master Plan/Districts Map. These include the Central Business District’s Core Area, Bonney Area, and Waterfront Area. It also encompasses the Central Village District, Western Campus District and Southern Corporate District. This framework concentrates a high density mix of complementary urban uses within a defined central area, creates a skyline for Virginia Beach, and provides for decreasing land use densities from the core.
General recommendations for the Pembroke Strategic Growth Area are to:
- Implement Transit-Oriented Development around planned transit stations
- Establish policies for alternative housing/workforce housing
- Tailor a Form Based Code for each district
- Establish a Cultural Arts District in the Core Area
- Expand the Pembroke SGA to include Mount Trashmore Park and South Independence Commercial corridor
- Design and build the entire length of Cleveland Street to Greenwich Road as a 'Complete Street' to be an attractive and efficient thoroughfare serving many modes of travel
- Develop a public facilities strategy for City-owned lands considering recreation, library, museum, theaters and other uses
The Development Process
Pre-Design meetings are strongly encouraged for all new developments located within a Strategic Growth Area. (See DSC Information Notice #213.) The purpose of this meeting is to address how the proposal complements the SGA Plan and critical issues associated with the proposed land use, site design, building design, supporting infrastructure needs, and any other concerns about the project. These Pre-Design meetings will also help identify expectations and assist in establishing lines of communication to help the project move through the land development and plan review processes smoothly. Please contact the area representative listed below for more information.
City Contact Information
For more informaiton contact Ashby Moss, the city's SGA Planning Evaluation Coordinator, at 757-385-2904 or amoss@vbgov.com