Category Archives: News

SDCC Monday Oct. 26th Membership Meeting Agenda 7:30pm at OPVRS Hall

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 10.26.20 SDCC Agenda

 

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday October 26, 2020 from 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall – 3769 East Stratford Rd

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

 Special Presentation – None

Officer’s Reports

Secretary – Kathleen Damon; Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic; Vice President – Empsy Munden;President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-
Proposed Developments –

  • Westminster-Canterbury (WC) High Rise and Memory Center Expansion – City Council approved the expansion on Sept 22. Ocean Shore Condos filed a lawsuit vs City Council on October 20.  A Go Fund Me campaign has been created to help pay for legal fees.  To date, $15k has been raised of the $30k goal.  SDCC requested City Council to reconsider their approval, but no reply was received from them.
  • Marina Shores Apartment Expansion – A 60 unit 5 story (65ft tall) building is being proposed along North Great Neck Rd. where the apartment’s tennis courts are currently located. This application is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission in November.  The Bayfront Advisory Commission did not support the request to remove the existing condition that limits density to 24 units/acre.
  • Marlin Bay Apartment Complex – 227 units 4 story buildings are being proposed at the intersection of Marlin Bay Drive and Shore Drive. The developer cancelled a presentation at the Oct. Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting.
  • Windsong Development – 411 units off of Pleasure House Road in Chic’s Beach. This project is scheduled to go before Planning Commission in December.

 New Business –

Short Term Rental Overlay Districts Proposed for Ocean Park and Cape Story by the Sea – Councilman Louis Jones and Councilman Jim Wood asked for an ordinance change to create STR overlay districts in Ocean Park and Cape Story which will allow “By Right” use of residents for STRs as long as they meet the guidelines in the code.  At the City Council Oct 20 meeting, Ocean Park residents showed up in opposition and Councilman Jones removed the Ocean Park overlay from the ordinance.  Councilman Wood has left the Cape Story overlay in place as a challenge to the residents to oppose if they want his overlay removed.  If not, then 50% of Cape Story will be “By Right” STR.  The BAC will vote at their Nov. meeting on a position for the Bayfont on STR.  It is recommended that SDCC vote on a position statement for STR Overlays in the Bayfront and it’s proposed that all overlays be prohibited from the Bayfront.

November SDCC Meeting – Officers from the 3rd Precinct has asked to come to a November meeting to discuss a community policing plan for Ocean Park and other neighborhoods that are experiencing vandalism and break-ins.  They plan to do a survey of neighborhoods to gather input on issues.  SDCC is working with them to create and promote an online survey.

“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.

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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

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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. 

Bayfront Advisory Commission (BAC) Meeting Agenda for Thurs. Oct. 15th at 3:30pm. Councilman Jim Wood has been asked to speak on his Short Term Rental Overlay Ordinance

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Bayfront Advisory Commission (BAC) Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 15th at 3:30pm at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad

Councilman Jim Wood has been asked to speak on his

Short Term Rental (STR) Overlay Ordinance

Residents of Cape Story by the Sea and Ocean Park (locations of proposed overlay districts) may want to attend since this may be the only public discussion opportunity other than upcoming Planning Commission and City Council public hearings.
***UPDATE – Both Councilmen Wood and Jones have confirmed their attendance per BAC Chair email***
From: Phil Davenport, BAC Chair
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 8:43 AM
Subject: RE: Tomorrow’s BAC meeting
Both CC members, Jones and Wood, are planning to attend today’s BAC meeting. 
Also, because at least one of them needs to leave by 4:30, I will likely move the SRT issue to the first item.
Thank you.

 

Click here for a printable version of the agenda – BAC Agenda 10.15.20

“This request was approved by the City Council on August 12. On September 9, the City Council, as provided for by Section 107(f) of the City Zoning Ordinance, voted to reconsider the approval of August 12. The City Council established the date of October 28 for that reconsideration to occur.”

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In 2003, a thoughtful City Council, after learning more about how Bayvista’s(FORT WORTH DEVELOPMENT INC) original Approval would negatively affect the Shore Drive community because of it’s “mass, density” & “precedent setting” nature – worked on RECONSIDERATION.

City Council August 12 ’03 Approval


View August 12th ’03 City Council Minutes Bayvista Approval
Note: Original Approval was won by 1 vote.

Mayor Obendorf brings up RECONSIDERATION August 26th 2003


City Council August 26 ’03 Reconsideration first discussion PDF

City Council November ’03 Agenda RECONSIDERATION discussion

View November ’03 City Council Agenda for RECONSIDERATION discussion

View November ’03 City Council Minutes of Bayvista Formal Session

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

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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

“I ask that the council to reconsider the tower vote with at least eight voting members present. Three council members — representing Bayside, Lynnhaven and At-Large — have conflicts of interest, and an additional council member was not able to vote on Sept 22.”

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From Pilotonline.com:

I’ve been a resident and single-family homeowner in Cape Story since 1977, where Seagate was the big 13-story condo and Westminster-Canterbury was a big brick building for elderly people to live. The Virginia Beach City Council 5-2 vote approving the 22-story Westminster-Canterbury tower was disappointing: Eight-to-11-stories high seems more appropriate, not 22.

Concern continues about the population explosion on Shore Drive as the Planning Commission continues to approve senior living projects and the council is the last approval needed to go forward.

I ask that the council to reconsider the tower vote with at least eight voting members present. Three council members — representing Bayside, Lynnhaven and At-Large — have conflicts of interest, and an additional council member was not able to vote on Sept 22.

This council can decide if Virginia Beach is to continue to support the strong community engagement of single families or continued high profile growth.

Empsy Munden, Virginia Beach