Category Archives: Environment

City’s holiday plans for Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility. “We can understand how frustrating this situation is for you and your neighbors.”

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Email from City Managers Office:

Thank you […] for reaching out as we navigate the upcoming holiday weekend. It is our hope that the information below addresses your concerns. We can understand how frustrating this situation is for you and your neighbors. We’ve worked to collaborate on a high-level synopsis of how the City is preparing for Memorial Day Weekend and the summer in general as it relates to the Shore Drive area and Bay Beaches.

We are excited to kick off the summer season welcoming locals and visitors alike to safely enjoy our many beautiful beaches and waterways. As always, City Departments have been planning months ahead of time in anticipation of the 2025 summer season.

What is the Public Safety plan for Memorial Day Weekend?

Police: The Virginia Beach Police Department is committed to proactively addressing the concerns surrounding the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. Following an incident in March, Captain Gordon attended an Ocean Park Civic League meeting with Director Kirschman from Parks and Recreation. This engagement allowed us to hear directly from residents about their concerns and share our constructive response. In response to the community feedback, we have significantly increased our patrols in the area, asking officers to remain visible for a period of time when circumstances allow. This includes patrol officers completing paperwork on-site of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from prior calls for service which also enhance their presence within the community.

To further discourage any issues, we’ve strategically placed a police vehicle in the parking lot on occasions, serving as a visible deterrent. Additionally, the 3rd Precinct has conducted musters (shift roll calls) in the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Parking lot which also increases visibility. Our Traffic Safety Unit has assisted with increased presence to ensure smoother traffic flow and enhance safety around the boat ramp. We have also intensified parking enforcement to effectively address violations. The feedback from the community meeting has been encouraging, demonstrating that our increased efforts are appreciated. We have also communicated our initiatives to those who couldn’t attend via outreach from the Ocean Park Civic League president. Since the March incident and the resulting increase in our presence, we are pleased to note that no further issues have been reported to the department.

Looking ahead to the upcoming weekend, we are deploying officers on ATVs, UTVs, and a Motor Carrier unit as additional resources for traffic management and beach oversight. Our marine unit, in collaboration with the Virginia Marine Police and Virginia Conservation Police, are resources that we can call upon to address boating violations. In addition, cameras at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp are being monitored by the VBPD Real Time Crime Center. We will do our best to monitor and address conditions at the boat ramp as they arise, realizing that this will be an incredibly busy weekend for the city with a significant number of events in all four precincts that will draw upon our finite resources.

Emergency Medical Services: through the Chesapeake Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad and Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, will have EMS personnel conducting ATV/UTV safety patrols on the beaches at various times throughout the summer.
In addition, the EMS Marine Rescue Team conducts weekend marine patrols off the beaches and in city waterways throughout the summer on Fridays through Sundays.

Emergency Communications & Citizen Services: ECCS is staffed 24/7/365 for informational calls, non-emergency reporting, and 9-1-1 Emergency Services.
Information: 3-1-1 or 757-385-3111
Non-emergency: 757-385-5000
Emergency: 9-1-1

Fire: Fire is upstaffing to ensure Fire boats will be staffed for the holiday weekend and most weekends throughout the summer.

How will the City address Waste Management on our beaches, boat ramps, and parks throughout the weekend?

Public Works Beach Operations | Beaches
Beach Operations is operating under normal conditions.
Regular service for all beach waste containers (barrels) is being provided at beach entrances and those on the sand.
Service for these containers occurs each morning around 5:30 a.m.
Should Beach Ops receive prior notification of a large unauthorized party on the beach, they will arrange to have roll-off containers for beachgoers to utilize.

Parks and Recreation | Boat Ramps and Parks
Boat Ramp staff are onsite from 5:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Service for the ramp’s dumpster is provided by a contracted commercial waste hauler and performed on a set schedule. If needed, they can request a special pick-up.
Parks Staff will be actively checking all parks and ensuring that waste containers are serviced as needed.

Public Works Waste Management | Residential Household Waste
Waste and Recycling Collection Services for the residential homes in the Shore Drive/Bay Beach areas occur on Wednesday.
To find when your next recycling service day will be, visit https://VirginiaBeach.gov/wastemgt and use the “Find My Trash Day” tool.
For service day reminders, residents can sign up to receive text or email notifications at VB Connect
To report a miss in service (trash, recycling, bulky or yard waste), residents can create a Service Request at https://vb311.virginiabeach.gov/assist/servicetypes

What happens if the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Reaches Maximum Capacity 

Ramp Signage: Parks and Recreation (PAR) will change all four ramp signs to full to indicate no availability. These are drop down “full” signs located on Shore Drive in the east and west bound directions.
Staff at Entrance: PAR will place two staff members at the entrance to the boat ramp, equipped with radios for communication. Staff are there to assist with the notification to boaters that the ramp is full and to continue traveling on East Stratford Road to exit the neighborhood.
If upon exiting the parking lot traffic becomes a problem, staff and/or residents are asked to notify Police to assist in either flushing the traffic out onto Shore Drive and out of the neighborhood. If a vehicle is unoccupied, Police will ticket the violator.
Barricade Road: PAR will use crowd control barricades to close off Piedmont Circle access into the facility. Once open spaces are available then staff will let trailers begin entering.  
Car Lot and Trailer Monitoring: PAR is going to consistently check the car lot and trailer numbers to ensure proper parking and space utilization. 
Launch and Recovery Monitoring: PAR will ensure individuals who are launching and recovering boats are exiting the ramp area promptly and moving to the designated areas. 
Ramp Control Staff: PAR will station one staff member for ramp control to maintain order and assist with operations. 
Staffing: Parks and Recreation has hired an additional staff person to support the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Supervisors are scheduled proactively during the busiest times.

Please let me know if you need anything additional.

Thank you,

CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE

Desk | 757.385.4242 | CMOffice@vbgov.com

City Hall, Building 1, Suite 2017

2401 Courthouse Drive | Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Hopefully these plans works this holiday weekend and the entire summer before people die.

Thursday May 15 ‘25 330pm BAC meeting at OPVRS. Join us!

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Ocean Park Fire and Rescue Squad(OPVRS) Building
3769 E. Stratford Road. Enter door opposite Shore Drive.

The mission of the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) is to review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding public and private projects and issues associated with the Bayfront area.

5-15-25 BAC Meeting Packet.pdfDownload
“Restoration” in progress at PHP.

Stormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group first meeting Friday. Join us!

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Start here at City’s website to learn more about the group, who’s on it & its mission.

The duties of the Stormwater Management Implementation Advisory Group shall be to:

  • Further review the topic of stormwater management and its impact and consequences on land use and redevelopment issues.
  • Identify whether there are any opportunities, advantages, or disadvantages to strengthening regulation alignment and specificity based on the City’s varied drainage basins, and a property’s land use and zoning characteristics.
  • Formalize a cost-sharing program relative to stormwater infrastructure and policy to include developing criteria for cost-sharing eligibility.
  • Determine whether there are any opportunities to …

Construction coming to 3933 & 3941 Shore Drive.

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APPROVED-ADDRESSED-PROTECTED PLAN DSC FILE F03-009961-RPA – 3933 Shore Drive (reduced).pdfDownload
APPROVED-ADDRESSED-PROTECTED PLAN DSC FILE F03-0009960-RPA – 3941 Shore Drive (reduced).pdfDownload

VB Property records for 3941 & 3933 Shore Drive.

News about this previously on this website. Addresses changed due to subdividing parcel.

Update on construction coming to “Pleasure House Point”

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Did you know not all of Pleasure House Point(PHP) is preserved? Start here to view, sign & share petition that asks PLEASE PRESERVE 100% OF PLEASURE HOUSE POINT NATURAL AREA in VIRGINIA BEACH VA. [opens in new window]

It’s too late to preserve this corner. Clear cutting this parcel starts June ‘25.
CHESTERFIELD AVE DP LOT 15 DSC# G03-008694 APPROVED PLAN (reduced).pdfDownload
Up next. Construction of this. Potential to preserve unknown. Sign & share petition link to hopefully preserve this area!
Ocean Park Presubmittal Meeting Request 4-23-2024.pdfDownload
Pre-submittal Meeting Notes for Ocean Park (14 lots on Marlin Bay).pdfDownload
Approved Protected Plan DSC File G03-011303ES-CGP.pdfDownload
50568C-Updated Ocean Park Layout.pdfDownload

PHPWMB public hearing Virginia Marine Resources Commission at their public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025

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View info here.

SUBJECT: City of Virginia Beach Public Works
VMRC #2024-2851
The application for permit, referenced above, will be heard by the Marine Resources Commission at their public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025, beginning at 9:30
a.m., at 380 Fenwick Road, Building 96, Fort Monroe, Virginia.

CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH, #24-2851 requests authorization to mechanically dredge a 20-foot wide by 63-foot long subtidal area to a maximum depth of minus two (-2) feet mean low water within Pleasure House Creek to create a shallow water channel necessary to provide the hydrological connection to the proposed municipal Pleasure House Point Mitigation Bank in Virginia Beach. This project is protested by nearby property owners.

Join us to transplant saplings from PHP!

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PHP Tree Sapling Relocation Team PHP Tree Sapling Relocation Project view sign up options here!

These trees will then be managed and transplanted by The Friends of Live Oaks & Lynnhaven River NOW.

Amazing data developed by students at Environmental Studies Program (ESP).

Link to ESP tree data work.

Oppose Nationwide Permit 27 Pleasure House Point Mitigation Bank Instrument unless P1 & P2 ESA are completed.

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To concerned Regulators,

We believe the “purpose & need” of this fast moving project could be violating the spirit of “avoid, minimize, mitigate” in general. Therefore, we humbly request a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment are completed before approving the Nationwide 27 Permit.

Several reasons why below:

  1. Myth #1: The City doesn’t need to do this Pleasure House Point project at all; there is another wetlands project available instead called the New Mill Creek Tidal Mitigation Bank.
    Fact: Yes, another possible opportunity to buy tidal wetland mitigation credits came online last week called the New Mill Creek Tidal Mitigation Bank.
    Source: https://virginiabeach.gov/connect/blog/the-real-deal-debunking-13-myths-about-the-pleasure-house-point-wetlands-restoration-project 2.
  2. “Please provide the list of projects that have required the city to buy wetland mitigation credits since the bond referendum passed November 2, 2021 and how many wetland mitigation credits are required now for future projects.” From 11/21/2021 to To 12/23/2024.
    Your request was forwarded to Public Works. I have been advised that they do not have a list in response to your request.
    Source: FOIA Request response January 13 2025
  3. Petition asking to purchase credits & refine plan. Over 2,700 people have signed petition since only December 20, 2024.
    Source: https://www.change.org/p/please-purchase-the-newly-available-tidal-wetlands-credits-refine-phpwmb-plans
  4. Three(3) samples of material was presented at City Council public hearing which was acknowledged by the Public Works Director – a piece of pavement, concrete with gravel & an unknown petrochemical material all presumably dumped on the spoils site – Pleasure House Point in the area Wetlands Mitigation Bank is proposed – in the 1970s. Was material being tested before dumped? After it was dumped?
    Video of City Council public hearing January 7th 2025 is provided here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D_T1v0rI3A

As you know, the Brock Environmental Center and Macon & Joan Brock Classroom campus is literally feet away from this project. Pre-schoolers thru senior citizens routinely spend time there. Meetings with visitors from national & international governments & NGOs also are held routinely. However, this project rolls out. It’ll certainly garner national news. Over 140,000 people have visited the campus since it opened.

In property acquisitions, it is customary for due diligence investigation(s) to be completed before a fee simple property transfer is finalized. It seems reasonable that such an investigation would have reported the obvious; materials of generally unknown origin were dumped on the PHP property as far back as the 1970’s.

These findings would have been followed up with Phase II soil and/or groundwater sampling and testing to screen for regulated substances (hazardous and petroleum constituents). If the investigations were completed, they should be made available to evaluate the potential effects on the proposed PHPWMB project.

Of principal concern is the transport of these dredge materials to the City’s Oceana disposal site, especially if they remain untested. Once removed from PHP, the material becomes a waste, and is subject to VDEQ regulations for transport and disposal. Secondly, possible exposures to regulated substances may result when construction workers are exposed to any contaminated soil, dust, and groundwater. Especially with workers involved in the planting process where hand work is proposed, and the incidence of physical contact with regulated materials may result.

Additionally, considerations for the sampling, testing and handling of regulated materials should be included in the project plans and specifications for the PHPWMB project. This information should be made available for public review and comment.

Therefore, we humbly request a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment are completed before approving the Nationwide 27 Permit.

What will be the “reasonably foreseeable effect” if the environmental site assessments haven’t successfully been completed for a spoils site used in the 1970s?

Sincerely yours,
Tim Solanic

January 16 330pm BAC meeting at OPVRS. Join us!

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Thursday, January 16, 2025 3:30 P.M.
Ocean Park Fire and Rescue Squad Building
3769 E. Stratford Road. Enter door opposite Shore Drive.


The mission of the Bayfront Advisory Commission is to review and make recommendations to the City Council regarding public and private projects and issues associated with the Bayfront area.

AGENDA: BAC 1-16-25.pdfDownload
Pleasure House Creek.

City Council public hearing on proposed Pleasure House Point Wetlands Mitigation Bank CIP transfer of funds including vote.

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“[T]he City Manager is to bring forward publicly a plan to mitigate tree loss for those trees that are at least four inches in diameter.”

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ITEM:
CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH AGENDA ITEM
An Ordinance to Transfer Funds Within the Capital Improvement Program for the Pleasure House Point Mitigation Bank, to Provide Limitations upon the Use of
Mitigation Credits Created by the Pleasure House Point Mitigation Project, and to Provide for Efforts to Reduce Tree Loss
MEETING DATE: January 7, 2025
Background: Capital Project 100304, ” Pleasure House Point Mitigation Bank”

City Council January 7 ‘25 meeting info.

PHP 1-7-2025 FORMAL SESSION AGENDA.pdfDownload
One example of “the coolest thing I’ve ever seen”.

Dec. 19, 2024 Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting Pleasure House Point presentation.

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The video from City of Virginia Beach.

Please note: at the time of this post, currently proposed wetland mitigation bank details of the “90% design”, water budget and other info are still not available on official website.

Things learned last night: tidal wetland bank credits are available to purchase, 60,000 cubic yards (about 6,000 dump trucks) of fill will be removed, over 5,200 trees including live oaks over dozens & dozens of years old will be destroyed (number of dump trucks to move destroyed trees unknown).

Email your questions or concerns to: phpwetlands@vbgov.com

Note existing trees & tree canopy in 1958.

“Pleasure House Point Wetlands Restoration Project”

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Please correct any errors and discuss in the comment section.

Our current understanding is hundreds of trees will be cut down and this project is at the 90% design stage.

Bayfront Advisory Commission will accept public input at their December 19th meeting at 230pm in Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Join us!

2024-11-26_PHP_Council_Presentation.pdfDownload
Joint Permit Application (JPA)

PHPWETLANDSMITIGATIONBANK-JPA.pdfDownload
City Staff Report – PHP Wetlands Mitigation Bank.pdfDownload

Note: this project does not include the controversial kayak launch which will potentially be located on western border of this project when built. It’s visible in graphics above.

Previously, several related links on this website here, here and here.

Love live oaks? Visit Friends of Live Oaks.

We are unsure if this live oak will be destroyed in either project. 

PHP MANAGEMENT PLAN.pdfDownload

Phase 3 & Cape Henry beach replenishment updates

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Public Works’ Jeremy Kline updates regarding Shore Drive Phase 3 and Cape Henry dredging/beach replenishment:

  1. Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase III
  • Real estate acquisition and private utility relocations are underway
  • Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of the year
  1. Cape Henry dredging plan/beach replenishment
  • USACE is forecasting a solicitation as early as the end of February.
  • Contract award expected in April with an NTP in May.
  • These dates are subject to change if the solicitation is not posted by the end of the month

View CIP in new tool here. Sorry can’t link directly to individual CIPs. Phase 3 is CIP #100381.

Be careful walking & running here folks.

Refresher on Bayfront documents including various planning, studies & guidelines.

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Thanks Hank!

I’ve attached the 1997 ULI Study and the text from Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the Shore Drive Corridor Overlay District. Below are links to the following:

Comprehensive Plan (Section 1.3 – Suburban Area; Page 1-69 – Suburban Focus Area 1:

Shore Drive Corridor: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/virginia-beach-departments-docs/planning/Comprehensive-Plan/Adopted/Comp-Plan-2016_policy-doc.pdf

Shore Drive Corridor Plan:

Click to access Shore_Drive_Corridor_Plan_2000.pdf

Shore Drive Design Guidelines:

Click to access Shore_Drive_Corridor_Design_Guidelines_2002.pdf

Commercial Area Pattern Book:

Click to access Commercial-Area-Pattern-Book.pdf

Active Transportation Plan:

Click to access Active-Transportation-Plan.pdf

I believe this covers the current applicable documents with guidance on the Shore Drive Corridor, but if there are other documents that I may have missed in regards to the Shore Drive/Bayfront area, please let me know and I will be happy to pass them along as well.

Thanks,

Hank

Article 17 Zoning Ordinance Shore Drive Corridor Overlay.pdfDownload
ULI BAYFRONT STUDY 1997.pdfDownload
Incredible Lesner Bridge 🤩

2024 srsly 🙄

City Council Informal & Formal sessions Nov 21 ‘23 Vacation of Easement for WCCB public hearing & vote and Wycliffe redevelopment in a lake public hearing & vote.

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Vacation of Easement approved 9-1 including WCCB paying City $100,000 for future beach walkway replacement.

Wycliffe referred back to Planning Commission on 9-1 vote.

“I am speaking on behalf of my community that we oppose the closing of the public beach access at the end of Starfish Road for many reasons: First: a public right-of-way should only be closed when there is no other alternative. Westminster has admitted that they do have a plan that would not involve closing the access…”

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My name is Lisa Leidig and I am the president of the Lynnshore Condominium HOA. I am travelling on business and will unfortunately not able to attend the vote on Tuesday. I am speaking on behalf of my community that we oppose the closing of the public beach access at the end of Starfish Road for many reasons:

First: a public right-of-way should only be closed when there is no other alternative. Westminster has admitted that they do have a plan that would not involve closing the access. Since this is the case, this should be an easy decision to make – deny the request. You should not have to decide who is more important – the public or residents of Westminster and who is going to be inconvenienced. The only reason that Westminster wants to close the public beach access is that a handful of people expressed concern about walking through a parking garage. I am sure that Westminster has a contingency plan to protect the residents and prevent public access to their buildings. So is it better to inconvenience the thousands of people that use the Starfish beach access to accommodate a few people by making them walk through a garage? Why is it constantly ok to impact the public and residents but not Westminster?

Second: With the pier remaining, there is a problem when we have persistent northeast winds or a storm off our coast – the winds push the waves up to the point that during the periods around high tide (2 hours before and after) the beach west of the pier is inaccessible due to the water rising and being pushed up past the fencing under the pier. This has happened 5 times this year since September (once this past week) and even resulted in significant dune loss in front of Casa de Playa.

Third: Perception. Closing this access provides the perception that the beach in front of Westminster’s property is now private. I have had conversations with residents of Westminster and they stated that they “couldn’t wait until the beach is private and THOSE people (pointing to fisherman/crabbers) won’t be able to come down here anymore”. WC is also leaving the stairs from the bulkhead to the beach, further cementing the perception that the beach is now private. Surf Rider foundation advocates that public beach access remain public – https://www.surfrider.org/pages/policy-on-beach-access – excerpts such as “Development must not be allowed to interfere with public access”, “The public should be afforded full and fair access to beaches which are public trust resources by minimizing the possibility of impediment including development”, “Should not be burdensome for the potential beachgoer to utilize”.

Fourth: Ben Unkle has said that this new beach access is more convenient to “everyone”. That is simply not true. Anyone that lives on Starfish road – the access is more inconvenient. For anyone riding HRT route 35 which drops off in front of Westminster, this is not more convenient. For anyone wanting to access the beach and are crossing Shore Drive at a crosswalk (there are two – one at Starfish, the other at Great Neck) – this is not convenient. For anyone wanting to sit west of the fishing pier, this is not convenient. Ben Unkle has also said that the beach access bisects Westminster property – while that is now a correct statement, the access was in existance long before they bought the properties. Westminster took a chance by buying these properties with full knowledge of the public access. Do not punish the public for a risky venture made by Westminster.

Fifth: The sidewalk on the south side of Ocean Shore and Starfish Road is almost impassible. It has not been maintained for years and the sidewalk is blocked by shrubs and growth. The City had also just spent public dollars to repair the beach access at Starfish road so those improvements are wasted money if you allow the access to close and be torn up.

In closing – this should be an easy decision to make as Westminster has a plan to work around the public beach access. Deny the request and keep our beach access public and open.

Sincerely,

Lisa Leidig
President, Lynnshore Condominiums
xxxx Starfish Road
757-xxx-xxxx

Click for entire WCCB Survey Summary Results

PLEASE CONTACT THE MAYOR & YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL NOW IN SUPPORT OF …

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[T]he City is set to realize about $20MM in proceeds from the sale of easements to Dominion Energy for their Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, and Staff is recommending that nearly half of those proceeds be appropriated to Shore Drive Phase IV ($6.98MM) and to Pleasure House Road Phase II ($1.36MM) & Shore Drive Phase III ($ 2.24MM).

Please email Mayor & City Council to support this vital funding: citycouncil@vbgov.com

City Council vote is on November 21st 2023.

Shore Drive Phase IV

Pleasure House Road Phase II

Shore Drive Phase III

A couple more Presentations scheduled for BAC Thursday 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!

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PRESENTATIONS/PROJECT BRIEFINGS
1) Skip the Stuff Presentation by Molly Jones and Lexi Bradshaw
2) Update from JLL re: beach access at Westminster Canterbury by Amanda Logsdon
3) Cape Henry Trail update from David Plum

OPVRS = Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. Please enter at door opposite Shore Drive.

Update to BAC meeting includes presentation by Environmental Studies Program(ESP) BAC members. Woot woot!

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Also it seems WCCB is closer to guarantee their controversial approved beach walkway maintenance & probable rebuild since “we have reviewed the plans and are in support of the design as proposed”. Previously on this website.

Visit SurfRider.org/CAMPAIGNS.

SKIP THE STUFF