Category Archives: Environment

Brian Solis of Parks & Rec answers questions about CBF’s proposed building for PHP

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Brian Solis, of the Virginia Beach Department of Parks & Recreation responds to questions posed by residents interested in further details about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s proposed educational center to be located at Pleasure House Point.

 What LEED levels will be required? See http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3330

Certified 40–49 points

Silver 50–59 points

Gold 60–79 points

Platinum 80 points and above

 Response: There are not requirements for level of LEED-certification; however, CBF has indicated that the building will achieve LEED-Platinum status.  CBF’s headquarters in Annapolis, MD was the first LEED-Platinum certified building in the world.

 

Will the 10,000 SF CBF building be in accordance with the Living Building Challenge (LBC) requiring its own energy and waste processing? See https://ilbi.org/lbc/LBC%20Documents/LBC2-0.pdf 

Response:  Yes.  The details are being worked through CBF, the Planning Department and several other state and City agencies through the conditional use permit and design process.

 

Can a 10,000 SF building be justified when the LBC is committed to stopping the continued spread of sprawl development that threatens the few wild places that remain?

How can the 10,000 SF building be justified when the LBC prohibits construction on sensitive ecological habitat and/or a 100-year flood plain? 

The architectural rendering on display was a long rectangular building devoid of the features the LBC prescribes:

• Elements that nurture the innate human attraction to natural systems and processes.

• Environmental features

• Natural shapes and forms

• Natural patterns and processes

• Design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to its function. 

• Integration of surrounding tidal ponds, bird houses, and indigenous animals (frogs, lizards, turtles) into the immediate vicinity of the building for view, education, and environmental compatibility.

 Response:  The majority of the Pleasure House Point site is a previously-disturbed site.  The building will also need to meet minimum building code standards as well as those related to flood plain issue.  The detailed design of the Education Center will reveal addressing the majority, if not all, of the above criteria.

 

 So was this it, or did the plan evolve through a proper Charrette (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrette) that looked at several designs and space requirements in consultation with all stakeholders? 

Response:  CBF’s part of the Education Center evolved near the end of the site master plan process.

 

As part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), to minimize square footage, will (or were) investigations undertaken to evaluate other near-by public facilities that could be used for meetings, public gatherings, educational classes, and training?  

Response:  The 10,000 s.f. building program is approximately 2% of CBF’s site.  It is my understanding that CBF did evaluate building spaces in the vicinity of both Norfolk and Virginia Beach to meet their needs before undertaking this opportunity.  Based on where the building is located and the educational programs and minimal staff offices proposed for the space, we do not find the building program to be unreasonable.  Also, the building is sited at the most landward location while still staying outside of the 200’+ Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffer areas that CBF is enforcing on itself (normal RPA buffer requirement is a 100’ setback).

I also just need to reiterate the City’s commitment to working with the Trust for Public Land and Chesapeake Bay Foundation under the Council-adopted Memorandum of Understanding  to achieve a number of goals  for the entire site in a way that compliments each other:  preservation, restoration, education and public access. 

 

And remember – Ribbon Cutting tomorrow at 11am and Fall Festival Saturday from 11-4 on PHP!

A Life bird was spotted this past weekend on Pleasure House Point

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Read, see, and hear more at SavePHP.org.

There were at least 6 birders out on PHP this morning. Probably hunting for the Say’s Phoebe, the life bird spotted that normally hangs out in the western states & Alaska.

What: Virginia Beach Mayoral and City Council Candidates’ Forum. When: Wednesday, October 17th, 7-9 PM, doors open at 6:30. Where: Cape Henry Collegiate School Dreyfus Auditorium, 1320 Mill Dam Road, Virginia Beach.

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Sponsors: Lynnhaven River NOW, Council of Garden Clubs, Shore Drive Community Coalition, Back Bay Restoration Foundation, Princess Anne Garden Club, and the Virginia Beach Garden Club
Free and open to the public. No pre-registration required.

BE INFORMED

PD-H1, P-1 & PHP

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Read about PD-H1 in the City Code.
PD-H1 also references A-12 here.
Read about P-1 in the City Code.

More about zoning request change for Pleasure House Point at VBGov.com/PleasureHousePoint.

What is GOBS?

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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?

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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.

Pleasure House Point Open House for Information on Chesapeake Bay Foundation Plans Tuesday, September 18, 2012 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Bayside Recreation Center

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Pleasure House Point

Open House for Information on Chesapeake Bay Foundation Plans

Tuesday, September 18, 2012
6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road, Virginia Beach

We invite you to an open house to review plans for an Environmental Education Center at Pleasure House Point.

A partnership with Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), City of Virginia Beach, Trust for Public Land, and many citizens from your community successfully protected Pleasure House Point (PHP). Ninety-two percent of the preserved land is now the PHP Natural Area, managed by the City of Virginia Beach. CBF and its partners will utilize the eastern 10 acres for environmental education programs and an environmental center. At the Open House, CBF staff will be available to answer any questions.
Questions? Contact Christy Everett, CBF, at 622-1964 or ceverett@cbf.org.

“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.”

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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.”

“Wildlife Center of Virginia officials will release a peregrine falcon Monday at First Landing State Park. The release will be at 1 p.m. It is free and open to the public.”

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More at Pilotonline.com.

“Chic’s Beach will kick off its end-of-summer party Sunday, complete with a count-the-butts contest.”

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Read the entire article and comment at Pilotonline.com.

The person with the best guess will win a gift basket from Taste Unlimited worth $50, he said.

Editors note: People who think the world is their ashtray are a$$hole$ buttheads.

Friends of Live Oaks to be Guest Speaker at SDCC Meeting

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Here is a little background information regarding the upcoming featured speaker for the Monday August 27th general meeting.

www.friendsofliveoaks.org

The Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) is a citizen advocacy group formed to plant, protect, preserve, and promote live oak trees in Virginia Beach.  FOLO is
giving away live oaks in containers at no charge to Virginia Beach home and business owners to plant on their property as well as neighborhood common areas and city property such as schools and parks.  A special promotion will be held in conjunction with the Lynnhaven River Now’s part in the October 6, 2012, celebration of their Fall Festival at Pleasure House Point.

Live oaks are designated as the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and with good reason.  Native to the area, live oaks were here long before European settlers.   The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem.  They resist salt spray and storm surges, having survived Hurricane Katrina in areas where everything else was reduced to rubble.  They control flooding and storm water runoff, and shelter and nourish local wildlife.  They are amazingly drought-tolerant and disease-resistant.

Live oaks boast many assets for homeowners.  They increase property value and quality of life.  They provide incredible shade, reducing air conditioning costs. An evergreen, their dense foliage provides privacy and beautifies the garden all year round.

Pilotonline.com coverage of CBF’s plans on PHP

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“The idea is to leave no trace, minimize impact and create a building that will be used for years to come by the community,” said William Almond, the project’s landscape architect.

Read the entire article and view a video at Pilotonline.com.

“Our vision quite simply is to create one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the world at Pleasure House Point,” said CBF Hampton Roads Director Christy Everett. “We want it to be an international model that demonstrates how to build, work, learn, and play responsibly beside a natural treasure like the Chesapeake Bay. Our goal is a facility the entire Hampton Roads community can be proud of, and we are actively seeking the community’s feedback on our Pleasure House Point vision.”

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Read the entire Press Release at CBF.org.

Hopefully CBF will conduct intense studies about using wind turbines safely since so many birds love PHP and it’s vital habitat in the Atlantic Flyway. Photo credit: CBF

Editors note: Impossible dreams come true.

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.

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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 Related

1. 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

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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.

“Lynnhaven River NOW has agreed to participate in a large study of local environmental organizations being conducted by researchers from Old Dominion University and Virginia Wesleyan College. The results of this research will reach a national audience, and will highlight the accomplishments of citizen groups such as ours.”

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Hot link to LRNow E-Newsletter to learn more.

Hot link to online survey.

Cheasapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) wants your input. Aug 23rd open house and online survey.

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The Cheasapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is providing two  opportunity’s for community input on the design of their planned educational facility.  The facility will be located on 10 acres of Pleasure House Point. 

 

CBF is hosting an open house on August 23rd from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at Bayside Rec Center.  The community will have a chance to see the current plans, ask questions and provide comments.  Click here for a copy of the open house flyer.   PHP open house flyer

 

CBF is also asking for community  input/comments on the proposed road access plan.  A link to the online survey can be found at the following link   www.surveymonkey.com/s/8YSJV73