This Thursday’s meeting of the B&WAC was a showdown. At the well attended B&WAC scheduled public meeting held on 13 OCT, a large showing of residents came to express their concerns and to ask questions. Many spoke to the committee and packed room to state their concerns mainly with the viability of the proposed Maple Street Dredge Spoils transfer site. Of the 20 speakers, 16 spoke directly against the use of Maple Street as a spoils transfer site, three others on different points of opposition, and one lone speaker on the positive points for Old Donation Special Service District.
Many questions submitted by the gathered audience were answered while some questions were dismissed as “off topic”. When the night ended, many of us felt that our positions in opposition to the city’s plan were on the record and understood by the board. I do not think many of us knew how it would progress past the point that we had left that night. We were determined, well researched, and committed to our positions.
This Thursday’s meeting (Oct 20), was going to be a showdown on the street to determine the outcome of our stated positions. I spoke to Chairman Fraim before the meeting of unanswered questions from the previous meeting and he said they would be answered at this meeting. I asked if the citizens of Virginia Beach would have an opportunity to review and comment on the board’s recommendations before they went to City Council and he said yes. I felt some of the tension between us lessen. We were communicating.
When I was young in grade school, I remember that I did not like to fight and get in trouble for doing so, but sometimes it was necessary to stand your ground and do what you believed to be necessary. This felt like one of those days in grade school. We had gone nose to nose, reached our point, but now we at least started to understand where we stood. We had reached middle ground. It is not a win-lose position, but more of an understanding. We would be listened to and our positions considered. I would like to think that that is the way reasonable people negotiate very important matters. I still do not know how this Neighborhood Dredge Spoils program will turn out, but we are talking and considerate of both parties. Friday started with a renewed spirit and more hope for Long Creek residents. It was a better day, fresh and clear, with a bit more hope for our neighborhoods. Have a nice weekend neighbors and B&WAC committee members. I hope to be fishing with my wife in the middle channel of Long Creek at my favorite trout spot. We are more hopeful than before and remain still confident in our positions.