THE NEXT VBCCO GENERAL MEETING WILL BE HELD
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AUDITORIUM AT 7 PM

PROGRAM
The program for the Thursday, August 18, 2011 General Meeting will be a presentation about Form Based Zoning and Neighborhood Zoning Issues. Karen Lasley, Director Zoning Division, and supporting City staff will make the presentation.

Click here to see the WAVY10 Story

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A City of Virginia Beach commission has come up with a list of proposed destinations for sludge if they move forward with a dredging project along the Lynnhaven River Basin and Long Creek.

In March, 10 On Your Side told you about the battle brewing between waterfront neighbors in the area.

Folks living along the river want deeper water for bigger boats, but to accommodate larger vessels the city would have to dig up the river bottom and transfer the materials or dredge.

Homeowners previously told us of their concerns about sludge placed on barges and dumped across the waterway in front of their Long Creek homes.

“We’ll never be able to sell them, rent them or live in them without that noise, that pollution, that smell,” said homeowner Lynne Bornstein.

The issue brought out members of the city’s beaches and waterway advisory commission to take an afternoon tour of that site and others.

“If we can find alternatives that’s what we’re all about. It’s fact finding for us,” said Commission Chairman Tom Fraim.

The Commission expects to hear from the public on this issue perhaps as early as next week at its regularly scheduled meeting.

While board’s decision is not expected for several weeks the City Council will have the final say in the matter.

Beaches and Waterways Commission to Meet Thursday, August 18

The Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission will meet on Thursday, August 18, at 4:00 pm in Building 19, Room B, located at 2416 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Up to one hour of the agenda will be devoted to public comments on the following two topics only: 

(1) The feasibility of alternative dredging methods, such as hydraulic rather than mechanical dredging;
(2) The potential for beneficial re-use of spoils.

Public comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker.

Citizens wishing to comment may sign up by calling Jamarr Waples 385-4822 at or emailing your name and the topic on which you wish to comment to jwaples@vbgov.com.

Public comments on additional related issues will be scheduled for future meetings.

The Subcommittee on Hydraulic and Mechanical Dredging will meet prior to the Commission’s meeting at 3:30.  The public is welcome to attend, but no public comment will be taken at that time. 

For additional information or questions, please contact Drew Lankford at 385-8062, or dlankfor@vbgov.com.

The Board of Zoning Appeals will hear an appeal regarding the use of R7.5 property for a permanent dredge transfer station.  The meeting particulars are listed below

BZA Hearing
Wed September 7th at 2pm
City Council Chambers
Building #1, Municipal Center

Click here for a printable version of the notice Beaches_and_Waterways_Advisory_Commission_-_Public_Meeting_-_August_2011.pdf

The Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 4:00 pm in the Public Works Engineering Conference Room, Building 2, Third Floor, at the Municipal Center.

This will be the initial meeting to discuss the referral from City Council dated June 14, 2011, asking that the Commission study the issue of dredge spoils removal and transfer stations

For additional information please contact Rebecca Lear in Public Works Engineering/Water Resources at 757-385-1948 or rlear@vbgov.com

NOTE——THE CITY OF VB IS ASKING FOR THIS MEETING TO BE DEFERRED.  It will NOT be Aug 3rd.
SDCC will post the new date as soon as it is scheduled.

Here are a few helpful bits of information regarding the August 3rd Board of Zoning Appeals hearing.

1) Letter from City’s Planning Department proposing that a “Permanent” Dredge Transfer Station is an acceptable public use on Residential Property.  Click here to see the letter, City_Ltr_re_Dredge_Site_on_R7.5_.pdf

2) Items of interest pulled from the City’s Zoning Codes.  Please note that “Public Use” requires the land to be owned or leased by the public agency.

Sec 501 – City Code says “Public parks, recreational areas, botanical and zoological gardens, and other public buildings and uses”

Section 111 – Definitions
Public use – Any use conducted by a public agency for a bona fide public purpose on land owned or leased by that agency

Use – A “use” is:
(a) Any purpose for which a structure or a tract of land is designed, arranged, intended, maintained, or occupied; or
(b) Any activity, occupation, business, or operation carried on, or intended to be carried on, in a structure or on a tract of land.

Hello Volunteers,

We need volunteers to man the contact station on the trail side of the park. Volunteers will greet park visitors, inform visitors about fees and regulations, collect parking fees and maintain accurate records.

Contact Station volunteers will report to Chief Ranger Charlie Whalen who will also provide a training on cash handling and operations for volunteers that have not worked in the contact station before and for those who would like a refresher course.

You may start as early as this weekend! We need one long-term volunteer for Saturdays from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. We also need another volunteer for the next two Saturdays, July 30th and August 6th in the morning from 8:00 am – 12:30 noon.

Please let me know if you are interested and your availability. We really need your help to make this season a success!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Thanks!
Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: 757-412-2308
Fax: 757-412-2315
Cell: 757-536-0088

An unknow substance washed up on our beaches this weekend and nobody has a clue what it was.  Confusion over what authority has responsibility and the lack of support on a weekend lead to many unaswered questions.  Check out Scott Harper’s article in the Virginia Pilot.

Was it human feces, boat trash, or maybe dead sponges?

Whatever washed up on Chesapeake Bay beaches over the weekend, just west of the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier, remained unclear Monday, only that the wastes smelled awful and caused some grossed-out swimmers to stay ashore.

Click here for the entire article http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/mysterious-funk-fouls-chesapeake-bay-beaches

In an effort to support the upcoming August 3rd BZA hearing regarding the proposed use of Residential Propoerty as a PERMANENT Dredge Transfer Station, SDCC is posting two documents that you may find helpful.

SDCC Dredge Transfer Position Statement, click here for a printable version SDCC_Dredge_Transfer_Position_Statemetn.pdf

City Council June 14th Resloution on Dredge Transfer Study to be completed by Beaches and Waterways Commission, click here to see resolution Dredge_Spoils_Removal_and_TS_Resolution_from_JUNE_14,_2011_MINUTES.pdf

Shore Drive Community Coalition
Position Statement
Neighborhood Dredge Spoils Transfer Project For Lynnhaven Basin

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) recognizes the continuing need and is in full support of maintenance dredging of the Lynnhaven Basin (“The Project”) provided:

• Removed dredge spoils are only trucked from the neighborhoods from where the spoils originated or from transfer stations located in commercially zoned areas along Virginia Beach Boulevard and Laskin Road.  This will eliminate the burden to residents that won’t receive benefit from these dredgings.
• Under “Full Disclosure”, the Project’s scope, duration, costs, environmental impact, and associated risks to the neighborhoods are sufficiently assessed and made public to the citizens of Virginia Beach
• The Project is presented at a public hearing and formally voted on at a City Council meeting.
• Reasonable best practices are safely utilized
• Project is fully supervised by the City for full contract compliance by onsite City employees.
• The environmental quality of the basin’s natural ecosystems is maintained and preserved
• Private dredging companies contracted by individual property owners comply with city supervision, above listed project requirements, and fully compensate the city for the use of their area’s designated dredge spoils transfer site

AUGUST 3RD – WEDNESDAY -2PM
City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor – Bldg. 1
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Click here for the Aug 3rd BZA Agenda – http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/planning/A08-03.11.pdf

The City is being challenged on their determination that a PERMANENT MUNICIPAL DREDGE SPOILS FACILITY – (a PERMANENT industrial facility with barges, cranes, tandem trucks, sludge & pusher boats) is an acceptable “PUBLIC USE” in R7.5 – Residential Zoning.

You can show you opposition to the permanent transfer station by attending this hearing.  It could be one of the only opportunities to be heard and be seen at a local hearing.  Visit http://www.longcreekwetlands.com/home for additional details.

On Tuesday, Charlie Harrelson, a 14 year old Kemps Landing student, was presented with the WTKR Channel 3 “Peolpe Taking Action” award for his fund raising efforts to help purchase and preserve Pleasure House Point.  To watch the newscast, click here http://www.wtkr.com/videobeta/?watchId=4bdbfa91-128d-49ec-864b-75e846419ffe

And don’t forget, July 31st is the last day to vote for Charlie’s Pepsi Challange project which has the potential to raise $50,000 for the purchase of PHP.  You can vote at the following link http://www.refresheverything.com/savepleasurehousepoint

Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC_July_Agenda_2011.pdf

Monday 25 July 2011
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, July 25, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)

Call to order

Discussion:
Slide presentation, “Your Local Hurricane Preparations”
Long Creek Dredge Spoils Update http://www.longcreekwetlands.com 
Pleasure House Point Update

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the June Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins
Update on issues:
Old Business

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm Monday Aug 29, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

The Bayfront Advisory Committee will hold its annual workshop on Thursday, July 21, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, Executive Board Room, 2800 Shore Drive. The regularly scheduled committee meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m in the same location.

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.

Please take a moment to read, vote and pass on this information to all your friends, relatives and co-workers.  Charlie is a Kemps Landing student that charged into battle to help save Pleasure House Point.  Please take a momnet to vote for his project which has the potential to raise $50,000 to help offset the purchase of the property.  Email excerpt from Charile Harrelson below:

Hello everyone,

Well… here we go again! Last time we did voting, I got 1,250 dollars for VBPRF… now I can get 50,000 for VBPRF with the help of you!!! You see, the Save Pleasure House Point team placed a project idea into Pepsi Refresh and we got selected!!!

If you follow this link…

http://www.refresheverything.com/savepleasurehousepoint

You can vote to SAVE PLEASURE HOUSE POINT! Watch out for all Pepsi 12 & 24-pack boxes, bottle caps, etc. for codes to get up to 100 Power Votes! This chance only comes once in a lifetime!

Best of luck voting,
Charlie Harrelson

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, June 27, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – SDCC_Agenda_June_2011.pdf

Call to order

Discussion:
Long Creek Dredge Spoils Update
http://www.longcreekwetlands.com 
Save Long Creek Petition
Pleasure House Point Update

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the May Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins

Update on issues:
Old Business

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm Monday July 25, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

UPDATE

The Swimming Advisories for Chic’s Beach and Chesapeake Beach locations have been lifted.

Here is a snapshot of the monitoring results.  Anything over 104 results in a beach closure.  Historically, levels are less than 10 in our area.  In 2010 there were about 10 beach closures for the entire year.  Visit the following site for more detailed results and information.  Beach Monitoring Results

CHESAPEAKE BEACH
05/17/2011 10   10 Open
05/24/2011

Release Date:  Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:40 a.m.

The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Rockbridge Road and Ocean View Avenue. 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.”

To see the Virginia Department of Health’s Swimming Advisory Map, click here http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring/beachadvisories/VirginiaBeachMap.htm

City Council passed the following resolution directing the Beaches and Waterways Commission to study the Neighborhood Dredging Project.  Please note the public involvement portion of the resolution and be prepared to provide comment when appropriate.  Thanks to everyone that has put a lot of time into this issue.  A special thanks to David and Lynn for making sure the voice of the community has a chance to be part of any decision.

Click here to read the entire resolution Council_JUNE_14_2011_AGENDA-1.pdf

(Excerpt from resolution passed June 14, 2011)
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA

1 That the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission is hereby requested to study the issues of dredge spoils removal and transfer stations and to present a report to City Council detailing its findings by February 7 2012.

2 That the study shall include at a minimum

• The feasibility of alternative dredging methods such as hydraulic rather than mechanical dredging
• The potential for beneficial re-use of spoils
• Opportunity for public input from all concerned citizens with at least one facilitated structured meeting for public input
• An analysis of the impact on affected communities both those receiving dredging and those in the vicinity of the existing and proposed transfer stations with a focus on identifying sites that are sufficient to support the needs of the project but that have the least potential adverse impact for the community and
• A proposed framework with parameters for operation of the spoils sites including potential use of the sites by the public for dredging by entities or individuals other than the City

Volunteers and Attendees Needed.  If you can help volunteer for a couple of hours on Saturday, please contact Kim at the Park.  If you can’t volunteer, maybe you can attend one of the wonderful events planned.  See the following flyer for more information.

First Landing 75th Anniversary Flyer

Email from Kim Miller, Park Volunteer Coodinator

Hello Volunteers,

We need at least four more volunteers for the 75th Anniversary Events this Saturday! Volunteers will assist park interpreters and exhibitors manning education stations.

I’ve attached a copy of the event flyer. Please feel free to forward it to your friends and family. Don’t forget that parking is free at First Landing State Park from June 14th – June 19th!

Please let me know if you are interested and your availability. We really need your help to make the 75th Anniversary Event a success!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Thanks!

Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: 757-412-2308
Fax: 757-412-2315
Cell: 757-536-0088
Kim.miller@dcr.virginia.gov

“For nearly 10 years, some folks in Virginia Beach have been trying to preserve a swath of undeveloped land on the Lynnhaven River off Shore Drive…” Virginian-Pilot Editorial – Tuesday May 24, 2011
To read the entire editorial and provide comments, click herehttp://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/last-open-spot-lynnhaven

The Pilot did a great job in summurizing what we have been saying for the past 10 years.  However, “Some” seems too small a word for the number of concerned neighbors that have dedicated many hours of their lives to this effort.  Thank you all for your continued effort in making this dream a reality.  Next step – secure loan.  Then, public dialogues to brainstorm land use resource stream ideas.  Stay tuned.