VIRGINIA BEACH — Several months ago, the Virginia Beach City Council established a committee to determine whether some agricultural practices, such as backyard hens or keeping small pigs as pets, made sense for suburban areas of the commonwealth’s most populous city.
But that advisory committee, which had been championed by a member of the council who left office not long after its creation, seems to be stuck in limbo because nobody has been appointed to it.
Former City Councilmember Jessica Abbott, who represented the Kempsville District, led the formation of the committee, but she resigned her seat in July due to a health matter. She cosponsored the effort with City Councilmember Michael Berlucchi, who represents the Rose Hall District, but Abbott was the main proponent of exploring issues such as allowing backyard hens, a practice which has some vocal support among the public.
Berlucchi said he had not developed positions on issues the committee would explore, but he backed having the conversations the committee would undertake. In a recent interview, Berlucchi said members of the committee have not yet been appointed.
“I support the discussion,” Berlucchi said. “That’s why I was a cosponsor.”
The council voted in May to create the committee to study whether miniature pigs might be kept as pets, whether a limited number of backyard hens are appropriate for areas outside agricultural districts in Virginia Beach and whether a citywide composting program is feasible.
That said, there wasn’t universal support about some issues – particularly backyard hens. Some people, including farmers, asked about the scope of the committee and whether it would in any way duplicate the work of the existing Agriculture Advisory Commission. The commission makes recommendations related to the farming industry.
City Councilmember Barbara Henley, who represents the Princess Anne District, asked for clear communication with the commission of farmers during the summer, and Berlucchi met with the commission after Abbott left the council. They would be kept in the loop, he told them.
City Councilmember Rocky Holcomb, who represents the Kempsville District, will act as council liaison to the committee. Late last month, he said he planned to bring up the status of the committee in the New Year.
“When we get back after the holiday break, I’m going to look at it,” Holcomb said, adding that he wanted more information about the need for the committee – and he expressed caution about the idea of chickens in suburban yards.
“I don’t think it’s going away, but we need to first stand it up and get full participation,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb was appointed to fill the Kempsville District seat after Abbott’s resignation, and he said the council has been busy. As others have noted, Holcomb said he would like to have farmers involved in the discussions.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can and who’s interested in this and the genesis of this,” he said.
During an interview, Abbott said she understood why the committee might not be a top priority given all the council has had on its plate. She said she hopes there will be some movement on filling the ranks of the committee.
“I’m optimistic they’ll appoint the committee in the New Year,” Abbott said Thursday, Dec. 30. “I hope the council does appoint the committee since there’s a very active group of citizens interested in exploring the issues this committee was meant to explore.”
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