An editorial in today’s paper recommends starting a irrevocable fund devoted permanently to Chesapeake cleanup.

Quotes include:
“For all of the progress we have made upgrading sewage treatment plant technologies, we’re losing ground on impervious surfaces: rooftops, driveways, roads – all of which carry sediment,” said Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr. “I would say we’re having a hard time now achieving the environmental protections to offset that kind of rapid growth. We can’t conserve land fast enough to offset some of the other stuff.”
Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

As you can see, the site is a mess.
Goal is to make it:
easy to use
easy to search
more informative
more interactive

Current issues include:
broken links within articles
images not showing up within articles
some Category page links being broken
Search results offering broken pages Search fixed
funky characters & info within articles
and more…

Other details being worked on:
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Events Calendar
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The issue for the city, however, wasn’t about politics or favoritism. It was about how best to accomplish a task with the least disruption to surroundings. In this case, the dredge project ultimately will benefit boaters who cruise the Lynnhaven River at minimal inconvenience to those who use the boat ramp.
Read & comment of editorial at Pilotonline.com.

Here’s our original letter:
Original Letter [1pg pdf]

Here’s the response:
Response [2pg pdf]

If Saw Pen Point were to be used, Jones said, dozens of trucks hauling dredge waste would have to travel down residential roads, where children wait for school buses.

The Lynnhaven Boat Ramp offers more direct access to a major road, Shore Drive, he said.
Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

DEQ requested further clarification back in December.

Here’s an update:

From your letter, it seems your main purpose for not avoiding the ditches is the inability to realize the number of planned development units and to construct the development as aesthetically envisioned.

And:

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Crab Creek Maintenance Dredging JPA [58pg PDF]
Damage Claims at LBR – 2001-Feb 08 [2pg PDF]
Parks & Rec Info, Emails, etc on LBR part 1. [51pg PDF]
Parks & Rec Info, Emails, etc on LBR Part 2 [40pg PDF]
Planning, alternatives, displays part 1. [55pg PDF]
Planning, alternatives, displays part 2. [66 pg PDF]

…Shore Drive intersection improvements…
Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

In an 8-3 vote, the council approved a resolution Tuesday night reaffirming its support for a statewide smoking ban or legislation allowing cities to prohibit smoking in restaurants.
Read and comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

Article points out ecological health and a robust economy are intertwined. All I can say about that is duh!

?For all of the progress we have made upgrading sewage treatment plant technologies, we?re losing ground on impervious surfaces: rooftops, driveways, roads ? all of which carry sediment.?

?I would say we?re having a hard time now achieving the environmental protections to offset that kind of rapid growth,? Bryant said. ?We can?t conserve land fast enough to offset some of the other stuff.?
Read & comment on article in Pilotonline.com.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously for the changes at a tense, standing-room-only meeting in Newport News. Commission members also signaled that even more dramatic reforms are likely coming in the run-up to this year?s crabbing season , which begins March 17.
Read and comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

From LRNow:

Proposed Lynnhaven River Western Branch Dredging and Transfer Station Project

Public Meeting ? March 19, 7:00 PM, Bayside Middle School

Representatives from Public Works will present information on the proposed dredging of the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven and the construction of a permanent dredge transfer station at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp facility.  Citizens will have a chance to voice their concerns and ask questions.  For your review, I have attached a copy of the VIMS environmental report submitted to VMRC in reference to the dredging project permit application.

###
VIMS Report mentioned above.

Use this trail!

…VMRC will not be participating in any presentation or question and answer session at such a meeting.

A non-conditional rezoning application was submitted to the Planning Department on February 18, 2008 for the Lynnhaven Municipal Marina. The application proposes to rezone the site from P-1 to B-2. The rezoning application, on its present path, is scheduled for the April 2008 Planning Commission meeting and a subsequent May 2008 City Council hearing.

City Marina Rezoning Information Package. [6pg pdf]

This is the meeting you want to attend on March 19th at Bayside Middle School that starts at 6:30pm.
Letter to Mayor & Council. [2pg pdf]

SDCC General Meeting – Monday Feb 25, 2008
7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Presentation/Discussion on proposed botanical garden use for Pleasure House Point.  A local resident has put together a proposed plan that shows a botanical garden, open-air stage and various other natural amenities on the PHP site.  The plan will be shown to members at this meeting.  SDCC would like to endorse this plan and present it to the City?s Open Space Sub-committee for action.  The Sub-committee has stated that they cannot recommend acquisition of this property to Council without a submitted usage plan.  We?re not sure why this is the case, but we want to eliminate any excuses not to pursue acquisition of the property. 

A “Tennessee Tornado Victims Relief Effort” is being sponsored by First Baptist Church of Norfolk and Brooks United Van Lines.

A tractor-trailer will be at 6330 N. Newtown Road this weekend.  Donations may be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Items needed include generators, heaters, blankets, pillows, water, nonperishable foods, baby foods, linens, batteries, flashlights, toiletries and work gloves.  For information, call Mike Denny at (757) 427-9500.

At CapeStory.org there is a posted proposal to change the City Code for story sailboats/cats on the beach.

Those with R5R zoned properties should be receiving a Public Notice in the mail soon.
R5R Hearing Schedule.

Been concerned about what real estate speculators have built in the Bayfront area over the last few years?

There’s a voluntary solution to improve & maintain the culture, architecture, & beach community feel of our neighborhood.

Here’s an example of what you could email to our City Leaders:

The scale of large duplexes being built on small non-conforming lots, in our neighborhood is unreasonable, obtrusive and unacceptable and I am in favor of the recent proposed amendments to the R-5R zoning districts, which would help reduce the mass of these duplexes as well as encourage front porches, architectural features and side-loaded garages. Approval of these proposed amendments would be a step towards improving the quality of life for residents in the R-5R districts. This proposed zoning revision was mailed out to property owners in R-5R Resort Residential Districts at the beginning of this month.

[encode=CMOffice@vbgov.com?Subject=R5R Zoning Changes]Email City Council.[/encode]

VMRC #06-1128, City of Virginia Beach, is the maintenance and new dredging permit for Crab Creek with maximum depths of 6? mlw on the inside and 8? mlw on the outside.  Time-of-year-restrictions prevent dredging from March 1 through September 30 annually.