Category Archives: City Government
Civic Engagement – What housing issues do you believe Virginia Beach residents face?
What housing issues do you believe Virginia Beach residents face? Deadline: 5:00 PM on September 16, 2016
The Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech and czb, LLC, a neighborhood planning firm, are currently conducting a housing study for the City of Virginia Beach. The study will provide information on the city’s household demographics, housing stock, homeownership and rental rates, neighborhood characteristics and more. It will also reveal trends, housing needs and opportunities for achieving the city’s goals for affordability and the preservation and enhancement of existing housing. Results from the study will be used to guide city policy and funding for housing and neighborhood preservation programs.
On Aug. 10, the city held public meetings to preview preliminary findings from the housing study and seek input on residents’ challenges and concerns related to housing. This forum is available for residents who were unable to attend the meetings and participate in the focus groups.
https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/124/Forum_389/Issue_3945
“The intent of this article is to regulate the rental of houses in residential neighborhoods for the purpose of holding large events such as weddings, receptions and similar activities so as to protect such neighborhoods from the adverse impacts of such events. The provisions of this article allow limited rentals of homes for purposes of having large events in residential neighborhoods…”
Cover letter for proposed Event House Ordinance for COVB.
Final Draft of Event House Ordinance.
BEACHES & WATERWAYS COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DRAFT
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 4 OF THE CITY CODE BY ADDING NEW SECTIONS 4-85 THROUGH 4-90, DEFINING EVENT FACILITIES AND SETTING FORTH REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE SAME
Be sure to check out the cover letter and proposed ordinance.
The section sets forth the City Council’s findings regarding the use of homes as rented sites for certain types of gathering that constitute commercial uses.
Join us at our meeting August 29th and chat with Captain Ronan & Lieutenant Wilkerson from Police Dept
This is rescheduled from our July meeting to August 29th. We meet at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue squad from 730p-900p.
Join us!
Email from Captain Ronan:
Good afternoon Mr. Williams,
First, thanks again for the invitation for Lieutenant Wilkerson and I to present to the Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) on Monday, August 29, 2016, which we will accept. Since receiving the first invitation on July 20, 2016 from Mr. Solomon to attend on a SDCC meeting, we are prepared to discuss the following items requested:
o Accidents and deaths at Shore Drive and Kendall
o Results/trends/solutions of speed enforcement checks on Shore Drive between North Great Neck and State Park
o Pedestrian death on Shore Drive near Kroger’s intersection
o Traffic signal study for Lynnhaven Drive and North Great Neck Road. Possible impact from proposed development of Marina Shores.
o Illegal parking on Shore Drive between North Great Neck and State Park.In regard to the last bulleted item, I have periodically been monitoring the Shore Drive corridor in regard to the noted parking issues noted of Illegal parking on Shore Drive between North Great Neck and State Park. As a result, I have been in contact with our City’s Traffic Engineer, Mr. Robert K. Gey, to determine what, if anything can be improved upon. Additionally, I have contacted the Second Police Precinct and requested additional patrols to address any illegal or inappropriate parking along Shore Drive. Traffic Engineering received a call and is addressing, a recent complaint from a citizen in regard to parking on Shore Drive at Sandalwood Road, which is causing a visibility obstruction
(attached picture).In terms of the impacts of the few development sites mentioned, the Police Department will continue to support the community, patrol & respond to calls for service, and enforce laws in the Shore Drive community as we do with the rest of the City. As the Shore Drive section continues to grow and develop, since it’s a desirable area, the traffic will continue to grow as well. The Police Department is not in a position to stop or hinder future development anywhere in the City. On the contrary, our efforts are to continue making the City of Virginia Beach the Safest City in the United States, where citizens wish to live, work, and raise a family, as well as, where visitors want to visit.
City Traffic Engineer, Robert Gey advises there are two projects programmed for Shore Drive, which the SDCC is aware of; Shore Drive Phase III(construction 2018-2021) and Shore Drive Phase IV(construction 2026-2028). Phase IV is not currently funded. There is no increase in the number of lanes or roadway capacity with either of these projects as is the desire of the Shore Drive community.
Feel free to contact Lieutenant J. E. Wilkerson or me should you have any additional questions or concerns. Otherwise, we’ll see you and members of the SDCC on Monday, August 29, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall on Shore Drive.
Best regards,
Mike
Captain M. P. Ronan
Commanding Officer, Special Operations
Virginia Beach Police Department
2667 Leroy Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
Spec Ops (757) 385-4606
Direct (757) 385-8957
Fax (757) 385-4406
mronan@vbgov.com
“The survey questionnaire (see link below) provides an opportunity for Hampton Roads residents to share opinions and participate in the ongoing mitigation planning process taking place with Hampton Roads communities.”
Start here at VBGov.com to complete the: Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey.
Both the survey and the August draft will be “live” through August 17, 2016, at which time we will compile the survey results and comments received for the committee to review and act upon.
The survey will be available through August 17, 2016. Additional opportunities to review the draft plan and provide written feedback, or to attend a public meeting are in the planning process. Stay tuned for additional information.
Emphasis ours.
The Draft Plan includes language like:
Mitigation actions should go beyond recommending structural solutions to reduce existing vulnerability, such as elevation of structures, retrofitting, and acquisition projects. Local policies that guide community growth and development, incentives tied to natural resource protection, and public awareness and outreach activities should be considered to reduce the region’s future vulnerability to identified hazards.
This afternoon before the City Council Meeting tonight there is also a briefing on the Community Rating System:
MAYOR WILLIAM D. SESSOMS, JR. PRESIDING
I. CITY MANAGER’S BRIEFINGS – Conference Room – 4:00 PM
. . .
B. NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM and
REGIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN Whitney McNamara – Planning
. . .
View 1 page PDF of City Council Agenda here.
More Posts at SDCC.info about Community Rating System or CRS here.
More info at SDCC.info about Flood Mitigation at our Hot Page.
Questions?
Please add them in Discuss below.
Confirmed Officer Price will also be at our meeting tonight!
Questions about towing, your rights, safety and studies about Shore Drive & neighborhood streets?
Tonight is the night!
Be early.
Agenda is here and more info is here.
Bring a friend!
It’s indoors in a/c.
Police Officers’ Q&A about enforcement, traffic study, illegal parking and tragic pedestrian death on Shore Drive.
We thank Captain M. P. Ronan Commanding Officer, Special Operations and Lieutenant Jeffery E. Wilkerson, MSCJ Special Operations for being our guests at our Monday SDCC Meeting.
They will provide a presentation at the beginning of our meeting so be early. Captain Ronan & Lieutenant Wilkerson will also answer your questions.
Topics will include:
This meeting is held at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad and begins at 730pm.
Please enter at door from parking lot opposite Shore Drive.
If it’s impossible for you to attend – please post your questions or comments below.
Public Meeting Schedule re: Event Houses plus more info from Commission working on setting guidelines.
From an email:
Virginia Beach City Council has tasked the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission to study the issue of new regulations regarding residential homes rented out for large – scale functions such as weddings, parties, etc.
The Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission will hold five public meetings to solicit input on its recommendations to Virginia Beach City Council.
The meetings will be as follows:
July 18, 2016 Virginia Aquarium Owls Creek Marsh Pavilion 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
July 19, 2016 Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront York Room 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
July 20, 2016 Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center Sunset Room 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
July 21, 2016 Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library Auditorium 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
July 22, 2016 Sandbridge United Methodist Church
Those wishing to speak will be able to sign up by replying to this email or at each meeting. Speakers will be limited to three minutes unless representing a group. Group representatives will be limited to 10 minutes.
Attached is a copy of the draft recommendations, the motion to accept the recommendations as a starting point to gather public input and an email from the Chairman of the Commission.
Please feel free to contact me if you need anything else or have any questions.
Rebecca L. Lear, CFM
City of Virginia Beach
Public Works Engineering
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
rlear@vbgov.com
8 page PDF of Draft Changes to Regulations.
1 page PDF of Motion adopting Draft posted above.
Baylines Newsletter of the City Council-appointed Bayfront Advisory Commission July edition is out
The grant committee’s application highlights that Shore Drive is a prime candidate for this technology due to high pedestrian volumes, significant pedestrian accident rates, the presence of a substantial elderly population and a strong military presence along the corridor.
If the grant application is successful, the city would match grant money with “in kind” funds using staff and equipment already budgeted.
We’ve arrived!
Possible grant with matching COVB funds to get more pedestrian love on Shore Drive.
What are those poles on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach?
The price tag is $100,000 for a total of 20 poles at five sites: near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Pleasure House Point, Great Neck Road, Long Creek Bridge and First Landing State Park.
Rendering of Flag Poles with Flags courtesy of COVB
SDCC General Meeting – Monday June 27th at 7:30pm
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 6.27.16 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday June 27, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentations – No scheduled presentation. Updates on projects and issues that impact Shore Drive residents will be discussed in the Old & New Business sections. Topics will include:
- Temporary Reroute of West Great Neck Road – When, Why and Impact
- Flag Poles – What happening and why.
- Parking on Shore Drive between North Great Neck Rd and State Park. What are the rules?
- Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) Meeting Update – Top priorities and how the community can help.
- Shore Drive Speed Enforcement between North Great Neck Road and State Park – Why? and Results.
- Beach Event Houses – What has the Beaches and Waterways Commission been doing?
Officer’s Reports
Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments. City’s Planning Department evaluation update. When will the project go before the Planning Commission?
Beach Event Houses – Update from the Beaches & Waterways Commission overseeing this evaluation.
Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) – Update on their meeting and discussion of their planned priorities.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission (BAC) News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Tidal Surge Gate Installation – 3 tidal gates are being installed along Cape Henry Drive. The project has started, updates on impacts to West Great Neck Road will be discussed.
Flag Pole Installation – 4 sets of (4) flag poles have been installed in the Bayfront area. Learn what the BAC plans for these poles.
Parking on Shore Drive – Residents of Cape Story used City’s See-Click-Fix App to identify possible safety concerns due to restricted visibility from parked cars. Update will be provided.
VB Police Target Speed Enforcement along Shore Drive in Cape Story – Learn why the police have targeted this area and some of the surprising results so far.
Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday July 25, 2016
Drive Thru Appeals Tent for Assessment of Personal Property
In case you didn’t know (or read the back of your recent automobile personal property tax bill) the City has a Drive Thru appeals tent for evaluating the condition of your property. You may be able to save $25, $50 or more on your tax bill if you have a high mileage vehicle or one in poor condition.
Check here for the NADA assessment of your vehicle and if there is a reduction due to the mileage or condition, subtract that from the assessed value on your bill. Then multiply total by 0.04 to get your tax. The difference between this number and the Total Tax shown on your bill is your potential savings.
Below is the information regarding the City’s Drive Thru service. For more details, click here
As a convenience to the taxpayer, appeals are conducted in a “Drive-thru Appeals Tent” located in the parking lot across North Landing Road from Courthouse Drive. This annual service is available only after bills are mailed in May, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on the last Saturday before bills are due in June from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m
Live oaks on triangle at Tazewell & East Stratford Road in Ocean Park being cut down. Teachable moment opportunities.
From City Arborist:
I wanted to let you and the SDCC know that three Live Oak trees at the intersection of Tazewell Rd. and East Stratford Rd must be removed soon by Virginia Beach Landscape Management. The city has been monitoring the trees for a few months and carried out crown cleaning. However the soil in the median where the trees are growing is extremely compacted, and this has led to the decline of the trees and canopy dieback. A strength test was performed on these trees which revealed decay within the shell walls of the trunk. We will be replacing these trees with three more Live Oak trees in our next planting season. One tree will go into the center of the median where the soil is less compacted and the other two trees will be planted nearby.
Thank you for helping us inform the neighborhood residents. Please let me know if there are any additional questions.
Best wishes,
Susan
Susan French
City Arborist
Virginia Beach Parks & RecreationLandscape Management Division | 4141 Dam Neck Road | Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone 757.385.4076 | Fax 757.427.1895 | sfrench@vbgov.com | VBgov.com/Parks
A couple goals discussed includes staging the live oak lumber some place dry to cure it to create art.
You might have seen live oak lumber used in Brock Environmental Center that was saved from live oaks cut down for a development in Ocean Park to be built. (View some of the art at this link in SDCC.info.)
Other teachable moment opportunities include clearly illustrating why the live oaks had to be cut down and how to ensure yours stay healthy.
VBGov.com was “upgraded” recently and many, many Links we send you to are now broken. Again.
A screenshot of a 404 Error Message.
We apologize and wish there was an easy fix on our end.
When you find a broken link at VBGov.com, please Comment in our Post and we’ll do our best to fix it.
Frustrating? Yes! There are best practices that are typically followed to ensure Links are not broken when a website is “upgraded”.
Thank you for your patience.
Note: Feel free to add your conspiracy theory Comments below.
SDCC General Meeting – Monday May 23rd at 7:30pm
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 5.23.16 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday May 23, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentations – No scheduled presentation. This time will be used to discuss which future presentations should be pursued. Possibilities include:
- City’s Urban Forest and Tree Oversight (Susan French, City Arborist)
- Long Range Storm Water Plans for Shore Drive East of Lesner Bridge
- Update on City’s pursuit of Community Rating System (CRS), a National Flood Insurance Program
- Update on Shore Drive Safety – Have improvements helped reduce accidents/incidents?
- Any other community concerns?
Officer’s Reports
Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments. City’s Planning Department evaluation update. When will the project go before the Planning Commission?
Beach Event Houses – Update from the Beaches & Waterways Commission overseeing this evaluation.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday June 27, 2016
Cape Henry Beach Replenishment
The following notice was graciously sent to SDCC by Mr. Phill Roehrs, P.E. Water Resources Engineer with the City of VB Public Works Engineering. Thank you Phill for keeping us up to date.
Dear Shore Drive Residents:
We wanted to let you know about an upcoming truck haul of sand from the City’s stockpile south of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility to a section of Cape Henry Beach.
As you know, the sand stockpile area has been the repository for sand dredged from the Crab Creek channel in recent years. Portions of Cape Henry Beach have experienced erosion over the previous winter, and would benefit from the placement of the sand dredged from Crab Creek.
There is also a need to remove sand from the stockpile area to create capacity for future dredging of Crab Creek and to help alleviate space issues at the staging area for the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project.
As such, the City has begun coordinating a truck haul of up to 30,000 cubic yards of material from the sand stockpile to a portion of Cape Henry Beach for purposes of beach replenishment.
Some of the details are:
Ø Trucks will begin hauling sand as early as May 9, 2016, in an attempt to finish the beach work prior to Memorial Day.
Ø The replenishment area will be the area to the west of the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier.
Ø The Jade Street beach access will serve as the vehicular access point for trucks hauling sand to the beach.
Ø This truck haul will result in increased storm protection for portions of Cape Henry Beach just prior to the upcoming hurricane season, and will serve to nourish the beach westward to the Lesner Bridge by natural drift.
If you have any questions or would like further details about this project, please contact Thomas Gay via email at tgay@vbgov.com, or by phone at 385-4838.
Thank you for your time and please share this information.
Baylines Newsletter of the City Council-appointed Bayfront Advisory Commission May edition is out
Check out the 4 page PDF Baylines here:
Bayfront Advisory Commission meets Thursday, May 19, 2016
3:30 – 5:30
Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center
City Council Appointed Advisory Board
2800 Shore Drive (Subcommittees, when they meet, convene 2-3:30pm)
Monday April 25th SDCC General Meeting Agenda – Special Comprehensive Plan Presentation
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 4.25.16 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday April 25, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentations – City Comprehensive Plan Update – City staff members Jeryl Phillips, Comprehensive Planning Coordinator, and Steven White, City Planning Evaluation Coordinator, will provide an update of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan with a focus on the Bayfront area. The Comp Plan is the City visioning document that guides progress in 5 year increments. In 2015, Bayfront residents provided a large number of comments to the plan at an open house held in John B. Dey ES. Come out to hear how your comments made a difference to this important planning document.
Officer’s Reports
Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Shore Drive to Oceanfront Bus Loop – First Landing State Park and City are working on a plan to create a stop on the beachfront parking area. This plan looks possible and if executed will allow the test route to take place in 2017.
Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments. City is evaluating parking requirements. Eastern access road doesn’t look possible due to environmental/Army Corps impact.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Beach Event Houses – The City is evaluating an ordinance to control the use of rental property that is being used for short term events. Single family homes are being rented for durations less than a week and being used for large events without following current event permit requirements. Sandbridge is the biggest impact area, but what impact would this have on the Bayfront area?
Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?
Civic Engagement Opportunities-
Comprehensive Plan Comments –
- City Council Hearing – Tues. May 17th, 6pm City Council Chambers
City Budget Comments –
- Public Hearings –Tues. April 26th, 6pm City Council Chambers
- Online Opportunities – Virtual Town Hall, Balancing Act (links at www.sdcc.info)
Common Ground for Action – National Issues Forum – Climate Choices online dialogue opportunity. There will be 2 opportunities to participate in an online conversation regarding Climate Choices. Wednesday April 27th from 10am to Noon and Friday April 29th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Go to www.sdcc.info to sign up. The event is free.
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday May 23, 2016
PLEASE NOTE MEETING DATE MOVED ONE WEEK DUE TO MEMORIAL DAY
Baylines Newsletter of the City Council-appointed April edition
Read the 4page PDF newsletter:
Beach replenishment planned
City Public Works crews are planning to replenish eroded sand on the Cape Henry beach between the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier and Lynnhaven Inlet this spring.
Plans call for 30,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand to be trucked from the Crab Creek storage area at a cost of about $400,000. Funds would be sought within the current budget. Plans and permits from previous beach-replenishment projects are in place and may need only minor modifications, said Public Works Director Phillip A. Davenport in a March 18 memorandum to the city manager.
Works could begin in April or May and should take about 30 days to complete.
“The number of barges anticipated to be operating at any given time during the program should not create a significant issue in relation to the amount of channel traffic that can occur on any given day.”
Councilmember Rosemary Wilson forwarded me a copy of your numerous questions related to the Neighborhood SSD Dredging Program. Attached you will find responses to each. Let me assure you that the City of Virginia Beach adheres to all regulatory and safety provisions when performing construction work either in-house with our City workforce or by contractors.
Previously at SDCC.info: Search “Dredging” results
#WeLoveShoreDrive 