Category Archives: Current Concerns

“There are no time of year restrictions imposed for this project. Salmons anticipates completing all sand hauling efforts by late July 2023.”

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Thanks for update about moving sand from Lynnhaven Boat Ramp to Cape Henry Beach!

Regarding work hours and days per week, the contractor is allowed to work between 7:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday as per the City contract. Salmons will be working these hours and will be allowed, as necessary, to extend the work hours to 7:00am to 5:00pm. Should Salmons request to work on a Saturday, our office will take serious consideration as to how this request will affect the use of the Lynnhaven Municipal Boat Ramp, expected traffic along the Lesner Bridge corridor and on Cape Henry Beach. If the weather forecast for a given Saturday is for a non-boating/non-beach day (i.e., due to rainy weather or rough seas), then we will consider allowing Salmons to work. Salmons will not be working on Memorial Day weekend (i.e., Saturday through Monday) or on the July 4th holiday. Salmons may work up to a half day on Friday, May 26th.

Salmons has been notified to take all necessary precautions to protect the public from the project site during sand placement operations. Salmons is using orange construction fence to cordon off the work areas and the truck haul corridor along the beach. There will be openings in the construction fence to allow residence to access the beach in the areas where the contractor is not working. Signs will be posted at the openings cautioning the public that the beach is a construction zone. The contractor has been notified to have flaggers and other safety personnel at the Jade St beach access and on the beach to protect the public.

Public Works Engineering is excited as I know the Cape Henry Beach community are to begin the truck haul in a safe and expedient fashion.

ROUTE 35 is BACK SUNDAY MAY 14!

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Hooray!

There was fear the bayfront community wouldn’t receive the funding for this too but we got it!

Here’s the update from HRT:

Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.

Hopefully HRT will market Route 35 as it seems most people have no idea this terrific service exists.

A terrific way to travel around the Bayfront!
And to the OceanFront.

“City Council approves all Shore Drive Safety Task Force recommendations!” #ThrowbackThursday 17 years

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Equitable safety improvements for cyclists & pedestrians like contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes are coming to Shore Drive!

DELAYS since June 7th 2006!*

Read the news here where Vice Mayor Jones was quoted:

“I think the council is committed to getting the improvements done[.]”

* Remember when the powers that be tried making Shore Drive 6 LANES in the 90s?!

Remarkably, the then named Shore Drive Advisory Committee(SDAC) heard the presentation from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force at their April 20th 2006 meeting.

Highlights:

Here is the entire report from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force from April 20 2006. [LOL CITY OF VB BROKE THAT LINK. AGAIN. CUZ NEW WEBSITE. 🤡]

SHORE DRIVE SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL 2006. (PDF open in new tab)

SDAC, now named the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) has their public meeting today at 330pm at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad where they will be grappling with the news of yet another PROPOSED delay in upgrading circa 1950s infrastructure in the “Gateway to the OceanFront & Virginia Beach” while the OceanFront continuously receives virtually infinite money for almost every idea proposed there.

Clearly this is heavily used by pedestrians & cyclists.
Why do City priorities continue to ignore the infrastructure needs of this area let alone the aesthetics that it’s embarrassing & looks like shit?
Shore Drive Safety Task Force Documents .pdfDownload

Join us today at BAC at OPVRS!

Schulman added, “To see the project was delay deferred was extremely disappointing to me, because I knew it would be also extremely disappointing to our residents.”

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Coverage of Shore Drive by WTKR’s Angela Bohon.

Angela Bohon WTKR

“Decades long controversy”

PUBLIC COMMENT on PROPOSED BUDGET TOMORROW

CLICK GRAPHIC FOR DETAILS

“Residents wishing to make comments during the hearings must register with the City Clerk’s Office by calling 757-385-4303 prior to 5 p.m. on the day of the hearing. If participating virtually, please also register via WebEx.”

Start here for PROPOSED Budget.

More PROPOSED delays.

“I have a saying, let’s get to yes on alotta things.”

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First 27 minutes 30 seconds is discussion about why no presentation.

~ 27 minutes 35 seconds starts “Budget Reduction Options”.

~ 2 hours 53 minutes starts Presentation for Proposed CIP for Transportation Section including Phase 4 Deferred/Delay. Lower your expectations accordingly.

All you people who came out against 6 lane Shore Drive have delayed 2 miles of contiguous sidewalks in the 2nd most densely populated area in VB for 30 years.

Shore Drive, the 2nd most densely populated area in the largest city in Virginia, is getting contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes soon!

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The Gateway to Virginia Beach, which is located on the Chesapeake Bay, has now become a high priority on par with the Oceanfront.

Woo hoo!

APRIL FOOLS you fool. 😐

“This project first appeared in the FY 2007-08 CIP. On January 9, 2007, City Council established this project with the appropriation of FY 2005-06 fund balance from the General Fund.”

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Not to bury the lede:

Shore Drive is a major east-west arterial in the northern portion of the City. The existing roadway carries 38,800 vehicles per day with a current capacity of 36,900 vehicles per day. Without this project, the roadway will continue to experience vehicular, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety incidents, and restrict traffic volume due to inadequate stormwater drainage.

🟢 The City Manager’s Proposed City Budget at VBGOV.com.

Welcome to “The Gateway to Virginia Beach” until years & years & years past 2029 according to current City priorities.
City Manager Proposed Budget Presentation
FACE TO FACE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

A few highlights of Proposed City Budget include:

Economic & Tourism Development

EV-22-0001 $200,000
Shore Drive Study Update
This project provides an update to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan (2000) and the Shore Drive Corridor Design Guidelines (2002). Flood mitigation strategies from the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for JEB Little Creek and JEB Fort Story (2019) as well as the bond referendum projects will be integrated into the update creating a broader, more comprehensive Shore Drive Plan. The Bayfront Advisory Commission will be utilized as a steering committee for the development of the update, public input, coordination, and engagement with the local community. The updated plan/guidelines will include: determination of existing conditions; development of a community wide public input survey; identification of issues and opportunities; development of specific land use recommendations by corridor segment; and development of architectural/landscaping/signage/public infrastructure guidelines.

To bury the other lede:

By the way, with this current proposal YOUR real estate taxes will probably jump over 10% based on recent new assessments.

“It really comes down to telling the story.”

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IMPORTANT ACOE SLR FEASIBILITY STUDY PROGRAM PRESENTATION

Moving sand around latest update

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Thanks to Hank for getting the info from Dan Adams!

Staff is hammering out final scheduling details on some pending Bay Beach projects, here is the skinny:

Cape Henry Beach – A truck haul is planned to haul the sand stockpile form the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Management area to west end of Cape Henry Beach by truck. Approximately 70,000 yards of sand will be placed along the beach starting at the Point Chesapeake Gazebo. Dune reconstruction will occur in front of the high-rise condos where dune erosion has been most severe. Bids have been received and contract execution is underway. Public Notices will be sent out in the coming days with specific project start and schedule information. Work should start around mid-March and run through late May. The Jade St. beach access will be closed and/or restricted during this work.

A larger placement of approximately 150,000-200,000 cubic yards of sand along Cape Henry Beach is planned to occur Winter 23/24 as part of the USACE dredging of the Lynnhaven Federal Channel. This will be hydraulic (pipeline)dredging and placement. This project is schedule to advertise for bids fall of this and be awarded and executed in early 2024.

Chesapeake Beach Restoration – This project is for the renourishment of Chesapeake Beach from Little Creek Amphibious Base to Baylake Beach. The first nourishment was completed in May 2018 placing approximately 350,000 cubic yards of sand from a nearshore shoal to reconstruct a severely eroded beach and dune system. A renourishment is anticipated every 4-5 years to re-establish the design template and add advance maintenance sand for anticipated erosion. This first re-nourishment cycle will utilize the same sand source as the initial respiration project in 2018 and will be placed hydraulically(pipeline). The renourishment project will be advertised for bids this spring. To incentivize the number of interested bidders, a period of performance of 300 days is provided to allow contractors sufficient time to schedule and plan the work. The actual duration of the project should be closer to 4-8 weeks. The exact construction schedule will be determined after bids are received. A public information meeting and communication to the neighborhood and civic leagues will occur. Current status: Plans are 100% complete, final staff review and Q/C is underway. Bid dates will be established in the next week or two.

Ocean Park Beach –A contract is being prepared for dune grass and sand fence installation as follow on to compliment the beach restoration work completed last spring. This work will occur in March. The next placement and source of sand for Ocean Park will most likely be the next cycle of dredging of the Lynnhaven Federal channel in 3-4 years. Method of sand transport is hydraulic(pipeline).

Please let us know if BAC has any other questions at this time. We will include them on any public notices issued for the pending Cape Henry truck haul and Chesapeake Beach project.

Classroom with a view 🤓
Amazing Ocean Park beach. Thanks Public Works! 😁

Join us! BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad 3769 E. Stratford Drive (Enter on side opposite Shore Drive)February 16, 2023 Thursday 330pm.

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Thanks to Hank for the agenda.

PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
1) Encroachments discussion with Mr. LJ Hansen, Director of Public Works

2-16-23 BAC Meeting Package.pdfDownload
A couple hanging out by Lynnhaven River & Lesner Bridge spotted by students at ESP.

First VB City Council Retreat that is streamed live & archived. #VB60Years

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Historic and powerful! Strongly encourage you to watch in its entirety.

Hip hip hooray for more public engagement & transparency!

Virginia Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) petition. Worth your consideration!

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Click image to view petition: Virginia Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP)

Start here to view petition.

Bottom Line: Virginia does not have an easy or affordable pathway to dispose of unwanted vessels. This reality has led many vessel owners to abandon and/or sink their vessels in public waters creating a hazard to navigation, damaging marine ecosystems, and littering Virginia’s scenic landscape. Virginia has an opportunity to follow the examples set forth by Florida, Oregon, and California through establishment of a proactive Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), which would provide a subsidized removal pathway and increase responsible disposals…

From our friends at Vessel Disposal & Reuse Foundation.

VDRF Mission:
Help waterways achieve sustainable health through removal of Abandoned and Derelict Vessels, public outreach, and education.

Bayside Town Hall with Councilwoman Miles at the Williams Farm Recreation Center on Tuesday, November 29 from 6:30pm-8:30pm

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Join us!

Resident-Suggested Changes to Proposed Noise Ordinance

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Share your input to improve Proposed Noise Ordinance changes!

From Hank:

We will be discussing the Noise Ordinance at BAC next week, but there are a few things related to that that are happening prior to Thursday that I wanted to remind everyone of. There will be two public meetings about the proposed noise ordinance on Wednesday, 11/16 at Princess Anne High School. The first meeting is from 3:30pm-5:00pm, and the second meeting is 6:30-8:00pm.

Also, the online survey will close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 11/13, so if you are so inclined, please head over to: https://publicinput.com/noiseordinance and provide your input.

From Councilman Moss:

For reference, the current noise ordinance can be found at http://www.Municode.com (Select Code Library, then Virginia, then Virginia Beach; the relevant section is Chapter 23, Article II (Section 23-63 through Section 23-73 of the City Code (not the City Charter)).
This item appeared on the City Council agenda for October 18; City Council voted to defer the matter to December 6, 2022. It will appear on City Council’s agenda that day and you will have an additional opportunity to speak to the entire City Council prior to the vote on the item.
If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Ms. Bloom at (757) 385-6279.

View PDF below from Councilman Moss.

20221105-CC-Moss-Invitation to Stakeholders.pdfDownload

SDCC’s Final Meeting Ever – Social and General Meeting – Monday Oct. 24th, 7pm at Ocean Park Rescue Squad

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This is a bittersweet announcement for me to write.  In 2001 the Shore Drive communities banded together to create an umbrella organization to share information and better represent our common issues.  This organization was called the Shore Drive Community Coalition.  For the past 22 years, as a collective group, we have helped guide great change to the Bayfront.  However, similar to many other organizations, the past couple of years have resulted in a decline in meeting attendance and volunteer support, so the current officers have decided that it is time for SDCC fade away.  The officer’s plan is to disband SDCC as a 501c4 organization and transition to an online information presence only.  This plan will be discussed as part of our last general meeting.  We will also be presenting donations, from our remaining SDCC funds, to our wonderful Bayfront Rescue Squads for all their hard work and support of our communities.

So please join us for this sad but important time in the history of SDCC.  Take note of the 7:00pm start time.  We will have a pre-meeting social starting at 7:00pm with finger foods and drinks which will give us all a chance to catch up and share stories of our amazing 22 years.

Below you will find the agenda for the final SDCC meeting.  You can also click on “…” more options tab to print a copy.

10.24.22-sdcc-agendaDownload

“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 23, ARTICLE II OF THE CITY CODE, PERTAINING TO NOISE”

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Subject: Proposed Noise Ordinance – SpeakUpVB


On behalf of Council Member Tower and myself, we invite you to participate as a stakeholder and provide your feedback on this issue. City Council is soliciting input regarding the proposed amendments to the City of Virginia Beach’s noise ordinance through a survey that is now available online.


The survey can be accessed here https://publicinput.com/noiseordinance. If you do not have access to a computer or are otherwise unable to complete the online survey, please utilize the copy attached to the email to make your changes. The document can be returned to Nancy Bloom, 2401 Courthouse Dr., Suite 3054, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.


Please note that while comments are appreciated, the survey is requesting residents and stakeholders provide their suggested textual changes to the proposed amendments. There are two options available to participate in the online survey:

  1. Download the Word version of the proposed noise ordinance. Turn on the “Track Changes” option. Make your proposed changes. Save your document using your last name and “proposed changes.” For example: Smith-Proposed Changes. Upload the document as described in the first tab on the front page of the survey.
  2. For those not familiar with or who would prefer not to use Word’s track change function, the survey has the proposed ordinance separated into sections, each with its own comment box. If you have proposed changes within a section, please use the comment box to indicate the line number and your proposed text change. Once you have finished submitting all your changes, go to the final tab of the survey and click “Submit.”
  3. The survey will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 30. Once closed, the recommended changes will be provided to Council Member Tower and myself for review.
    The City will be scheduling two facilitated listening sessions to review the submitted proposed changes, one occurring in mid-to-late afternoon and one occurring early evening. We would
    PHONE: (757) 636-1534
    JDMOSS@VBGOV.COM
    JOHN MOSS COUNCIL MEMBER – AT-LARGE
    4109 RICHARDSON ROAD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23455

appreciate you providing your email address when you participate in the survey so we can continue to keep you informed regarding this important issue.


Finally, enclosed is a clean copy of the proposed ordinance for your reference. The current noise ordinance can be found at http://www.Municode.com (Select Code Library, then Virginia, then Virginia Beach; the relevant section is Chapter 23, Article II (Section 23-63 through Section 23- 73 of the City Code (not the City Charter)).
Rest assured that City Council has expressed as recent as the Tuesday, September 6, 2022, informal session that while a sixty-day timeline was set as forcing function, our peers on City Council have informed Council Member Tower and me to sustain a measure pace, but not to let the sixty-day deadline drive the submission of a proposal we do not believe is ready for public hearing before the full City Council.
If you have any questions concerning the survey, please contact Nancy Bloom at (757) 385- 6279.
Sincerely,
John D. Moss Encl

Stakeholder Invitation to Participate.pdfDownload
Proposed Noise Ordinance (Public Input).docxDownload

New potential Ordinance for LBR&BF dredge transfer station for private use update

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September 20th is new possible City Council hearing date.

From a City Attorney:

“This ordinance does not require a public hearing, but you will be able to speak on the agenda item.”

As of now the language in potential Ordinance & LBR&BF User Agreement is unknown.

View potential Ordinance language & potential LBR&BF User Agreement language below.

Ordinance (ORD-3454A).pdfDownload
Thalia Transfer Facility Use Agreement (2021-03-05 Revision) FORM.pdfDownload

This entire civic engagement thing about a historically controversial topic directly related to safety in the Bayfront area has been fascinating.

Previously, including links to the history of LBR&BF as a potential dredge transfer station for private use at “As of now there are no plans to use it as a dredge materials transfer station” and Updated Presentation info for BAC Thursday July 21 meeting.

Potential safety regulations for LBR&BF use?

“The Eastern Shore Drainage Improvement Project received more than $25 million from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities national competition to fight flooding in Virginia Beach.” WOOT WOOT!

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View the terrific news at Pilotonline.com.

“This is going to save the taxpayers that $25 million and the saved money will be allocated to other flood remediation projects,” said Bradley Vanderwarker, the project manager.

CONGRATS TO BRADLEY VANDERWARKER & TEAM!

Congratulations to City Councilperson Delceno Miles!

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Delceno Miles has been selected to fill the unexpired City Council term representing the Bayside District.

Miles will serve on the City Council until voters select a permanent representative during the November election later this year.