Category Archives: Safety

Dewberry sea level rise study update to City Council Informal Session video from May 7 2019

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This is a very detailed presentation

Current Public Hearing Schedule

The same information will be available at each of the 5 public meetings. The presentation at the beginning (approx. 10 minutes) will be focused on the watershed (Atlantic, Lynnhaven, Elizabeth and Southern) will be tailored to the location. The revised dates and locations for the meetings are as follows:

May 29, 2019 – Virginia Aquarium (Atlantic Ocean)
May 30, 2019 – Kempsville High School (Elizabeth River)
June 3, 2019 – Kellam High School (Southern)
June 5, 2019 – Princess Anne High School (Lynnhaven)
June 6, 2019 – Creeds Elementary School (Southern)

SDCC Meeting Minutes for 2019’s Q1 Posted

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For any of you that may have missed an SDCC meeting this year, have no fear, you can get caught up by visiting our SDCC Minutes page or by clicking on this years Q1 minutes below.  Thank you to our wonderful SDCC Secretary, Kathy Damon, for all her hard work and details.  These minutes are a great source of information on many relevant topics and presentations that pertain to our Shore Drive area.

3.25.19 SDCC Minutes
2.25.19 SDCC Minutes
1.28.19 SDCC Minutes

ROUTE 35 STARTS MAY 20th !

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From Baylines May 2019 Newsletter:

The Bayfront Shuttle, Hampton Roads Transit’s Route 35, resumes service May 20, running every 30 minutes between Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road and Rudee Inlet. This will be the third year for the bus route that connects the Bayfront with the Oceanfront. Passengers will be able to buy tickets on their mobile device this year by downloading the GOHRT application.

One new tweak to Route 35 will have the shuttles jog north to the Fort Story gate for those passengers who want to visit the Cape Henry Lighthouse and other public attractions on the base, eliminating the need to hike from Shore Drive to the 89th Street gate.

The base runs shuttles from that gate to the lighthouse, which reopened last weekend after a renovation and dune restoration project.

Our ROUTE 35 page at SDCC.info.

May Baylines from Bayfront Advisory Committee

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View May 2019 Baylines Newsletter

Route 35 shuttle resumes; Light reopens
Ballyhoos makes permit presentation
Bike trail at State Park studied
and more . . .

Monday April 30th – SDCC General Meeting at 730pm – Bonaventure Apartment Development Presentation

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda  4.29.19 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday April 29, 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 –

Bonaventure Realty Group – Expansion Plans for Windsong Apartments on Pleasure House

Representatives from the Bonaventure Realty Group will present their current plans to redevelop and expand the Windsong Apartment complex located on Pleasure House Road north of Shore Drive. Previously presented plans had the old apartments being increased a total of 160 units from 272 to 432. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. As always, all are welcome to attend SDCC meetings.

Officer’s Reports

Secretary – Kathleen Damon
Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic
Vice President – Wally Damon
President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-
Bayfront Beach Replenishment Update – An update on the project will hopefully be available. The project has been delayed and appears to continue to be pushed to the right and will most likely take place through the summer season. When is the start date and what are the impacts to the beach during construction?
4th of July Fireworks for Cape Henry Beach – City Council and Staff are evaluating the request to take over the planning and execution of the show. A decision should be forthcoming after the “Something in the Water” event is over which will allow Staff to focus on the request.
Dog Leash Law for Beaches – A public hearing was held on Wed April 10th at 630pm at the City’s Law Enforcement Training Facility. City Council has request the topic be studied for a year before any changes are made to the code. A steering committee will be formed to help with this evaluation. It is SDCC plan to invite representatives of this committee to a future SDCC to present their plans and how our community can provide input.

New Business –
Parking Meters at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp – The City has installed a metered parking kiosk for public parking at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. If you plan on using this lot, please be aware of the update to avoid tickets.
Shore Drive Improvements in Ocean Park to Start Soon – $600,000 of improvement to the Shore Drive/Stratford Road intersection, is fully funded and expected to begin later this spring. This would involve a “fully functional” traffic light with pedestrian crossing signals, an emergency signal to accommodate Ocean Park Fire and Rescue
Cape Henry Ditch Volunteer Clean Out Corps Proposal – Representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be discussing a plan to have volunteers clean out and maintain a section of the ditch behind Food Lion. The Cape Story meeting will take place on Monday May 13th at 7:30pm at Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church.

Upcoming Chances for Civic Engagement
Tuesday April 30th City Council Budget Input – 6pm at City Council Chambers. Other ways to provide comments are posted at https://sdcc.info/2019/04/25/city-budget-public-hearings-scheduled-last-chance-for-input-on-tuesday-april-30th/
Tuesday May 14th Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Forum – 6:00pm – 8:00pm @ Brock Environmental Center (3663 Marlin Bay Drive, Virginia Beach 23455). Speakers will discuss the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint (Phase III Water Implementation Plan/WIP).
Tuesday June 11th – Primary Election – 6am to 7pm at your normal polling locations.

Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.

***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday May 20, 2019***
Please note the meeting will be a week early due to Memorial Day

Virginia Beach sees jump in Airbnb listings, more than 500 are being investigated

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View article at Pilotonline.com:

Phil Kellam, commissioner of the revenue, said that’s about five times the normal rate of potential improper listings.

A city consultant is looking into every advertisement.

“In dismissing the developer’s lawsuit, the judge affirmed the council’s prerogative to factor in sea level rise and future flooding when deciding on whether to allow new construction, even if these projections are not established in city codes or ordinances. “

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View article at Pilotonline.com:

After the judge’s decision, McFarland said it was too early to decide if he and his client would appeal the ruling.

Balloon sculpture at Virginia Aquarium encourages people to STOP RELEASING FLYING GARBAGE that eventually lands, litters and tortures critters both on land & water.

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The FLYING GARBAGE they/we are speaking of are deadly helium balloons that are plastic garbage when they land.

At Pilotonline.com:

Two new balloon sculptures at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center are not just works of art. The oversized sea turtle and butterfly are also displaying an ugly picture of balloon debris and its damaging effects on wildlife.

Visit & learn more about the amazing Virginia Aquarium here.

You can learn more about the FLYING GARBAGE at BallonsBlow.org here.

All released balloons, including those falsely marketed as “biodegradable latex,” return to Earth as ugly litter. They kill countless animals and cause dangerous power outages.

Balloons are also a waste of Helium, a finite resource. Balloons can travel thousands of miles and pollute the most remote and pristine places.

April Baylines from Bayfront Advisory Committee

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View April 2019 Baylines

News includes losing funding for Riverwalk walkway, Phase 3 update, Phase 4 being unfunded, Baylake Pines getting speed tables, fireworks and more.

City Considers Requiring Leashes for Dogs on its Beaches

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At VBGov.com:

The Virginia Beach Police Department will be hosting a community forum Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Training Academy (411 Integrity Way) to gather public feedback.

It will be used in considering a proposed change to City Code Section 6.5 (animals on the beach and adjacent areas) for the City Council’s consideration. The proposed change would require all dogs to be leashed on City beaches at all times. Other restrictions in the code would remain unaffected.

Editors note: It would be great if fines for unleashed dogs & not cleaning up were aggressively enforced at our VB Parks too.

“Budget Director David Bradley said if the council accepts the increases, it would cost the average resident about $15 more a month, or an additional $180 per year.”

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That’s additional $180 / year.

News at Pilotonline.com:

About 23 percent of the proposed budget would go toward funding stormwater. To compare, in 2017 — the year Hurricane Matthew hit — the city had set aside just 9 percent.

SDCC General Meeting and Special Presentation on City’s Sea Level Rise/Flooding Study – Mon March 25th at 7:30pm

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Click here for a printable version of the agenda 3.25.19 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday March 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 –

Virginia Beach Comprehensive Sea Level Rise and Recurrent Flooding Planning Study

Charles J. Bodnar and Sue E. Kriebel of the city’s Stormwater Engineering Center will discuss the results of the $3 million City funded study being worked by Dewberry consultants. The study shows seven major areas of the City that could have heavy financial impact from future SLR and flooding. Suggested solutions include storm surge walls along the beach from Fort Story to Little Creek with gates at the Lesner Bridge. This along with others projects could cost the upwards of $2 billion. Mr. Bodnar and Ms. Kriebel will also discuss next steps for this study which will include public input and conversations regarding funding and project ranking.

Officer’s Reports
Secretary – Kathleen Damon
Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic
Vice President – Wally Damon
President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-
Bayfront Beach Replenishment Update – The bid has been awarded to dredge the Lynnhaven Inlet and to use the sand to replenish the Cape Henry Beach. Updates on the project start and finish dates will be provided as they are shared.
Community Rating System (CRS) – Official release of Virginia Beach status and initial ranking will be provided in April. Estimates show we should be in the 10% to 20% cost savings to a property’s annual flood insurance premium.
4th of July Fireworks for Cape Henry Beach – Cape Story by the Sea Civic Association officers and the Bayfront Advisory Commission Chairman met with Councilman Jones, Deputy City Manager Cover and City Entertainment contractor IMG to request that the 35 year old annual event become a City managed and operated show. State Fire Marshal regulations, lack of pyrotechnic company support and insufficient funding have become too restrictive for the event to continue to be held at the State Park and coordinated by residents.

New Business –
Windsong Apartments Redevelopment – The 14+ acre site located between Pleasure House Road and North Hampton Blvd. currently contains 272 units and are approximately 40 year old. The developer, Bonaventure, is requesting a rezoning to allow the number of units to increase by 160 to a total of 432. Along with the new units, the developer plans to renovate the old units that it will keep. A presentation of this project by the developer has been scheduled for our April 29th SDCC meeting.
Dog Leash Law for Beaches – The City’s Animal Control Department is asking for a change to the City’s Dog Leash Law that will require all dogs to be on a leash when on any City’s public beach. On Bayfront beaches, dogs would need to be leashed at all times during the off-season (Labor Day to Memorial Day) and between 6pm and 10am during the season (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Dogs are prohibited to be on the beach at all from 10am to 6pm during the season. A public hearing will be held on Wed April 10th at 630pm at the City’s Law Enforcement Training Facility.
Meeting of Three Commanders – A Virginia Historical Highway Marker commemorating the Sept. 18, 1781 meeting of Washington, Rochambeau and De Gasse was placed in the Lynnhaven Colony Park along Shore Drive and dedicated this past Wed. March 6th.
Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.

***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday April 25, 2019.***
Special Presentation – Windsong Development Plans by Bonaventure

“Animal Control officers want to require those pets to be leashed on city beaches at all times.”

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Article at Pilotonline.com.

Over the last two years, 33 incidents involving dog bites occurred on the city’s public beaches, and more than half of the aggressors were unleashed dogs, according to data provided by Conti.

More articles in search results for “leash” at SDCC.info.

Baylines March Newsletter from BAC

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View Baylines March ’19 Edition.

A proposal to redevelop the Windsong Apartment complex off Pleasure House Road would increase the number of units by nearly 60 percent, but update the 40+-year-old complex with new amenities, developers told the Bayfront Advisory Commission.

The proposal, on a 14.85-acre site between Pleasure House and Northampton Boulevard north of Shore Drive, is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission in April for a series of proposed rezonings that would increase the complex from 272 units to 432*. Of those, 216 would involve renovated apartments and 216 new units.

Emphasis ours.
*Note: Zoning request increase could create potential for more than 432 units total.

Downloadable PDF’s of Phase 3 from VB Public Works

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Thanks to Bill Purcell, Project Manager of Phase 3, for the files for Phase 3.

View CIP Status Page of Phase 3.

View the downloadable PDFs of Phase 3 from VB Public Works at Google Drive here.

A screen shot pulled from each PDF file below.

Utilities PDF of Phase 3

Signals PDF of Phase 3

Roadway & Lighting PDF of Phase 3

Frontend PDF of Phase 3

MOTxs PDF of Phase 3

MOTPlans PDF of Phase 3

Planting Plan PDF Phase 3

One of the biggest challenges you might have heard is the requirement to maintain 4 lanes of traffic during construction of P3*.

*P3 = Phase 3

Public Works Presentation from Feb 2019 Meeting

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Thank to Bill Purcell & Dave Jarman from Public Works for coming out Monday night to present what’s happening on Shore Drive soon!

View SDDC 2019-02-25 Presentation.

SDCC General Meeting and Special Presentation on Shore Drive Improvement Project – Monday Feb 25th at 7:30pm

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click here for a printable version of the agenda – 2.25.19 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday February 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 –

Shore Drive Corridor Improvement Phase 3 (CIP 2-117) – Lesner Bridge to Great Neck Rd.

Come out and see the final designs, learn when construction will start and how long the project will last. Mr. Bill Purcell, City Project Manager, will provide an update on the next big construction project for Shore Drive and will hold a question and answer session after the presentation. This project begins at Vista Circle, near the eastern end of the Lesner Bridge, and extends eastward through the Great Neck Road intersection and terminates at Croix Drive. This project will improve vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow and safety in the roadway and intersections; improve storm drainage; include a multi-use trail, 5-ft sidewalk and on-street bike lanes; and enhance the corridor with aesthetic elements such as landscaping and lighting. For more information – http://cipstatus.vbgov.com/ProjectDetail.aspx?id=1833

Officer’s Reports

Secretary – Kathleen Damon
Treasurer’s Report –Tim Solanic
Vice President – Wally Damon
President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-
Dewberry Study on Sea Level Rise & ASERT Meetings – Ms. Sue E. Kriebel, PE, Stormwater Engineering Center Department of Public Works, has agreed to attend our March meeting and present an update on the study, details on recommendations for our Bayfront area and next steps that include public engagement.

Bayfront Beach Replenishment Update – Has the contract for the Cape Henry Beach replenishment been awarded and what is the start time.

Community Rating System (CRS) – Update on when we will know our rating and when it will take effect.

New Business –
Shore Drive 35 MPH Speed Limit 10th Anniversary – Update on request for fatality numbers over the past 10 years. Discuss on planning an anniversary event for Summer 2019. The speed limit was reduced as part of a trial study period in 2009 then followed by permanent implementation.

Development Updates – Delta by Marriott at old Resort Hotel location and new apartment development at old Marina Shores Marina site.

Community Concerns– Please share any issues or concerns your groups/organizations may have at this time.

***Next SDCC Meeting – Monday March 25, 2019.***
Special Presentation on Dewberry Sea Level Rise Study

VB City Council Needs Your Input – Take A Planning Survey To Help – Deadline Friday Feb 8th!!!

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Unfortunately we weren’t given a lot of notice on this one and the survey has been broken for the past 2 days, but you still have some time to take it.  It should only take 5-10 minutes and gives us Bayfront residents a chance to rank how you feel about sea level rise and storm water/storm surge flooding issues.

VB 2019 Planning and Beyond

The Virginia Beach City Council is seeking residents’ input on what they believe should be the City’s goals and priorities. The feedback will help the Council plan for and allocate resources.
Deadline for participation in this survey is Friday, February 8, 2019.

Click here to take the survey

Baylines EXTRA from BAC

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Baylines Extra February 2019

Charles J. Bodnar and Sue E. Kriebel from Virginia Beach Public Works Department’s Stormwater Engineering Center, are scheduled to brief the Bayfront Advisory Commission on the Dewberry Sea Level Rise study at its February meeting.

We are also working on an event that includes Dewberry & VB Staff to discuss their work on sea level rise, storm water & nuisance flooding.

Join us!

Bayline February newsletter from BAC

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View Baylines February 2019 Edition.

It includes:

Strategic Plan briefing to be held

    The Bayfront Advisory Commission recommended that its officers meet city officials to forward and discuss the 2019 Strategic Plan. The plan lists highest priority project items
    • Funding Phase IV of Shore Drive improvements from the Lesner Bridge west to Shady Oaks Road
    • Water issues (stormwater drainage, Dewberry sea-level rise study, city marina development, city wharf/Osprey
    Park, pedestrian walkway under bridge from Vita Circle to Page Avenue.
    • Sand replenishment (Cape Henry, Ocean Park, Crab Creek)
    • Infill development (Future nature, look of the Bayfront; work with Planning on Comprehensive Plan revisions)
    • Landscape design of Route 13 and Shore Drive interchange.
    The plan also addresses high-priority communications items, monitoring ongoing concerns and liaisons, partnerships and city staff support.
    The full plan will be posted after city officials receive it. It was developed after citizen meetings, a BAC brain-storming retreat and committee consideration of the items. Ordinarily, the annual plan would have been forwarded to the council and city manager’s office in late summer/early fall. But with an unprecedented number of City Council seats up for election in November, the BAC agreed to wait until the new council was seated to bring the plan forward.