Category Archives: Current Concerns

Monday March 30th – SDCC General Meeting Agenda

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda 3.30.15 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday March 30, 2015 from 7:30 to 9:00pm Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Program/Presentation –  Mr. Clay Bernick – Administrator City of Virginia Beach Environment and Sustainability Office, will inform us of the City’s efforts to join the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) and what residents can do to help make it happen.  Depending on the level of participation, home owners that live in flood zones could see insurance premiums reduced by 5%-15%.

Officer’s Reports

Secretary – David Williams

Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak

Vice President – Wally Damon

President – Todd Solomon

Old Business–

Bishard Development Update – Old Baylake Pines School properties. Both change of zoning requests were “Indefinitely Deferred” at the March 11th Planning Council meeting.

Lesner Bridge Renaming Survey – Update of results and next steps presented at the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.

City Comprehensive Plan – Update on plan review and how we can continue to stay involved.

 

New Business –

Proposed Trolley Service from Shore Drive to Oceanfront – The BAC has asked City Council to explore the possibility of extending the trolley service during the Spring and Summer months.  Should and how can SDCC support? 

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

 Citywide Civic Engagement Opportunities

  • City Budget Hearings:
    • April 23 at 6 p.m., Green Run High School, 1700 Dahlia Drive
    • April 28 at 6 p.m., City Council chamber, 2401 Courthouse Drive
  • Transit Extension Study Hearings:
    • Monday, April 13, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.
    • Thursday, April 16, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Linkhorn Park Elementary School, 977 First Colonial Road
    • Monday, April 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, 1881 University Drive
    • Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Renaissance Academy, 5100 Cleveland St.

 

  • VB Library Use Focus Groups – The VB Public Library need 40 volunteers to discuss ways to improve their service. Focus groups will meet April 20th or 21st. Submit name, email address, phone number, zip code to KHanderh@vbgov.com by April 6th

Next SDCC Meeting – Monday April 27th, Presentation on Flood Mitigation and Flood Insurance by Mike Vernon of Flood Mitigation Hampton Roads and Scott Hunter of Comparity.

SAVE THE DATE – Monday March 30th @7:30pm – City Presentation on CRS Flood Program

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With the recent talk of property tax rate increases, wouldn’t it be amazing if the City could join a program that reduces insurance premiums for residents in Flood Zones?

On Monday March 30th at 7:30pm, Mr. Clay Bernick – Administrator City of Virginia Beach Environment and Sustainability Office, will be attending the SDCC general meeting to discuss the City’s efforts to join the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP) Community Rating System(CRS) program and what  residents can do to help make this happen.

  • 14,000 homes with potential flood insurance savings
  • Average insurance premium saving ($100/year)
  • 7 other Hampton Roads cities participate in CRS program, VB has never participated.

 

SDCC General Meeting

Monday March 30th at 7:30pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall – 3769 E Stratford Rd (Click for map)

 

Background documents on NFIP’s CRS program:

  1. 2014 Evaluation of CRS by City of VB Public Works – White paper on why it may not be beneficial for VB to join program (Click the link to read – CRS in Virginia Beach Mar 2014 PW Evaluation)
  2. CRS Communities and their ratingsCRS HR City List 2014
  3. NFIP’s CRS Program website – Click here – This site has a lot of good information on the program in general.
  4. CRS Coordinator’s Manual – Click here – This document explains the program in detail and what requirements localities have to meet to join.

“For example, to view information about a specific transportation project, such as the Lesner Bridge replacement, visit Budgetexpenditure.vbgov.com and click on the budget category “Quality Physical Environment” on the green graph to the right.”

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Thanks to everyone who helped make the #LESNERBRIDGE updates and transparency about the project possible!

From the News Release yesterday at VBGov.com:

“Open VB marks a major step forward in increasing public transparency in our budget and capital improvement projects,” said city Budget Director Catheryn Whitesell. “We implemented Open VB because citizens have a right to know how fund are being raised and allocated.”

Here’s the link to the #LESNERBRIDGE at the new Open VB website.

Here’s the Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase IV hot link.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

The Search function in upper right hand corner of page seems to need exact name of the Project to find it.
It is a lot easier to scroll on the interactive map, and drill down/zoom in to find road projects you are interested in.

There is also a great way to find projects using the CATEGORY function.
As an example, it was easy to find the vital Sewer Pump Station Flow Monitoring & Date Storage page by drilling down in the CATEGORY function. Here’s that page.

Here’s an example of drilling down into the SERVICE function.
It was easy to find the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Phase I page.

Thanks again to everyone who works so diligently on making government and it’s processes transparent.

Thanks to everyone at the COVB who makes it easy for the public to find it.

#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – “The dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the temporary wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) continues today, but will be complete by tomorrow, 2/28/2015.”

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February 28th 2015 update:

Is anybody ready for spring? The Lesner Bridge project team is!

The recent spate of snow, ice, and cold has had a negative impact on the project schedule which we hope to make up once the weather warms up. This doesn’t mean that that all work has stopped though.

The dredging of Crab Creek and the area in front of the temporary wharf at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) continues today, but will be complete by tomorrow, 2/28/2015.

image001-2

Ø Construction of the retaining wall along the entire length of the new eastern bridge approach (former Duck Inn property) continues and is about 50% complete;

Ø The foundation for the new traffic signal pole at located at the corner of Page Avenue and Shore drive was installed;

Ø Pier column #1 for the new WB bridge has been completed;

Ø The foundations for bridge piers 2 and 3 have been completed;

Ø The reinforcing steel for Pier column #2 has been tied and is ready for placement on the completed foundation;

Ø The contractor is preparing material for the temporary cofferdam to be built around the foundation for water Pier #3

Ø Equipment and material have been mobilized to bridge pier #4 and the temporary equipment trestle is nearing completion in preparation for installed of the foundation shafts;

Ø Four more bridge segments have been built at the casting yard which brings us past the halfway mark for Span #1 (there are 10 spans per bridge);

image002-2
Over the next two weeks, work will continue on the east side of the bridge as we continue to build the retaining wall, and install storm drain/other utilities. Drilled shaft installation for the foundations at pier #4 will resume on Monday, 3/2/2015. Also next week we anticipate standing the rebar cage for Pier #2 and begin the formwork installation in preparation for placement of the concrete. The installation of the foundation for the new traffic signal pole at the corner of Vista Circle and Shore Drive (across the street from Starbucks) is also expected to take place next week..

That about wraps it up for now. Stay warm, stay dry, and drive safely!

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 26th 2015 2am

Screen grab of construction cam shot taken on Feb 26th 2015 2am

Concern about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors & Disabled in Virginia Beach

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From Empsy:

City Council,
I am concerned about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors and Disabled in Virginia Beach due to the program being unsustainable due to COST. I found the THREE modifications posted on Virtual Town Hall equally unacceptable as did all THREE of the other comments I was able to view on the site.
I received one call from my Cape Story by the Sea email send from a senior citizen who was very upset about the proposal and the impact it would have on her fixed income and unable to understand HOW Va Beach could not do better money management to sustain the program.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the City Council, I too have difficulty in believing the program can not be sustained. Please consider the following:
1. DO NOT compare Virginia Beach with the other 6 cities of tidewater because NONE off the other six cities have an OCEAN and the tourist traffic of Va Beach. Recent article indicated “Virginia Beach dining, lodging sales near (a RECORD) $1.4 BILLION” and Jim Ricketts expects 2015 to hit another record. Surely there is income here that could support the property tax exemptions and the NEED to INCREASE the tax rate for the rest of us.

2. The health care costs to the city employees was noted as being one the fastest increasing costs of the city in a recent Budget presentation by Councilman Wood at the SDCC meeting.
Consider a City owned and operated PBM- Pharmacy Benefits Management – company as CHESAPEAKE has done and saved considerable money. As a fellow pharmacist with Ed Davidson (the Consultant Pharmacist for the City of Virginia Beach), I would encourage the Council to discuss this opportunity with Dr. Davidson and your healthcare management departments. This should stabilize and possibly decrease expense to the City for employee healthcare.

3. The military in Virginia Beach brings in $13 Million (or is it Billion) that is currently used in budget planning I believe even with constant discussion that this may /will decrease if/when the military cuts back/moves out. BUT, the HIGH MILITARY income is STILL HERE AND STRONG in the 37 YEARS I have lived in Virginia Beach.

I believe the Great City of Virginia Beach can sustain the current property tax exemptions and the current tax rate on property. I believe the City of Virginia Beach is unique and comparison with the other six cities of Tidewater has very LIMITED benefits when comparing tax base, tax income and potential for tax income.

Thank you.

Empsy Munden – Cape Story by the Sea – Virginia Beach

Learn more by viewing Virtual Town Hall info below

PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted below have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.

View first Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:

    The City of Virginia Beach currently offers qualified property owners the ability to receive one of 3 forms of relief (Exemption, Deferral or Freeze), towards their real estate tax bill. To ensure City Council receives the best possible recommendations, please complete this survey.

You can view 122 Responses by the public, video presentation by Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Taskforce, Demographics of respondents, final tally, and more.

Next steps lie with City Council as they consider the information and the recommendations of the Taskforce.

View 2nd Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:

    The City Council is considering three alternatives to changing the tax-relief program for senior citizens and the elderly. Which alternative do you prefer, and why?

You can view 44 Responses by the public, and more.
NOTE: City Council will be voting on proposed alternatives at their March 3 2015 Meeting.

Introduction

A tax-relief program that reduces or eliminates real estate taxes for some Virginia Beach senior citizens is not financially sustainable. That’s the conclusion of a city task force that reported recently to the City Council.

Now, the City Council is exploring ways to change the program – to continue keeping low-income seniors in their homes while managing the program’s skyrocketing costs.

The City Council has come up with three options, which are summarized here. The council wants to hear from you. A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. However, the hearing was cancelled due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the City Council chamber in City Hall, second floor, 2401 Courthouse Drive​. City Council is still scheduled to vote on program changes March 3. For more information, contact the city’s Budget Office at (757) 385-8234 or budget@VBgov.com.

Virginia Beach has the most generous tax-relief program for seniors in Hampton Roads.

View Final Report by Tax Relief for the Elderly & Disabled Taskforce here. ( 102 page PDF )

TaxReliefConclusion

PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted above have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.

SDCC General Meeting Agenda for Monday Feb. 23rd

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda 2.23.15 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday February 23, 2015 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

Program/Presentation –

  • Informative Sand Dune Signage Project, Ms. Whitney McNamara, City Sustainability Office, will explain the importance of sand dunes and the update us on the City’s new dune signage project.
  • Proposed Housing & Commercial Development Project – Mr. Steven Bishard will provide an update of development plan for the old Baylake Pines School properties.

Officer’s Reports  Secretary – David Williams ; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak ; Vice President – Wally Damon ; President – Todd Solomon 

Old Business–

CIP 2.118 – Shore Drive Improvements Ocean Park: Update on efforts to schedule safety improvements earlier than current construction start date of January 2023.

Lesner Bridge Replacement Safety Issues – City/Community walkthrough of issues being scheduled. Turning light at Shore-Vista, Speed bump at same intersection have been identified. Do you have any additional safety concerns?

New Business –

Arrive Alive Awareness Campaign – Recent 3 deaths on Shore Drive appear to be alcohol related.  Is a restaurant table top notice campaign a worthwhile effort?  A design contest and possible grant funding could be used.  Partnership with businesses would be a must.  Thoughts and discussion.

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

Virginia Beach City Offices and Facilities to Open at 10 a.m. Wednesday

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All City of Virginia Beach offices and facilities will open tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. That includes all parks, recreation centers, libraries and the Virginia Aquarium. City-run historic homes will remain closed Wednesday. There will be no trash or recycle pickups on Wednesday. 

The city’s essential operating condition will continue until 10 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, the city will resume normal operating conditions. 

Crews from Public Works will continue working to clear streets throughout the night and throughout the day tomorrow.

 

“Bad news early this morning in House Transportation SubCommittee 2, as Del. Rob Krupicka from Alexandria’s HB2159 / Stop for Pedestrians in a Marked Crosswalk, despite strong support from five speakers, and none in opposition…”

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For those who’ve been looking to get the law refined and tightened up to eliminate confusion, you’ll have to wait another year apparently.

From Virginia Bicycling Federation Legislative Update:

Betsy Carr (Richmond), Jeion Ward (Newport News) & LeMunyon (Chantilly) voting yea, while Chairman Garrett was joined by Scott Taylor (VA Beach), Terry Austin (Buchanan), & Todd Pillion (Abingdon) in voting to kill it.

View Official documents at LIS Virginia Legislative Information Center:

HB 2159 Pedestrians; crossing highways.
Introduced by: K. Rob Krupicka | all patrons … notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Pedestrians crossing highways. Clarifies the duties of vehicles to stop to allow pedestrians to cross highways at marked crosswalks.

Existing state law that will not change includes:

The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.

Pedestrians crossing highways at intersections shall at all times have the right-of-way over vehicles making turns into the highways being crossed by the pedestrians.

Emphasis ours.

Note crosswalk signal across Shore Drive. This vehicle has right of way over pedestrian crossing.

Note crosswalk signal across Shore Drive. This vehicle has right of way over pedestrian crossing.

#LESNERBRIDGE lane closures today

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From COVB Public Works Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:
January 19, 2015 Drew Lankford, (757) 385-8062
(757) 409-4353
dlankfor@vbgov.com

Temporary Daytime Lane Reductions on Lesner Bridge on Tuesday

Virginia Beach Public Works has announced that there will be single lane closures on Lesner Bridge tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 20, 2015, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3p.m. 

The lane closures will be on both eastbound and westbound Shore Drive between Vista Circle and East Stratford Street.

Crews will be restoring the faded temporary pavement markings in these areas.

For additional information, contact Chris Wojtowicz at cwojtowi@vbgov.com, or (757) 385-4131.

Screen shot of bridge construction cam at 7am this morning.

Screen shot of bridge construction cam at 7am this morning.

“Virginia Beach HAS NOT Been Suspended From Flood Insurance Program”

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At VBgov.com:

On Dec. 10, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 3 office sent a letter to Virginia Beach Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., confirming that Virginia Beach was in compliance with the flood insurance program. In addition, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) confirms that Virginia Beach is in compliance with all requirements of the program, and will not be suspended.

#LESNERBRIDGE Update from Project Manager – “Faded pavement markings”…

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January 15 2014 Update:

Friends:

As we bask in the cold, damp, drizzly, foggy, chilly, London-type weather, while watching moss grow everywhere, we have been receiving some inquiries about some pavement problems that need to be addressed on the Lesner Bridge project.

Below is the latest information from Chris Wojtowicz, our project manager. Please give this a look when you have the time, and feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.

As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/public-works/roadways/Pages/lesner-bridge-7-14.aspx .

You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them.

Please feel free to pass this along to others. Thanks again for all of your patience throughout this project.

Thanks for all your questions and comments – and patience. Enjoy your weekend, and please stay warm and be safe.

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353

To All:

This Lesner Bridge project update is to bring you all up to speed on the status of addressing several pavement issues on Shore Drive within the bridge project limits. We have been receiving a number of phone calls, texts, and emails regarding the faded temporary pavement markings on westbound Shore Drive just past the Page Avenue intersection, as well as the bump on eastbound Shore Drive at the Vista Circle intersection.

1) The “Bump”: A request for estimate and schedule has been submitted to a paving contractor. This estimate is due to the City no later than tomorrow, 1/16/2015. The estimate is based on the milling of the asphalt that is causing this bump in the eastbound outside lane for Shore Drive at the Vista Circle intersection and then replacing this asphalt with up to 2” of surface asphalt to match the elevation of the existing concrete pavement and eliminate the elevation difference that is causing the bump.

2) Faded Pavement Markings: We are very aware of the faded pavement markings along Shore Drive, both eastbound and westbound, and between East Stratford Street and Vista Circle/Page Avenue. We have attempted three times to replace these markings, but due to the wet weather and cold temperatures we have had to delay this maintenance work. Once we get a day where the pavement temperature is 50°F and rising, as well as dry, we will replace these painted temporary markings with a more durable thermoplastic marking. We will also place raised reflective pavement makers to help delineate the travel and turn lanes during wet weather and nighttime driving.

Once we have a definite schedule for this work, we will send out a news release announcing the date and times for the lane closures required to perform this work.

We appreciate your patience on these issues as we navigate through this period of cold and wet – typical coastal VIRGINIA – weather.

Thanks Again,

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

2015/01/img_3441.jpg

“Others have suggested making permanent its nickname, the Lynnhaven Inlet Bridge, or bestowing the honor on longtime Vice Mayor Louis Jones, who represents part of the Shore Drive corridor.”

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View article at Pilotonline.com:

Voting will be open through the end of February.

The Bayfront Advisory Commission, which advises the City Council on issues pertaining to the Shore Drive and Chesapeake Bay-area communities, is expecting some unique input.

Click to visit website to submit your response.

Click to visit website to submit your response.

About Vice Mayor Jones about VBGov.com who has represented Baylake Pines, Chesapeake Beach & Ocean Park neighborhoods for years.

He serves as the City Council liaison to several organizations, including the Water Task Force Committee, the Bayfront Advisory Commission, the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee, the Pembroke Strategic Growth Area Policy Committee and the Town Center Committee.

About the Bayfront Advisory Committee at VBGOv.com:

The purpose of the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to City Council with respect to development and improvement to the Bayfront area.

Learn more about #LESNERBRIDGE construction at SDCC.info.

Hooray for live oaks at the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility!

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They’re staying!

10869820_10154981654915251_6288584450173955274_o

Thanks to the hard work of City Arborist Susan French and a 3rd party arborist these 2 epic live oaks are staying!

There’s going to be some changes to future landscaping maintenance and a few other housekeeping type items too.

Hooray!

“The coalition believes Shore Drive can and needs to be safer for pedestrians and drivers. And what has reinforced that in their minds is the recent death of 53-year-old Kenneth Allen. He died last week after being hit while crossing Shore Drive on foot.”

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Coverage including video at WAVY.com.

Williams and Brown believe enforcement could lead to more awareness of pedestrians and crosswalk laws. They said this will be part of the Shore Drive Community Coalition’s safety initiative for the coming year, and they plan on bringing it before the city.

Some residents have also called for continuous sidewalks on Shore Drive and more crosswalks.

View comments and add your own to continue the conversation at WAVY TV story. Or comment below by clicking “LEAVE A COMMENT”.

Sorry, oh all knowing and all seeing benevolent Shore Drive Community Coalition, but you are trying to legislate STUPID.
Reduce the speed limit, they more boldly cross without the cross walk
Put up barriers, they will jump them.
I know this will sound harsh, but it is the Darwin theory in effect.
The stupid and week WILL be culled from the gene pool.

Clearly there can be more down to educate the users of this vital multi-modal thoroughfare.

4 examples, did you know:

§ 46.2-923. How and where pedestrians to cross highways.

When crossing highways, pedestrians shall not carelessly or maliciously interfere with the orderly passage of vehicles. They shall cross, wherever possible, only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Where intersections contain no marked crosswalks, pedestrians shall not be guilty of negligence as a matter of law for crossing at any such intersection or between intersections when crossing by the most direct route.

The governing body of any town or city or the governing body of a county authorized by law to regulate traffic may by ordinance permit pedestrians to cross an intersection diagonally when all traffic entering the intersection has been halted by lights, other traffic control devices, or by a law-enforcement officer.

Source: Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System

§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.

A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:

1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;

2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;

3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.

(contd)

Source: Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System

Sharing the Road
Drivers share the road with many other users: pedestrians, bicyclists, moped and motorcycle riders, trucks and buses, recreational vehicles and other vehicles of all shapes and sizes. It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to avoid other drivers’ mistakes and assure everyone’s safety.

Source: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Section 3: Safe Driving (24 page PDF)

Central to this evaluation will be the understanding that Shore Drive serves as the sole east-west transportation corridor in the City north of the I-264 / Virginia Beach Boulevard corridor. As such, from a land use perspective, it needs to be considered as a multimodal corridor and not solely as a vehicular corridor. Increased densities of development in the corridor demand that pedestrian amenities are more fully addressed in all aspects of the development process, from the rezoning and conditional use permit stage through to the development plan approval and inspection stage. The goal of improving the level of transportation services for a wide variety of users – pedestrians of all types, cyclists, in-line skaters, varied recreational users, transit users, as well as vehicle operators – and the interrelationships between these various users and land uses in an area characterized as being first and foremost as a resort community and not as a resort destination is suggested. Accordingly, both public and private proposed development criteria need to be evaluated from a multimodal perspective to ensure that the needs of these varied users are addressed. Since increasing roadway capacity in the area has strict limits, given the City Council directive that Shore Drive remain a four lane facility for the foreseeable future, greater emphasis needs to be placed on reducing intra-corridor trip demand, particularly where non- vehicular transit among various uses in the corridor can be promoted and encouraged.

Note:Emphasis ours.

Source: Excerpt from conclusion of COVB adopted Shore Drive Safety Task Force Recommendations 2006
View, and download Shore Drive Safety Task Force Recommendations from VBGov.com. (18 Page PDF)

Note: This is one document officially adopted by the City of Virginia Beach to be used for planning, construction, design and funding of infrastructure and other amenities for the Shore Drive community.

SHARE THE ROAD

SHARE THE ROAD

First in a series for 2015.

Special Program Dec. 29th – Del. Chris Stolle to Speak at SDCC Meeting

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Come out to hear what our State Legislators have accomplished and what they have planned for 2015

Delegate Chris Stolle will be present to discuss the following topics and to answer any questions/concerns

 

  • Virginia Beach’s city package to Assembly
  • Commonwealth’s 2015 Budget outlook
  • Transportation Bill and funding projections
  • Affordable Care Act and State medical insurance expansion
  • State’s mitigation programs of sea level rise – Del. Stolle is Chair of the subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding
  • Assembly outlook for 2015
  • Questions and answers

SDCC General Meeting – Monday Dec. 29th

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda – SDCC Agenda DEC 2014

Shore Drive Community Coalition General Meeting

Monday December 29, 2014

7:30 – 8:30 pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station

(Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd)

SDCC Mini-CHRISTMAS Party

(Finger Food, Salad, Soda, Cookies provided by David)

Call to order:

Meeting topic: Delegate Chris Stolle to discuss upcoming Assembly items:

  • Virginia Beach’s city package to Assembly
  • Commonwealth’s 2015 Budget outlook
  • Transportation Bill and funding projections
  • Affordable Care Act and State medical insurance expansion
  • State’s mitigation programs of sea level rise
  • Assembly outlook for 2015
  • Questions and answers

Nominations for SDCC Officer’s Slate for 2015

Officer’s Reports:   President’s Report      David Williams

Vice Pres Report         Rick Mercadante

Secretary’s Report      Todd Solomon- November Minutes

Treasurer’s Report      Paulette Hruska

Old Business:   See meeting topics

Adjourn

Next SDCC – Monday January 26, 2015 7:30 pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station

Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

“Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Next Steps for the Commonwealth moved the current dialogue forward by providing a forum for the second meeting of the Governor’s Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission. It also brought together for discussion national, state, and local experts and leaders on current actions being taken to adapt to flooding and coastal change and highlighted key legal and policy matters currently confronting both the public and private sectors.”

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We’re fortunate we can share the Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Next Steps for the Commonwealth conference that was held very recently.

Click graphic to visit W&M's Law School website for conference

Click graphic to visit W&M’s Law School website for conference

To view conference, visit link at William & Mary’s Law School website which includes:

    Conference Videos:

    Introductory Remarks & Reports to Commission (1:22:28)
    Second session of the Commission (25:11)
    Senator Kaine’s Keynote Address (57:24)
    FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, and Local Government Liability Panel (1:01:13)
    Adaptation: Market Sector Responses Panel (57:11)
    Social Vulnerability Panel & Voices of Adaptation in Virginia Panel (1:39:20)

    Conference Presentations:

    Jim Redick, Secure Commonwealth Panel Presentation
    Carl Hershner, Climate Commission Report Presentation
    Bill Lesser, NFIP Presentation
    Shannon Hulst Jarbeau, CRS Presentation
    Kristen Clark, Stormwater CRS Presentation
    James Andris, Local Government Liability Presentation
    Scott Hunter, Comparity Insurance Presentation
    Mike Vernon, Flood Mitigation Hampton Roads Presentation
    Lisa Schiavinato, Strict Scrutiny Presentation
    Erica Holloman, Southeast CARE Coalition Presentation
    Sarah Stafford, Social Vulnerability in Mapping
    Molly Mitchell, Virginia Vulnerability Mapping Presentation
    Curt Smith, Adaptation on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Last year, the Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic (VCPC) at the William & Mary Law School and the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) hosted a forum for state and local government officials as well as coastal stakeholders to discuss the legal and policy challenges presented by coastal flooding.

Described as a “game-changer” for Virginia, the event generated recognition that the magnitude and complexity of these challenges places local governments in a position of needing a variety of assistance if they are to meet their responsibilities to protect health, safety, and welfare.

We encourage you to visit Willam & Mary’s Law School website to learn more about the massive changes coming to your neighborhood, and to continue the conversation.

“We hope that once the project is finished, the improvements will improve access and visibility so these businesses are affected in a much more positive way.”

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Coverage at WTKR.com.

“People would have to go to a detour through the neighborhood,” she said. “I had tons of customers email me and say ‘I didn’t think you were open because of the construction.’ They thought I was completely closed.”

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The good news is the COVB does not want to cut down 2 live oaks at LBR

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The bad news is COVB has hired an arborist to see how much love they need so as not be cut down.

The Twelve Days of Christmas (The Shore Drive Version)

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It only seemed fitting with 12 days until Christmas and the recent Lesner Bridge update (minus the speed bump fix)…..

 

Twelve deflated tires

Eleven misalignments

Ten angry emails

Nine nasty tweets

Eight wheelbarrows of asphalt

Seven hardhats shoveling

Six hour work window (9am to 3pm)

Five Orange Cones

Four flagmen warning

Three rollers smoothing

Two lanes a-opening

And a SPEED BUMP fixed on Shore Drive