May 24th 730 OPVRS SDCC Meeting save the date!

We’ll be safely meeting in Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad May 24th at 730pm.

Join us!

Brad Vanderwarker & team from Public Works Stormwater Engineering will be providing an update on what’s happening east of Lesner Bridge.

They’ll be answering your questions too,

Join us! More details to follow.

Curious about Phase 3? It’s start has apparently been pushed back to late 2022 and Phase 4 has also been pushed back several years.

“More Virginians could receive discounts soon on flood insurance as part of an expansion of a little-known federal program. The Community Rating System, or CRS, reduces peoples’ flood insurance premiums if they live in cities that take steps to mitigate flooding.”

Learn more at WHRO.org.

People in less vulnerable areas receive limited discounts. Residents who are not required to have flood insurance but still do are not eligible for any discount.

Starting in October, that will change. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the rating system, says all policy holders in a locality will receive the maximum flood insurance discount regardless of their flood risk or type of policy.

LAWSUIT against VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL APRIL 29 2021 re: WCCB

Ocean Shore Condominium Association v. Virginia Beach City Council

Case # CL20006718-00

April 29 Thursday 2:15PM

Virginia Beach Circuit Court

Previously: Multiple Shore Drive Condominium Associations has organized a GoFundMe FUNDRAISER & LAWSUIT vs City of Virginia Beach & WCCB to stop precedent setting high rise in Shore Drive community subjectively approved by 5 City Council members

WCCB Category at SDCC.info here.

Ocean Park fingers crossed on track to get sand from CBBT in August 2022

BAC Presentation for sand starts ~ 15 minutes in. Screenshots of slide show below. All aerials taken at low tide. Pretty cover of Ocean Park taken after sand restoration in 2013. LBR&BF currently has about 50,000 cu yards. Maple Street 15,000 cu yards.

Commonwealth of Virginia Selects Dewberry to Assist in Developing Coastal Resilience Master Plan

View entire press release.

Among its many achievements in the coastal adaptation and protection space, the Dewberry team has played a significant role in developing the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Master Plans, and was the lead consultant on the City of Virginia Beach’s recently completed Sea Level Wise planning project.

“Three miles of coastline — from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to east of the Lesner Bridge — will be replenished, possibly starting in November.”

Hooray!

Learn more at Pilotonline.

“Up to $9 million is available in Virginia Beach’s coastal programs capital improvement fund to pay for it, said Dan Adams, who manages the program.”

“The curriculum is focused on hands-on experiments and solving real environmental problems, meant to put students in the world around them every single day, Freeman said.”

In new environmental studies program, Virginia Beach students get a hands-on experience at Pilotonline.com.

“This isn’t a school. This is not at a school setting,” Freeman said. “It’s sort of redefining what a classroom looks like.”

To say we’re excited about this unique learning experience that we’ve been working on making happen since 2003 would be a profound understatement!

The first time the idea was written up in The Virginian-Pilot.

Public Works – Stormwater Engineering has scheduled a virtual open house meeting for the Lake Bradford / Chubb Lake (CIP 7-053) project on Thursday, November 12, 2020 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Email update:

Folks/Bradford-Chubb Project Followers: 

The City of Virginia Beach’s Public Works – Stormwater Engineering has scheduled a virtual open house meeting for the Lake Bradford / Chubb Lake (CIP 7-053) project on Thursday, November 12, 2020 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  For information to join the meeting virtually, please visit the project website: http://www.vbgov.com/LakeBradford.

Due to the Covid-19 public health crisis this meeting will not be held in-person and instead we will utilize a virtual platform to host this meeting and continue providing project updates and introduce the upcoming construction projects.

As most of you know, we held an open house/public meeting in November 2019 to hear from residents in the area regarding their flooding concerns and to assist in developing a program of drainage improvements.  We received valuable input and feedback from the community and are looking forward to our continued coordination.

Since we met last November, the City and RK&K have made progress on the drainage study and develop a concept of improvements to help mitigate flooding.  This concept requires further analysis and the drainage study is anticipated to be completed by the end of next summer.

This will be an informal open house public meeting and will begin with a 30 minute presentation providing an update on the Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Drainage Study as well as introduce the upcoming Lake Pleasure House Outfall and Lake Bradford Dredging construction projects.  Public Works representatives from the City of Virginia Beach will be available to answer questions via the virtual platform following the presentation.

After the presentation, we request attendees complete an online survey to provide feedback on the presentation as well as any comments or concerns for the upcoming construction projects.  A link to this online survey will be provided on the project website.  Our previous survey was very successful and provided valuable input on flooding concerns in the area.

Again, we want to thank each and every one of you who have participated in some way:  attending the meeting, marking maps, taking the survey, emailing us your thoughts and comments, and all the other ways you have contributed.  We feel strongly that this can be a very successful project with your suggestions and feedback.  

Please contact us at lakebradford@vbgov.com with your comments and questions.  Also, go to our website at http://www.vbgov.com/lakebradford for updated information. 

If you have any pictures of flooding, please email them to stormpics@vbgov.com.  Please include the location, date, and time the picture was taken.

Again, thank you for your participation in this project and we look forward to continue working with all of you.  Please stay safe during this difficult time.

 

Matthew Richardson, Project Manager

Lake Bradford / Chubb Lake Drainage Study (CIP #7-053).

Public Works – Engineering

757-385 -4131

“There were many more people who were interested in participating in the action but as a practical matter, the number of clients needs to be manageable and these 4 Petitioners are very representative of those adversely effected [sic] by Westminster Canterbury’s approved expansion,” Lauer wrote.

First coverage at 13NewsNow.com:

In the last six days, a GoFundMe launched to raise money for the petitioners has raised more than $13,000.

Visit GoFundMe FUNDRAISING page.

Multiple Shore Drive Condominium Associations has organized a GoFundMe FUNDRAISER & LAWSUIT vs City of Virginia Beach & WCCB to stop precedent setting high rise in Shore Drive community subjectively approved by 5 City Council members

Westminster Canterbury Expansion-Stop City Council GoFundMe FUNDRAISER link:

Virginia Beach City Council has approved plans to allow a 22 story building expansion of Westminster Canterbury. This will create  a structure rivaling Town Center and potentially supporting other high rise development in the Bayfront neighborhoods along Shore Drive.  This precedent setting decision was based solely on the opinions of 5 Council Members and not based on quantifiable City codes or requirements. 

VIEW LAWSUIT v. VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL, CITY of VIRGINIA BEACH, WESTMINSTER-CANTERBURY on Chesapeake Bay ( 29 page PDF )

Over $11,000 has been raised in just a couple days.

Join us & many others who don’t want to see the Shore Drive community & potentially other areas of Virginia Beach have an explosion of density & high rises due to this arbitrary decision made by 5 people.

Westminster Canterbury Expansion-Stop City Council GoFundMe FUNDRAISER link:

Virginia Beach City Council has approved plans to allow a 22 story building expansion of Westminster Canterbury. This will create  a structure rivaling Town Center and potentially supporting other high rise development in the Bayfront neighborhoods along Shore Drive.  This precedent setting decision was based solely on the opinions of 5 Council Members and not based on quantifiable City codes or requirements. 

“Between now and when the first shovel hits the ground, we’re in ‘let’s stop this thing as it stands’ mode”

Story including video at 13NewsNow Ali Weatherton report.

Mayor Bobby Dyer said his goal is to form a group with community members and the developer to talk about the plans and to keep everyone in the loop.

That’s great news Mayor!

That group being formed now would only makes sense if City Council voted to RECONSIDER.

Horse leaving the barn already & all that.

Bay Vista on Shore Drive in Ocean Park was RECONSIDERED in 2003.

“Mass, density” & “precedent setting” were several items RECONSIDERED by a thoughtful City Council once they learned more.

Councilmember Sabrina Wooten said, “Thank you for your inquiry. Please note that I have not been briefed on this matter in detail. I am not aware that the vote was ruled or determined to be unfair in any way. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.”

We’d love your reply Councilmembers:

Council Members Berlucchi and Wooten should explain their reasons for support. Since the approval of the WC expansion was based solely on Council opinion, all the members provided explanation for their votes except Council members Berlucchi and Wooten.  A decision that changes the future of the Bayfont demands that they explain why they ignored the community’s concerns and voted in favor of the project.

SDCC asks City Council to Reconsider Vote on Westminster Canterbury High Rise High Density Development

PRECEDENT SETTING CITY COUNCIL MEETING, TESTIMONY & VOTE VIDEO ON WCCB IS LIVE

VOTE!

“Under question is the 250-foot height of the proposed tower, which is taller than would typically be allowed for senior living housing. Planning Director Bobby Tajan has said that the council has the option to waive height requirements through the conditional use permit process.”

View article at Pilotonline.com:

“We don’t want a Town Center on Shore Drive,” Solomon said. “Once developers know they can get council to buckle, the developers will start lining up to build high rises on Shore Drive.”

Briefing about beach replenishment using sand dredged from CBBT channel

Briefing includes delay of sand for Ocean Park & no mention of using sand from Lynnhaven Boat Ramp stock pile which is located there to be used for emergency beach replenishment work according to City Staff in Public Works.

View briefing slides that will be presented to City Council tomorrow.

“It’s so tiny that it’s going to immediately diffuse into the environment. And plastics last, depending on the plastic, hundreds or thousands of years. That’s why we say it’s effectively permanent”

View WAVY.com for story.

“It was horrible. It was all bunched into all of the grasses, getting into the water. Just clearly a detriment to the animals around here. So, it was upsetting, to say the least.”

REWARD TO FIND PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE INFO HERE

“At our August monthly meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Commission, we discussed your upcoming consideration of the Westminster Canterbury expansion and determined it important to bring to your attention illustrations and descriptions of “Setbacks and Massing””

Letter Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) sent to City Council about the WCCB enormous 22 story “iconic” building proposal & campus expansion.

Dear Mayor Dyer and City Council Members,

At our August monthly meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Commission, we discussed your upcoming consideration of the Westminster Canterbury expansion and determined it important to bring to your attention illustrations and descriptions of “Setbacks and Massing” on Page 111 of the Shore Drive Corridor Plan.

Specifically, at the bottom of the page, it depicts “Encouraged” and “Not Encouraged” images of building massing and relationships.

The adjoining text states:

“Low and moderate buildings in height should be encouraged throughout the corridor. Rationale: Building in moderate height may better reflect the residential character and neighborhood scale of the corridor.”

The Shore Drive Corridor Plan was adopted by the City Council of Virginia Beach on March 28, 2000.

A copy of Page 111 of the Shore Drive Corridor Plan is attached for your reference.

Respectfully,
Phillip A Davenport
Chairman
Bayfront Advisory Commission

Emphasis ours.

CASH REWARD TO FIND THE PEOPLE WHO TRASHED PHP

How to PLEDGE:

Visit Facebook, COMMENT at bottom, Email Tim or use Instagram below.

Previously:
Thanks to the great people who came out for LITTER REVEAL CLEANUP at PHP today!

Thanks to the great people who came out for LITTER REVEAL CLEANUP at PHP today!

It meant a lot to the people who love PHP VB Parks & Rec also sent out people to help!

Everyone agreed the people who trashed PHP should be held accountable.

“Subsequent to the Planning Commission Public Hearing The Applicant has provided Staff with a New submittal…” ~ Planning Director July 28 2020

Is it more appropriate to DEFER the Public Hearing scheduled for City Council Meeting August 4th 2020 to allow the City to hold the necessary public forum and reach an acceptable compromise rather than try to work a solution during a Public Hearing that also includes very real health risks for its participants considering:

  • The unknown recent changes
  • Large opposition to publicly seen proposed development
  • 3 Councilpersons needing to recuse themselves
  • Inconsistencies throughout the entire process to date
  • The complexity of the precedent setting “iconic building” WCCB will have in the Shore Drive Community for decades
  • Recent FOIA documents available below.
    Note: Attachments mentioned in many emails were not included for the public to view.

    R-F008829_-_Bloom

    R-F008829-072120_-_Mayors_Office_Responsive_Documents

    R-FOIA_F008829_Leahy_E-mail

    R-WC_FOIA

    Affects of the Westminster-Canterbury Expansion

    Re Westminster Canterbury potential expansion

    RE Westminster Canterbury Expansion concern

    RE Shore Drive Community Coalition Position Statement – Westminster Canterbury Expansion

    Westminster Canterbury Expansion concern

    Shore Drive Communtiy Coaltion Position Statement – Westminster Canterbury Expansion

    “We have 2 presentations coming up now because of the complexity . . .” ~ Mayor Dyer July 28th 2020

    It seems everyone understands how complex the proposed development is. What’s the rush to attempt to push it through with incomplete information & lack of public input on an unseen “new submittal”.