Top business leaders in Virginia Beach from the Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Beach Business Roundtable and Virginia Beach Vision,have come out against the city holding a referendum on a light-rail project, arguing it's a decision the City Council should make.

These groups represent real estate, development, retail and hospitality interests, and their efforts help to increase home values in the area.

"The comments mark the unofficial start to a debate sure to rage for at least a year while Hampton Roads Transit, the region's transportation agency, carries out its light-rail feasibility study.

In 1999, Beach residents derailed light rail 56 to 44 percent in a referendum. City referendums are nonbinding, but the City Council used it to guide its 1999 decision.

The city is in the final stages of buying a 10.6-mile rail corridor from Norfolk Southern for a possible light-rail project that would connect to Norfolk's system. Next week, the city's development authority will vote on spending $5 million to acquire the vacant Circuit City property near Town Center for a potential station."

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