Author Archives: Tim

Proposed Page Avenue and Cherry Place Intersection Alternative at Shore Drive, Cape Henry Towers.

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Thanks to Public Works Project Manager Jason B. Wilson for sharing the proposed changes for the intersection of Page Avenue and Shore Drive.

View the CHT Presentation Final (12 page PDF).
This is part of 2.117.000: Shore Drive Corridor Improvements – Phase III.
Learn more about Shore Drive infrastructure work at SDCC.info/HOT.

Alternative 1 for proposed realignment of intersection.

Alternative 1 for proposed realignment of intersection.

View from Page Avenue looking east down Shore Drive. This is across the street from Starbucks at east end of Lesner Bridge.

View from Page Avenue looking east down Shore Drive.

Trees pictured above would come down under all 3 Alternative proposals.

An excerpt of a comment from previous post at SDCC.info about this proposal:

I don’t understand the reason for ANY if these three proposals. Even when Duck In was hosting their famous Friday night parties, everyone (even drunk drivers) managed to exit onto Shore Dr without problems.

Bike stolen from Marina Shores Sunday Dec16.

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Bolt cutters were used on the airplane steel cable type locking device. Bike was a Christmas present from 2011. It was stolen between 1-5p.

Why share this? Bolt cutters were used.

From Cape Story neighborhood watch.

City Manager’s newsletter includes news about Ocean Park, Pleasure House Point and more.

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Download the 59 page PDF here.

Public Works repaired the beach steps in Ocean Park:

opcsteps-pw

High winds and water in the Chesapeake Bay from Hurricane Sandy took their toll along the bay front. One casualty was the existing wooden step beach at East Stratford Road that was washed away. Public Works dispatched a crew to the area last week where they made the needed repairs and reconstruction. The beach access has re-opened and is available to the public in the Ocean Park community.

There’s also the Trust for Public Land ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE which includes a feature story about Pleasure House Point.

Visit www.TPL.org and donate to receive your hard copy. The digital copy is not yet available – except – in the 59 page PDF above, or download this 12 page PDF to read the story. It’s a great article. Full disclosure: yours truly is in it chatting about the SavePHP idea along with your neighbors Karen, Tom, Cindy, Mike, Whit, & Chris.

Mayor writes to Governor about forming the Chesapeake Bay Beach Storm Protection Program which includes dredging sand from the Chesapeake Bay for our beaches.

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Read the 2 page PDF from the Mayor.

“Most Environmentally Sustainable Building in Virginia Gets Green Light from Virginia Beach”. CBF’s facility for PHP moves closer to completition.

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Hoo ray!

Hopefully CBF will conduct intense studies about using wind turbines safely since so many birds love PHP and it's vital habitat in the Atlantic Flyway. Photo credit: CBF

Photo credit: CBF

From CBF.org/PHP:

“We are extremely gratified that the Virginia Beach City Council and the community support our new venture at Pleasure House Point,” said CBF Hampton Roads Director Christy Everett. “The CBF Brock Environmental Center will be a model of sustainable design, demonstrating how it is possible to build responsibly and make a substantial environmental difference without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.”

The CBF Brock Environmental Center will feature cutting-edge green construction practices to meet the “Living Building Challenge,” a set of stringent, specific environmental standards established by the International Living Future Institute. These standards require the facility to have “net zero” impact on the environment, not only during construction but during its daily operation. It will be the first of its kind in Virginia.

More including video at WAVY.com.

Hopefully all the parties can come together to work out a deal to preserve the remainder of PHP too to ensure everyone including the kids using CBF’s facility will have the best possible experience.

Learn more about the possibility of trees coming down for duplexes within site of CBF’s facility here and here.

Let’s hope everyone can come together to preserve this privately held property to ensure trees including Live Oaks are saved, and kids will have the best possible experience while learning about the great outdoors at CBF’s facility.

Eat, vote and attend the SDCC Meeting on Monday Dec 17. All invited! Note Early Start of 6:30pm

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC Agenda DEC 2012

Early start time of 6:30pm to allow for social event

 

Shore Drive Community Coalition

Monday 17 DEC 2012

SDCC General Meeting, Election & Party

PLEASE NOTE DATE and TIME

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 17 DEC 6:30 – 9:00 pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)

Call to order

Meeting topic: VOTING and ELECTION of SDCC Officers for 2013

2013 Slate of officers approved at Nov. Meeting:

                                                President – David Williams (Cape Henry Shores)

                                                Vice President – Rick Mercadante (Ocean Park)

                                                Secretary – Todd Solomon (Cape Story)

                                                Treasurer – Ryan King (Chesapeake Beach)

Member’s and Guest’s SOCIAL CELEBRATION of 2012

Officers’ Reports:
President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Grace Moran

Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –NOV Minutes

Treasurer’s Report Carol Collins

Update on issues:

Old Business

New Business Celebrate /Pollard’s Chicken, meatballs, veggie tray, cheese tray, and dessert tray

Adjourn

Next SDCC- Monday JAN 28, 2012

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center

Speaker- TBA

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Video of Jordan Bridge being built by FIGG, builders of replacement for Lesner Bridge.

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This could be similar to what to expect for the Lesner Bridge replacement work.

Check out FIGGBridge.com.
More links and info at SDCC.info’s HOT page about the Lesner Bridge replacement.

Hear of the idea to cut down trees including live oaks to change an intersection on Shore Drive?

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Yeah. Me neither.

At Cape Henry Towers. Plans from a couple months ago. More info to follow I’m sure.

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House under construction on Maple Street vandalised by teenagers. Who?

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From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:

My house that is under construction in the 2200 block of Maple Street (near the bike path) was vandalized last night by 3 high school age youths. A neighbor was on an evening walk after 9:00 pm and had seen them walking around. Then he just happened to be walking nearby our house and heard the loud crash of smashing windows and called 911. He actually chased after them calling out help, help to alert the neighbors. They are most definitely local kids as one had his skateboard with him. They were described as follows: 2 of the boys being tall and thin, and the 3rd boy was shorter than the other two. They smashed two lower windows in the living room from inside the house with a board. Four VA Beach police cruisers responded and searched the property and the neighborhood, but did not find these young vandals.

The fact that this looks to be neighborhood kids is especially concerning. I have two teenagers myself, and if I were reading this and had a high school age son, I would be asking myself “Where was my son last night between 8:30 pm and 10:30 pm”.

This is not a personal safety issue, but it is a nasty bit of vandalism for sure. My guess is that if these kids get away with this they will vandalize others. If anybody has any information as to who might have done this, we would greatly appreciate them coming forward.

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.

The contractor will begin to install the wooden guardrail along Marlin Bay Drive Monday, December 12.

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From an email from Michael:

The contractor will begin to install the wooden guardrail along Marlin Bay Drive Monday, December 12. They anticipate it will take about 3-4 weeks to complete, however they will have about 40 working days to complete it so if it takes a bit longer they have the availability to do so. Also, the partnership sign that is at the main trailhead will have the panel removed tomorrow for a day or so. The contractor needs to make a few adjustments to make it fit more accurate. If you see the two posts only, please don’t be alarmed. I’m sure you might get a few questions so feel free to pass along the information. If you have any more questions feel free to call or email me.

Michael T. Moore; CNMP
Open Space and Resource Manager
Parks and Natural Areas
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation

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“Temporary Bulkhead” at the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility further explained

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From an email from Dave Hansen posted unedited with permission:

Kal & Grace,

FYI – The “Temporary Bulkhead” as shown in the permit application and on the current design plans, is designed with steel sheeting with a tie-back system and a concrete cap. The length is approx 400 LF.

Timber is great for residential bulkheads, but it is not adequate for a commercial/industrial application like this.

Timber would not hold up for the construction duration. The cap would require cleats to tie-off and a timber cap would not provide an adequate anchor for loaded barges, boats, etc., to tie off.

The concrete cap provides more structural stability for the bulkhead design.

This concrete cap bulkhead design is more of a standard section that contractors are used to building.

As an alternate, a more expensive steel cap could be used, but in either scenario (steel or concrete) the cap needs to be more durable than timber.

As promised in my many briefings to your respective organizations we will visit this discussion just past the 50% construction stage to see how we are co-existing with our boating public. Regards, Dave

Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242

Permit at US ACOE website.
More about dredging, and the replacement for the Lesner Bridge at SDCC HOT page.

SDCC General Meeting Agenda for Monday NOV26 2012

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Click here for a printable version of the agends – SDCC Agenda NOV 2012

Shore Drive Community Coalition

Monday 26 NOV 2012

SDCC General Meeting

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 26 November 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)

Call to order

Meeting topic: Nominations for SDCC Officers for 2013 Election

Vice President’s Report on NOV BAC Meeting

Communications Plan for 2013

Officers’ Reports

President’s Report David Williams

Vice President’s report Grace Moran

Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –Sept Minutes

Treasurer’s Report Carol Collins

Update on issues: Open questions from the floor

Old Business Shore Drive Issues

Storm Water Flooding of Neighborhoods

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC- Monday DEC 17, 2012

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center

Speaker- TBA

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Jetty study at Lesner Bridge, Planning Commission recommends CBF wind turbine proposal at PHP

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About Jetty study at Pilotonline:

Once the study is complete, the corps will present its findings to the city. Then both parties will decide whether to move forward with building the structures, said Phil Roehrs, the Virginia Beach coastal engineer.

Roehrs said the city would consider the jetties “only if the study shows they can be built in an environmentally sound way.”

Previously at SDCC.info. We scooped the Pilot. Thanks Andy.

About wind turbines at CBF’s facility on PHP at SavePHP.org:

Hopefully CBF and SmithGroup JJR will far exceed the standard in the wind turbine they use so as to minimize bird conflicts since PHP is a vital stop in the Atlantic Flyway.

Editorial entitled Negotiate to save Lynnhaven property, Pleasure House Point.

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Read entire editorial entitled Negotiate to save Lynnhaven property at Pilotonline.com.

It’s time for the firm, city and foundation leaders to work together for the common good and figure out a way to preserve those four acres.

And:

…whether through negotiations with the developer that involve a land swap, tax breaks or some other method.

One of the groups that worked to preserve PHP. A team of Kemps Landing Magnet School eighth-graders and the sixth-grade class at Cape Henry Collegiate School have a shared vision: to preserve…

“Kristin Mazur, project manager for the Norfolk District Lynnhaven Inlet Jetties Navigation Project with the city of Virginia Beach, Va., explains the federal interest determination study process and timetable, Oct. 19, 2012, to add a 1,000-foot jetty in front of the Lesner Bridge.”

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Learn more at US Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District article.

The federal study will determine if jetties or a combination of coastal structures is cost-effective in reducing critical shoaling and annual costs of maintaining the navigation channel, as well as reducing damages incurred on structures in the channel due to continuous wave action.

Multiple car break ins, drunk driving including hitting various objects, driving on bike path, vandalism and more in Cape Henry Shores and Cape Story by The Sea last night.

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Neighborhood Watch from CSTBS will be attending the Citizen’s Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday night at the Second Precinct at 820 Virginia Beach Blvd and intend to bring all this up. Everyone is invited to attend this meeting to air complaints, and to meet with police and other City officials. They really appreciate public comments. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.

City to discuss private property and Marlin Bay extension next to PHP at next Council Meeting

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Watch a WVEC.com news coverage about private property and Marlin Bay extension slatted for property next to PHP.

Previous press about this at SDCC.info.

“If the lots are built upon and the road extended, “unfortunately it would sour the overall project,” said Christy Everett, regional director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.”

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More press about 100% of Pleasure House Point not being preserved.

“Pleasure House Point Faces New Development

… plans have quietly moved ahead to build duplexes and extend a road through two areas in the tract, known as Pleasure House Point.”

From Pilotonline.com:

Turns out there’s a loophole in the celebrated purchase and preservation of Pleasure House Point, the largest undeveloped tract left on the Lynnhaven River, loaded with sand dunes, maritime forest and waterfront vistas.

Note the amount of trees and vital habitat that is at risk for destruction. Birds, including those migrating in the Atlantic Flyway, depend on Pleasure House Point and it’s open space to survive.

Partial shot of 1 page of plans shown upside down.