The City of Virginia Beach seemed to have thrown these documents out when they eliminated the Department of Environment & Sustainability, hoping no one would notice.
The story begins in 1972. And like most stories of greed and corruption, it begins with the government…
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
On October 27, 1972, Congress enacted Public Law 92-583, The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
This Act originated as ten pages outlining federal laws for the management, use, protection, and development of the land in the nation’s coastal zones.
1974
In 1974, Congress amended the Act to allocate monies to the states in order to assist in developing the federally mandated Land Management Plan required of all coastal municipalities. (*the trail of these federal funds will become pertinent as City officials personally profit to the detriment of others)
1975
of Water and Related Land Resources
May 14, 1976
Various studies, funded by the federal government, were conducted to structure programs and distribute monies for implementation in our coastal zones.
These studies outlined land use, redevelopment, and critical environmental areas to protect our coastal cities from flooding, erosion, and sealevel rise. The City of Virginia Beach would later adopt these strategies for preservation of lands in critical areas.
1976
In September of 1976, an inventory was taken of these critical areas in the City of Virginia Beach.
City of Virginia Beach Marsh Inventory, Special Report No. 118 (Sept. 1976)
Detailed mapping of soils, waters, and charting the contents of these ecosystems which are critical lands to protect our coasts in what was called the greenbelt (term used in the SENE study which would later become, “below the green line”).
March 31, 1976 — Virginia Coast Reserve Study (federally funded)
May 19, 1976 — Nags Head Land Use Plan (federally funded)
1977
August 29, 1977 — Chesapeake Bay Future Conditions Report, NOAA (federally funded)
Councilmembers George R. Ferrell McCoy Riggs Oberndorf Robert B. Cromwell, Jr. ; John A. Baum ;
1978
March 27, 1978 — Economic Implications for Environmental Legislation of Wetlands, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Department of Agricultural Sciences
October 22, 1978 — Land Development Plan As Mandated By The Coastal Area Management Act Of 1974 (federally funded)
1979
In March of 1979, the Commonwealth of Virginia released the state’s land management plan as was required under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, to comply with the 1974 provisions.
The production of this document, as well as all studies leading up to its drafting, was funded by the federal government. This document outlines the land management of Virginia’s coastal communities including Virginia Beach and Princess Anne.
March 1, 1979 — The Virginia Coastal Resources Management Program – Program Document, prepared by The Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia (*federally funded*)
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
January 23, 1985
1986
June 23, 1986 — City Council votes to extend the restrictions below the ‘line.’ The prohibitions were lifted in a 5-2 vote with Henley and Oberndorf being the only nay votes (Baum, Fentress, Heischober, Jones, and McClanan voting in favor)
*these names will become important later
1987
1988
August 22, 1988 —
December 5, 1988 — Heischober efforts to violate the line.
December 12, 1988 — allocation of funds to preservation.
December 19, 1988 — importance of maintaining the green line back to only ‘agricultural’ property purposes due to flooding and water contamination issues.
1989
January 30, 1989 — Item 30699
March 20, 1989 — Publication to the City stating they need to hold the green line and the consequences
March 27, 1989
April 3, 1989 — City of Virginia Beach purchase they will later sell off to developers
April 10, 1989
April 17, 1989
May 1, 1989
June 26, 1989
July 10, 1989
November 20, 1989 — blue line
December 11, 1989 — importance of holding the green line
1990
June 11, 1990 — Princessboro Development seeks rezoning (Estate of Ida V. James).
1991
1992
June 5, 1992 — Princessboro easement to Food Lion
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
April 16, 1997 — Jim Reeve purchases Lotus Farms (which he later subdivides)
1998
1999
December 1999 — Princessboro starts transferring property to Sandbridge Properties LLC
2000
2001
2002
February 5, 2002 — Princessboro is denied/deferred.
February 12, 2002 — Princessboro is denied/deferred.
March 26, 2002 — Princessboro is denied/deferred.
April 9, 2002 — Princessboro is denied/deferred.
April 23, 2002 — Princessboro is denied/deferred.
July of 2002 — Jim Reeve replaces Barbara Henley in the Princess Anne District.
2003
December 9, 2003 — Ashville Park LLC (deferred)
2004
February 24, 2004 — Ashville Park LLC is approved for rezoning.
March 5, 2004 — Ashville Park LLC is subdivided.
Owners: Roger Elliot Malbon Trust; Estate of W.W. Oliver Jr; William W. Oliver Trust; Linda C. Ackiss Trust; Lynn O. Adams Trust; Frank T. Williams; Edward R. Bourdon Jr.; Betty B. Bourdon; Paul S. Bourdon; Eddie Lee Cooper Trust; Linda C. Cooper Trust; Rebecca Ann Cullipher Trust; Norwood C. Land.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
January 27, 2009 — Gateway Enterprises LLC and Princessboro rezone 2084 Princess Anne Road from AG-2 to O-2
2010
December 2010 — Reeve sells subdivided lots in Lotus Garden Farms
2011
2012
2013
2014
February 25, 2014 — Princessboro (deferred)
August 19, 2014 — Princessboro rezone 1901 Sandbridge Road from AG-2 to B-2 (deferred indefinitely)
2015
2016
2017
2018
Keep Virginia Beach Above Water 
I am 55 years old . Born and raised in city of Virginia Beach. I have worked for this city since 18 years old as do many of my fellow colleagues. Of course there was this Green Line . Every one living here did . We also all knew it was just an imaginary line that carried big money power and was adjusted and moved back and forth at will to serve individual needs. I don’t remember it having an official ending the joke just got old LOL
Even though the federal government funds a lot of ‘imaginary’ projects — I doubt this one was intended to be on that list. We have, obviously, experienced the consequences, and will continue to so long as Council allows reckless development. I will be posting who profited from voting to violate this line. It wouldn’t be fair if they didn’t receive a ‘thank you’ card from all of the property owners suffering due to their greed.