Our mission
Responsible Growth VB is a citizen-led non-government organization dedicated to promoting transparency and responsible growth in decisions by city government and informed civic participation that protects the long-term interests of Virginia Beach residents.
In plain terms: we make sure residents know what the City is deciding, why it matters, and how to be heard before the vote.
Virginia Beach is worth getting right
Virginia Beach is more than a place on a map. It’s home. It’s the beaches and wetlands, the neighborhoods built over decades, and the belief that what we inherit should be protected, not used up.
Our city will keep growing, and that’s a good thing. Growth done well brings good jobs, homes people can afford, and stronger neighborhoods. Growth done in a rush, out of public view, can cost us places and money we can’t get back. The difference is whether residents have a real say.
Too often, decisions that permanently shape our city happen quietly, buried in technical documents and short timelines. We bring those decisions into the open. We read the documents, translate the jargon, and make it easy for you to tell City leaders what you think.
Your voice makes a difference
When residents speak up together, City leaders listen. Two recent examples:
- Data centers. We warned that the ITA Master Plan could open the door to data centers. In June, City Council unanimously backed rejecting large data centers, and a Council member cited the many emails residents had sent. In August, Council paused new data center applications while the City writes rules. See the ITA page
- Back Bay Farmhouse. We asked City Council to delay its vote and make the developer pay for pedestrian safety. Council delayed 30 days, and the developer is now required to pay $600,000 toward a crosswalk signal on Kempsville Road. See the outcome
Every email and every seat filled at a public hearing adds up. Together, residents are changing what gets built, and how.
What we stand for
- Transparency and facts. Everyone deserves clear, accurate information about what the City is deciding, including contracts, budgets and public records.
- Speaking up for residents. We take clear, evidence-based positions so residents’ voices shape the outcome.
- Respect for taxpayer money. Public dollars should be spent carefully and openly, on fair terms for the city.
- Good planning. Long-range land-use planning, based on real data, that respects neighborhoods, protects natural areas and meets community needs.
What we focus on
- Land use, zoning and City policy
- City budgets and what projects really cost taxpayers
- Protecting natural areas and open space, and reducing flooding
- Protecting neighborhood character while respecting property rights
- Housing that people can afford
How we work
What we do
- Research City documents and public records, including through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
- Publish plain-language guides, fact sheets and updates
- Take public positions on growth, land use, infrastructure and government accountability
- Help residents email City leaders, speak at public hearings and sign petitions
What we don’t do
- Endorse, oppose or donate to political candidates or parties
- Run political campaigns or act as a Political Action Committee (PAC)
- Start or pay for lawsuits
- Present guesses as facts, change source data, or leave out important facts
Help shape what comes next
Responsible Growth VB isn’t about stopping growth. It’s about guiding it, so Virginia Beach stays a place where nature is protected, neighborhoods are respected, and the future is as thoughtful as the past that brought us here.
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care about where Virginia Beach is headed. Start here:
Stay informed
Decisions move fast. We’ll email you when public hearings are scheduled, with exactly how to take part.