Author Archives: Tim

2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – November Public Workshops. Join us!

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The Public Workshops will consist of a short recap presentation on themes developed in the Focus Groups and the Vision Mapping process. We will then proceed to break out into small groups to provide more direct, specific feedback on each of the draft themes. The Vision Map will take the draft themes of balanced growth, sustainability, connectivity, diversity, and wellbeing, and apply them to areas of the city to create a framework of how the city should grow and develop over time. There will be an interactive planning exercise in our small groups.

The workshops will be held at these times and locations:

  • Saturday, November 4th at 2pm: College Park Elementary School Cafeteria – 1110 Bennington Road
  • Monday, November 6th at 6pm: Kellam High School Cafeteria – 2665 West Neck Road
  • Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm: Bayside Recreation Center – 4500 First Court Road
  • Thursday, November 9th at 6pm: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3 (2nd Floor; Middle of the Building) – 1009 19th Street

There is no need to RSVP to these workshops. We estimate this meeting to run about 1.5 to 2 hours. Please pass along the information to your friends, family, neighborhoods, colleagues, youth groups, civic leagues, faith groups, etc.

The more engagement we have from the community in this process, the better the plan will be! City Staff and the Consultant Team are eager to hear from as many residents as possible, so we hope to see you there!

Here’s where we are so far.

Focus-Group-Presentation-–-DRAFT-Themes-and-Vision-Map.pdf
Download
Join the next meetings or Comment below!

As always, for more information or if you have any outstanding questions, please reach out to me at RacMiller@vbgov.com or Hank Morrison, the Comprehensive Planning Administrator, at JMorrison@vbgov.com.

You are aware about the reality of sea level rise(SLR) correct?

Link to ODU SLR tool map shared above.

Sea Level Wise at City of VB.

Updated Agenda for BAC Thursday, September 21 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!

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Thanks to Hank for updated Agenda.

9-21-23 BAC Meeting Package.pdfDownload

Official info link about meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. (Please enter door opposite Shore Drive.)

Pleasure House Point trail last Friday 1113am.

BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad September 21, 2023 330pm. Join us!

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THE NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION OF ABOUT 6 LIVE OAKS, The City Tree, will be on the Agenda.

9-21-23 BAC Meeting Package.pdfDownload

Mistakes were made!
This is how many mistakes were made.
This was VIOLATED Thursday night and Friday.
Coincidentally, the VNG Director of Government Affairs made a Presentation Tuesday. Councilman Schulman asked her about the needless destruction, lack of respect by VNG and how to move forward having discussions how VNG, a PUBLIC utility is going to fix this.

Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting link at City’s website.

Bayfront Advisory Commission Agenda next week includes the Virginia Natural Gas property in Ocean Park. Join us!

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Complete agenda, once we receive it, will be shared in another post.

BAC meets at OPVRS Thursday, September 21st.

Preliminary info about live oaks & pine trees cut down right now on Shore Drive by Virginia Natural Gas

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Thanks to Mickey Toll, owner of Chesapeake Tree Service, for explaining that the larger live oak pieces being cut down will be hauled away by North Landing Firewood & Hauling Inc and milled for USE AS LUMBER for furniture & other potential uses well beyond mulch & firewood. Hooray!

Virginia Natural Gas recently acquired the property in December 2022.

Property detail at official VB website.

Example of larger lumber that will not be just destroyed.

This sole live oak will stay standing.

Another view of sole live oak that will remain standing.

Aerial of the tree canopy which was mostly lost today.

Want to protect live oak tree?

JOIN FRIENDS of LIVE OAKS TODAY!

Interim sidewalk improvements in OP plus P3 & P4 updates.

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Update from Hank about Phase 4 & 3:

Phil Pullen from Public Works informed me that his team will be presenting on the Shore Drive Projects at next month’s BAC meeting. …He also informed me that they are still scoping out the interim sidewalk improvements and will have a cost/schedule for the improvements soon. The attached status report will be placed on the BAC webpage by the end of the week.

20230817 Project Status Report_BAC Mtg.pdfDownload

Note P3 August 1 2024 Construction NTP / Start date.
Storm water SLR upgrades graphic pre-P3 CIP.

“The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization is seeking your feedback regarding roadway safety concerns in the Hampton Roads region.”

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Start here to view Hampton Roads Regional Safety Study.

Click to view Survey

About the Hampton Roads Planning Transportation Organization (HRPTO).

One “PEDESTRIAN SAFETY” & “BICYCLE SAFETY” example of many for Shore Drive.

Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting – Thursday August 17th 3:30pm in OPVRS

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Join us!

OPVRS is Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

Enter door opposite Shore Drive.

Thanks to Hank for Agenda!

8-17-23 BAC Meeting Package.pdfDownload

COMMUNITY REPORTS AND UPDATES
Interim sidewalk improvements are expected in late fall, pending funding and land acquisition.

View of visible Chesapeake Bay from Environmental Studies Program deck at PHP.

Wrapping Up Your Summer with a Life-Saving Gesture: Donate Blood and Make a Lasting Impact

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⬆️ CLICK! ⬆️

As summer draws to a close, there is no better way to conclude this season of growth, connection, and adventure than by giving the gift of life. Donating blood is a small sacrifice that yields a profound impact, resonating far beyond the confines of a single moment. Your decision to donate blood is a reminder that compassion knows no season, and your gesture will serve as a beacon of hope for those in need.

DONATE Friday September 8, 2023 2pm – 6pm

Learn more at OPVRS blog.

2 SHOT at LYNNHAVEN BOAT RAMP coverage

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Coverage at WTKR.

Edit: Note, WTKR pulled working link down. Twice.

Edit: This link currently works https://www.wtkr.com/adult-juvenile-expected-to-recover-after-shooting-in-vb-by-lesner-bridge

Two victims, one juvenile and one adult, were struck by gunshots, but were driven to the hospital before officers arrived on scene.

Gunshots 140am Saturday, fortunately not at time of this photo. Also fortunate, both victims expected to recover.
Screenshot of coverage pulled offline.

Sand move from LBR to Cape Henry Beach complete!

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From Jim:

There is some cleanup to do at the beach and the contractor is completing the construction of the perimeter dike at the DMMA site. The cleanup and equipment removal at the beach should wrap up this week. The perimeter dike at the DMMA site will be completed by mid-August.

Facts about the project:
+Sand hauling to Cape Henry Beach began on May 2, 2023
+Sand hauling to Cape Henry Beach was completed on July 26, 2023
+Cape Henry beach was nourished between the Point Chesapeake +Condominium gazebo and just west of the Jade St beach access (approximately 1,800ft in length)
+Volume of sand placed within the Cape Henry Beach project limits = 70,200cys (or 38cys/ft)
+Number of trucks that hauled the sand = 5,220
+Average trucks per day = 93
+Average volume of sand transported in a single truck load = 13.5cys
+The base elevation at the DMMA site is +10ft above sea level
+The highest elevation at the DMMA site prior to the start of construction was +35ft above sea level
+The new sand perimeter dike at the DMMA site will have a crest elevation of between +15ft and +18ft above sea level

A successful project!

Throw forward Thursday and the reality of sea level rise & climate change on the Bayfront

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2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report

Norfolk-Va Beach Joint Land Use Study

This Just In – data dump about $52M 1/2 mile Phase 4 at OPCL.org

“By 2050, “moderate” (typically damaging) flooding is expected to occur, on average, more than 10 times as often as it does today, and can be intensified by local factors.”

10X MORE “MODERATE” (TYPICALLY DAMAGING) FLOODING.

Being a resilient & responsible society!

Comprehensive Plan focus group meeting Thursday 6pm HIVE Town Center

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Care what VB becomes? Join us!

6pm at The Hive in Town Center 4636 Columbus Street

HIVE-Parking-Info.pdfDownload

Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting – Thursday July 20 3:30pm in OPVRS

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You can also join the meeting earlier!

12:00pm – 12:30pm – Lunch
12:30pm – 3:00pm – Goals/Objectives Exercise
3:00pm – 3:30pm – take a break; regroup for regular BAC meeting

7-20-23 BAC Meeting Package.pdfDownload
BAC Goals and Objectives.pdfDownload

OPVRS = Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

Enter door opposite Shore Drive.

Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility sand pile shrinking.

Join us as we dedicate the new OPVRS flagpole to Don Anderson and his 40+ years of volunteer service to the Ocean Park Community and the City of Virginia Beach.

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INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT!

Learn more at OPVRS website.

Live Oak Walk. Join us JUNE 10 Saturday 8am-10am. Get the low down on live oaks & maritime forest at FLSP!

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Friends of Live Oaks is Hosting hosting a Live Oak Walk (LOW) at First Landing State Park Picnic Area. 2500 Shore Drive Virginia Beach Virginia 23451 JUNE 10 from 8am to 10am. JOIN US!

Start here at FriendsOfLiveOaks.org to sign up for this rare treat!

“The City Council approved on Tuesday the transfer of $1.2 million from the parking enterprise fund for Freebee.”

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Shore Drive gets shafted yet again. So far.

While OceanFront again secures infinite funding, the Bayfront Shuttle budget gets SLASHED IN HALF.

“Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.”

HRT Service Adjustment link.

BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 at HRT.

“There are no time of year restrictions imposed for this project. Salmons anticipates completing all sand hauling efforts by late July 2023.”

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Thanks for update about moving sand from Lynnhaven Boat Ramp to Cape Henry Beach!

Regarding work hours and days per week, the contractor is allowed to work between 7:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday as per the City contract. Salmons will be working these hours and will be allowed, as necessary, to extend the work hours to 7:00am to 5:00pm. Should Salmons request to work on a Saturday, our office will take serious consideration as to how this request will affect the use of the Lynnhaven Municipal Boat Ramp, expected traffic along the Lesner Bridge corridor and on Cape Henry Beach. If the weather forecast for a given Saturday is for a non-boating/non-beach day (i.e., due to rainy weather or rough seas), then we will consider allowing Salmons to work. Salmons will not be working on Memorial Day weekend (i.e., Saturday through Monday) or on the July 4th holiday. Salmons may work up to a half day on Friday, May 26th.

Salmons has been notified to take all necessary precautions to protect the public from the project site during sand placement operations. Salmons is using orange construction fence to cordon off the work areas and the truck haul corridor along the beach. There will be openings in the construction fence to allow residence to access the beach in the areas where the contractor is not working. Signs will be posted at the openings cautioning the public that the beach is a construction zone. The contractor has been notified to have flaggers and other safety personnel at the Jade St beach access and on the beach to protect the public.

Public Works Engineering is excited as I know the Cape Henry Beach community are to begin the truck haul in a safe and expedient fashion.

ROUTE 35 is BACK SUNDAY MAY 14!

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Hooray!

There was fear the bayfront community wouldn’t receive the funding for this too but we got it!

Here’s the update from HRT:

Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.

Hopefully HRT will market Route 35 as it seems most people have no idea this terrific service exists.

A terrific way to travel around the Bayfront!
And to the OceanFront.

“City Council approves all Shore Drive Safety Task Force recommendations!” #ThrowbackThursday 17 years

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Equitable safety improvements for cyclists & pedestrians like contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes are coming to Shore Drive!

DELAYS since June 7th 2006!*

Read the news here where Vice Mayor Jones was quoted:

“I think the council is committed to getting the improvements done[.]”

* Remember when the powers that be tried making Shore Drive 6 LANES in the 90s?!

Remarkably, the then named Shore Drive Advisory Committee(SDAC) heard the presentation from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force at their April 20th 2006 meeting.

Highlights:

Here is the entire report from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force from April 20 2006. [LOL CITY OF VB BROKE THAT LINK. AGAIN. CUZ NEW WEBSITE. 🤡]

SHORE DRIVE SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL 2006. (PDF open in new tab)

SDAC, now named the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) has their public meeting today at 330pm at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad where they will be grappling with the news of yet another PROPOSED delay in upgrading circa 1950s infrastructure in the “Gateway to the OceanFront & Virginia Beach” while the OceanFront continuously receives virtually infinite money for almost every idea proposed there.

Clearly this is heavily used by pedestrians & cyclists.
Why do City priorities continue to ignore the infrastructure needs of this area let alone the aesthetics that it’s embarrassing & looks like shit?
Shore Drive Safety Task Force Documents .pdfDownload

Join us today at BAC at OPVRS!