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.
Category Archives: Environment
“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…”
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
PLEASE CONTACT THE MAYOR & YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL NOW IN SUPPORT OF …
[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.
Pleasure House Road Phase II
A couple more Presentations scheduled for BAC Thursday 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
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!
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
BAC Thursday NOV 16 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
Check out Agenda above!
Many items being discussed including:
- Mr. Morrison spoke with Morgan Whayland from Virginia Natural Gas and provided her with the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Design Guidelines to assist with their re-planting efforts at their property on Shore Drive.
o VNG will share the planting plan with BAC when it is completed
Change 1: Route 35 Trolley
- Change headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes daily between May and Neptune Fest.
- Headways were changed to 60 minutes for FY24. This change returns Route 35 to previous service levels
- Additional revenue hour change: 3,741 hours (97% increase to FY25
- Cost for FY24: $183,626.00
BAC supported the proposed change to 30 minute headways, but stipulated that the line needs to be promoted for use by locals, employees, and tourists.
⬆️ Greats news!
“I’m for that, but I’m not for what the applicant wants to do with the property: filling in the lakes.”
Maybe redeveloping lakes is not smart or sustainable way for a City that will be dramatically impacted by sea level rise(SLR) and attempting to keep its currently stellar bond rating & logical story telling for rating agencies.
A downgrade by ratings agencies would obviously increase interest costs for tax payers.
Learn more at SaveLakeConrad.com including a link to Petition to stop this insanity. Join thousands who have signed the Petition.
Learn more about realities of sea level rise by starting at our SLR Resources page.
Maybe only redevelopment NOT in City storm water management facilities and lakes is more intelligent considering we’re 2nd in the country for impacts from SLR.
“Join Parks & Rec for public input meetings on the proposed Urban Forest Management Plan to shape the future of the City’s forestation program. Share feedback online if unable to attend.”
Great Neck Rec Ctr, 11/14, 6-8 p.m.
Princess Anne Rec Ctr, 11/29, 6-8 p.m.
Urban Forest Management Plan Feedback Survey.
Proposed Transportation Service Plan (TSP) for FY2025 including Route 35
Route 35 Bayfront – Improve headway to 30 minutes daily between May- Neptune Festival.
Annual revenue hour change: 3,741 hours
It’ll be great to get advertising for Route 35(R35) and to help it play a role in reducing traffic for Shore Drive Phase 3 starting soon.
Additional documents for BAC meeting Thursday Oct 19th 330pm at OPVRS.
OPVRS = Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Please enter door opposite Shore Drive.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad October 19, 2023 330pm. Join us!
Thanks to Hank for the Agenda!
NEW BUSINESS
1) Proposed HRT Transportation Service Plan (TSP) for FY25 – Proposed service
adjustments for Bayfront HRT lines and requested changes for Route 35 Trolley.
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – November Public Workshops. Join us!
The Public Workshops will consist of a short recap presentation on themes developed in the Focus Groups and the Vision Mapping process. We will then proceed to break out into small groups to provide more direct, specific feedback on each of the draft themes. The Vision Map will take the draft themes of balanced growth, sustainability, connectivity, diversity, and wellbeing, and apply them to areas of the city to create a framework of how the city should grow and develop over time. There will be an interactive planning exercise in our small groups.
The workshops will be held at these times and locations:
- Saturday, November 4th at 2pm: College Park Elementary School Cafeteria – 1110 Bennington Road
- Monday, November 6th at 6pm: Kellam High School Cafeteria – 2665 West Neck Road
- Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm: Bayside Recreation Center – 4500 First Court Road
- Thursday, November 9th at 6pm: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3 (2nd Floor; Middle of the Building) – 1009 19th Street
There is no need to RSVP to these workshops. We estimate this meeting to run about 1.5 to 2 hours. Please pass along the information to your friends, family, neighborhoods, colleagues, youth groups, civic leagues, faith groups, etc.
The more engagement we have from the community in this process, the better the plan will be! City Staff and the Consultant Team are eager to hear from as many residents as possible, so we hope to see you there!
Here’s where we are so far.
As always, for more information or if you have any outstanding questions, please reach out to me at RacMiller@vbgov.com or Hank Morrison, the Comprehensive Planning Administrator, at JMorrison@vbgov.com.
You are aware about the reality of sea level rise(SLR) correct?
Updated Agenda for BAC Thursday, September 21 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
Thanks to Hank for updated Agenda.
Official info link about meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. (Please enter door opposite Shore Drive.)
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad September 21, 2023 330pm. Join us!
THE NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION OF ABOUT 6 LIVE OAKS, The City Tree, will be on the Agenda.
Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting link at City’s website.
Bayfront Advisory Commission Agenda next week includes the Virginia Natural Gas property in Ocean Park. Join us!
Complete agenda, once we receive it, will be shared in another post.
BAC meets at OPVRS Thursday, September 21st.
Preliminary info about live oaks & pine trees cut down right now on Shore Drive by Virginia Natural Gas
Thanks to Mickey Toll, owner of Chesapeake Tree Service, for explaining that the larger live oak pieces being cut down will be hauled away by North Landing Firewood & Hauling Inc and milled for USE AS LUMBER for furniture & other potential uses well beyond mulch & firewood. Hooray!
Virginia Natural Gas recently acquired the property in December 2022.
Property detail at official VB website.
Another view of sole live oak that will remain standing.
Want to protect live oak tree?
JOIN FRIENDS of LIVE OAKS TODAY!
Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting – Thursday August 17th 3:30pm in OPVRS
Join us!
OPVRS is Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Enter door opposite Shore Drive.
Thanks to Hank for Agenda!
COMMUNITY REPORTS AND UPDATES
Interim sidewalk improvements are expected in late fall, pending funding and land acquisition.
Sand move from LBR to Cape Henry Beach complete!
From Jim:
There is some cleanup to do at the beach and the contractor is completing the construction of the perimeter dike at the DMMA site. The cleanup and equipment removal at the beach should wrap up this week. The perimeter dike at the DMMA site will be completed by mid-August.
Facts about the project:
+Sand hauling to Cape Henry Beach began on May 2, 2023
+Sand hauling to Cape Henry Beach was completed on July 26, 2023
+Cape Henry beach was nourished between the Point Chesapeake +Condominium gazebo and just west of the Jade St beach access (approximately 1,800ft in length)
+Volume of sand placed within the Cape Henry Beach project limits = 70,200cys (or 38cys/ft)
+Number of trucks that hauled the sand = 5,220
+Average trucks per day = 93
+Average volume of sand transported in a single truck load = 13.5cys
+The base elevation at the DMMA site is +10ft above sea level
+The highest elevation at the DMMA site prior to the start of construction was +35ft above sea level
+The new sand perimeter dike at the DMMA site will have a crest elevation of between +15ft and +18ft above sea level
A successful project!
Throw forward Thursday and the reality of sea level rise & climate change on the Bayfront
2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report
Norfolk-Va Beach Joint Land Use Study
This Just In – data dump about $52M 1/2 mile Phase 4 at OPCL.org
10X MORE “MODERATE” (TYPICALLY DAMAGING) FLOODING.
Comprehensive Plan focus group meeting Thursday 6pm HIVE Town Center
Care what VB becomes? Join us!
6pm at The Hive in Town Center 4636 Columbus Street
