Category Archives: Quality of Life
STR discussion at City Council Informal Aug 7th vid
ROUTE 35 SHUTTLE RIDERSHIP MORE THAN DOUBLES FROM LAST YEAR !
Woo hoo !
Coverage at 13 News Now includes vid.
New numbers provided by the city say ridership from June 2017 to June 2018 has shot up 113%. A breakdown translates to about 3,000 trips by riders increasing to a little more than 6,000.
“It’s where we as locals can enjoy the Oceanfront during the tourist season and not have to pay 30, 40 dollars for parking or go see a sand soccer event,” said Todd Solomon, President of the Shore Drive Community Coalition.
Learn more about Route 35 at SDCC.info.
Baylines August Newsletter from BAC
Check out the entire Baylines August edition. (6 pg PDF)
Includes info about:
Bayfront Advisory Commission meets
Thursday, August 16, 2018
1:30 -3:30 pm
Newsletter
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center
2800 Shore Drive
City Council Appointed Advisory Board
Strategic Planning Meeting II
This annual meeting is open to the public but is a workshop meeting for the commission to compile priorities to be addressed by the BAC in the coming year. The public is welcome to observe. . . .
And:
The Ocean Park Civic League has officially notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of its opposition to making the Lynnhaven Municipal Wharf permanent and is seeking a public hearing on the matter.
New bike racks are coming to Shore Drive area!
You might remember there was a mix up after a key staff member left COVB.
The new Bicycle/Trails Planner in Parks & Rec is Elaine Linn.
Here’s the updated locations.
SDCC and OPCL Opposition Letters to US Army Corps of Engineers re: Permanent Wharf Permit
SDCC and Ocean Park Civic League have sent letters of opposition to the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the City of Virginia Beach’s permit request to make the existing temporary wharf permanent and to use this permanent wharf as a dredge material transfer station to support the City’s neighborhood dredging program.
Click here to read the SDCC letter – SDCC LMW Permit Opposition Letter to Corps
Click here to read the OPCL letter – Letter to ACOE regarding wharf August 2 2018
You are welcomed and encouraged to send letters of your own to the Corps, but unfortunately they need to be sent by the Monday August 6th deadline. If you can make the deadline, send your letters to scharlene.a.floyd@usace.army.mil
VB City Page coverage of The Canoes dedication
Virginia Beach’s newest public art sculpture, “The Canoes,” by nationally renowned artist Donald Lipski, welcomes visitors to Lynnhaven Inlet and the Chesapeake Bay.
The breathtaking sculpture showcases the rich history of the Lynnhaven Inlet and it will [welcome] residents and visitors to the bay area for many years to come.
~ Mayor Louis Jones
“…there are no plans to use the wharf for a dredge materials transfer station.”
The Canoes unvieled !
About 200 people showed up for the official unveiling of the very pretty in person The Canoes!
The Canoes is up!
Great article, pics & vid at Pilotonline.com:
“I heard that it might rain,” said artist Donald Lipski on Tuesday morning as the wind flung a flurry of raindrops against his back, soaking his jeans.
New Waterfront Sculpture Floats on the Rich Tides of History and Art
Ten aluminum canoes are now permanently docked at the Lynnhaven Inlet.
Monday July 30th – SDCC General Meeting and Special Presentation on Historic Seaview Beach
Click here for a printable version of the agenda 7.30.18 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday July 30, 2018 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentation – What, Where and When was Seaview Beach? Come out to hear a wonderful presentation on the historic Seaview Beach. Don’t know what/where Seaview Beach was? This is a great opportunity to learn some amazing stories and background of this incredible hot spot situated on Shore Drive.
Sherry Dibari, a Norfolk resident who works on independent projects related to the documentation and preservation of regional traditions and cultures, will discuss her research on Seaview Beach that she gathered while creating a research paper funded with a 2017 Research Grant from the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission.
Officer’s Reports:
Secretary – Kathleen Damon
Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic
Vice President – Wally Damon
President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Lynnhaven Colony Storm Water Improvements – City Council is moving $1 million from 2018/19 budget designated for land purchase in the Lynnhaven Colony project to a neighborhood in the southern part of the City. The budget will be replaced in the 2019/20 cycle and no delays are expected in the Lynnhaven project.
Short Term Rentals (STR) –City Council is still discussing how to proceed with STRs. Current plans are to send this item back to the Planning Commission to have them gather more public input and provide more structure to Council’s changes.
Bus Route 35: Shore Drive to Oceanfront – Two months of service and ridership numbers are almost double compared to 2017. Please continue to provide SDCC your comments on the route and will collect them to forward to the City and HRT.
New Business –
Lynnhaven Municipal Wharf –The US Army Corps of Engineers are soliciting comments regarding this permit and have set August 6th as the deadline to receive written responses. SDCC would like to make a motion at tonight’s meeting to support an official response. Please be ready to discuss and vote.
Lesner Bridge Replacement – What is the scheduled opening date? What will be the traffic patterns and lane closure details to support the opening? Hopefully we will have some of these details to present.
Coyotes in the Bayfront Area – I spoke to the Director of First Landing State Park and they would be happy to send a ranger to our next meeting to talk about coyotes in our area. If there is interest, I will pursue a presentation for our August meeting.
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.
***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday August 27, 2018***
“FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE . . .PROPOSED MODIFICATION: The applicant proposes to modify the original permit to allow for a 360 linear feet wide by 20 feet long concrete wharf / bulkhead structure to remain in place.”
View all documents at US Army Corps of Engineers website here.
FEDERAL EVALUATION OF APPLICATION: The decision whether to modify a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits which reasonably may be expected from the modification must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All of the modification’s relevant factors will be considered, including conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use classification, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of this modification. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to modify, condition or deny this proposal. Comments are used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed modification. Anyone may request a public hearing to consider this modification by writing to the District Commander within 30 days of the date of this notice, stating specific reasons for holding the public hearing. The District Commander will then decide if a hearing should be held.
COMMENT PERIOD: Comments on this request for modification should be in writing and can be sent by either email to scharlene.a.floyd@usace.army.mil or by regular mail, addressed to the Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (ATTN: CENAO-WR-S), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011, and should be received by the close of business on August 6, 2018.
PUBLIC COMMENT ENDS 6 AUG 18
The Canoes unveiled July 28th at 11am and you’re invited !
#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager:”July 6th A major milestone will be reached – the placement of the final bridge segment of the EB bridge superstructure . . .”
From an email:
On Friday, July 6th A major milestone will be reached – the placement of the final bridge segment of the EB bridge superstructure (see email below). Although not as important as opening the bridge to traffic (still anticipated the last week of August), this event does mark the end of all major bridge construction for the project. After that segment is placed and the tendons stressed and grouted, the gantry will be launched ahead to the bridge approach (in front of the VA/MD Pilots Association) and readied for disassembly. Work is already taking place for the disassembly of the loading gantry located in the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Area.
I just wanted to let you all know of this event just in case you wanted to be there Friday morning and view from the sidewalk of the WB Bridge. Right now somewhere between 9:30 AM and 11:00AM looks like about the time they will set that segment.
Hooray!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.comFrom: Tom Bettcher [mailto:tbettcher@mcleancontracting.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 5, 2018 3:38 PM
To: Chris J. Wojtowicz
Cc: James P. Hess ; Vincent Smith
Subject: Span 10 UpdateChris,
As of 3:15 this afternoon (Thursday), the crew is working on the 7th of 13 total joints in Span 10. We lost a little time today with the passing showers and had to “unstack” the second half of the segments. Hopefully two more joints will be completed today, leaving 4 to do tomorrow. Typical joints take approximately 45 minutes with the last two, which are done somewhat concurrently, taking slightly longer. As of right now, my best guess for finishing would be between 9:30 AM & 11 AM tomorrow.
Tom Bettcher
Project Superintendent
tbettcher@mcleancontracting.com
Mobile: (757) 651-6265
DEQ responds to OPCL request for more info & a public hearing
View DEQ response. (2pg PDF)
Monday June 25th @7:30pm – SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Route 35 Discount Tickets available at meeting!
Click here for a printable version of the agenda 6.25.18 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday June 25, 2018 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentation – No presentation scheduled
Seaview Beach presentation rescheduled to Monday July 30th meeting.
Officer’s Reports: Secretary – Kathy Damon;Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic; Vice President – Wally Damon;
President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Short Term Rentals (STR) –City Council plans to send this item back to the Planning Commission on July 3rd and ask them to work on it more. To date, no comprehensive public conversation has been performed on the STR topic, only committee and commission hearings. Should SDCC request the City to hold a forum and would you attend to discuss concerns and ideas on STRs?
Lynnhaven Municipal Wharf –Updates on the City’s request to Army Corps of Engineers and Dept. of Environmental Quality to leave a permanent wharf in place after the Lesner Bridge construction is complete.
Bus Route 35: Shore Drive to Oceanfront – After a month of operation how is it working? We would like to hear your comments on the route and will collect them to forward to the City and HRT.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission Outreach Meeting – Updates from BAC’s June 21st meeting to hear community concerns. What issues were identified? Does SDCC have any items that were missed?
Coyotes in the Bayfront Area – Coyotes have been spotted on our beaches, on the Cape Henry bike path, in the State Park, backyards and even walking on Shore Drive and Great Neck Road. Any thoughts, concerns? Possible speaker/presentation topic?
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.
***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday July 30, 2018***
VB “received $10 million last week for the river’s restoration project, and it provided a 50 percent match, worth $5 million, as a condition of the funding”
Check out article at Pilotonline.com:
The area being restored is vital for a healthy water habitat, Forget said. It’s where many species spend the early period of their lifespan, and where animals lay eggs. The restoration will not only support aquatic life in Lynnhaven but also in the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean.
She said the restoration will also aid tourism, specifically the quickly growing sector of ecotourism, a major part of the Hampton Roads economy. With the changes, maybe another president will make a trip out for the oysters.
May 24, 2018 correspondence from Map Environmental to DEQ & ACOE re: proposed Lesner Municipal Wharf and potential uses.
At an unspecified time in the future, the City of Virginia Beach may request to use the dredged material disposal site (landward of the wharf) as a dredged material transfer site for individual SSD dredging projects. The scope and timeline for such projects is unclear . . .
Note: Our understanding is DEQ is still looking for answers from City of Virginia Beach about more detailed info on each of the speific uses the city listed for the new wharf including frequency of trucks for DMTS, safety plan for truck access road, durations for mooring of boats, and more.
We strongly believe a public hearing with DEQ to allow the public to comment is appropriate considering the controversy and impact the industrial use of the wharf could have on the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility and the surrounding neighborhood including use of Shore Drive.
#LESNERBRIDGE update: “looks like we will move the eastbound traffic to the new bridge by the end of August 2018”
Email update today:
Citizens/Residents/Sunbathers/Sportspersons/Everybodyelse:
So you’ve got a great weekend to relax and enjoy the outdoors with the blue skies and great temps. You’ve stretched out in your beach chair, rubbed on the cocoa butter, put in the ear buds, grabbed an icy cold drink and NOW . . . you need something to read.
Well, you’re in luck. Just in time for your weekend, you have before you the missive commonly known as the Lesner Bridge Update . . . also popularly known as the Kingfish Chronicle or the Wojo Report . . . take your pick. In this edition, Kingfish enlightens us all with the latest work and accomplishments as we near the finish line.
While it may be somewhat briefer than past reports, he still finds a way to slip in some of that engineer lingo like “base and intermediate asphalt” and “subgrade on the east side” and “falsework for the gantry launch.” (I know . . . I’m getting goosebumps too!) It just doesn’t read the same when an English major knucklehead writes it.
Even better – just to show you Public Works knows how to economize – you can take this report, print it out and use it on the beach to swat the sand fleas and flies, and then dispose. “Multi-use” is our creed in the PW department . . . (as in – after I write this stuff I have to go empty the trash in everyone’s office and clean the windows . . . they’re “multi-using” me).
As always, we appreciate your questions and e-mails, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.
If you haven’t already signed up for the City’s FB page or Twitter account, I encourage you to do so; that means you will receive timely updates from all things City-related and show that annoying friend who keeps running his yap about everything he THINKS he knows that you are far better informed than him.
If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them – and please feel free to pass this along to others.
Thanks again for all of your interest and patience throughout this project.
Please . . . enjoy this weekend.
And don’t forget . . . stay safe, look out for each other, and put the daggone phone down while you’re driving – don’t make an LOL a DOA.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353*****************************************
Folks:
Since the last update in March, McLean has completed construction of the EB bridge substructure, including Pier columns 8 and 9. They have also completed spans 5, 6, and 7 of the bridge superstructure and are currently working on span 8 (of 10). The new bridge fender system, including the navigational lighting has also been completed.
At the bridge approaches on both sides of the bridge, sidewalks have been placed, curb and gutter has been installed, painting of the retaining walls has been completed, and installation of the permanent handrailing is nearly complete. Base and intermediate asphalt pavement have been placed on the western bridge approach at East Stratford Road,and the subgrade on the east side of the bridge is being prepared for upcoming paving work near Vista Circle.
Multi-use Path Lighting of the new EB Lesner Bridge
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
· Complete Span #8 of the eastbound bridge and launch the gantry to Span #9;
· Pave the eastern bridge approach and the intersection of Shore Drive and Vista Circle;
· Install falsework for the gantry launch at Pier #9;
· Install the expansion joint at Abutment A (near Lynnhaven Boat Ramps); and
· Continue to install bridge lighting systems.
View Looking West at completed Span #7 (right) of the new EB Lesner Bridge
At this point it looks like we will move the eastbound traffic to the new bridge by the end of August 2018. Once we complete this traffic switch, we will move to the westbound bridge to remove the temporary concrete barriers and fencing in order to build the 10-foot wide multi-use path. We are looking at total project completion by November 2018, including all street lighting and landscaping.
That’s it in a nutshell.
Thank You,
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Film “Tidewater” and discussion at Brock
Third in our Conversations about Climate Change Series
June 14, 6:30 – 8:00 PM, Brock Environmental Center“What’s our plan? And how do we become a part of the solution?
We have the knowledge and the technology. How can we export good ideas to the rest
of the world?”The film Tidewater raises all of these issues and more. A terrific film about the challenges and opportunities that confront our region. How do we choose to move forward? Watch a trailer here: https://vimeo.com/213262018
Join us on June 14th to view the film followed by a facilitated discussion. Free and open to all, but please register at Office@LRNow.org or by calling, 757-962-5398.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 