Judge rules Virginia Beach council can factor in sea level rise when deciding on new developments

This article discusses a court case that allows localities to factor in sea level rise in their zoning decisions.

The Virginia Beach City Council had the right to deny a developer’s request to rezone flood-prone land near the Municipal Center so he could build new homes there, a judge ruled in court Wednesday.

In dismissing the developer’s lawsuit, the judge affirmed the council’s prerogative to factor in sea level rise and future flooding when deciding on whether to allow new construction, even if these projections are not established in city codes or ordinances.

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