Category Archives: Current Concerns
Your Civic Organization and YOU
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.
Councilman Moss To Speak at 25 SEP SDCC Meeting
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.
What is GOBS?
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?
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.
September 9th – 15th Virginia Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Week
SHARE THE ROAD
Motorists have a responsibility to share the road with those who enjoy biking and walking along Virginia’s roadways.
When you pass a bicyclists slow down and allow at least 2 feet between the bike and the vehicle.
Look for hand signals a bicyclist may use to signal a turn. When approaching a crosswalk, stop for pedestrians.
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists and should ride with traffic.
Bicyclists should obey all Virginia traffic laws, use flashing lights, and wear bright clothing.
Bicyclists should yield to pedestrians.
If you’re out walking, move against traffic and use sidewalks when possible.
“Sure, the foundation could locate its offices on nearby Shore Drive, Everett said, but it would miss an opportunity to set an example of how to build in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way.”
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
“I am ecstatic with an environmental educational component existing on PHP run by CBF,” he wrote in an email. ” – they can simply do much, much better.”
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.
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 Related1. 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.”
Comments from Peter Doherty on Pleasure House Point Draft Master Plan
Read the entire document at PHP Master Planning Discussion website:
As City resident, field ornithologist and retired environmental and land use planning lawyer with a demonstrated interest in the preservation and conservation of PHP, First Landing State Park (“FLSP”) and the Lynnhaven estuary, I would offer the following comments and suggestions concerning the PHP draft Master Plan as presented by the City at the July 2012 PHP Stakeholder meeting:
PHP has been disturbed.
Fundamentally, the value of PHP to the community, the Lynnhaven and the Chesapeake Bay rests upon one fact: it is among the last, remaining, large, undeveloped, open spaces along the Lynnhaven River and it is in public ownership. Indeed, but for FLSP and now PHP, the essentially urban, north end of the City would be a far less inviting area in which to live, work and visit. But PHP, while “undeveloped”, is by no means undisturbed or unaltered. The remaining maritime forest is second or third growth in which fire has been suppressed. Wetlands and transition uplands have been filled with dredge spoils; tidal flow to other wetlands is restricted by a network of berms. As a designated “Natural Resource Area Park”, there should not be in a rush to disturb, alter, fragment, build upon and otherwise develop PHP in the name of restoration, preservation, education and recreation. PHP has much value in its present state.
Re: recent Chic’s Beach robberies – “Police Thursday morning said they arrested three juveniles ages 14, 15 and 17 in connection with the larcenies.”
“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.”
…it appears as though the barge hit an obstacle, raised up from rushing currents underneath it until the containment box hit the barge itself and slipped into the creek.
Photo Source: Save the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility.
Barge overturns in Long Creek on Maple Street dredge site
More to follow.
“Pleasure House Point River Cleanup This will be the first River Cleanup performed here since the site became public land on July 10, 2012. Come check out first hand and help with the stewardship of this jewel that will be available for all of us to enjoy for generations to come.”
Visit LRNow Stewardship and Access Committee website to learn more.
Photo Credit: Whit Peace
“Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation and Chesapeake Bay Foundation would like the public’s feedback on conceptual plans drafted for the newly acquired Pleasure House Point property during a public open house on Monday, July 30, 2012 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Baylake United Methodist Church (in the Social Hall, 4300 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach).”
This is very exciting!
Read press release at VBGov.com.
Photo Credit: Stephen Katz
School teachers and Chesapeake Bay Foundation folks participating in the Virginia Beach Systemic Environmental Literacy Initiative at Pleasure House Point on Monday, July 16, 2012.
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. The local community, who’s vision & relentless legal work for the past decade, created the opportunity to preserve PHP forever.
“”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.””
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
News about PHP including dates
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
Swimming Advisory Issued for the Chesapeake Bay Between Ocean View Avenue and Rockbridge Road
Restricted area map 
Wednesday, June 06, 2012 · 03:00 pm
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Ocean View Avenue and Rockbridge Road. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.
Click here for full City’s notice http://www.vbgov.com/news/Pages/selected.aspx?release=830
PHP Stakeholder Meeting minutes and break out exercise posted.
Help plan what happens on Pleasure House Point! YOU are a stakeholder if you care to be.
“Chic’s Beach seeks to snuff out that problem by asking the City Council to ban smoking on the beach altogether.”
YES! In my humble opinion.
Cigarette littering is absolutely disgusting and revolting for many, many, many reasons.
The Chesapeake Beach Civic League on Thursday voted by a 3-1 ratio in favor of the proposal, which would apply only to city beaches along the Chesapeake Bay, and plans to present the idea to the council next week.
And:
Every year, volunteers remove thousands of cigarette butts from the Bay and its tributaries during the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, said Tanner Council, who helps organize the event in Hampton Roads.
“It’s by far and away one of the largest, most egregious offenders that we find out there,” he said of cigarette-butt litter.
I can confirm that as an early member of Clean The Bay Day and “Tim the T-shirt Guy” for years – the number 1 piece of litter was the disgusting cigarette butt that not only is ugly, but kills.
At Fairfax County Website – The Virginia Code says:
According to Keep American Beautiful, Inc., smokers litter about 4.5 trillion cigarette butts yearly. The Department of Forestry reports that in 2001, cigarette butts thrown out of vehicle windows caused 190 fires, resulting in 464 acres of Virginia land being burned.
Littering is illegal. Most people are unaware of littering fines. Section 33.3-346 of the Code of Virginia makes littering or dumping trash a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500.
Many of the ignorant people who toss their cigarette butts on the ground might not know how wildlife ingests the plastic filter, can’t pass it, and it kills them.
Here is a video illustrating the effects plastic litter has on wildlife on Midway Island. That is, Midway Island in the middle of the Pacific!
One comment at Pilotonline.com article:
I hate it when smokers think the world is their ashtray, especially those who flick butts while driving or at a stoplight. Disgusting.
Recreation areas become less attractive. Tobacco litter represents nearly 32% of all litter in outdoor recreation areas.¹ Cigarette butt litter on beaches and waterfronts, at ball fields and parks, picnic areas and hiking trails decreases the appeal of these natural escapes. It also creates fire hazards, impacts local wildlife, and eventually contributes to lost tourism and revenue.
Pocket Ashtrays are a solution. I have hundreds that I hand out to anyone who smokes and especially if they litter in front of me.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 