I’ve attached the 1997 ULI Study and the text from Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the Shore Drive Corridor Overlay District. Below are links to the following:
Comprehensive Plan (Section 1.3 – Suburban Area; Page 1-69 – Suburban Focus Area 1:
I believe this covers the current applicable documents with guidance on the Shore Drive Corridor, but if there are other documents that I may have missed in regards to the Shore Drive/Bayfront area, please let me know and I will be happy to pass them along as well.
Sincerely hope this never happens again in the entire city!!
Depending on a miracle that no pedestrians or cyclists would get killed by blocking their only safe access is completely unacceptable & unconscionable.
How is it possible, again, safety for residents & users of Bayfront infrastructure for pedestrian & cycling safety is ignored by the City?!
It’s a MIRACLE no pedestrians or cyclists have been killed here yet.
Hopefully there’ll be an update soon as to:
1. How this could possibly happen?!
1. How will this never happen again?
1. What time is this getting fixed yesterday to improve the safety for pedestrians and cyclists?
This completely unacceptable pedestrian & cyclist “infrastructure” has been blocked for months. Many many human beings depend on a safe area right here every day.
“Thank you for your inquiry about the planned improvements at HRT stops #1376 and #1304 in the Bayfront area. We’re always eager to keep our community informed and involved in our developments.
I am pleased to confirm that as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and convenience for all our passengers, concrete ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant landing pads will be installed at both stops. These pads are specially designed to ensure safe and easy access, particularly for those with mobility challenges.
Regarding the installation of bus stop shelters, I’d like to clarify that these will be undertaken directly by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). HRT is responsible for the installation and maintenance of these shelters, and they will be managing this aspect of the improvement project.
Enclosed are the detailed plans for the improvements at both stops. These documents provide a comprehensive overview of the enhancements, including the layout and features of the new ADA landing pads.
Your interest and support in improving our local transit facilities are greatly appreciated. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Councilmember Dr. Ross-Hammond and Councilmember Schulman will host a joint District 4 and District 9 community meeting to update residents on current City projects and issues. Topics of discussion include homelessness, recycling, and neighborhood preservation and zoning enforcement. Attendees will also have an opportunity to have their questions addressed.
My name is Lisa Leidig and I am the president of the Lynnshore Condominium HOA. I am travelling on business and will unfortunately not able to attend the vote on Tuesday. I am speaking on behalf of my community that we oppose the closing of the public beach access at the end of Starfish Road for many reasons:
First: a public right-of-way should only be closed when there is no other alternative. Westminster has admitted that they do have a plan that would not involve closing the access. Since this is the case, this should be an easy decision to make – deny the request. You should not have to decide who is more important – the public or residents of Westminster and who is going to be inconvenienced. The only reason that Westminster wants to close the public beach access is that a handful of people expressed concern about walking through a parking garage. I am sure that Westminster has a contingency plan to protect the residents and prevent public access to their buildings. So is it better to inconvenience the thousands of people that use the Starfish beach access to accommodate a few people by making them walk through a garage? Why is it constantly ok to impact the public and residents but not Westminster?
Second: With the pier remaining, there is a problem when we have persistent northeast winds or a storm off our coast – the winds push the waves up to the point that during the periods around high tide (2 hours before and after) the beach west of the pier is inaccessible due to the water rising and being pushed up past the fencing under the pier. This has happened 5 times this year since September (once this past week) and even resulted in significant dune loss in front of Casa de Playa.
Third: Perception. Closing this access provides the perception that the beach in front of Westminster’s property is now private. I have had conversations with residents of Westminster and they stated that they “couldn’t wait until the beach is private and THOSE people (pointing to fisherman/crabbers) won’t be able to come down here anymore”. WC is also leaving the stairs from the bulkhead to the beach, further cementing the perception that the beach is now private. Surf Rider foundation advocates that public beach access remain public – https://www.surfrider.org/pages/policy-on-beach-access – excerpts such as “Development must not be allowed to interfere with public access”, “The public should be afforded full and fair access to beaches which are public trust resources by minimizing the possibility of impediment including development”, “Should not be burdensome for the potential beachgoer to utilize”.
Fourth: Ben Unkle has said that this new beach access is more convenient to “everyone”. That is simply not true. Anyone that lives on Starfish road – the access is more inconvenient. For anyone riding HRT route 35 which drops off in front of Westminster, this is not more convenient. For anyone wanting to access the beach and are crossing Shore Drive at a crosswalk (there are two – one at Starfish, the other at Great Neck) – this is not convenient. For anyone wanting to sit west of the fishing pier, this is not convenient. Ben Unkle has also said that the beach access bisects Westminster property – while that is now a correct statement, the access was in existance long before they bought the properties. Westminster took a chance by buying these properties with full knowledge of the public access. Do not punish the public for a risky venture made by Westminster.
Fifth: The sidewalk on the south side of Ocean Shore and Starfish Road is almost impassible. It has not been maintained for years and the sidewalk is blocked by shrubs and growth. The City had also just spent public dollars to repair the beach access at Starfish road so those improvements are wasted money if you allow the access to close and be torn up.
In closing – this should be an easy decision to make as Westminster has a plan to work around the public beach access. Deny the request and keep our beach access public and open.
Sincerely,
Lisa Leidig President, Lynnshore Condominiums xxxx Starfish Road 757-xxx-xxxx
[T]he City is set to realize about $20MM in proceeds from the sale of easements to Dominion Energy for their Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, and Staff is recommending that nearly half of those proceeds be appropriated to Shore Drive Phase IV ($6.98MM) and to Pleasure House Road Phase II ($1.36MM) & Shore Drive Phase III ($ 2.24MM).
Please email Mayor & City Council to support this vital funding: citycouncil@vbgov.com
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data shows just this year, there were three pedestrian-involved crashes on Shore Drive, one of which ended with a fatality. “I hope that we actually see some action on these throughout the city… because safety is the biggest priority, I think within all of our communities,” Murphy said.
Some dangerous choices pedestrians get to make navigating this. How is blocking safe pedestrians access approriate!?
That blockade to pedestrians & cyclists to safely navigate is at southeast corner of Shore Drive & Pleasure House Road where there is NO contiguous sidewalks on north side of Shore Drive. Minimum of dozens of pedestrians & cyclists commute through this area daily.
PRESENTATIONS/PROJECT BRIEFINGS 1) Skip the Stuff Presentation by Molly Jones and Lexi Bradshaw 2) Update from JLL re: beach access at Westminster Canterbury by Amanda Logsdon 3) Cape Henry Trail update from David Plum
OPVRS = Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. Please enter at door opposite Shore Drive.
Also it seems WCCB is closer to guarantee their controversial approved beach walkway maintenance & probable rebuild since “we have reviewed the plans and are in support of the design as proposed”. Previously on this website.
Mr. Morrison spoke with Morgan Whayland from Virginia Natural Gas and provided her with the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Design Guidelines to assist with their re-planting efforts at their property on Shore Drive. o VNG will share the planting plan with BAC when it is completed
Change 1: Route 35 Trolley
Change headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes daily between May and Neptune Fest.
Headways were changed to 60 minutes for FY24. This change returns Route 35 to previous service levels
Additional revenue hour change: 3,741 hours (97% increase to FY25
Cost for FY24: $183,626.00 BAC supported the proposed change to 30 minute headways, but stipulated that the line needs to be promoted for use by locals, employees, and tourists.
⬆️ Greats news!
Some dangerous choices pedestrians get to make navigating this. 😐
#WeLoveShoreDrive 