The walkway under the Lesner at the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility was damaged again.
Video including damage at WTKR.com.
National Weather Service page including forecast, coastal advisories and more.
Washed up on Ocean Park beach! Yes, the USCG was notified.
Photo Credit: Trista Riley Imrich of LRNow
To put it in perspective.
Watch video coverage at WAVY.com.
You can also read about it in the Virginian-Pilot article, click here
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation this morning plans to mark the start of construction at Pleasure House Point on a roughly $5 million environmental education center and office designed to be the greenest in the state.
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
But the condominium no longer owns the shoreline abutting its property after the city condemned portions of Cape Henry Beach in 2009 to place sand dredged from Lynnhaven Inlet there.
Now they’re going to court to see how much the rights to that land are worth.
To prevent future litigation like this, city officials are seeking a clarification to state law that says a waterfront property owner maintains his or her riparian rights after a sand-replenishment project.
To view the City’s draft Legislative Plan for this issue, Click here
From the project manager in response to an email:
Thank you for your attached letter regarding the Lesner Bridge. We are very excited about this project and eager to begin the work next spring.
As you noted in your letter, there are going to be some impacts to the live oaks associated with this project. We do have to remove approximately 12 live oaks to accommodate the new bridge. We have already removed some of these trees with the gas line that was bored under the Lynnhaven Inlet (on the north side of the existing bridges). This work was completed several weeks ago. The remaining trees will be removed when construction begins next spring.
We do recognize that the live oaks are an important natural resource in this area. This point was made clear during the public meetings that were held for this project. In order to mitigate the loss of these trees, we are currently planning to install 25 new live oaks with the project—this equates to a 2:1 replacement ratio. These trees have been incorporated with the overall landscaping plan to ensure that they have the best opportunity for survival in this harsh environment.
With regards to relocating or transplanting the existing trees, I did speak with our Operations staff at Parks & Recreation. They take care of the landscaping maintenance throughout the City. Their experience with transplanting live oaks has not be very positive in this area. Specifically, they noted the following issues:
1. The soil is too sandy for live oaks
2. The live oak root systems are not compact, which makes transplanting difficult
3. The salt environment is harsh on trees in this area
Since our Parks & Recreation staff maintain the landscaping in this area, they do have a lot of firsthand knowledge regarding the survival rate for certain species. We try to incorporate this real world information into our landscaping designs so we can provide the best planting plan for each project. Based on this information, we are not planning to relocate any existing live oaks at this time.
If you have any further questions or need more information, please let me know. Thank you for your time and interest in this project.
Sincerely,
David S. Jarman, P.E.
Transportation Project Management Supervisor
Department of Public Works
City of Virgina Beach
757-385-4144 (direct)
757-385-4131 (main)
The meeting agenda will include the following:
· The Floodplain Ordinance is being changed to meet the most recent FEMA requirements. An overview of the changes will be presented by city staff.
· Stormwater Management Program changes, including a revised ordinance and technical design criteria, are required by state law.
From Ocean Park Civic League:
As a Civic League, we have undertaken the task of providing cleanup services at this wonderful resource right in our back yard. We hope to do this 3-4 times a year. Our next opportunity is this Saturday. Remember, many hands make for light work. Please come help.Details are below.
Join us for another Clean Up at Pleasure House Point(PHP)
Saturday, September 21
9-12 AM
Check-in will be at the first Marlin Bay entrance coming from Shore Drive
Bags and plastic gloves will be providedPlease contact Susie Walston, susieandmac@gmail.com, if you have questions.
The following information has been received from the city about bicycle and pedestrian access on the Lesner during construction: “Public Works staff has been coordinating with Mr. Wayne Wilcox, who is the City’s liaison to the BTAC. Although several options have been explored to provide temporary pedestrian and bicycle access across the bridge, during Phase 3 of construction, staff has not found a safe, buildable and economically-feasible solution. Phase 3 is the critical phase because the entire width of the bridge is needed to handle the four lanes of traffic, and there is no additional space for a sidewalk or a bike lane. Staff will continue to brainstorm ideas with the stakeholders and the contractor (once determined) in order to try to find a resolution to this issue.”
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
The following received from a resident on Beech St.
On Tuesday, at approximately 2:30pm, two teenage girls disembarked from the school bus.
They stopped to talk before parting ways at the bike path.
A white male in his mid-40’s walked past them on the bike path with his private parts exposed.
When my daughter started walking down the bike path toward home, he turned around and followed her.
She ran back to her friend and they ran to the friend’s home where an adult was waiting.
Police were called and a report was filed.
The man was wearing black athletic shorts, a gray t-shirt, white walking shoes and knee socks. He had no facial hair.
Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. Also, please call or email the NW Coordinator so crime reports and suspicious activities can be shared with all of our residents.
More details posted 9.11.13 @ 646p:
The man is described as overweight, height about 5′ 7″ and had a receding hairline so the victims couldn’t distinguish his hair color. If anyone has any information about this man, please call the police at 385-5000.
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation is pleased to have received three awards on Monday, September 9, 2013 at the 2013 Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) Conference in James City County, Virginia.
The Best New Environmental Sustainability Award was presented in recognition of the preservation of Pleasure House Point Natural Area.
This natural area was acquired and preserved in July 2012 by the City of Virginia Beach through a forward-thinking partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPSL, in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). This 118-acre legacy acquisition contains a mile of shoreline on the Lynnhaven River and Pleasure House Creek.
With the assistance of TPF, CBF and the grassroots efforts of the community, the City of Virginia Beach succeeded in preserving one of the last undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River.
Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) will be giving away about 150 live oak trees on Saturday October 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Linkhorn Annex (the former Linkhorn Elementary School) at 1413 Linkhorn Road. Live Oaks are the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and FOLO members want to assure their survival for future generations to enjoy.
Since its founding three years ago, FOLO has given away about 500 live oaks (approximately 7 feet tall). If you would like to have a live oak for your yard, request forms are available at Virginia Beach public libraries and recreation centers and online at vbgov.com/liveoaks.
Although there is no charge for the trees to be given away on October 12, recipients of the trees ( and those who admire live oaks and want to ensure their presence here for future generations) are encouraged to purchase a yearly membership in Friends of Live Oaks, for only $10.
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.
Save a tree and request your live oak tree at this link at VBGov.com.
SB926 at SDCC.info previously.
Line 98 proposed changes:
Line 98: 10. Governmental activity in wetlands owned or leased or within an easement held by the Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof or in wetlands subject to a local government approved neighborhood navigation dredging project within a special services district adopted by the local governing body in accordance with 15.2-2400, et seq., of the Code of Virginia (“SSD Neighborhood Dredging Project”). Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, any such
special service district neighborhood dredging projectSSD Neighborhood Dredging Project shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission rather than the local wetlands board, if any. In exercising its jurisdiction over neighborhood dredging projects, the Commission shall process permit applications in accordance with the provisions ofthethis chapterand the applicable wetlands zoning ordinance, if any,and shall provide an opportunity for public comment.
Previous 2013 Virginia Beach Legislative Agenda Wording
Link to Previous 2013 version of SB926 as Introduced
SENATE BILL NO. 926
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 7, 2013
13100867D
A BILL to amend and reenact § 28.2-1302 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the jurisdiction of local wetlands boards.
–––––––––– Patron––McWaters
––––––––––
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
––––––––––2013 SB 926 Wetlands; governmental activity.
01/31/13 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y )
YEAS–Hanger, Watkins, Puckett, Ruff, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Marsden, Black, Miller–10.
NAYS–0.
ABSTENTIONS–0.
Pleasure House Point Plant Walk
Wednesday, September 18, 5:30-7:00 PM
Join us for a nature walk through Pleasure House Point with Vicki Shufer, naturalist, author, and local plant expert. Hear stories about how these plants were used hundreds of years ago and which ones are good to eat. Enjoy the beautiful sunset along the Lynnhaven River as we wrap up the tour at dusk.
Free, but you must register ahead. Email or call 757-962-5398 to register.
First Landing State Park
Friday, September 20, 7:30-9:30 PM
Bring your children for a exciting night hike in First Landing State Park on the banks of the Lynnhaven River. Search for night creatures, listen to the sounds of the forest at night and look for glowing owl eyes hiding in the trees.
For more information or to register, contact LRNow at 757-962-5398 or Trista@LRNow.org.
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
After the Lesner Bridge project, Jarman said, the city may consider keeping the bulkhead at Crab Creek permanently and request a permit modification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
During the first phase of construction, the pedestrian walkway on the westbound span of the existing bridge will be removed. The new westbound span will be built just north of the current bridge, and all traffic will remain open on the old bridge. That could take about 15 months, wrapping up by summer 2015, Jarman said.
Photo Credit: Share Shore Drive Day July 11 2009
Have you experienced this yet?
The bioluminscence has been world class off our beach all week long. A species of dinoflaggelate (microscopic plankton) that makes a blue/green flash when disturbed under the right conditions is blooming in the lower Bay. Neon blue kayak bow wave. Ball of blue green light with each paddle stroke. Thousands of tiny light specks when you wave your hand through the water.
I highly recommend people go for a night kayak / swim in the Bay over the next several days in hopes that conditions are right and they get to experience the magic. I find that it’s best on moonless nights, generally 50 feet or more from shore and when the water is calm. Currents or conditions change daily, so it may be around for a week, or gone tonight. It’s really neat with or without a mask on.
Maybe you could email this information out because it’s really worth experiencing if it’s still around.
Captain Octopus (Bob)
Be safe if you check it out!
Visit VBGov.com to learn more.
Subcommittees will meet from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Resort and Conference Center. The subcommittees will continue their deliberations regarding recommendations for commercial design standards and safety issues along the Shore Drive corridor. The subcommittee meetings will be open for the public to observe, but there will not be an opportunity for the public to participate in the subcommittee’s deliberations.
Photo Credit: Steve Coari at Pleasure House Point
Volunteers will be working at the site just off Shore Drive Thursday, September 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also take action and volunteer next Tuesday, September 10 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 