The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, Lynnhaven Room, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Click here for more information http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=974
Here is a little background information regarding the upcoming featured speaker for the Monday August 27th general meeting.
The Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) is a citizen advocacy group formed to plant, protect, preserve, and promote live oak trees in Virginia Beach. FOLO is
giving away live oaks in containers at no charge to Virginia Beach home and business owners to plant on their property as well as neighborhood common areas and city property such as schools and parks. A special promotion will be held in conjunction with the Lynnhaven River Now’s part in the October 6, 2012, celebration of their Fall Festival at Pleasure House Point.
Live oaks are designated as the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and with good reason. Native to the area, live oaks were here long before European settlers. The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem. They resist salt spray and storm surges, having survived Hurricane Katrina in areas where everything else was reduced to rubble. They control flooding and storm water runoff, and shelter and nourish local wildlife. They are amazingly drought-tolerant and disease-resistant.
Live oaks boast many assets for homeowners. They increase property value and quality of life. They provide incredible shade, reducing air conditioning costs. An evergreen, their dense foliage provides privacy and beautifies the garden all year round.
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, August 27, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Meeting topic: Discussion with Friends of the Live Oaks project – www.friendsofliveoaks.org
The Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) is a citizen advocacy group formed to plant, protect, preserve, and promote live oak trees in Virginia Beach. FOLO is giving away live oaks in containers at no charge to Virginia Beach home and business owners to plant on their property as well as neighborhood common areas and city property such as schools and parks.
Officers’ Reports
President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Grace Moran
Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –July Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Carol Collins
Update on issues: Discussions Pleasure House Point Update
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Websites covering Shore Drive and Bayfront issues:
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- TBA
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
Resident question – Regarding the proposed Marlin Bay road access, will this allow for future option for the land trustees and or adjacent land owners the ability to develop the remaining number of lots available if Marlin Bay Road is extended? Can you inform us if the land trustees/owners will be donating the land over to CBF or VBgov or are their future intention to develop the remaining number of lots?
City answer – Another Ocean Park resident emailed Christy and I with similar questions over the weekend. The short answer is that the adjacent property owner to the north of the 118-acre Pleasure House Point site are not interested in donating their property. We have been told that the intention is to develop those lots.
Whether Marlin Bay Drive extended is built with the CBF project or not, the right-of-way already exists today and can be built. Since the right-of-way has already been dedicated, there have been preliminary discussions about the City working with all parties to consider a design that is as pervious as possible and as green as possible.
This is what I told the other resident who inquired over the weekend:
There are a few areas adjacent to the 118 acres that the Trust for Public Land was able to acquire (108 acres of which was conveyed the same day to the City and the other 10 acres is under lease/option to purchase with CBF), that are undeveloped and have underlying zoning that allows for future development. As you noted, those areas are in yellow adjacent to the subject 118 acres as shown here: http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/design-development-projects/current-projects/Documents/php-existing-land-use.pdf
We had to pull all of the resources we could to leverage City funding toward grants from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (through the VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries); Virginia Land Conservation Foundation; Dominion Foundation; and a low-interest loan from the VA Dept of Environmental Quality with the grass roots support of primarily Shore Drive area residents through the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation to preserve the 118 acres from development.
Collectively, with all of the partners, we had to prioritize the property to acquire with limited resources and we believe we achieved the most we could with the pulled resources.
While we may never know for sure if the Indigo Dunes project with nearly 1,100 units could have been permitted, it stands to reason that the property may have yielded up to 1,000 units ultimately based on the underlying zoning. The City and the Trust for Public Land is applying to down-zone all 118 acres to P-1 Preservation from the PDH-1 Planned Development zoning over the last quarter of this year.
The yellow areas may end up together adding up to just a fraction >; (1-5%) of what could have been developed in the area. Unfortunately, there are no public funds designated to acquire the remaining privately-owned property in the area. However, while the lots have certain vested rights, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area ordinance and flood plain regulations could limit some of the yellow areas in terms of number and type of units that can be developed there.
When Christy gets back into the office next week, she may have something additional to offer.
Sincerely,
Brian
Brian S. Solis, AICP, LEED Green Associate
Planning, Design and Development Administrator
The Cheasapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is providing two opportunity’s for community input on the design of their planned educational facility. The facility will be located on 10 acres of Pleasure House Point.
CBF is hosting an open house on August 23rd from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at Bayside Rec Center. The community will have a chance to see the current plans, ask questions and provide comments. Click here for a copy of the open house flyer. PHP open house flyer
CBF is also asking for community input/comments on the proposed road access plan. A link to the online survey can be found at the following link www.surveymonkey.com/s/8YSJV73
The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The agenda for the meeting will include the following:
Update on public and private projects in the Bayfront area
Update on committee activities in the Bayfront area
There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on projects in the Bayfront area. The committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.
For additional information or to obtain a copy of the draft agenda, contact Faith Christie in the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or fchristi@vbgov.com. For more information regarding the Bayfront Advisory Committee, visit www.VBgov.com/Bayfront.
AARON APPLEGATE
aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com, 222-5122
I pulled the car over at the first beckoning sandy path into the woods, grabbed a sun hat and pair of binoculars.
The City Council, the regular subject of this column, has been on vacation for a month. I figured I’d take a vacation, too, for a workday walk at Pleasure House Point, the 118 acres on the Lynnhaven River the city recently bought with help from environmental groups. I’d heard lots about it but never actually been there.
I considered asking a city official or biologist to join me but, hey, I’m on vacation, and I wanted to wander alone, directionless but with mysterious purpose, like a dog loose in the neighborhood.
The path passed through scrubby woods to the tidal waters of Pleasure House Creek, a shimmering expanse fringed with bright green marsh grass. The air was heavy with dank salty humidity, the kind that seems to increase lung capacity.
The wildlife was a lineup of the usual suspects, but I never tire of these characters: croaking egrets, furtive herons, caffeinated butterflies, jet-fighter swallows and dueling mockingbirds.
OK, maybe I occasionally tire of mockingbirds.
I saw a fish nip the heels of a blue crab, which artfully spun away to find refuge among spiky grass.
I considered sitting quietly in a rare patch of shade, but my inner dog wouldn’t stop the ramble; the path was too inviting. It snaked along the shoreline, eventually turning a corner at Crab Creek, an offshoot of the Lynnhaven proper. The Lesner Bridge arced into view.
I saw one human – a kayak fisherman with four rods sticking up from his boat – but didn’t hear any. Either he didn’t see me or observed the code of silence the place seems to demand. I claimed victory either way.
Turning back, I retraced my steps. A speckled trio of juvenile herons regarded me cynically before taking unsteady flight. Beyond the birds, I saw looming in the distance a young city landmark, the Westin tower in Town Center.
I’d be there in under an hour – the Pilot has an office by it – but I felt further away than that.
A lizard darted across the path. I heard the close-up beat of a heron’s wings as it took off. A buzzing bumble bee got trapped under the brim of my hat for three seconds.
The walk lasted 42 minutes, the approximate amount of time I felt I could justify for a quick weekday summer vacation. I highly recommend it.
Click here for a printable version of the agends – SDCC Agenda July 2012
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, July 30, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
For Important information concerning this city, budget issues, Pleasure House Point, dredge spoils project and Long Creek channel maintenance dredging, and much more
Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report-Vacant
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon –April/May/June Minutes
Treasurer’s Report- Carol Collins
Update on issues: Discussions
Old Business: Nomination of Ms Grace Moran for VP SDCC
New Business
Adjourn
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- TBA
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
Release Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 · 04:00 pm
Media Contact: Michael T. Moore | mtmoore@VBgov.com | 385-2080
(Virginia Beach, VA) – Beginning Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Landscape Management crews will be onsite at the Pleasure House Point property in Virginia Beach to improve public safety access.
Work to be completed includes the removal of hazardous objects, minor lot grading, bush hogging and tree pruning along Marlin Bay Drive. Community volunteers with Lynnhaven River NOW will also assist with major trash pickup around the property. Clean up work is expected to continue through the beginning of August.
Identified as a top priority for open space acquisition for the past decade, the 118-acre tract known as Pleasure House Point has recently been preserved by the City of Virginia Beach with help from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Located just west of the Lesner Bridge and south of the Chesapeake Bay, Pleasure House Point is 118 acres of water, tidal marsh, sandy shores and maritime forest. The shallow water estuarine environment of the property provides habitat for the iconic Chesapeake Bay blue crab and the Lynnhaven oyster. This high-profile property was once being considered for a large waterfront development, but with the help of the Trust for Public Land, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the surrounding community, the City has recovered one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River for generations to come.
For more information about clean up work being done at Pleasure House Point, please contact Michael T. Moore in Parks & Natural Areas at 757-385-2080 or mtmoore@VBgov.com.
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation’s vision is a balanced, sustainable and value-focused system of parks, recreation and public spaces that creates a sense of community. We are accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, call (757) 385-1100 (TTY: 711 Virginia Relay), visit VBgov.com/parks or sign up our email newsletters at VBgov.com/eNews.
Hello all,
Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center and American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on Wednesday June 27, 2012.
Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today!
Drive Details:
Sponsor: Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center
Site: Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center
Drive Date: 6/27/2012
Drive Time: 01:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Co-ordinator Name: Stacy Day
Co-ordinator Phone Number: 7574819000
Click here to make an appointment
We hope to see you at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel in the Cape Henry Ballroom. Please help us make this a sucessful blood drive by donating on Wednesday, June 27th, 2012!
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!
American Red Cross Blood Services – 2025 E St. NW, Washington, DC, 20006
Click here to unsubscribe from further mailings from American Red Cross Blood Services.
For a printable versoin of the agenda, click here SDCC Agenda June 2012
Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC)
General Meeting
Monday 25 June 2012
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, June 25, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Special Conversation: Topics of interest discussion in preparation for Del Stolle’s July attendance
For Important information concerning this city, budget issues, Pleasure House Point, dredge spoils project and Long Creek channel maintenance dredging, and much more
Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report-Vacant
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon –May Minutes
Treasurer’s Report- Carol Collins
Update on issues: Discussions
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- July 30, 2012
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- TBD
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
Click here for a map to First Colonial HS
City officials will conduct an emergency water distribution exercise Wednesday at two of the city’s high schools.
The exercise will test the city’s ability to distribute water to residents during an emergency if the water supply is compromised, a city news release says.
Residents who drop by either site will receive a free case of bottled water, a reusable shopping bag, a Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide and other items.
The exercise is scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. at First Colonial High at 1272 Mill Dam Road and Salem High at 1993 Sun Devil Drive.
Restricted area map 
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 · 03:00 pm
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Ocean View Avenue and Rockbridge Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.
Click here for full City’s notice http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=830
Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC May 2012 Agenda
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, May 21, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Meeting topic: Group Discussion of Pleasure House Point Design Goals
Click here for more city information on the plan http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/design-development-projects/current-projects/pages/pleasure-house-point.aspx
For Important information concerning this city, budget issues, Pleasure House Point, dredge spoils project and Long Creek channel maintenance dredging
Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report-Vacant
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon –March Minutes
Treasurer’s Report- Carol Collins
Update on issues: Discussions
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- June 25, 2012
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
Thursday, May 17, 2012 · 01:30 pm
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has lifted a swimming and wading advisory that was issued for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road. Lab results showed bacteria levels in the water meet the State Water Quality Standards.
Signs have been removed that previously alerted the public of the advisory.
On May 16, the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health issued a swimming advisory to protect public health following an abnormally high bacteria level reading. The sampling level has returned to an acceptable bacteria level and it is now safe for residents and visitors to enter this area of the bay.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters.
While Enterococci do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or wading in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness and skin, eye and respiratory infections.
Environmental health officials sample recreational beach water on a weekly basis during the swimming season from May through September.
For additional information on beaches, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as Enterococcus, the indicator of choice in estuarine and marine waters.
“The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them weekly from May through September,” said Venita Newby-Owens, M.D., Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health. “On the occasions when waters fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”
Signs will be posted on the beach between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road to alert the public of the swimming and wading advisory.
The signs will read:
WARNING! SWIMMING ADVISORY
Bacteria levels do not meet state water quality standards
Swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice
Virginia Beach has conducted these tests since the mid-1970s. Health officials will continue testing the site until the water quality meets the state water quality standards. When the sampling test results meet the standards, the signs will be removed.
Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of the fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Newby-Owens. “Typically an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.”
The results of this and all other sampling are located on the Virginia Department of Health Web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring.
For additional information, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.
Click here to read Pilot reporter Susan Hutchins’ article on the ribbon cutting ceremony.
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, March 26, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Discussions: Donation to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue
City’s Strategic Plan
Invited speaker: TBA
For Important information concerning this city, school budget, dredge spoils project and Long Creek channel maintenance dredging
Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report-Vacant
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – SDCC FEB Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Carol Collins
Update on issues: Upcoming City Issues
Pleasure House Point
Neighborhood Dredging Program
Channel Maintenance Dredging
VMRC Hearing
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- Apr 30, 2012 Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/03/virginia-beach-deal-preserves-slice-nature
After 10 years of work, the preservation of the site has now become reality. Without the collaboration of the community, CBF, Lynnhaven River Now, Trust for Public Land, City of Virginia Beach and the City Council, this purchase could have never happened.
Ordinances and Resolution re PLEASURE HOUSE POINT:
a. AUTHORIZE the City Manager to EXECUTE an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with The Trust for Public Land re acquisition
b. ESTABLISH a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE various grants and TRANSFER funds from “Open Space Site Acquisition – Phase I”
c. Issuance and sale of General Obligation Bonds, not to exceed $6-Million, to the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund
NASA is scheduled to launch five suborbital sounding rockets in just over five minutes March 14 as part of a study of the upper level jet stream. The launch window currently is 11 p.m. to 6:30 EDT, March 14 – April 3. The Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) will gather information needed to better understand the process responsible for the high-altitude jet stream located 60 to 65 miles above the surface of the Earth. As part the mission, the five rockets will release a chemical tracer that will form milky, white clouds that allow scientists and the public to “see” the winds in space. These clouds may be visible for up to 20 minutes by residents from South Carolina to southern New Hampshire and Vermont. More information on the ATREX mission is available on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/atrex.html
Webcast of the mission will begin 2 hours before the opening of the launch window
#WeLoveShoreDrive 