This section of the city is being totally overlooked regarding improvements.

Todd received the following email from Stephen Van Essendelft, P.E. who is in the Office of Beach Mangement in reference to the process of getting sand for the beaches east of the Lesner Bridge.

An excerpt:
If the property owners agree with the final documents, we are on to recordation.  We have been in contact with Lynnhaven Beach and hope to meet with them in the near future.

[Sorry for the delay, this was actually posted on Feb 3. I used the ‘posted date’ when I received Dorinda’s email.]

These are the notes from Dorinda from the first New Lesner Bridge Committee meeting held on January 19th.

An excerpt:
…harnessing the incredible energy of our Shore Drive community to work with the architect, engineers and Public Works to design this connective tissue of our community.

[This was posted ‘late!’ on February 5th. Sorry.]
Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC)- General Meeting

Monday January 30, 2006

7: 30pm to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Fire & Rescue Hall

 
Two presentations are scheduled for this month.  They will cover two projects planned for Shore Drive. 

Mike Shahsiah, a Beach traffic engineer, said the city will investigate the intersection and determine if more traffic controls are needed.

Shahsiah said to expect the vegetation at the northeast corner will be trimmed to improve visibility.

Read entire article. [scroll down for part about W. Great Neck]

Chincoteague is now accepting applications for a public works director.

One applicant is from Virginia Beach. More at The Daily Times.

The next meeting of the Shore Drive Advisory Committee will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Bayside Community Recreation Center.

The meeting will be open to the public, and there will be an opportunity for the public to provide comment.

The Planning Commission voted 10-1 today to defer the proposed development by Ocean Properties, L.L.C.

Mark Walker, AIA, emailed Planner, Faith Christie in reference to the proposed development next to WaWa originally posted at SDCC.info here and also discussed in Todd’s email to Faith posted here.

An excerpt:
“> Bruce Johnson and I have reviewed and discussed the Ocean Properties, L.L.C.
> proposal to change the current R-10 Single Family zoning to B-4 Conditional
> Use Multi-family with the intent of increasing from an existing density of
> 15 houses to 86 condos units.”

Just a quick reminder for those of you who celebrate the holidays with live Christmas Trees.

The City of Virginia Beach is scheduled to pick up trees this week on our normal trash day.

Just set them out next to you black cans curbside and they will dispose of them.

Continue reading to view an email Todd sent to Faith Christie, a staff member in Planning, working on the proposed development next to Wawa.

That’s the project that is currently zoned for 15 units that is being considered tomorrow to be raised to 86 units.

Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr., a Virginia Beach Republican and chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said earlier this week the forums have given ?citizens a chance to be heard, and you can never argue that?s a bad idea.?

Wardrup was quoted refering to the transportation forum held at Virginia Wesleyan College last night.
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.

Scheduled for next week before the Planning Commission, Ocean Properties L.L.C. is asking for a zoning change for property located next to Wa-Wa’s at Pleasure House Road.

It appears their request asks for a zoning change to be able to build 86 units.

Currently 15 units appear to be allowed with the current zoning.

Following are the meeting dates for all monthly general meetings for 2006.
Meetings are usually held at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad and usually start at 7:30pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend.
Google Map to building on Shore Drive at flashing amber lights.

Governor-Elect Tim Kaine Announces Town Hall Meeting
 
Please join Governor-Elect Tim Kaine as he leads a discussion about how to address Virginia’s transportation challenges.

Thursday, January 5th

What:  Virginia Beach Transportation Town Hall

Where: Virginia Wesleyan College

Boyd Dining Center
1584 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23606
Boyd Dining Center is #7 on this map.

When:    6:30 p.m.

Please RSVP to Curtis Brown at [encode=ccbrown180@yahoo.com?Subject=From SDCC.info]this email address[/encode].  Thank you.

My wife and I emailed the Mayor in support of the creation of the Shore Drive Safety Task Force.

Click the ‘Read more’ link to read the response.

Another editorial from the Virginian-Pilot about the safety of Shore Drive.

An excerpt:

While none of the Shore Drive pedestrian deaths were caused by speeding, the road?s character has changed so much that there?s simply too little margin for driver error. Slowing down would almost certainly help drivers? reaction times.

Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.

Around 4pm today, while taking a walk we happened upon a horrible situation.

A lab puppy was caught in a net just off shore in front of 3556.

Whether there is a difference of opinion as to who was at fault in the recent tragic fatalities & injuries involving pedestrians, Shore Drive is a major artery, the Bayfront community has the highest population density in the City, currently with over 24,000 people; the fact is Shore Drive is simply not safe for pedestrians, cyclists, joggers, even drivers.

Please continue reading the Background of why the Shore Drive Safety Task Force was formed.

Choose to get involved, email us your ideas on how to make Shore Drive safer. Follow this link to get started.

June, a member of the SDAC, and newly appointed to the Shore Drive Safety Task Force, recently wrote a letter to the editor that was published December 28th in the Virginian-Pilot.

An excerpt:

His death has galvanized a community where we have experienced the tragedy of five pedestrian fatalities in little over a year, all within two miles of each other on Shore Drive.  This disproportionate number of deaths requires the immediate attention of a caring community.  Though each tragedy was unique, there were several unsafe pedestrian conditions common to all of them…

Continue reading her unedited version, reprinted with permission.