“People really love coming to the bridge—more than just crossing over the top, it becomes an experience sitting underneath the bridge and seeing the lights from the beach,” Wojtowicz said. “It’s very majestic looking from the beach, seeing these aesthetic lights. It makes an impression on folks that see it.”
Screen shot of construction cam December 22 ’18.
From an email:
We are now anticipating a fall 2020 construction start for the PHP wetland restoration and mitigation bank project. Our Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI) has been approved subject to a few minor clarifications. We expect final approval in late January and will begin the JPA process and prepare final bidding documents. We should be in a position to detail a firm construction schedule at that time.
The energy & excitement by students & VB Schools staff at the Ground Breaking Ceremony yesterday was incredible!
“Future legislators, scientists, engineers, and architects will walk these halls, explore these beautiful grounds, learn in this sustainably-built classroom, and ultimately change the world,” said VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence. “Where better can students experience our city’s and our division’s unique educational opportunities than here at the Brock Center, truly a monument to environmental design and sustainability.”
When will the classroom be built?
Construction will begin in early 2020, with completion during the summer of 2020. Students will begin attending the Environmental Studies Program after Labor Day, 2020.
It’s amazing how much has been accomplished since “RESIDENTS ANNOUNCE PLAN TO BUY PLEASURE HOUSE POINT Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) – Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Author: SCOTT HARPER THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT” was published:
The foundation will solicit public and private money and seeks to preserve the property for environmental education[.]
Yet, there is much more work to do as not all of what you think is PHP is permanently preserved yet.
Synced lights & crosswalks.
Construction of the 1,600 square-foot facility will begin in early 2020 and students will begin attending classes there after Labor Day, 2020.
The contractor will be installing mast arms at the intersection. There will be single lane closures on east and west bound Shore Drive. Police will stop traffic for approximately 10-15 minutes in each direction while the mast arms are lifted and installed.
You’ve heard about Bonaventure speculating on Windsong Apartments in Chesapeake Beach – here is their traffic study taken March 2019.
Click graphic to view their traffic study.
Please Note – Unfortunately none of the planned meetings are being held north of Virginia Beach Blvd. SDCC has asked City Council and the Search Firm to try and add a meeting in the northern part of the City where the majority of the population lives. Stay tuned, but plan on attending one of the listed meetings just in case our request is too late.
Town Hall Meetings Scheduled For City Manager Recruitment Process
What qualities, background and experiences would you like to see in candidates for the Virginia Beach city manager position? The Virginia Beach City Council, along with the City’s recruitment consultant, GovHR USA, invite you to participate in a Town Hall meeting to share your thoughts as well as identify challenges and opportunities facing the City of Virginia Beach. Your opinions will be considered in the recruitment and selection process. In addition to the town hall meetings, residents will have the opportunity to participate in an online survey. It will be posted on VBGov.com during the week of December 2.
Town Hall Meeting Dates and Locations:
Monday, December 2, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Building 19, Virginia Beach Municipal Center, 2416 Courthouse Dr.
Tuesday, December 3, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Bow Creek Recreation Center, 3426 Club House Rd.
Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Kempsville Recreation Center, 800 Monmouth Ln.
Thursday, December 5, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd.
The actual article can be found on the City’s website at the following link – https://www.vbgov.com/news/pages/selected.aspx?release=4582&title=town+hall+meetings+scheduled+for+city+manager+recruitment+process
“The event is timed to give you new ideas and proven tools to employ in advance of the Virginia General Assembly (Jan-Mar 2020), perhaps the most decisive time for the Chesapeake Bay here in Virginia every year.”
Click to learn more!
To expand Westminister.
Click here for a printable version of the agenda 11.25.19 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday November 25, 2019 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-
Route 35 Bayfront to Oceanfront Shuttle – SDCC has created a survey to collect feedback on the good and bad of the route. The survey results will be consolidated, posted on our website and shared with City Staff and HRT reps. The survey will be open until Nov. 30th. https://sdcc.survey.fm/sdcc-route-35-nov-19-survey
Electric Scooters – The City Code was amended by City Council to require e-scooter companies to have a franchise license with the City to rent e-scooters in Virginia Beach. The effective date of the ordinance is 12/16/19, which means e-scooters will not be available from that date until City Council awards a franchise license to companies to rent them. That timeframe is anticipated to be by April 2020.
Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Stormwater Improvement Meeting – The City’s Public Works held a public information session and presented background and initial improvement plans. Tidal gates, pump stations and channel improvements were shown. Residents asked for lake dredging. The presentation can be found here https://weloveshoredrive.com/2019/11/18/lake-bradford-chubb-lake-drainage-study-november-2019-cip-7-053-presentation-from-open-house-and-survey-due-dec-12/
New Business –
Shore Drive Improvements Phase 3 and Phase 4 – With the construction start date for Phase 3 moved to summer 2021, it may be possible to pursue an accelerated start date for Phase 4 which isn’t scheduled to begin until 2024. A cost of scope savings may be possible if construction projects are combined.
Bonaventure/Windsong Development – The developer pulled the application from the Planning Commission’s December 11th meeting. It is unclear if and when the developer will reapply.
Oceanfront TGIF Funding – Taxes collected from hotel rooms, meals and cigarettes goes into a fund for oceanfront projects. Should the portions paid by Shore Drive be used for projects in the Bayfront and what are some good ideas for projects that could use these funds.
Shore Drive Community Coalition Future Structure – A new URL [website] http://www.WeLoveShoreDrive.com has been created to be a possible transition for the future. A list of ideas will be shared and discussed on how best to progress with a community organization next year. After 20 years, are monthly meetings necessary? Would once a year with the ability to set up emergency forums work? Will an online presence be acceptable to keep residents informed and what tools would be helpful?
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.
*** Next SDCC Meeting – Should we have a meeting in December or break for holidays?***
The City of Virginia Beach’s Department of Public Works is seeking public input on repetitive residential and roadway flooding within the area adjacent to Joint Expedition Base (JEB) Little Creek, Chesapeake Beach, Northampton Boulevard, and Shore Drive.
Survey will CLOSE DEC 12
Download Official Presentation
An Open House Meeting was held by the Virginia Beach Public Works Department, November 14, 2019, at the Bayside Recreation Center.
City District(s): Bayside
This project will be for the design, acquisition, and construction of stormwater and related roadway improvements necessary to alleviate widespread flooding due to moderate rain events, and during periods of significant high tides from the Chesapeake Bay. Lake Bradford and Lake Chubb are tidally influenced by the Chesapeake Bay via their outfall drainage ditch system that runs through Joint Expeditionary Base – Little Creek. The eastern portion of Stormwater Watershed 31 including areas west of Northampton Blvd and portions of Church Point and Thoroughgood drain into Lake Bradford before they drain through Little Creek and into the Chesapeake Bay. The drainage improvements include, but are not limited to, storm drain pipe and structure improvements, additional stormwater culverts under multi-lane arterial roadways, tide control devices such as mechanized sluice gates, stormwater management pond improvements and, potentially, some channel/ditch clearing.
View November Baylines 2019 Newsletter.
(PLEASE NOTE: Next Meeting is THURS NOV 21 at 3:30pm at Bayside Rec Center.)
Johnson assured the Commission that funding for the $29.1 million project would not be diverted to other CIP projects. Part of the reason for additional design stemmed from staffing difficulties in the wake of the May 31, 2019, mass shooting at Building 2 in the municipal complex, he said. This resulted in relocating Public Works Department offices, equipment and workers along with turnover due to retirements and transfers.
Another part of the Shore Drive improvements, Phase IV (CIP 2-118), between Marlin Bay Dive and the Lesner Bridge was paused after concept design was completed in 2008. Design is planned to resume next year with a projected March 2024 construction start. Funding for this $15.5 million phase is #1 to the BAC’s high-priority 2019-20 strategic plan.
News includes 18 month delay for Phase 3, Phase 4 delayed again, City seeks public input into Comp Plan & Fire Department services and more.
View video & story by Reporter Ali Weatherton at 13NewsNow.com.
“nothing really safe there for pedestrians”
And:
“Shore Drive is the 3rd most traveled road in Virginia Beach”
Did you know it’ll be ~20 years between completing only 2 Phases of bringing Shore Drive up to the standards of the rest of the city.
Let’s step up and take care of this area now.
It should take you less then 3 minutes to complete it.
Note: we will be making the Survey results public.
Thank you!
Please Note: when comparing the totals year over year(YOY) that Fiscal Year(FY) 2020 ends in June 2020.
Pro tip: Route 35 is a fun & easy way to travel around Shore Drive.
Thanks to everyone who continues to work on making Route 35 better!
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 10.28.19 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday October 28, 2019 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-
Route 35 Bayfront to Oceanfront Shuttle – Final ridership numbers showed an average increase of 15% for 2019 over last year. The numbers for 2019 should be leveling off and what can be expected as normal from now on without promotion. This route seems to be a good one and City council would be smart to continue it’s funding for future operation.
Tidal Sluice Gates Automatic Operation Broken – The tidal sluice gates near Citrus and Food Lion have had their automatic operation fixed. Parts are on order for the gate near First Landing Lane. It will be operated manually until fixed. Call Public Work Operations at 385-1470 during a storm event if these gates aren’t working or appear damaged.
Electric Scooters – City Council received position statements from BAC and SDCC requesting eScooter usage be prohibited in the Shore Drive Overlay District. City Council held an informal briefing on Oct 15th to discuss eScooters and how they should be regulated within the entire city. No decision has been made at this time, but staff wants regulations in place by the end of 2019. The Council meeting can be viewed at our website.
Ocean Park Beach Sand Replenishment –The Army Corps of Engineers permit change is now closed. The City will be soliciting bids for the project with a planned construction start set for early 2020.
New Business –
Bonaventure/Windsong Development – The proposed development is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission on Wednesday December 11th at noon. Chesapeake Beach is still in opposition to the 50% increase in density and the adverse impact it will have on traffic along Pleasure House Road.
Shore Drive Improvements Phase 3 – Great Neck to Lesner Bridge – We learned from Public Works Director, Mark Johnson, that this project has been delayed for another year and a half and is now scheduled to start Summer 2021. The delay is due to site acquisition and Dominion Power issues.
Lake Bradford/Chubb Lake Stormwater Improvement Meeting – The City’s Public Works will hold a public information meeting on Thursday November 14th from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Bayside Rec Center (4500 First Court Rd). If your neighborhood drains into Lake Bradford, Chubb Lake and even Lake Joyce, this is a must attend meeting to see how changes may impact your area.
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.
Civic Engagement Opportunities –
• Comprehensive Plan Survey now live – https://www.publicinput.com/VBCompPlan
• ELECTION DAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5th – REMEMBER TO GET OUT AND VOTE
***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday November 25, 2019***
City Council was briefed by Brian Solis at their Tuesday Oct 15th informal session on proposed regulations regarding operation of eScooters throughout the City. The SDCC and the BAC both sent position statements to the City Council recommending eScooters be prohibited from use in the Shore Drive Overlay District.
Below is a link to an article in the Virginian-Pilot and a link to the video of the briefing at the Council’s informal session.
A 2nd Precinct Officer will be present to talk about the new rules and regulations for the Neighborhood Watch Program. This is an open meeting and any neighborhood with an existing Watch or thinking about starting one should definitely attend.
Cape Story by the Sea Civic Association Meeting is on Monday, October 14, starting at 7:30 pm at the Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church at 2217 W. Great Neck Road.
This month, a representative of the Virginia Beach Police department will explain the concept and process behind the Neighborhood Watch Program. This provides a mechanism to get important crime-related information out to the residents quickly, and in an organized manner.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 