Category Archives: City Government

Your Civic Organization and YOU

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As you know, there are many civic organizations in Virginia Beach. Of the many, how are  Shore Drive Community Coalition(SDCC), Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organization (VBCCO), and Bayfront Advisory Council (BAC) similar or are they different ? These three organizations were formed to address different issues at the time that were not being adequately resolved at the city level. By providing a collective and representative voice for their group,these organizations sought to be heard by the City Council or the staff that serve the Mayor and Council.  What am I trying to point out?

We, Shore Drive Community Coalition are only as effective as our collective efforts at trying to provide a common voice to the issues that impact our Shore Drive community. Many of us have spoken before VB City Council to present our group’s support or concerns on important issues. This is democracy in a republic. Sometimes we have achieved our objective, while other times we may feel as if we have been  ignored by our elected officials. But, while immediate change usually does not happen, I think civic organizations can bring about change.  Look at the change that has come about with civic involvement.  Ask yourself if change would have occurred if no one spoke?  Obviously change comes from participation in the government process.

The Mayor and City Council have acknowledged and most positively responded to our concerns on “Shore Drive 35 Alive” , needed bike paths, and most spectacularly with Pleasure House Point. These excellent achievements would not have been possible without citizen participation and involvement that was recognized at the City government level.

There are many more major issues that our city is facing or will be facing in the near future.  Our city faces major budget deficits in the next five years that will impact all of us. Some estimates indicate that it will reach $500 million dollars unless additional revenues are found.  Translate that to mean higher taxes from us all.  How our city’s projected deficit will impact the Light Rail question, Sports Arena, Neighborhood Dredging Program, our schools and teachers, libraries, and police and fire staffing levels will all have to be discussed.  We can just listen to our city experts, or we can do our own homework and then work with our civic organizations. Our citizens’ positions should be heard. How does that happen?  More residents will have to step forward and get involved.  More residents need to participate in our city’s civic organizations. Civic organizations are only as effective as their membership.  Get involved.  Come and hear your City Council candidates speak on the 17th at Cape Henry Collegiate 7-9pm.  Come to Shore Drive Community Coalition meeting, 29 OCT 7:30-9:00 at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad . If you want the city to listen, sometimes you have to speak with a combined voice.  Change does not occur in a vacuum.  See you there.

What: Virginia Beach Mayoral and City Council Candidates’ Forum. When: Wednesday, October 17th, 7-9 PM, doors open at 6:30. Where: Cape Henry Collegiate School Dreyfus Auditorium, 1320 Mill Dam Road, Virginia Beach.

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Sponsors: Lynnhaven River NOW, Council of Garden Clubs, Shore Drive Community Coalition, Back Bay Restoration Foundation, Princess Anne Garden Club, and the Virginia Beach Garden Club
Free and open to the public. No pre-registration required.

BE INFORMED

Councilman Moss To Speak at 25 SEP SDCC Meeting

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SDCC members have an opportunity to hear VB Councilman John Moss speak before our gathering this Tuesday 25 SEPT at 7:30. The meeting will be held at our usual location, Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.). Please note that the normal meeting date (the last Monday of the month) has been changed for this September meeting to avoid conflicting with the VBCCO City Council Candidates Forum to be held that Monday, 24 September. Both the VBCCO meeting and the SDCC meeting will offer our citizens the opportunity to hear about significant city issues that will directly impact us now and in the future.  Come hear Council John Moss speak on this side of the issues.

Council Candidate Forums – Monday Sept. 24th & Wednesday Oct. 17th

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Two great opportunities for you to become informed about the candidate choices for this years City Council election.

Monday September 24, 2012 – Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations (VBCCO) will sponsor a City Council Candidate Forum at 7:00pm in the Central Library

Wednesday October 17, 2012 – Lynnhaven River Now and SDCC will sponsor a City Council Candidate Forum at 7:00pm in the Cape Henry Collegiate Dryfus Auditorium.  For more information, click on this flyer.  Flyer for Candidates’ Forum

Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) Newsletter

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Click here to read the entire newsletter  VisionNewsletter_2.9

Some highlights:

  • Bayfront Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday September 20th

  • BAC considers name change

  • Eminent domain/condemation approved on 10 parcels to support new Lesner Bridge

What is GOBS?

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Stands for those whom we play golf with at private clubs; personal agenda for pet projects with friends and campaign contributors, and too much city business as usual.  Stands for Good Ol’Boy System.  I guess if we wanted to hear more answers to our questions, we would have a private invitation to play golf with some of our elected and appointed city officials.

Why Unanswered Questions?

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SDCC recently posted the 28 questions that were presented to Chairman Fraim of the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission (B&WAC) at the city’s official and only public hearing held OCT 13, 2011. Now, almost one year ago.  As some of you who attended this public forum for the Neighborhood Dredging (Spoils) Program, these questions were officially presented in writing to the chairman and were to be officially answered by this officially appointed city commission. The city would like citizens to think that our voices are heard on such important matters as this costly program (potentially $100 million) directly impacting citizen safety and our tax dollars. All that I can say is that SDCC has not received any satisfactory answers from either the city or the B&WAC chairman, although their official report was submitted to the city nine months ago.
Why are the city and the B&WAC chairman so quiet? I believe that they can not answer SDCC’s questions related to neighborhood impact, safety, environmental issues, traffic impact, costs, and operational concerns of this program. If they cannot answer my questions satisfactorily, how can they continue to proceed with the Neighborhood Dredging (Spoils) Program? I have forwarded these questions to Councilwoman Wilson (City representative to the B&WAC) a month ago to see if she could pry required answers out of the city, and so far no response. Bottom line- NO ANSWERS. It may not be that important, but it does concern public safety, impact on neighborhoods, impact on traffic through three major school areas, and your present and future tax dollars. WHY no answers? Maybe there are no responsible answers.

Bayfront Advisory Committee Meeting – Thursday Sept. 20th at 3:30pm

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The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, Lynnhaven Room, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Click here for more information  http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=974

Marlin Bay Extension to PHP – Resident Question and City Answer

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Resident question – Regarding the proposed Marlin Bay road access, will this allow for future option for the land trustees and or adjacent land owners the ability to develop the remaining number of lots available if Marlin Bay Road is extended? Can you inform us if the land trustees/owners will be donating the land over to CBF or VBgov or are their future intention to develop the remaining number of lots?

City answer – Another Ocean Park resident emailed Christy and I with similar questions over the weekend. The short answer is that the adjacent property owner to the north of the 118-acre Pleasure House Point site are not interested in donating their property. We have been told that the intention is to develop those lots.

Whether Marlin Bay Drive extended is built with the CBF project or not, the right-of-way already exists today and can be built. Since the right-of-way has already been dedicated, there have been preliminary discussions about the City working with all parties to consider a design that is as pervious as possible and as green as possible.

This is what I told the other resident who inquired over the weekend:

There are a few areas adjacent to the 118 acres that the Trust for Public Land was able to acquire (108 acres of which was conveyed the same day to the City and the other 10 acres is under lease/option to purchase with CBF), that are undeveloped and have underlying zoning that allows for future development. As you noted, those areas are in yellow adjacent to the subject 118 acres as shown here: http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/design-development-projects/current-projects/Documents/php-existing-land-use.pdf

We had to pull all of the resources we could to leverage City funding toward grants from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (through the VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries); Virginia Land Conservation Foundation; Dominion Foundation; and a low-interest loan from the VA Dept of Environmental Quality with the grass roots support of primarily Shore Drive area residents through the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation to preserve the 118 acres from development.

Collectively, with all of the partners, we had to prioritize the property to acquire with limited resources and we believe we achieved the most we could with the pulled resources.

While we may never know for sure if the Indigo Dunes project with nearly 1,100 units could have been permitted, it stands to reason that the property may have yielded up to 1,000 units ultimately based on the underlying zoning. The City and the Trust for Public Land is applying to down-zone all 118 acres to P-1 Preservation from the PDH-1 Planned Development zoning over the last quarter of this year.

The yellow areas may end up together adding up to just a fraction >; (1-5%) of what could have been developed in the area. Unfortunately, there are no public funds designated to acquire the remaining privately-owned property in the area. However, while the lots have certain vested rights, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area ordinance and flood plain regulations could limit some of the yellow areas in terms of number and type of units that can be developed there.

When Christy gets back into the office next week, she may have something additional to offer.

Sincerely,
Brian
Brian S. Solis, AICP, LEED Green Associate
Planning, Design and Development Administrator

Twenty-seven (27) unresolved questions that SDCC had submitted in writing to the Chairman of the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission at the formal public hearing conducted by that Commission on October 13, 2011.

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Posted unedited from SDCC’s submitted document:

Shore Drive Community Coalition

Questions Related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program
Impact on Neighborhoods:
NOTE: IF IT IS NOT DONE SAFELY, IT WILL IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS, therefore Neighborhood Impact Related

1. Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program related to COMBINING HEAVILY LADEN DUMP TRUCKS WITH the NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW ON N. GREATNECK Rd. through three major school traffic and pedestrian areas?

2.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person doing this NDP associated SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?

3.Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the Neighborhood Dredging Program related to TRAFFIC FLOW WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC ON N. GREATNECK through three major school traffic and pedestrian areas?

4.Will there be or has there been a city SAFETY IMPACT STUDY of issues related to the NDP related to burdened barge traffic along narrow or congested channels ?

5.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person doing this NDP associated BARGE TRAFFIC ON THE WATERWAYS SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?

6.What safety precautions will be implemented and monitored to provide for adequate safety for work-tug and barge traffic anchored in the waterway during night and inclement weather?

7.As there are 4 or more crosswalks along N. Greatneck Road between Shore Drive and Virginia Beach Blvd, will the present 45 mph speed limit be reduced to 35 mph to provide for increased dump truck-vehicle safety?

8.What are the professional safety qualifications and previous experience of the city’s person evaluating the contracted companies Traffic and Safety Plans associated with this NDP? associated SAFETY IMPACT STUDY?

9.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT Weight limitations for that vehicle are maintained?

10.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT, State and city Weight Limitations for that designated truck route (primary roads/neighborhood roads) are not exceeded?

11.Who in the city will monitor spoils loaded dump trucks to ensure DOT and State Weight Limitations are not exceeded for the Lesner Bridge prior to its replacement?

12.How will tug-barge traffic be managed between city contracted barges and privately contracted barges approaching and at dredge transfer sites?

13.Who in the city will monitor, mitigate, correct, and report safety violations?

14.How will these safety records be maintained?

15.Will the public have access to these safety violations records?

16.What will be the process for citizens who sustain damage(s) to their property to have that damage repaired in the case of broken street pipes, broken sewage lines, broken storm water drains, or damage to their residential roadbed?

17.What will be the process for citizens who sustain damage(s) to their residential property associated with NDP dump trucks and equipment to have that damage repaired in the case of damaged foundations, or slabs, interior walls due to cracking, or sewage or water backup due to broken street drains, or damage to their residential roadbed?

18.What qualifications does the City’s Attorney have to accept the tasking of the B&WAC to conduct a SAFETY STUDY of the NDP related to significant associated safety issues?

OPERATIONAL PLANNING

1.What is the City’s BREAK-EVEN COST POINT for the initial cycle of the Neighborhood Dredge Spoils Program (where the cost of City’s dredging equals the revenue generated by the City’s Special Service District contract revenue)?

2.How will individuals who privately contract to have dredge spoils removed from their private dock turnaround to the city spur pay for the hauling and removal of those private spoils?

3.Will the city dredge spur channels to areas that have not signed SSD agreements?

4.Will the city dredge spur channels to Remote Areas when adjacent areas have not signed SSD agreements?

5.What will be the City’s Cost Determination to Construct a SPUR channel into areas that do not have a signed nor approved SSD agreements?

6.If the SSD process is incorrectly calculated, cost under estimated, or optimistically over assessed, who will identify these additional costs to the taxpayers and take responsibility for the increased tax rates to cover these NDP expenses?

7.Should the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serve as a COMPREHENSIVE study of the majority issues related to the NDP?

8.Should the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serve as an INDEPENDENT study of the majority issues related to the NDP?
9.IF the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Committee Study Report to be submitted to City Council serves neither as an INDEPENDENT nor Comprehensive study of the majority issues related to the NDP, when will such an independent and comprehensive study be funded and conducted?

Submitted by:

David M. Williams
Pres. Shore Drive Community Coalition

Recently from SDCC.info:
“On the first day of dredging sand from the bottom of the creek on Long Creek in Virginia Beach, a containment box holding sand ended up on the bottom of the creek.”

Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet Aug. 16 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm

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The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

 

The agenda for the meeting will include the following:

Update on public and private projects in the Bayfront area
Update on committee activities in the Bayfront area

 

There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on projects in the Bayfront area. The committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.

 

 For additional information or to obtain a copy of the draft agenda, contact Faith Christie in the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or fchristi@vbgov.com. For more information regarding the Bayfront Advisory Committee, visit www.VBgov.com/Bayfront.  

Be Advised of Clean Up Work at Pleasure House Point – Work crews to be onsite starting Wednesday, July 18th

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Release Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 · 04:00 pm

Media Contact: Michael T. Moore | mtmoore@VBgov.com | 385-2080

 (Virginia Beach, VA) – Beginning Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Landscape Management crews will be onsite at the Pleasure House Point property in Virginia Beach to improve public safety access.

 Work to be completed includes the removal of hazardous objects, minor lot grading, bush hogging and tree pruning along Marlin Bay Drive. Community volunteers with Lynnhaven River NOW will also assist with major trash pickup around the property. Clean up work is expected to continue through the beginning of August.

 Identified as a top priority for open space acquisition for the past decade, the 118-acre tract known as Pleasure House Point has recently been preserved by the City of Virginia Beach with help from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

 Located just west of the Lesner Bridge and south of the Chesapeake Bay, Pleasure House Point is 118 acres of water, tidal marsh, sandy shores and maritime forest. The shallow water estuarine environment of the property provides habitat for the iconic Chesapeake Bay blue crab and the Lynnhaven oyster. This high-profile property was once being considered for a large waterfront development, but with the help of the Trust for Public Land, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the surrounding community, the City has recovered one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River for generations to come.

 For more information about clean up work being done at Pleasure House Point, please contact Michael T. Moore in Parks & Natural Areas at 757-385-2080 or mtmoore@VBgov.com.

 Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation’s vision is a balanced, sustainable and value-focused system of parks, recreation and public spaces that creates a sense of community.  We are accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, call (757) 385-1100 (TTY: 711 Virginia Relay), visit VBgov.com/parks or sign up our email newsletters at VBgov.com/eNews.

“The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, July 19, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, Lynnhaven Room, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.”

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Visit VBGov.com to read entire news release.

The agenda for the meeting will include the following:

Ø Update on public and private projects in the Bayfront area

Ø Update on committee activities in the Bayfront area

Ø A presentation on sea level rise in the Hampton Roads area

“”This is a legacy purchase,” Mayor Will Sessoms said in a news release. “By preserving this property, we are creating a brighter, more sustainable environment for future generations.””

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The Closing for Pleasure House Point was yesterday, July 10th 2012.

Without a number of dedicated people in the community – who worked tirelessly for years – it would have been impossible for this legacy purchase to have happened.

Thanks to their hard work, the vast majority of which happened behind the scenes with little fanfare, this dream came true. Over $150,000 of consulting was generously donated since 2002 which achieved the result of developers receiving exactly -0- permits to build on Pleasure House Point.

Those people look forward to working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the City of Virginia Beach and other concerned citizens and groups to ensure PHP becomes a leader in inspiring kids of all ages to achieve great things.

Photo Credit: KEVIN J O’HARA

Read the entire article at the Pilotonline.com.

News about PHP including dates

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From Christy at CBF:

Look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Wednesday, June 27 from 4-5:30. It will be at Hermitage Elementary School cafeteria at 1701 Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach. Thanks to Tim Cole for meeting location arrangements.
Agenda:
1) CBF Concept Plan – CBF/CBF Design Partners
2) Vision/Guiding Principles – Pete/Brian
3) Public meeting (Tent. Scheduled for 7/30 in eve.) and public survey launch – Brian
4) Update on PHP Acquisition – Brian
5) Look Ahead for stakeholder process – Brian
6) Announcements – Save the date: Fri., Oct. 12th Preservation Celebration in concert with the Sat. Oct. 13th Lynnhaven River NOW’s Fall Festival – Brian/others

Water Distribution Drill – Wednesday June 20 from 9:30am to 11am @ First Colonial HS

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Click here for a map to First Colonial HS

City officials will conduct an emergency water distribution exercise Wednesday at two of the city’s high schools.

The exercise will test the city’s ability to distribute water to residents during an emergency if the water supply is compromised, a city news release says.

Residents who drop by either site will receive a free case of bottled water, a reusable shopping bag, a Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide and other items.

The exercise is scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. at First Colonial High at 1272 Mill Dam Road and Salem High at 1993 Sun Devil Drive.

Help plan what happens on Pleasure House Point! YOU are a stakeholder if you care to be.

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Here’s the website.

Some PHP eye candy.

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

News from VB Police Crime Prevention Unit about an individual impersonating an Officer.

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From an email:

Please pass on:

Good afternoon, you may or may not have seen the news story on this matter, but we have had an individual in our City posing as a police officer and making traffic stops. Two incidents have occurred to date, and in both cases, the man posing as a police officer stopped young women – one was a 17-year old female. As is stated in the following interview, we do not know what this individual’s intentions are, so the best course of action is if you believe you are being pulled over by an officer, make sure it is in a well-lit, safe area with other people around. If you are unsure that the individual attempting to stop you is a legitimate law enforcement officer, you can call the Police from your cell phone to verify that there is an officer making a traffic stop at your location. We are required to call traffic stops in over the radio to our dispatchers so there would be a record of the stop being made if it is legitimate.

[More at WAVY.com.]

MPO Helen Gillespie
Virginia Beach Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit
385-1331

Swimming Advisory Lifted – 5/17/2012

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Thursday, May 17, 2012 · 01:30 pm

 

The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has lifted a swimming and wading advisory that was issued for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road.  Lab results showed bacteria levels in the water meet the State Water Quality Standards.

Signs have been removed that previously alerted the public of the advisory.

On May 16, the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health issued a swimming advisory to protect public health following an abnormally high bacteria level reading. The sampling level has returned to an acceptable bacteria level and it is now safe for residents and visitors to enter this area of the bay.

Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters.

While Enterococci do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or wading in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness and skin, eye and respiratory infections.

Environmental health officials sample recreational beach water on a weekly basis during the swimming season from May through September.

For additional information on beaches, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.