UPDATE: The biomedical park was approved in the consent agenda on Tuesday night.
Virginia Beach, Va. – A public hearing and vote concerning a proposed biomedical park will be taking place at Tuesday night’s Virginia Beach city council meeting.
Council members will be voting on whether or not to transfer 155 acres of city property located in Princess Anne Commons to the City of Virginia Beach Development Authority to be used for a biomedical park.
Back in 2014, Mayor Will Sessoms established a Virginia Beach Biomedical and Health Sciences Task Force to explore the creation of a biomedical and healthcare hub in the city.
After conducting a market study, the task force determined it would help the city diversify its economy.
The proposed site for the project is located between Princess Anne Road and Landstown Center Way in Princess Anne Commons.
According to Economic Development Director Warren Harris, it’s an ideal location since there are already a number of other healthcare-related companies in the area, including Sentara and Operation Smile.
If the biomedical park was built there, Harris says there is enough room for a million square feet of space to be developed.
According to Harris, if city council approves the land transfer, it would allow the Development Authority to start marketing the site to potential companies.
The land would still need to be rezoned.
The city has already designated $1 million to the Department of Economic Development to help with the project.
