I think you were told a good story, VA Beach has a longer history of building permits. It all started after they built Shore Drive and people layed stake claims from route 17 (chick's beach) to Seashore State Park. This was in the mid 1920's.
In fact there was so much building going on that City of VB (before 25 years ago)and the farmers down in Pungo got worried and created the Green Line where no mass construction could happen below this line.
No new Building on farmers land without a permit/ use application, etc., it's very restrictive.
Yes his building was already there and he needed power, I'll give you that...
This Green line started at, I recall, on the road to Sandbridge or even at the end of Princess Anne Rd around VB's central services plaza, and below.
One has to realize that this is number two of VA's largest land mass city's, I beleive Suffolk is number one, the City of Suffolk just remained the county to be the city of...