Kingsville Joint Land Use Study
Matrix was contracted by the City of Kingsville to develop a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for the operational area surrounding NAS Kingsville.
As communities develop and expand in response to growth and market demands, land use decisions can push urban development closer to military installations and operation areas. The resulting land use conflicts, often referred to as encroachment, can have negative impacts on community safety, economic development, and sustainment of military activities and readiness. This threat to military readiness activities is currently one of the military’s greatest concerns.
The primary mission of NAS Kingsville is to train tactical jet pilots for the Navy and Marine Corps. This mission is supported by Training Air Wing Two and its two Advanced Jet Training Squadrons (VT-21 and VT-22). As the first squadron to receive the new “Goshawk” T-45 Training System, VT-21 conducts advanced pilot training for carrier jet aviators. Also utilizing the T-45 platform, VT-22 conducts strike jet training for student naval aviators. Maintenance personnel to service these units are also co-located at the installation. In addition, NAS Kingsville hosts other organizations such as the US Border Patrol and other installation support services.
Although primarily surrounded by agriculture and protected by ordinance, there are several aspects of this project that may pose a challenge. These include:
- Determining the potential mission expansions for NAS Kingsville. With the failure of local entities in proximity of NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach to address encroachment concerns, the DoD is considering closing or moving part of the installations operations to another location. NAS Kingsville is considered a prime installation for the relocation of these assets due to its large volume of unencumbered airspace, availability of landing fields, and excellent weather. If successful, the installation could receive approximately 40 additional jets, 1,200 to 1,300 people, and present a positive economic impact to the area of about $1 to 1.2 billion over a 10-year period.
- Determining Growth Pressures. Although the area has witnessed stagnant population growth recently, multiple commercial and industrial opening and expansions have created overwhelming job growth in Kleberg County – up 30 percent from 2001.
- Lack of New Residential Development. One of the factors contributing to the declining population growth is the lack of new residential development within the City of Kingsville and Kleberg County. In order to spur new development, the City approved the Residential Development Incentive Agreement in 2004. Successes from this agreement include the development of three new subdivisions – Paulson Falls, Las Palmas del Rey, and Santa Gertrudis Arroyo Estates.