Shore Drive Community Coalition
2260 First Landing Lane
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

July 5, 2007

Honorable Steven G. Bowman
Commissioner of Marine Resources
Honorable Jack Travelstead

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Ave., 3rd Floor
Newport News, Virginia 23607

Commissioner Bowman,

On behalf of the Shore Drive Community Coalition, a group of 32 civic and condo associations representing more than 8000 Virginia Beach City residents, we would like to formally request that the scheduled 7/25/07 public hearing for the Appeal of Sandler at Indigo Bay, L.L.C. decision by the Virginia Beach Wetlands Board be held in the evening and at a location in Virginia Beach.

This proposed project is a very important issue for the Lynnhaven River community as exemplified by the large number of letters and emails sent to the Virginia Beach Wetlands Board and attendance of over 100 residents at the Wetlands Board hearing.  Many of these individuals spoke to the Wetlands Board and presented their concerns regarding the project and how it would impact them personally as well their concern with the potential for negative impact on the waterway which many consider to be one of the jewels of Virginia Beach.

Whereas it would be very difficult for the majority of the individuals who are concerned about this project to attend a morning meeting in Newport News, we feel that having the meeting in the evening in Virginia Beach would provide the best opportunity for the Commission to obtain sufficient public input, if deemed appropriate, on this project prior to making their decision.  With this in mind, we respectfully request that the public hearing be held in the evening at a location such as Cox High School.

The SDCC has asked the Sandlers for support of this request for relocation, but regrettably they have declined.

We understand that off site hearings are rare but have been used in the past on large precedent setting cases and especially in cases where there is a demonstrated broad public concern regarding the project.  We hope that you will thoughtfully consider this request and look forward to your response.  I can be reached at 757-869-5447 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Todd R. Solomon (See original for signature)
Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition, President

Please Email your request for change:[encode=steve.bowman@mrc.virginia.gov, jack.travelstead@mrc.virginia.gov,tsolanic@gmail.com, todd@sdcc.info]Email Mr. Bowman & Mr. Travelstead.[/encode]