Author Archives: Tim

“Temporary Road Closure: Pleasure House Road between Northampton Boulevard and Shore Drive”

Posted on by

Weather permitting, the temporary road closure is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, and reopen at approximately 7 p.m. on the same day.

Check the info at VBGov.com:

Traffic will be temporarily affected on a portion of Pleasure House Road between Northampton Boulevard and Shore Drive while a water line is replaced.

During the water line replacement, Pleasure House Road will be closed to through traffic between Northampton Boulevard and Shore Drive. Local traffic will be maintained along Pleasure House Road up to the point of work. Through traffic will be rerouted via Northampton Boulevard and Shore Drive. Advanced warning signs will be installed advising motorist of the alternate routes. Local businesses and the church along Pleasure House Road have been notified of the traffic disruptions.

Weather permitting, the temporary road closure is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, and reopen at approximately 7 p.m. on the same day.

For additional information, contact Gene Rainey, Assistant Utility Suerintendent at (757) 650-4987.

Dolphin Die Off: Unraveling the Mystery” Sunday, November 17, 2013 Virginia Aquarium IMAX® Theater 2:00 PM Program is Free.

Posted on by

Learn more at Virginia Aquarium page.

Since July of 2013, more than 650 bottlenose dolphins have died in the mid-Atlantic region from New York through North Carolina. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team has been at the epicenter of this historic mortality event.

Eleanor & Henry Watts Conservation Speaker Series Sunday, November 17, 2013 2 – 4:30 pm Location: IMAX Theater Cost: Free and open to the public

Eleanor & Henry Watts Conservation Speaker Series
Sunday, November 17, 2013
2 – 4:30 pm
Location: IMAX Theater
Cost: Free and open to the public

“I think it’s a great loss to Hampton Roads and to the environmental community to have a talented reporter die before his time.”

Posted on by

Scott & his great work will be missed.

At Pilotonline.com.

SDCC Meeting MONDAY with Councilman Wood re: Shore Drive Flooding Issues, Present and Future Solutions

Posted on by

You’re coming out right ??

Click now for more info!

YIPPIE! SDCC MEETING MONDAY! Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

YIPPIE! SDCC MEETING MONDAY!
Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

Video of buoy #5 removed from OCEAN PARK beach

Posted on by

Check it out at Defense Video & Imagery Distribution Center website.

Photos at Pilotonline.com.
Photos and raw video at WTKR.com.

Note: Any resident of Ocean Park who’s lived here for any period of time is more than willing to give a tour to any media who thinks Ocean Park is Chics Beach.

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

LRNow Fall Fest Walk, bike, or drive over to 19th Street and Cypress Avenue on November 16th from 9am-12pm and see what exciting opportunities we have to offer.

Posted on by

Visit LRNow.org to learn more now.

How would light rail affect YOUR neighborhood? A conference. ***- Cancelled due to lack of interest ***

Posted on by

Per the VBCCO, this event has been cancelled due to lack of interest. 

 

Learn more and register at the VBCCO website.

Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations/City of Virginia Beach

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Virginia Beach Convention Center, 8:30 – 12:30

How would light rail affect YOUR neighborhood?

Will HRT connect YOU to Light Rail?

Keynote Address: James K. Spore

Overview: Councilman Jim Wood

Round Table Discussions with Charette Facilitators

LiteRailVBCCOpost

VBGov.com Light Rail page.

Tour the Brock Center at Pleasure House Point this evening with the Hampton Roads Green Building Council

Posted on by

Learn more at the Hampton Roads Green Building Council website.

Tonight!

Tonight!

2014 Legislative Agenda – Recurring Flooding Item letter from the Mayor

Posted on by

Read the entire 75 page PDF which includes the Mayor’s letter, slides, etc.

As council is well aware, the recurrent flooding issue is of great concern to our citizens.

So the Mayor is asking City Council to add an additional item for VB’s legislative agenda.

…but to ask to support the authorization of the study.

Legislative Request # 1: The City of Norfolk requests the General Assembly to establish and fund a Joint Study Committee to further investigate and make recommendations on recurrent coastal flooding in Virginia.

A slide from the 75 page PDF

A slide from the 75 page PDF

The VIMS Report concludes Virginia localities are not adequately equipped to address and
implement meaningful flood mitigation strategies required for responding to predicated
relative sea level rise on their own. Within the VIMS Report, there are a series of simulations
that show impacted areas as influenced by: a) storm surge, b) sea level rise, and c) the
recurrences of storms making land fall within the region. All of these factors both individually
and collectively, are anticipated to increase the frequency and the severity of coastal flooding
events. This will increase damages to public and private property, amplify impacts to public
safety, and increase disruption to individuals and the economy. Left unaddressed, the
Commonwealth can reasonably anticipate that it will see significant and profound coastal
flooding now and into the immediate planning horizon.

Buoy wash up coverage on WTKR including a blooper vid

Posted on by

Blooper vid is here.

The non-blooper vid at WTKR.com here.

Previously at SDCC.info.

Apparently the buoy washed in from Thimble Shoals.

Photo Credit: Laurie Rogers

Photo Credit: Laurie Rogers


Yup, it’s huge!

Nor ‘easter coverage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & washed up buoy #5

Posted on by

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! Photo Credit: Trista Riley Imrich of LRNow

Washed up on Ocean Park beach! Yes, the USCG was notified.
Photo Credit: Trista Riley Imrich of LRNow

20131011-180953.jpg
To put it in perspective.

“This wonderful piece of land, it’s so wonderful. It’s protected because it was slated for very dense development, and now with the cooperation of Virginia Beach, it’s going to be preserved forever and be completely environmentally friendly,” said Macon Brock.

Posted on by

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.

“The trial is the next iteration of an ongoing legal battle between the Lynnhaven Dunes Condominium Association and the city, stretching back to 2009 when the association first contested the city’s taking of easements allowing it to use and maintain its section of Cape Henry Beach.”

Posted on by

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

What’s happening to Live Oaks re: Bridge Construction?

Posted on by

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)