Public Policy Update
March 2025
The City of Newport News continues to undertake a multi-year, master planning effort to tackle flooding challenges. Through this effort, the City is assessing current and future flood impacts to develop long-term flooding solutions. The City received $4.9 M in grant funding from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to engage in this planning effort. In mid-March, Chris Williams and Soraya Brandao-Traxler from the Department of Public Works provided updates on the process. Joining NAR’s Austin Perez, the Senior Policy Representative for Insurance issues, the three subject matter experts focused on flooding, the National Flood Insurance Program and resilience issues. VPAR’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Susan Gaston, serves on the City’s Master Planning Work Group and also serves on NAR’s Insurance Committee.
The City of Newport News also is reviewing its Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Department is working on the next round of stakeholder outreach, and VPAR will be included so that the City can intersect with VPAR members and brief the Association on the most current discussion points.
The City of Hampton soon will initiate its Accessible Dwelling Unit (ADU) Work Group to explore potential policy development on this zoning and land use issue that has implications for housing opportunities. ADUs, otherwise referred to as “granny flats” or “mother-in-law houses,” are single family dwelling units that are on the same platted lot as a primary residence. Limitations and restrictions apply, but this is creative means of providing additional housing. Newport News passed its ordinance in last September, and Hampton will be beginning its policy development process this Spring. Susan Gaston has been asked by the City Manager to serve on the Work Group.
VPAR extends it deepest sympathy to the City of Poquoson, and to the family of VPAR friend and colleague, Dave Callis. Dave passed away earlier this month. As the Economic Development Director in the City, VPAR had a special connection with Dave and his team, who worked tirelessly to connect REALTOR® members to housing opportunities in the City. Dave’s energy, enthusiasm and support will be missed.
VPAR has received a grant award from the NAR Housing Opportunities Program (HOP) to conduct a regional housing needs and market analysis study that will take a deep dive into each of the localities on the Peninsula, taking into account the various regional qualities that make this market unique. VPAR again has engaged Dr. Tom Hall with Christopher Newport University to conduct the research and the analyses. On July 8th, VPAR’s Public Policy Committee will host a VPAR Town Hall to engage members in this process, along with community leaders, businesses, housing non-profits and other key stakeholders. More to come!
At the request of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, VPAR has submitted a letter to the Southside Network Authority in support of the Southside Network Authority’s (SNA) GO Virginia planning grant. This grant will request $100,000 from the GO Virginia program to complete a broadband/fiber asset assessment to complement the regional fiber ring that is being constructed to interconnect the Hampton Roads region. In 2018, the Southside Network Authority (SNA) was formed by Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth and Norfolk. Collectively, these cities have invested over $25 million to construct a fiber-optic Regional Connectivity Ring (RCR) to enable ultra-fast telecommunication services throughout the region. Plans are now being developed to extend this fiber network from the Southside to the Peninsula to create a regionally interconnected network that can support the regional economy and contribute to an ecosystem that will support the creation of high paying jobs. As a respected and influential stakeholder, VPAR frequently weighs in on these large-scale regional issues and projects.