City Council Special Formal Meeting, 2/24/2026

The City Council of Virginia Beach held a special formal meeting on February 24, 2026, focusing on legislative updates, real estate assessments, comprehensive planning, transportation projects, and upcoming planning items. Legislative affairs highlighted budget updates including funding for local projects and programs, with attention to EMS funding and utility marking pilot programs. The real estate assessor presented a detailed annual report showing a 6% increase in property assessments, emphasizing the challenges of housing affordability and the impact of new construction and land use. The comprehensive plan update, Imagine VB 2040, was discussed extensively, outlining citywide goals, context areas, and place types to guide future development, with council members debating naming conventions and public engagement processes. Transportation priorities included SmartScale grant applications for key infrastructure projects such as road widening, intersection improvements, pedestrian bridges, and trail expansions, with discussions on funding strategies and project importance. The meeting concluded with a preview of planning commission items for March, including rezoning requests, conditional use permits, and community development projects, alongside council comments recognizing public safety, community events, and civic engagement.