Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation is accepting your tax deductible donations to help preserve 100% of Pleasure House Point.

What’s the harm with a small commercial development on this property? The answer is simple. There is no do-over.

And:

Top Reasons to Donate:

1. Save the largest undeveloped parcel of land on the Lynnhaven River for generations to come.
2. Preserve your City’s Green Space and the opportunity to experience shoreline habitat, wetlands, and maritime forest.
3. Protect the natural habitat of birds and marine life.
4. Produce healthy lifestyle opportunities by having trails in close proximity to residences in one of the highest density areas in the City. *
5. Raise property values and prevent added congestion in this area. **
6. Be part of a legacy purchase; we will not have this opportunity again.

Learn more at the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation Pleasure House Point Fundraiser page.

Like a high school student at Cape Henry Collegiate once said about the importance of preserving PHP:

  “I don’t feel like this is an adult issue. It’s our future. It’s our Virginia Beach.”

Please be generous in sharing this link, and in donating.

Any amount will help. Thank you.

PHP is your unknown backyard. Click to view larger.

The city’s Department of Public Health on Wednesday issued swimming and wading advisories along areas of the Chesapeake Bay and the Oceanfront.  Recent testing by the health department showed bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water-quality standards at five locations in the Chesapeake Bay from the Virginia Beach city line east to Fort Story and at locations between 8th and 22nd streets at the Oceanfront.  The advisories will be lifted when the tests show the bacteria are within state limits.  Northeast winds, rain and high tides have pushed the water higher onto the beaches than usual, exposing it to bacteria, said Erin Sutton, environmental health manager for the health department. Bacteria called Enterococci, found in human and animal waste, showed up in the tests.
Update Note:  Restrictions lifted August 26.

Be sure to check this out, and follow the link to the City’s Powerpoint provided at the end of the email.

From an email to Grace from Mr. Hansen:

Update on Stormwater Issues
Email from Dave Hansen, Deputy City Manager

Grace,

Here’s a link to the FY11 Stormwater Brief we gave 20 April 2010.  Several of your constituents have been very active in educating themselves about how stormwater O&M and CIP is resourced.  This brief lays out the huge requirements we face and the current revenues generated thru the stormwater fee and general fund supplement.  As the Cape Henry Drainage Project was cut in the budget several of your constituents have asked what it will take to bring it back.  For every one cent increase in the stormwater fee the stormwater enterprise fund receives @$850,000.

To reclaim the FY11 cuts (chart 21) totaling $16.6M in projects we have to add $2.75M back to the annual CIP budget to pay the long term debt for these initiatives.  $2.75M÷$850,000 =  3.25¢ increase to the stormwater fee (see chart 25).  That means each household’s annual stormwater cost would go from $87.96 to $99.83. An increase of $11.87 (less than a dollar a month). 

Why should everyone support this – just ask your neighbors in Lynnhaven Colony.  The residents along Atlantic Avenue have received their stormwater projects that took 20 years (the last pump station is going in this year and next at 61st Street).  Shadowlawn folks had their two projects with four phases each stopped in mid construction.  Cape Henry was just beginning.  And those inland neighborhoods have over 700 lakes and BMPs that we have no funding source to tackle the future dredging requirements.  They too will need to understand the stormwater business of the fees it takes to support a water based City.
The SDCC neighborhoods have many needs.  Stormwater issues rank very close to the top.  It is in everyone’s interest to understand how the Council funds stormwater management and the major gap that exists between actual resources and our publics expectations. As always, am available to meet and discuss how we try and keep VB moving forward. 

Here is the link:  http://www.vbgov.com/presentations/pworks/StormwaterWaterResourcesUpdate.ppsx

Regards,
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager

To make a long story short, the test failed. The layout that was intended did not work. I apologize.

From an email:

Hi,

I plan to build oyster floats for Lynnhaven River Now for my Eagle Scout Project at the end of this month.  LRN will then distribute the floats to local schools for educational purposes.  To build 15-19 floats will cost between $800-$1000.  I play acoustic guitar and perform locally, so to fundraise I have organized several performances over the next couple of weeks where I will contribute donations/earnings to the project.  I will be at Kokoamos & Bayside Bar & Grill (on Shore Dr.), and possibly additional venues (like Francis Asbury United Methodist Church).  The link to my project flyer, which I will update if more locations and or dates are added is http://riffcurrent.com/eagle%20project%20flyer3.pdf

Would you please post a notice on the SDCC blog (with a link to the flyer), the calendar and if possible your e-newsletter?  Since I am playing this Sat night at Kokoamos (and the next), the sooner the better.

Thanks very much,
Louis Smith
http://www.riffcurrent.com

Click to view the 20 page document. (.pdf Version)

Click to view the 20 page document. (Google Document Version)

There is a lot of info in there that will affect your life in the Shore Drive community.

At SavePHP.org:

“The city anticipates working with citizens and partner groups to develop a plan for use of the public open space, building on the city’s existing plans to preserve land and improve water quality in the Lynnhaven watershed, including a return of the famous Lynnhaven Oyster fishery.”

July 26th we had a very exciting presentation from the City of Virginia Beach, the Trust for Public Land and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

View the 5 slides that were presented. (.pdf version)
View the 5 slides that were presented. (Google Docs version)

Link to Spreadsheet with times available here.

From Mary Lynn:

Some members of Shore Drive Community Coalition and Save Lives On Shore Drive are working alongside Va. Beach Traffic Engineer’s gathering information on where and what improvements are needed (like crosswalks and brighter street lights) for a safer Shore Drive based on surveys and tests (like how much light is coming out of the street lights and do we need brighter ones) but first we need the results of this survey and we need your help.

PLEASE! We need volunteers to help count PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLISTS crossing Shore Drive even if you only can give an hour we need your help please on:

THIS COMING FRIDAY, 7/30/10 and SATURDAY, 7/31/10 we need help for the following shifts: 10 am –12 noon, 1 pm -3 pm, 5 pm –7 pm.  The 11 pm-2 am shifts are covered.

PLEASE VOLUNTEER SOME OF YOUR TIME!  Consider a block of time 1 hour; we really need your help to cover time this Friday and/or Saturday so please sign up!!!

Please call Mary Lynn Brown at 613-7030 or e-mail your name, phone # and preferred time(s) to marylynnb1@cox.net so schedule can be confirmed with volunteers.

Volunteers will help document results on a survey form to count pedestrians and bicyclists that cross Shore Drive this Friday and Saturday. We have been asked to do this survey to get true pedestrian counts for the traffic engineer’s so they know where to put in the new crosswalks so they would best be serving the public’s safety crossing Shore Drive.

The 2 day survey will be conducted at the intersection(s) with Shore Drive at:

  1. Red Tide Rd. (To cover pedestrians/cyclists from Ebb Tide Rd. to Starfish Rd).
  2. Jade St. (To cover pedestrians from the west side of Starfish Rd to CP Shuckers).

Again, each block of time is 1 hour; we need your help so please sign up!!!

  1. I will meet each shift person that starts that shift to provide that days form (s) for the survey.
  2. You need these forms to keep count and they need to be turned over at the end of your shift (I will come pick them up from you at the end of your shift).
  3. I live a couple blocks away and can always be called if there are any problems. 613-7030.
  4. I have the 11:00 pm to 2:00 am Friday and Saturday shifts covered already for the pedestrian & bicyclists count survey.

Special note:  If you want to sit in your air conditioned vehicle that is fine as long as you have a full view of the area you are responsible for observing and documenting.

Many thanks!

Mary Lynn Brown

Please call or e-mail Mary Lynn Brown right now at 613-7030 or marylynnb1@cox.net and sign up!!!

It is not available at Pilotonline.com yet, so here it is here:

It is not sufficient to thank the present Mayor and City Council of Virginia Beach for their role in the recent negotiations to preserve Pleasure House Point, although it’s a good place to start.  This effort has been underway for so long, there are others who should be recognized, as well.  In addition to the sitting Council, previous Council members and past Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, are to be commended for maintaining the acquisition of this tract at the top of the Open Space wish list.

  The Virginia Beach Wetlands Board of 2006-07 demonstrated great courage and wisdom in challenging the environmental claims made by the developer.  Numerous respected organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lynnhaven River NOW, bayfront civic leagues and individual professional experts joined countless ordinary citizens to document and publicize the value of this parcel.  I am pleased to say that the Shore Drive Community Coalition was a part of this effort.

  I, for one, do not rejoice in the difficulties the Sandler brothers are currently facing.  No one should revel in the misfortune of others.  The economic hardship facing many Virginia Beach residents is personal devastation.  Small comfort to them, but without such financial conditions, it is doubtful that much, if any, of Pleasure House Point could remain in its natural state.  We are thankful that something good might come in the midst of bleakness
.

Thank you, all who have labored so diligently.  Mayor Will Sessoms, Vice Mayor Louis Jones and honorable Council members, take a bow.

SDCC Meeting Monday July 26th Agenda
[Format fixed for link at 630p 7.24.10]

Read and comment on article at Pilotonline.com:

On the other hand, if Wells Fargo held out for more money and sold to another developer, environmental permits would be needed before construction could begin and homebuyers would have to return to the market.

From The Bay Daily:

The property, known as Pleasure House Point, has been the focus of extensive community debate, with local groups such as Shore Drive Community Coalition, Lynnhaven River NOW, and CBF vigorously opposed to development proposed for the parcel.

Thank you.

Cycling info at ShareShoreDriveDay.net.

Come out and join the Circle in The Bridge from CHKD at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility at 10am to walk.

The incredible news you heard today:

“Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr.  announced today that the 122-acre property known as Pleasure House Point may be acquired and protected under terms of a deal between Wells Fargo bank and The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national environmental group.  The property has been a top city open-space priority for a decade. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and The Trust for Public Land plan to partner with the city to pull together funding to meet the $13 million purchase price.

Pleasure House Point, located just west of the Lesner Bridge and south of the Chesapeake Bay, is at the confluence of Pleasure House Creek and Crab Creek, overlooking the Lynnhaven River. The property’s owner, L.M. Sandler & Sons, had planned to build a large waterfront development there known as Indigo Dunes.”

… is at the very least exciting for Hampton Roads residents and future generations.

Over the next days, and weeks you will undoubtedly hear more details about the possibilities of what Pleasure House Point will be.

From housing a wildlife refuge & rehab center to being part of the Lynnhaven River Blueway and being a leader in educational programs for disabled children & adults. Pleasure House Point will be home to an inspiring facility that will not only protect a jewel of Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads – but can just as assuredly, incubate big thinking on so many levels we have not had a chance to comprehend. Yet.

If it were not for countless hard working, selfless volunteers who dedicated an incomprehensible amount of time, energy, and effort to save Pleasure House Point from development and to raise the level of awareness to the property’s value for preservation, open space, and environmental education, we would not be having this conversation right now.

Without you, dear volunteer we would not be at this place in time.

Without you, dear volunteer, this opportunity to tell your grand children you were there when… would not be possible.

We hope a thank you is enough. But we know it’s not.

We know protecting 100% of Pleasure House Point is merely a starting point for something bold and grand that you will be proud of.

And in case you haven’t heard it enough, for the work you’ve put in to accomplish this feat – thank you. Thank you dear volunteer. You do and will continue to make a difference.

Here’s the Public Works Capital Projects Detail Sheet Official link to 2.118.000: Shore Drive Corridor Improvements – Phase IV.

Current Estimates
Start: 06/24/2010 End: 09/16/2015 Cost: 12,758,721

More Tips:
You can look up any CIP project by the following steps:
http://www.vbgov.com
Select “Online Services” (on the left side)
Select “View a Capital Project Status”
Select “CIP Project Status”
This takes you to the CIP Search Page (http://198.252.244.2/cipstatus/Search.aspx)
You can search by full name, partial name (ex. Shore) or CIP#

Thanks to David Jarman for the info.

In case you’re keeping track, here’s the numbers you want to follow improvements for Shore Drive:

CIP Project Updates:

·      Shore Drive Interim Safety Improvements (2-731):  Slideshow attached summarizing work completed to date

·      Shore Drive Demonstration Project (2-115):  Completed 2008

·      Shore Drive Phase II (2-116):  Currently at 30% design, project is on hold due to funding

·      Shore Drive Phase III (2-117):  Currently at 30% design, project is on hold due to funding

·      Shore Drive Phase IV (2-118):  Currently at 30% design, project was funded for construction in 2012, however this may be delayed to 2016. This is Ocean Park area. Marlin Bay > Lesner Bridge.

·      Lesner Bridge Replacement Project (2-168):  Approaching 90% design, no funding for construction or utility relocations

From Grace:

Good morning.

If anyone is interested in the follow-up on the proposed hookah bar at the old Foon’s location, Channel 13 did a story on it.  The link is in the forwarded email below.  Also, since I had no idea what a hookah bar is when I first heard of it, I went to my favorite 21st century reference resource.  Here is the link that explains the concept.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah_lounge

I guess before we rush to judgment about the proposed business, we ought to consider a couple of things.

Number one, we know that it is not doing anyone any good to have an idle property sitting there not creating jobs, not generating revenue, not paying much in the way of taxes.  For years this place was a successful restaurant and satisfactory neighbor.

Number two, once a variance is received for the parking, and presumably a Conditional Use Permit issued, residents have no control of what use the property enjoys.  The CUP may set the parameters of operation, but in my observation, there is little to no enforcement once the business opens, and even less, once the property has conveyed a time or two.

The BZA hearing is just about the parking space allocation, but if that hurdle is passed, I predict you will see a hookah bar at that location.  And that is not necessarily a bad thing.  Maybe we should mount an expeditionary force to the already-operating Nimbus.

Happy 4th.
Regards,
Grace Moran
President, SDCC

Comment from the Editor:

How much work has the proposed owners done to ensure a safe Shore Drive?

Examples: Are they lobbying for sidewalks/multi-use paths near them to
encourage people to walk instead of drive.
They are asking for less parking after all.

Are they lobbying for dedicated bike lanes to encourage people to ride?

Do they have a plan to take people home who shouldn’t drive or even to
pick people up?

Are they working on a “local shuttle” for people to take?  There are
plenty examples of that including in Richmond where local
establishments share “buses” for the specific purpose of getting
people out of their cars to travel safely and not worry about
how/where to park.

If they want to be part of the Shore Drive community safely – this is
their opportunity to set the standard on the way in.

And as always – if anything should be posted at SDCC.info email me
exactly what you want there – including the owners of the proposed
Hookah Lounge.

Tim

View story at WVEC.com.
A proposed Hookah bar isn’t the problem, it’s the location.