Westminster Canterbury Expansion-Stop City Council GoFundMe FUNDRAISER link:
Virginia Beach City Council has approved plans to allow a 22 story building expansion of Westminster Canterbury. This will create a structure rivaling Town Center and potentially supporting other high rise development in the Bayfront neighborhoods along Shore Drive. This precedent setting decision was based solely on the opinions of 5 Council Members and not based on quantifiable City codes or requirements.
VIEW LAWSUIT v. VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL, CITY of VIRGINIA BEACH, WESTMINSTER-CANTERBURY on Chesapeake Bay ( 29 page PDF )
Over $11,000 has been raised in just a couple days.
Join us & many others who don’t want to see the Shore Drive community & potentially other areas of Virginia Beach have an explosion of density & high rises due to this arbitrary decision made by 5 people.
Westminster Canterbury Expansion-Stop City Council GoFundMe FUNDRAISER link:
Virginia Beach City Council has approved plans to allow a 22 story building expansion of Westminster Canterbury. This will create a structure rivaling Town Center and potentially supporting other high rise development in the Bayfront neighborhoods along Shore Drive. This precedent setting decision was based solely on the opinions of 5 Council Members and not based on quantifiable City codes or requirements.
I live on the peninsula and I’m a Wetlands advocate. I also worked for Basic Construction when they built Westminster Canterbury in 1980-81. I know that property.
I can’t find the letter I sent to Virginia Beach when the Westminster Canterbury expansion was proposed. My biggest concern about anymore construction along Shore Drive is the properties are in wetlands. I don’t think Shore Drive can sustain any more construction, especially when we face sea level rise. Shore Drive must have its existing green spaces. I shared with Virginia Beach: I didn’t think the property on which Westminster sits — or neighboring plats — could withstand any more construction.
Wetlands is delicate marshland. Its subsurface is filled with water that is forever moving under the surface and carrying away dirt particles. Whenever we build on wetlands, it’s like we are using a giant press onto a sponge. The subsurface water moves all over but we don’t know where it is going. It’s supposed to move towards our waterways but because we have subsurface structures like pipes and swimming pools, we can’t determine in which direction the subsurface water will move. Over time, subsurface water and shifting wetlands can pose a threat to infrastructure and neighboring properties. Wetlands properties shrink over time due to subsurface shifting. Wetlands must be filled with native plants to stabilize the land.
For now, we can use Surfside tragedy as an example. Surfside sits on barrier Islands that are grossly overdeveloped. I conjecture the building collapsed because the wetlands are exhausted. I don’t believe they can argue structural problems since we can look at age old high rise buildings that haven’t crumbled.
The other item that must be considered to protect the Chesapeake Bay — and this is most important. Anytime we have rain water running over hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete and coming off buildings, it is rushing towards the Bay, threatening its shoreline. Properties along waterways erode — and ultimately shrink. Hard surfaces don’t slow down the flow of rainwater like vegetation does. You see this effect in the never-ending sand replenishment projects along our beaches.
I think you could put up a better argument if you brought in the wetlands board, since you’d be arguing science and property values. City governments don’t want to hear about residents’ personal preferences, which your arguments are presenting. I agree with what you people are saying, but it doesn’t fly. You need to argue evidence. When you throw “potential threat to infrastructure” at cities, they have to look at future maintenance expenses and potential loss. Municipalities have a responsibility to the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. The City needs to understand the effect construction will have on the Chesapeake Bay.
I don’t want to be dragged into this argument. I’m merely giving you information to help your fight against construction on the Westminster property. I have my own anti-construction / wetlands activism on the Peninsula. I wish you well in your efforts.
I voted and got none of those currently on the city council. Get them out!!!