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Navy Property Transferred to the City of Virginia Beach

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100521-26
5/21/2010

By Kelley Stirling, Naval Air Station Oceana Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station Oceana and the city of Virginia Beach closed May 18 on the transfer of 98 acres, called the Marshview property, from the Navy to the city.

"This is a win-win for the Navy and the city of Virginia Beach," said Capt. Mark Rich, commanding officer of NAS Oceana. "The Navy is eliminating a significant amount of excess property, while ensuring the continued compatible use of that parcel while gaining substantial additional development rights in a high priority area, and the City of Virginia Beach gains a sizeable parcel which it intends to develop into a low-density park which will be welcomed by the surrounding communities."

The Marshview property, which is in Virginia Beach near Birdneck Road, was purchased by the Navy in the late 80s as part of the Navy's Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) acquisitions around Oceana and Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress.

At the time, the Navy was purchasing restrictive easements on property as part of the AICUZ acquisitions, however the easement purchase alone for the Marshview property proved to be very costly; instead, the Navy bought the property in a fee simple purchase for $4.29 million. Part of the property lies within the greater than 75 average decibel level and the Accident Potential Zone Two.

For many years, the city of Virginia Beach has sought to acquire this property from the Navy to turn into a low-density park area, which would be a compatible use under the AICUZ program. After deliberations, this transfer has taken place and rather than a cash purchase, the Navy has asked the proceeds to be used for the purchase of restrictive easements on 46.71 acres for encroachment buffering within the interfacility traffic area between Oceana and Fentress.

The Navy will still own a Restrictive Easement over the Marshview property, but the city's park development plans fall within those restrictions.