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The future of 250 acres of Virginia Beach farmland is uncertain, as manufacturers eye the property.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Members of a citizens advisory committee in Virginia Beach are raising red flags over a potential development in the southern part of the city.

They held a meeting Thursday evening, and Virginia Beach economic development officials answered what they could about the proposal dubbed as "Project Wayne."

Questions and concerns are emerging from some residents, while Virginia Beach City Council members weigh what's next. As part of an initial phase, "Project Wayne" developers are asking to build on 250 acres next to Virginia Beach National Golf Club.

While the public knows very little details, the proposal is facing some pushback.

The first phase of "Project Wayne" could bring a $175 million capital investment and 400 jobs, according to city leaders. It could also usher in two more phases, meaning additional land usage and jobs. However, the focus of talks right now is on "Phase 1."

Chuck Rigney, the business attraction administrator with Virginia Beach Economic Development, said it is a viable prospect.

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Only key city officials know the company's name. They did say developers are looking for space for "advanced manufacturing" of medical products.

Virginia Beach is competing with cities within Virginia and other states for this potential development.

"We are still very much in the finding-out phase. The company itself, though, would like to know if there is any appetite for the continuing evaluation of Virginia Beach," Rigney said.

The property under evaluation is located below the "green line." It's a longstanding symbol of separation between development to the north and agriculture to the south.

Pungo farmer John Cromwell, Jr. wants to protect agriculture, which he described as a viable industry.

"The best part about agriculture is we have what we need. We don't need any infrastructure. This is my factory here," Cromwell said as he motioned to the ground and picked up the soil. "I need this, I need fresh air, sunshine and rain."

To make way for "Project Wayne," council members would need to rezone the land in question.

"Agricultural zoning to an industrial zoning, that is one whopping major change," Cromwell said.

And a group of citizens who monitors projects around the "green line" agrees. Committee members met Thursday evening, focusing a lot of discussions around "Project Wayne."

"It's a little premature to be looking at this project and to be looking at sites in the area," Lisa Hartman, chair of the Transition Area/Interfacility Traffic Area Citizens Advisory Committee, said.

Hartman explained how the proposal lacks the backing of research, studies and cohesion with established plans.

"If we have Project Wayne that we think might come here, we zone it industrial and they decide not to come here, we are now left with this industrial zoning," Hartman added.

"Further, the land that they're talking about developing is lowland, wetland, it doesn't perc, there's no infrastructure," Martha Thereault, a longtime Virginia Beach resident, said.

"All that impervious surface and the stormwater management, it's just a bad fit," Cromwell also said.

However, one man who sat in during the advisory committee meeting Thursday night mentioned the attraction of business and industry that came along with "Project Wayne." He declined an interview with 13News Now following the meeting.

Before taking any more steps, council members will hear comments from the public on May 16 at 6 p.m. It will be at Virginia Beach City Hall.

Notably, it is not yet clear when the council plans to vote on whether to rezone the land.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Rapper 50 Cent is going on tour in North America and Europe to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin.”

The show is scheduled for Sunday, August 13 at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, with special guests Busta Rhymes and Jeremih. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 12 at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com, but fans can register now through Sunday, May 7 for verified fan presale here.

Fans can expect all the hits from the Grammy-nominated album, including “In Da Club,” “P.I.M.P.” and “21 Questions.”

The now 47-year-old is also making several non-tour stops in 2023 such as the Lovers & Friends Festival in Las Vegas, which will also feature Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Miguel, Christina Auguilera, Nelly and more.

Here’s the full list of North American tour, called The Final Lap:

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As the number of homes considered to be “destroyed” rises after the April 30 tornado in Virginia Beach, residents whose homes were damaged are working to find out whether they can rebuild the current house or have to tear it down.

Erik Fink, an agent with Fink and Associates Insurance, explains why some determinations may take longer than others.

“A lot of times you can go up to a house and see ‘Hey, it’s done. We gotta’ totally get it down and rebuild it.’ The next type is you always want to make sure the house has good integrity,” said Fink. “You can go by a house and see a tree that’s fallen up against it or through it, and it might have knocked that house of its foundation or it might have knocked one of the structural walls inside to where it’s not going to be safe.”

The cost to rebuild could have significantly increased, and Michael Barry, Chief Communications Officer with the Insurance Information Institute, says it’s good to check with your insurance company to make sure the coverage amount on your policy has been updated.

Barry also said don’t be surprised if your insurance rates have increased.

“That has trickled down into the cost of construction materials, contractors’ labor rates, and these have all been putting pressure on home insurers and it has been reflected in the cost of homeowners’ insurance,” Barry stated.

As far as time to completely rebuild a home, one contractor in Hampton Roads estimates it could take a year. But Barry said it’s unlikely that Virginia Beach will see much delay in home construction due to the recent tornado.

Barry said, “It usually arises after a momentous case such as Florida’s Hurricane Ian last fall where you had hundreds of thousands of claims come in.”

Fink advises updating your policy.

“Hurricane season is a great time to look at it. Something like this after any type of natural disaster, it’s a very good time and reminder that insurance is not a set it, forget it item.”

The following is a recommended checklist for homeowners and renters. It comes from the Insurance Information Institute.

· Contact your insurance professional and start the claims filing process.

· Take photos of damage. A photographic record eases the insurance claim process.

· Make temporary repairs to prevent further loss from rain, wind, or looting; these costs are reimbursable under most policies, so save repair-related receipts.

· Compile a detailed list of all damaged or destroyed personal property. Do not throw out damaged property until you meet with an insurance adjuster. If you have a home inventory, it will make the claims-filing process easier.

· Hold off on signing repair contracts. Deal with reputable contractors and get references. Be sure of payment terms and consult your insurance adjuster before signing any contracts.

· Check to see if you’re eligible for additional living expenses (ALE). Standard homeowners and renter'spolicies pay for the extra charges (e.g., temporary housing, restaurant meals) you incur over and above your customary living expenses if your home is uninhabitable because of an insured loss. Save all related receipts and, if you have vacated your home, make sure your insurer knows how to contact you.

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Virginia Beach tornado destruction captured on drone footage

A tornado touched down in Virginia Beach, Virginia, about 6 p.m. Sunday in the area of River Road and Great Neck. City officials estimate between 50 and 100 homes were damaged by the severe weather in the town.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A state of emergency was declared following the first EF-3 tornado on record for Virginia Beach.

The National Weather Service confirmed the large tornado touched down in the northern part of the city just before 6 p.m. EDT Sunday.

The path was approximately 4.5 miles long, from the Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River to Fort Story, with peak winds of 145 mph, according to the NWS office in Wakefield, Virginia.

'The storm did a fair bit of damage': EF-3 tornado tears through Virginia Beach

Director of Virginia Beach Public Works LJ Hansen provides an update on the recovery efforts for communities around Virginia Beach after a historic tornado ripped through the area Sunday.

Drone footage from the Virginia Beach Fire Department shows the extent of the destruction in the Great Neck section of Virginia Beach.

VIRGINIA BEACH SUFFERS 'MAJOR STORM DAMAGE' AFTER CITY EXPERIENCES FIRST EF-3 TORNADO ON RECORD

"Our hearts go out to the Great Neck community and all those impacted by last night’s storm," firefighters wrote on Facebook Monday morning. "We are grateful that no lives were lost."

City officials estimate more than $15 million in residential damage: nine homes were destroyed, 36 of which sustained major damage making them uninhabitable, and many more suffered significant damage.

This tornado was the first EF-3 in the state of Virginia since April 19, 2019, and the first tornado of any intensity in the city of Virginia Beach since March 31, 2017. It was also the 15th tornado overall to impact Virginia Beach since 1950.

Communities across the Virginia Beach area were cleaning up on Monday, after a severe storm that brought at least one confirmed tornado damaged an estimated 50 to 100 homes, the authorities said.

Patrick Duhaney, the city manager, declared a state of emergency on Sunday night as the coastal municipality sought to provide refuge to people whose homes were damaged and prepared to send its crews to pick up debris from public streets on Monday morning.

The tornado went through the Fort Story area in northeastern Virginia Beach just before 6 p.m., said Mike Montefusco, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Wakefield, Va.

The tornado’s exact path will be confirmed through a survey on Monday.

Despite the damage to area homes, no injuries were immediately reported.

Emergency crews were patrolling the area by bus and were picking up residents who needed transportation to a shelter that was set up at the Great Neck Recreation Center, where five people were staying as of 9 p.m. on Sunday, Tiffany Russell, a spokeswoman for the city of Virginia Beach, said. Some residents had reported gas leaks, the city said.

Multiple boats were reported to have broken off their moorings, overturned and damaged, Ms. Russell said. The city was working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Port of Virginia Maritime Incident Response team to evaluate the impact and recover the boats.

The Virginia Beach Fire Department was responding to “calls for major storm damage to multiple homes” in the Great Neck area, the department said on Twitter.

Power outages were reported Sunday night across the Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach areas. As of Monday morning, less than 300 customers had no power, according to Dominion Energy’s outage map, down from more than 14,000 on Sunday.

Officials for Virginia Beach had also canceled on Sunday the final day of Something In the Water, a music festival that representatives of the National Weather Service had been set to attend.

The Weather Service officials stayed at the festival site to help handle the response to the storm, Ms. Russell said.

“No one wants to make this call, but we cannot predict nor negotiate with the weather tonight,” the city manager, Mr. Duhaney, said in a statement on Facebook announcing the cancellation. “It is our responsibility to ensure public safety above all else.”