Read Letter from Chairman. [2pg PDF]

The Commonwealth has developed a website for citizens, groups, localities, and others to use to share project proposals for funding from the federal stimulus package.
Link.

Good morning!

Last night, SDCC had the privilege of hearing from Vice Mayor Louis Jones and City Councilman Jim Wood on a variety of Shore Drive issues.  Chief among them was the question of whether a northern alignment or a southern alignment was most suitable for the replacement structure of the Lesner Bridge, should we be fortunate enough to have it accepted for funding from the Federal Economic Stimulus package.

The membership of SDCC voted to support a southern alignment for this project.  A number of individuals had attended the City’s February 11, 2009, presentation and provided comments at that time.  However, our agenda had requested that member representatives poll their civic groups and vote based on their association’s preference.  One member abstained, on the grounds that the new bridge should have been longer and higher, or that a tunnel should replace the bridge, for the purpose of creating a completely open access to the Lynnhaven River and the bays therein.  There were no votes in favor of the northern alignment.

We are deeply grateful that the City extended the comment period to accommodate our need to give our member organizations and their constituents the fullest opportunity to research and discuss our position.  We are appreciative also of the time that Vice Mayor Jones and Councilman Wood devoted to addressing our concerns, as well as the City Staff’s contribution to informing Shore Drive residents.

Thanks to all who participated in this very successful effort to maximize civic involvement.
Sincerely,
Grace Moran
President, Shore Drive Community Coalition

Cc:  Distribution List

City Response [update 2.24.09 @ 1:26pm]:

Thank you for your email and for your continued feedback on this project.  We will note the SDCC endorsement of the southern alignment as we work to assemble the comments from the February 11 meeting.  Thanks again for your participation.

David S. Jarman, P.E.
Senior Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4144 (direct)
757-385-4131 (main)

Reprinted with permission:

Cape Henry Shore Civic Association
P.O. Box 5351
Virginia Beach, VA 23471

February 17, 2009

Mayor William D. Sessoms and City Council Members
2401 Courthouse Drive
Municipal Center, Building 1
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Re: Shore Drive and Kendall Street Safety Initiatives

Dear Mayor Sessoms and City Council Members:

In October 2007, after multiple near misses and yet another serious automobile accident at Shore Drive and Kendall Street, the residents of the Cape Henry Shores subdivision again petitioned the City Council for the installation of a traffic light and a crosswalk at this intersection. Our petition for this traffic light and cross-walk was rejected in October 2008, citing insufficient number counts to meet the warrants for the traffic signal. No mention was made by the city of the unique safety hazards presented by the limited visibility west along Shore Drive from Kendall Street. The city has again failed to fully comprehend our safety concerns that we residents experience every time that we use our only available exit from our area. While we fully recognize and appreciate the city’s recent efforts on our behalf to improve the safety along this corridor, we residents still maintain significant concerns for the safety of our family members attempting to safely exit onto Shore Drive from Kendall Street.

Exiting Issue

The frequency of residents exiting at Kendall St. may not be numerically significant, but represents a constant and significant danger due to the degree of difficulty of integrating into westbound traffic. Traffic attempting to enter westbound onto Shore Drive must recognize and then accurately estimate the speed of oncoming eastbound traffic on Shore Drive. An exiting driver is unable to see oncoming eastbound traffic beyond 580 feet due to a blind spot created by the road’s curvature and structural obstructions along Shore Drive. An exiting driver has approximately 4 seconds (7 seconds to avoid a collision minus 3 seconds of safety buffer between the cars) to view, judge, react and clear the eastbound lanes of this oncoming traffic. Failure to acquire or recognize oncoming eastbound traffic or to correctly judge the speed of that traffic if that traffic is speeding presents a significant hazard of a broadside collision. If the eastbound traffic exceeds the 45 MPH speed limit, the available time for our residents to recognize, judge, react and safely clear the eastbound lanes is further reduced. It is the degree of difficulty more than the frequency numbers for our exiting residents that poses our safety threat. The margin of safety for exiting onto Shore Drive is further reduced at night because of the minimal street lighting and the associated difficulty of accurately judging the speed of directly oncoming eastbound traffic. Any miscalculation in either judging speed, closure rate, or how quickly the entering driver can clear both eastbound lanes presents a serious safety threat to our residents.

Recommendations:

  1. To improve the safety margin, reduce the speed limit to 35 MPH for this 0.7 mile section of Shore Drive from Great Neck Road to Kendall Street.
  2. Install a tread activated traffic signal light on Kendall Street at Shore Drive. This light should also be pedestrian activated to allow pedestrians an improved safety margin to cross Shore Drive.
  3. Install a crosswalk along Shore Drive at Kendall Street.

Reducing the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph along the 3700 feet section of Shore Drive from Great Neck Road to Kendall Street improves our safety at the minimal addition of 16 seconds to the travel time, a negligible cost. The cost of painting a pedestrian crosswalk across Shore Drive is minimal. The added safety margin provided to our residents provided by a traffic light at Shore Drive and Kendall Street for the justifiable reasons given offsets the minor cost to the city. It should be noted that the City of Virginia Beach has already acknowledged and accommodated First Landing State Park officials’ safety concerns for their seasonal vehicle and pedestrian traffic by installing a traffic light and crosswalk at Shore Drive, similar to that which we request. Additionally, the city has recognized future traffic safety concerns by installing a light system at Marlin Bay Drive for the still undeveloped Indigo Dunes property. I believe that these two cases further validate our traffic and pedestrian safety needs and concerns. It is hoped that city officials will revisit our request and recognize our unique safety situation. Your favorable consideration of your constituents’ requests would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
Martin S. Schuman
President
Cape Henry Shores Civic Association

Agenda for the The Hot Date …

We sent it Friday Feb 20th ‘09 8:25am EST.

In case you missed the excellent article on the heroic rescue off our beaches.  Here’s a link to it.  Kudos to all those involved in the effort.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/route-their-rescue-lay-fortuitous-arrival

This is just one person’s review from the Community Input Meeting held on Feb. 12, 2009 regarding the Lesner Bridge Replacement.

Good background information.  Chance to comment on all items, but it appeared the only real decision being made was which alignment should be chosen.  Here’s what I gathered.

Northern costs – 69 million.  Impact to 3556.  They will have to relocate their emergency access and that may not be possible.  City will have to buy some property from Duck-in site.  Crazy little jog in road on western landing point could be a driving hazard.  Covers and impacts Ocean Park beach on Bayside.

Southern costs – 67 million + (5 to 11 million more for power line replacement).  Smooth alignment.  Power line removal needs to happen to get the best visual bridge and they are old.  Might as well make everything new at the same time.  The bridges are designed to hold services so why not use it.  Engineers can make anything happen.  The city has just started talking to Dominion Power about placing lines in the bridge.  Thought they would have had the answered before the CIM.  Also, no impact to residential or business property.  No impact to public beach with this option

SDCC General Meeting – Monday January 26th, 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Mini Town Hall Meeting with Vice Mayor Louis Jones and Councilman Jim Wood – Come hear what they have to say about the Federal Economic Stimulus Package and what it means to Virginia Beach.  Ask them about the Lesner Bridge Replacement, Pleasure House Point and NoIndigoDunes, Beach sand replenishment, Dredge Transfer Station or Whatever is on your mind.

The general agenda for the evening will be:
Officer’s Reports – Brief Reports
Secretary – Todd
Treasurer’s Report – Leslie
Vice President -Steve
President –  Grace

Old Business-
Indigo Dunes Project – The United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) is reviewing the application for the Joint Permit Application #2 (JPA).  The Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) submitted an opposition report and asked for a public hearing and all information on the project via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.  The USACE denied the SDCC FOIA request and has stated that a public hearing is not required.  The SDCC obviously disagrees with this and has appealed.  Also, there has been no date set for the State Water Control Board hearing on JPA #2 or the circuit court appeal of JPA #1 by the City of Virginia Beach.

Update on Lesner Bridge Replacement – A Community Information Meeting (CIM) was held on Feb 11th at Cox High School and attended by about 50 residents.  The main focus of this meeting was to present the 30% design drawings and to have the residents comment on the north or south alignment proposals. The northern alignment is estimated to cost $67 million with a requirement to purchase some of the old Duck-In property, creates a jog on the western side and relocates the emergency driveway of 3556 by the Bay.  The southern alignment is estimated to cost $69 million + $5 to $11 million to relocate the high tension power lines.  This alignment has no property impacts and a smoother route.  City Council needs your input to make the final decision.

Pound Pole Fishing Nets – The Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC) denied the first two applications at their Nov. meeting.  The 3rd application has been withdrawn, but the 4th application has mysterioiusly disappeared from the VMRC website.  If the remaining application is publically posted, the public will have 30 days to comment and then attend a VMRC hearing.  VMRC denied the previous applications by a vote of 9-0 based mainly on the documented deaths of about 4 dolphins per year from these types of nets.

Oyster Restoration Project – The USACE is reviewing a plan on whether or not to allow the introduction of sterile Asian oysters into the Chesapeake Bay.  The SDCC sent a letter to the USACE supporting the Lynnhaven River NOW (LRNOW) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) position of native oysters only. The full Senate rejected SJ 411 –  Oysters; sterile non-native; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support responsible cultivation by a vote of ejected by (16-Y 22-N).  Thanks to all that took the time to contact our Senators about this important issue.  Senator Stolle voted against the resolution and Senator Wagner voted for it.

New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) Update – Clay Bernick noted that the Shore Drive improvement projects could not be included the City’s bid for state or Federal monies, as both VDOT and the Feds have as a qualifier that the improvement increase capacity, which these projects do not.  He further stated that since the City’s budget shortfall is so great, it would be more productive to focus on smaller projects that have long been promised, but never fully executed.  An example might be the median near the intersection of Shady Oaks and Shore Drive which is being used illegally as a crossover.  He encourages members of BAC and SDCC to supply him with a list of similar examples.  BAC will also be looking at a Mission Statement for the newly formed Beach Access Subcommittee.  There will be further deliberation on the language recommended for the Open Space portion of the update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. 

Lesner Bridge Alignment Vote – All member groups are asked to be prepared to vote on their organizations position on the preferred alignment of the new Lesner Bridge.  Northern, Southern or Something Different.  The SDCC will issue a letter of recommendation to City Council and BAC based on this vote. 

Upcoming Meetings of Interest –
Lynnahven River NOW Public Meeting – Thursday March 5, 2009 at 7:00pm at Cape Henry Collegiate School.  http://www.lrnow.org for more information
2009 Civic Engagement Summit – Saturday April 4, 2009 at 8:30am at the Simulation Center in Suffolk.  Sponsored by Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement.  Free and open to public.  http://www.hrcce.org to register.

2009 Hampton Roads Civic Engagement Summit – Free and Open to the General Public

Come be part of the solution for our communities!

Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009
Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center – 1030 University Blvd. Suffolk VA

For more information and registration, click on the following link
Summit Information and Registration

Hosted by:
Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement

With it’s partners:
Future of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads Partnership
The Planning Council
WHRO

You should attend if you are concerned about:
• Having a high-achieving and well-governed region
• Defining “high-achieving” and “well-governed”
• Responsibility and accountability for our common future

Presentations and Small Group Dialogue facilitated by:
Chris Gates, Executive Director, PACE
Chris Gates is a national leader and advisor to the Obama Administration on the state of our democracy and the interaction between citizens and government.

Bob O’Neill, Executive Director, International City/County Management Assn. – ICMA
Bob O’Neill is well-known in Hampton Roads and in the country as a leading advocate for excellence in government. ICMA is on the frontline of the changing relationship between government and citizens.

Dr. Quentin Kidd, Associate Professor, Christopher Newport University
Quentin Kidd is a frequent speaker and media commentator on politics and the author of multiple surveys organized by the University’s political center, which he manages.

According to Lynnhaven River Now:

State Senate Oyster Bill

The full Senate rejected SJ 411 in a vote Tuesday evening!  Thank you for taking the time to contact your Senators about this important issue.  Senator Stolle voted against the resolution and Senator Wagner voted for it.  Here is the complete information on how all of our Senators voted:

SJ 411 Oysters; sterile non-native; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support responsible cultivation.

floor: 02/10/09 Senate: Rejected by Senate (16-Y 22-N)

YEAS—Blevins, Cuccinelli, Hurt, Martin, McDougle, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stosch, Stuart, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins—16.

NAYS—Barker, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, McEachin, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Northam, Puckett, Quayle, Reynolds, Stolle, Ticer, Vogel, Whipple—22.

NOT VOTING—Petersen, Puller—2.

Check out the new LRNow.org now.

Monday, February 23, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Vice-Mayor Louis Jones and Councilman Jim Wood
Shore Drive Community Coalition
Ocean Park Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station

Our elected representatives have accepted our invitation to speak at the February meeting. We expect that they will have information to impart and that they will be able to answer questions we may have about issues of interest to residents along the Shore Drive corridor. In particular these issues include, but are not limited to, the Lesner Bridge replacement design. The City has graciously extended the comment period to accommodate our meeting. The comment period now closes February 25th.

Again, if you have a particular question or comment that you would like them to address, please email me at grace@sdcc.info. If we want to have the full benefit of Mr. Jones and Mr. Wood’s appearance, we need to give them the opportunity to gather the pertinent information before the meeting.

If you don’t agree with what’s going on in the City, you must come and make your opinion known. Otherwise, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you do like something the City is doing, you still must come, to make sure they keep on doing it!

Thanks for all you do to make the Bayfront the best place to live!

Sincerely,

Grace Moran
President, SDCC
757-318-9224

Great news! You’ll start getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone soon unless you register with the federal do not call list.
Official site.

The comment period was just pushed back to allow for your input. Mark your calendar, it is now close of business February 25th.
Thank you.
Be sure to attend the CIM on Feb 11th!

New federal government website, Recovery.gov.
MainStreet Infrastructure “Ready to Go” Economic Stimulus Projects at VBGov.com.

From Erik at First Landing State Park:

Please be aware that First Landing State Park will be burning a brush pile over the next two weeks.  In case anyone spots smoke coming from the park, it is most likely coming from a brush pile that we are intentionally burning.  We will be burning from January 27 – February 15 as weather conditions allow.  Virginia Beach dispatch is aware that we will be burning at the park. 

For additional information contact:

Erik Molleen  
District Resource Specialist
(757) 412-2311
erik.molleen@dcr.virginia.gov

Check new report, Bracing for Change at The Trust for Public Land.
By comparison, much more crowded New York City actually has more parkland than all five of the Hampton Roads cities combined. And even though the five Hampton [Roads] cities cover a much larger area than New York, Boston or the main cities of San Francisco Bay, the other three regions all have more parkland as a percentage of their cities’ land area than Hampton Roads.

What if you gave 5 hours to help your community?
Look for opportunities at Starbucks.com.

Find opportunities with SDCC. “If all of you reading this could offer just one hour per month, we could…”
Read our President’s letter.

From LRNow:

Do you have an interest in public policy that affects the environment in Virginia Beach and across the state of Virginia?  Governor Kaine has made this the year of the Environment and Green Jobs and there is much interest in tackling the challenges ahead of us.  The actions of our elected officials do affect what we are able to accomplish right here in our watershed.  Therefore, LRNow is forming a new Public Policy Committee to help all of our members stay on top of the issues and voice their opinions on important questions and decisions.  As many of you know through your own service on one of our committees, the LRNow committees are vital to the many programs that we offer each year.  We are very fortunate that Dr. Mary Picardi has agreed to chair this committee.  Please contact Karen Forget at kforget@lynnhaven2007.com or 757-962-5398 if you are interested in being a part of this exciting new group.  A kick-off meeting will be planned when we have identified interested participants.

Thank you for considering this new way of working for environmental sustainability in our watershed and across our state.

Many of you know I feel strongly about transparency in government.

Great news from the top:

THE WHITE HOUSE

    Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release                   January 21, 2009

January 21, 2009

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

SUBJECT:          Freedom of Information Act

A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency.  As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”  In our democracy, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability through transparency, is the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open Government.  At the heart of that commitment is the idea that accountability is in the interest of the Government and the citizenry alike.

The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption:  In the face of doubt, openness prevails.  The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears.  Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve.  In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.

All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government.  The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA.

The presumption of disclosure also means that agencies should take affirmative steps to make information public.  They should not wait for specific requests from the public.  All agencies should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government.  Disclosure should be timely.

I direct the Attorney General to issue new guidelines governing the FOIA to the heads of executive departments and agencies, reaffirming the commitment to accountability and transparency, and to publish such guidelines in the Federal Register.  In doing so, the Attorney General should review FOIA reports produced by the agencies under Executive Order 13392 of December 14, 2005.  I also direct the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to update guidance to the agencies to increase and improve information dissemination to the public, including through the use of new technologies, and to publish such guidance in the Federal Register.

This memorandum does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

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