View Baylines Jan 2020 edition.
Massive expansion planned off Shore Drive.
Category Archives: Quality of Life
Technically, the 22 story building that could be coming to Shore Drive is not a skyscraper.
Westminster-Canterbury, a retirement community on the Chesapeake Bay that has been gobbling up adjacent properties to expand its campus, is moving forward with an ambitious proposal to the dismay of some of its neighbors.
eScooters Coming Back Starting April 1st with Stricter Rules
This Spring along with the flowers, eScooters will once again be sprouting up along Shore Drive communities as they did last year. Although this time there will be a couple of new rules they must follow that should help with some of the safety concerns that worried many last year. The most impactful changes for operation in our area will be:
- eScooters will be prohibited from operating on roadways posted with speed limits greater than 25 MPH. So that means no scooters allowed on Shore Drive or North/West Great Neck Roads. Neighborhood side streets, Cape Henry Trail and area sidewalks will be allowed.
- All eScooters operating along shared paths like the Cape Henry Trail will be limited to maximum speeds of 10 MPH. This will hopefully make it safer when sharing the paths with bikes, walkers, strollers and joggers.
You can read more about the new changes at the following Virginia-Pilot article by Stacy Parker. Click the quote below to read the entire article.
Scooters won’t be allowed on roads with speed limits greater than 25 mph.
“To protect more homes from future flooding and to lower flood insurance rates, Virginia Beach is considering funding a local program to buy out or elevate at-risk properties throughout the city.”
There are hundreds of properties in the city that repeatedly flood. Local money could help fund a variety of strategies, including elevating homes, adding flood vents to properties, raising utilities and a quick-buy program after storms.
VBCPS is now accepting applications from current 10th grade students interested in attending the Environmental Studies Program, a new innovative program opening at the Brock Environmental Center in September 2020.
10th graders, start here to begin application process:
Application Process
Before entering grade 11, students will apply for admission to the program in the fall of their sophomore year. An essay formulated around the topics of Sustainable Economics and Business Innovation, Social Sustainability and Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Stewardship will be included in the application and will be used to identify candidates who show a passion for and interest in the fields of study. . . .
Editors note: Dream big and never quit. You never know what you’ll be able to accomplish in spite of it being “impossible”.
Sea Level Wise Adaptation Strategy Public Meeting schedule includes one near Shore Drive!
February 15, 2020 – Cox High School – 2425 Shorehaven Drive – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
View Comprehensive Sea Level Rise page at VBGov.com.
It is well documented that sea levels have been rising over the last century. This impacts coastal communities as virtually all human infrastructure will experience some risk. The story of Sea Level Rise and how it effects the City of Virginia Beach is detailed below:
The threat of sea level rise is a very real one, and it’s one that coastal regions like Hampton Roads must face and prepare for. . . .
Graphic from just one idea that was discussed.
“A classroom at Pleasure House Point opens a world of exciting possibilities that will have a ripple effect on the community and beyond for years to come. I’m so proud to support this mission.”
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.
New extra pedestrian love at OPVRS will be completed around DEC 21
Synced lights & crosswalks.
What Would You Like to See in a New City Manager?
The closest public input meeting you could attend was no where near Shore Drive community. Again.
You can take a Survey created by the recruiting company searching for our next City Manager online however and we encourage you to do so.
Start at this link for their SurveyMonkey.com survey.
Questions include:
Which three of the following leadership traits do you believe are most important for the next Manager to possess?
Which five of the following abilities and skills do you believe are most essential to perform the work of the City Manager?
What are the top three challenges you think will face the new City Manager?
“Existing AM and PM peak hour traffic counts were conducted on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the US Route 60 (Shore Drive)/Pleasure House Road intersection.”
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.
Town Hall Meetings Scheduled For City Manager Recruitment Process – Dec 2nd through Dec 5th
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
Invites went out to see what Bonaventure is proposing at Windsong in Chesapeake Beach. Join us DEC 2nd!
SDCC General Meeting Agenda – Monday Nov. 25th at 7:30pm
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?***
All eScooters to be Removed from City After Dec. 16, 2019
With the City’s amended ordinance, eScooter companies will have to remove scooter after 12/16/19 until Spring 2020. See information from City’s website below. Also check out the survey results and the over 2400 comments received from residents regarding eScooters and their use in Virginia Beach.
Important: Effective 12/16/19
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.
The goal with the new requirements is to create a safer environment for all, while allowing businesses to provide additional mobility options to get around.
eScooter information page – https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/communications-office/hot-topics/Pages/E-Scooter-Guidelines.aspx
eScooter Survey Results link – https://publicinput.com/E-Scooters
LAKE BRADFORD / CHUBB LAKE DRAINAGE STUDY November 2019 | CIP 7-053 presentation from Open House, and Survey due DEC 12
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.
November Baylines from Bayfront Advisory Committee
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.
“We would really like to see the city step up and take care of this area and implement Phase 4 and implement Phase 3 now,” said Ocean Park Civic League President Andrew Broyles.”
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.
Please take our new Survey about Route 35 so we can help improve it!
It should take you less then 3 minutes to complete it.
Note: we will be making the Survey results public.
Thank you!
Have ideas which VB you want to live in? Take the Comprehensive Plan survey NOW to help CoVB set a vision for a city you want to live in.
Start here to take the Official CoVB Comp Plan survey.
Questions include:
For the local economy to grow, what job sectors would you like to see develop or expand? (select all that apply)
Which of the following were reasons you chose to live where you do now? (select all that apply)
What 3 things would you change about Virginia Beach?
Route 35 numbers include a September 2019 blowup increase in ridership!
Woo hoo fans of Route 35!
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!
#WeLoveShoreDrive 