Where the Water Goes: Rethinking Stormwater in Coastal Virginia

By Earthly Infrastructure® HRCNN Staff Writer
Hampton Roads Construction News Network (HRCNN)

In Hampton Roads, water is more than a geographic feature—it’s a defining force in how we live, build, and plan. As sea levels rise and rainfall events grow more intense, the region’s aging drainage systems and development patterns are being tested in ways never before imagined. For municipalities, engineers, and developers alike, stormwater management has moved from the margins of planning to the forefront of resilience, environmental responsibility, and public infrastructure investment.

Too often, stormwater is invisible—until it’s not. Flooded intersections, overwhelmed outfalls, eroded shorelines, and degraded wetlands are all symptoms of a system pushed past its limits. While reactive measures may be necessary in the short term, they carry steep costs. Increasingly, Virginia’s coastal communities are shifting toward proactive, long-range strategies that anticipate the water’s path—before it becomes a problem.

Nowhere is this transformation more urgent than in Virginia Beach. The city’s low-lying terrain, rapid development, and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay create a perfect storm of environmental responsibility and regulatory complexity. Under mandates like the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, Virginia Beach must meet strict standards for runoff control, nutrient management, and infrastructure maintenance. Yet even full compliance with these regulations may not be enough to protect residents and waterways from the cumulative effects of unchecked growth and outdated systems.

To better understand how policy and infrastructure are aligning at the local level, HRCNN reached out to multiple Virginia Beach city leaders, including Council Member Michael F. Berlucchi and Mayor Bobby Dyer. Their insights shed light on the city’s evolving approach to stormwater management and the political will driving resilience investments.

Councilman Berlucchi, who represents District 3—including neighborhoods severely affected by Hurricane Matthew in 2016—emphasized the importance of both investment and foresight in protecting the city’s future:

“As the Council Member representing the neighborhoods most impacted by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, I’ve seen firsthand the lasting damage that stormwater flooding can cause to lives, property, and public infrastructure. That experience continues to shape my commitment to investing in the systems and safeguards Virginia Beach needs to protect our future.

But infrastructure alone isn’t enough. We also need strong, enforceable stormwater policies—based in science and guided by common sense—that reflect the realities of a growing coastal city and support our long-term resilience.

At the same time, we must foster a strong local economy. Job creation, innovation, and a healthy tax base provide the resources we need to build and maintain critical infrastructure. Smart growth and sound environmental policy are not at odds—they are partners. When aligned, they help ensure Virginia Beach remains a safe, vibrant, and resilient community for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”
— Michael F. Berlucchi, Council Member, District 3

Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer echoed these concerns and outlined how the City is already taking action through one of the most ambitious resilience initiatives in its history:

“In November 2021, Virginia Beach voters overwhelmingly supported a resiliency package for several key flood protection initiatives to include drainage improvements, tide gates, pump stations and flood barriers throughout the city—and for good reason.

Being a low-lying coastal city, heavy rains, hurricanes and nor’easters have been threatening Virginia Beach year after year. The area has struggled with flooding from record rainfalls, including Hurricane Matthew that impacted over 1,000 homes in 2016.

Additionally, it has seen recorded sea level rise of nearly one foot over the past 50 years. In response, the City has expedited plans to invest in resilience for its vulnerable neighborhoods.

Because of this, City Council understood the immediate gravity of the situation and what our city’s future looked like. Working with Virginia Beach Public Works and consulting engineers, they developed a drainage plan that concentrates on volume of storage and conveyance capacity in the City’s four watersheds—the Atlantic Ocean, the Elizabeth River, the Lynnhaven River, and the Southern Rivers—which are made up of 15 drainage basins.

These projects are a huge step in the right direction. But we have to look further down the road if we are to manage our stormwater efforts effectively and protect our city’s future. This includes maintaining and protecting our long-term investment in these projects; promoting effective stormwater drainage; improving the quality of the stormwater discharged into our waterways; and continuously educating our residents on stormwater issues.”
— Mayor Bobby Dyer, City of Virginia Beach

Their remarks underscore a critical point: addressing stormwater is not just about pipes and pumps—it’s about people, planning, and political will.

Across the region, municipalities and private developers are adopting a new generation of solutions. Bioretention areas, bioswales, and rain gardens are appearing in both public rights-of-way and residential subdivisions. Permeable pavements and green roofs are reducing impervious surfaces and increasing onsite water retention. Underground detention systems—once a premium option—are now becoming standard practice even in suburban infill developments.

These approaches are supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), whose Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse provides technical guidance for post-construction runoff controls. As Virginia strives to meet its Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) obligations, developers are not only required to manage runoff—but to do so in a way that supports long-term watershed health.

Responsible stormwater planning must begin at the drawing board. Erosion and sediment control strategies, stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs), and early-stage BMP integration all play a role in reducing flood risk, improving infrastructure longevity, and safeguarding public and environmental health. Done right, these practices serve as more than regulatory checkboxes—they become pillars of sustainable, cost-effective development.

Perhaps most importantly, stormwater tells a story. It reflects how we’ve zoned, how we’ve permitted, and how seriously we’ve taken our responsibility as stewards of a coastal environment. In Chesapeake Bay Preservation Zones and Resource Protection Areas (RPAs), where sensitive ecosystems meet expanding development, these decisions are magnified. The consequences of poor planning are not just local—they reverberate throughout the region.

As Hampton Roads continues to grow, so must the systems that support it. Local governments must prioritize green infrastructure in their capital improvement plans. Developers need clear guidance and incentives to build with water in mind. And residents must stay engaged—because flood resilience, clean waterways, and safe neighborhoods are shared goals that require collective action.

HRCNN will continue to report on the evolving stormwater landscape across Coastal Virginia. From VDEQ updates and BMP innovations to planning commission votes and watershed investments, we are committed to elevating the conversations that will shape the next generation of responsible development.

To our readers: If you are a stormwater engineer, policy leader, or municipal official with expertise or perspective to share, we invite you to submit a guest article or commentary. Visit www.earthlyinfrastructure.com/contact to connect with the HRCNN editorial team.

Because in Hampton Roads, the future doesn’t just depend on what we build.
It depends on how we manage the water that follows.

Built Safe, Built VA: Building a Stronger Commonwealth from the Ground Up

By Eric S. Cavallo – Licensed Commercial Building Contractor | Member, International Code Council (ICC) | Board Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals | Advisory Committee Member, Virginia DHCD – SB195 Reform | Founder & CEO, Earthly Infrastructure®

Safety has long been one of the defining values of the construction industry. But as our cities grow more complex, our climate more unpredictable, and our housing needs more urgent, the meaning of “building safely” must evolve. Today, it’s no longer enough to focus exclusively on jobsite hazards or regulatory compliance within the fence line. The safety of Virginia’s built environment starts upstream—with land use, planning decisions, infrastructure investment, and the policies that govern them all.

Built Safe, Built VA began as a call to strengthen safety culture across Virginia’s construction sites. From OSHA alignment and VOSH enforcement to job hazard analyses and public interface protocols, the original message was clear: protecting lives and reputations on the job is foundational to ethical construction. But the time has come to expand the campaign’s reach. Safety must also guide how we zone our communities, manage our stormwater, approve our housing stock, and license those who shape our physical environment.

One of the earliest and most overlooked points of impact is zoning. Setbacks, overlays, height restrictions, and access requirements may seem bureaucratic—but they often determine whether emergency vehicles can reach a structure, whether pedestrians and cyclists are safely accommodated, and whether public infrastructure can support private development. As a member of the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, I’ve seen firsthand how zoning decisions—good and bad—leave lasting safety consequences. Built Safe means starting at the planning table.

Stormwater management is another critical piece of the safety puzzle. In a coastal region like Hampton Roads, a poorly planned or under-enforced BMP isn’t just an engineering flaw—it’s a public hazard. In next month’s HRCNN feature, Councilman Michael Berlucchi (District 3) offers a civic perspective on how local government can lead in protecting our watersheds and preparing for climate impacts. Erosion, flooding, and sediment runoff don’t stop at property lines. Neither should our commitment to prevention.

Likewise, structural safety must be defended through policy—particularly as we seek to modernize housing. In my role with the Virginia DHCD advisory committee on SB195, I’ve been part of the conversation around single-stair reform in R-2 occupancy structures. This is a question of both affordability and egress. Of innovation and life safety. As we welcome more density in our cities, we must be honest about what safe vertical development looks like—and who bears responsibility when it falls short.

That responsibility should extend to all players in the development chain. In Virginia, contractors must be licensed, tested, insured, and held accountable. But developers—who often initiate, coordinate, and finance the projects that shape our communities—are not subject to the same baseline requirements. This is a regulatory gap that I believe must close. Built Safe, Built VA calls for equal standards across the building lifecycle. If you have the authority to shape a neighborhood, you should carry the license to match.

Public safety also hinges on how construction engages the community during the build. Traffic control plans, signage, fencing, and hazard communication are not superficial details—they are the public’s experience of the construction profession. Whether we're working in a dense urban district or a coastal village, we must treat every project as a public-facing commitment to professionalism. Safety doesn’t end with a passed inspection. It extends to every resident who walks, drives, or lives near our work.

In the months ahead, Built Safe, Built VA will continue spotlighting the people and policies that make Virginia stronger—from jobsite practices and planning board decisions to stormwater initiatives and housing reforms. Through Earthly Infrastructure® and the Hampton Roads Construction News Network, we’re proud to carry this conversation forward—not as critics, but as partners in building a better Commonwealth.

Let’s keep pushing the standard. Because when we build safe, we build trust. We build value. And most importantly, we build Virginia.