Here’s a few select items from update.
Here’s all the latest plans.
Plans update to Shore Drive Pedestrian Improvement project in Ocean Park
Category Archives: Shore Drive is embarrassing
Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase III & Shore Drive Pedestrian Improvements
Shore Drive Phase 3 to start in May 2025 – Learn about this 3 year Improvement project
The Shore Drive Phase 3 Improvement Project(SDP3), first identified as a City Capital Improvement Project (CIP) in 2007, is finally getting ready to happen. This 3 year long construction project will improve the section of Shore Drive between the Lesner Bridge and North Great Neck Road, making the road safer for pedestrians and vehicles. Construction will take place over the next 3 years and will definitely have an impact on our Bayfront area in the process.
In an effort to help provide as much information to the residents as possible, we have been working with the City and Councilman Cummings to gather as many details as possible to help answer questions regarding this project. Thanks to the City’s Public Works and Councilman Cummings, we are able to provide the following detailed drawings for construction, traffic management and storm water plans. Please see below for a link to our project page for the SDP3 project.
https://weloveshoredrive.com/phase3/
The detailed project drawing documents should be able to help answer some of the following questions we have heard from the residents.
- What is planned for the Storm Water control at the Page Harbor Landing area?
- What is planned for the entrances at the boat ramp parking area near Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls?
- What is planned for the BoBo’s Fine Chicken and Lynnhaven Colony Park parking areas?
- What is planned for the Lynnhaven Beach Condominium entrance/ Westminster Canterbury acceleration lane area?
- What impact to Live Oak trees is planned along the entrance area to Westminster Canterbury?
- What are the impacts to entrances for Shorebreak, Bay Local, Cape Henry Exxon and CP Shuckers?
- What are the Shore Drive median impacts to areas in Cape Story by the Sea near Beech Street?
Additional information regarding this CIP can be found at the City’s website link https://vbgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/11ca2d264a6c45aeaf6e6b4723297341
The City’s CIP data sheet can be seen below
We understand that this data is a lot to digest and we plan to help by posting drawing analysis reviews and City provided updates as best possible. Similar to the Lesner Bridge 3 year project, we can make it through the pain to get to the well deserved benefits and information will be a critical factor.
On Thursday May 1st, there will also be an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming construction project at the District 8 Councilman Cummings Community Meeting. More information on this meeting can be found below.
Local Road Safety Action Plan. Take a survey to improve safety!
START HERE TO TAKE THE NEW SURVEY. (opens in new tab)
Some press at 13NewNow story:
Virginia Beach officials outline plans to improve road safety
After many accidents involving pedestrians, the city is working to improve pedestrian safety.
BAC Thursday MAR 21 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
BAC, the Bayfront Advisory Commission meets at OPVRS, the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Thursday February 15th at 330pm. Join us!
OPVRS is located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Enter door opposite Shore Drive.
Phase 3 & Cape Henry beach replenishment updates
Public Works’ Jeremy Kline updates regarding Shore Drive Phase 3 and Cape Henry dredging/beach replenishment:
- Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase III
- Real estate acquisition and private utility relocations are underway
- Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of the year
- Cape Henry dredging plan/beach replenishment
- USACE is forecasting a solicitation as early as the end of February.
- Contract award expected in April with an NTP in May.
- These dates are subject to change if the solicitation is not posted by the end of the month
View CIP in new tool here. Sorry can’t link directly to individual CIPs. Phase 3 is CIP #100381.
Refresher on Bayfront documents including various planning, studies & guidelines.
Thanks Hank!
I’ve attached the 1997 ULI Study and the text from Zoning Ordinance pertaining to the Shore Drive Corridor Overlay District. Below are links to the following:
Comprehensive Plan (Section 1.3 – Suburban Area; Page 1-69 – Suburban Focus Area 1:
Shore Drive Corridor: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/virginia-beach-departments-docs/planning/Comprehensive-Plan/Adopted/Comp-Plan-2016_policy-doc.pdf
Shore Drive Corridor Plan:
Click to access Shore_Drive_Corridor_Plan_2000.pdf
Shore Drive Design Guidelines:
Click to access Shore_Drive_Corridor_Design_Guidelines_2002.pdf
Commercial Area Pattern Book:
Click to access Commercial-Area-Pattern-Book.pdf
Active Transportation Plan:
Click to access Active-Transportation-Plan.pdf
I believe this covers the current applicable documents with guidance on the Shore Drive Corridor, but if there are other documents that I may have missed in regards to the Shore Drive/Bayfront area, please let me know and I will be happy to pass them along as well.
Thanks,
Hank
2024 srsly 🙄
BAC Thursday FEB 15 330pm at OPVRS. Join us!
BAC, the Bayfront Advisory Commission meets at OPVRS, the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Thursday February 15th at 330pm. Join us!
OPVRS is located at 3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
Enter door opposite Shore Drive.
Hooray for finally some pedestrian love at Shore Drive & Pleasure House Road!
Sincerely hope this never happens again in the entire city!!
Depending on a miracle that no pedestrians or cyclists would get killed by blocking their only safe access is completely unacceptable & unconscionable.
“The purpose of the Complete Streets Policy is to improve Virginia Beach’s transportation system by providing safe, attractive travel options for all users that emphasize connectivity and are designed in harmony with adjacent land uses.”
Learn about Complete Streets adopted by City at their website.
But Complete Streets adoption are for:
“This policy will ensure that all users are considered during the design and construction of new roadways” you say.
The point?
How is it possible, again, safety for residents & users of Bayfront infrastructure for pedestrian & cycling safety is ignored by the City?!
Hopefully there’ll be an update soon as to:
1. How this could possibly happen?!
1. How will this never happen again?
1. What time is this getting fixed yesterday to improve the safety for pedestrians and cyclists?
This completely unacceptable pedestrian & cyclist “infrastructure” has been blocked for months. Many many human beings depend on a safe area right here every day.
PLEASE CONTACT THE MAYOR & YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL NOW IN SUPPORT OF …
[T]he City is set to realize about $20MM in proceeds from the sale of easements to Dominion Energy for their Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, and Staff is recommending that nearly half of those proceeds be appropriated to Shore Drive Phase IV ($6.98MM) and to Pleasure House Road Phase II ($1.36MM) & Shore Drive Phase III ($ 2.24MM).
Please email Mayor & City Council to support this vital funding: citycouncil@vbgov.com
City Council vote is on November 21st 2023.
Pleasure House Road Phase II
”Data shows the city has the most crashes involving PEDESTRIANS in all of Hampton Roads”
View coverage at 13NewsNow.com.
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data shows just this year, there were three pedestrian-involved crashes on Shore Drive, one of which ended with a fatality.
“I hope that we actually see some action on these throughout the city… because safety is the biggest priority, I think within all of our communities,” Murphy said.
Please take the Local Road Safety Action Plan SURVEY now!
That blockade to pedestrians & cyclists to safely navigate is at southeast corner of Shore Drive & Pleasure House Road where there is NO contiguous sidewalks on north side of Shore Drive. Minimum of dozens of pedestrians & cyclists commute through this area daily.
Potentially great news about more monies for vital Bayfront projects!
From Councilman Schulman:
Good afternoon,
You are receiving this message because you are a civic league or HOA president in a neighborhood in close proximity to Shore Drive in District 9.
As you may recall, due to inflation, supply and labor challenges, stormwater requirements, and other factors, the estimated cost to complete the projects in our Capital Improvement Program grew by nearly $180MM as the Council considered the 2023-2024 Budget. Consequently, the Council made the difficult decision to delay/defer several roadway projects, including Shore Drive Phase IV (Marlin Bay Drive to the Lesner Bridge) and Pleasure House Road Phase II (Shore Drive to Lookout Road). Money that was originally budgeted for these projects was redirected to other projects (like Shore Drive Phase III, to the east of the Lesner Bridge) in order to lessen the impact of additional cost escalations, because they were closer-in-time to construction.
Over the last 7 months, I’ve been working with City Staff to impress upon them the importance of these projects to our residents – and I’ve been challenging them to find ways to re-resource these projects so that they do not slip further away from us in both time and projected cost.
Thankfully, the City is set to realize about $20MM in proceeds from the sale of easements to Dominion Energy for their Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, and Staff is recommending that nearly half of those proceeds be appropriated to Shore Drive Phase IV ($6.98MM) and to Pleasure House Road Phase II ($1.36MM). Although we still have a ways to go to get these projects fully-funded, this is a very significant development because it gets us back on track after the setback we experienced earlier this year. We are also working on some interim pedestrian safety improvements along Shore Drive that are meant to last until Phase IV is constructed. These funds will help with this initiative as well.
The reason I am contacting you is because the appropriation of these sale proceeds requires the passage of an ordinance with the affirmative vote of a majority of the Council. There will be a public hearing about the appropriation of these funds tomorrow night at 6pm during our City Council’s formal session. The Council will vote on the ordinance and the appropriations at our November 21st meeting.
While I do not think we need speakers at the public hearing or for the vote on the 21st, I think it would be extremely helpful if your organizations would consider sending a letter to the Council supporting the ordinance and the appropriations made therein. You can feel free to send a letter on your organization’s letterhead, and you can also encourage your residents to email the Council at citycouncil@vbgov.com to voice their individual support. Additionally, if you have relationships with other members of the Council, I would encourage you to express your support to them as well.
A copy of the public hearing notice, some background information and the ordinance itself are attached for your reference.
If you have any questions, or require additional information, please let me know.
Thank you!
Joash
Joashua F. “Joash” Schulman
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL
District 9 Representative
C: 757-840-1291 | JSchulman@vbgov.com
http://www.virginiabeach.gov
Bldg. 1, Suite 2047
2401 Courthouse Dr. | Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Note: Emphasis ours.
Local Road Safety Action Plan. Community participation and input will be vital to the success of this plan so we encourage you to get engaged and promote awareness of the plan.
City is looking for feedback from YOU about road safety.
Start here to learn more & take the interactive survey.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad October 19, 2023 330pm. Join us!
Thanks to Hank for the Agenda!
NEW BUSINESS
1) Proposed HRT Transportation Service Plan (TSP) for FY25 – Proposed service
adjustments for Bayfront HRT lines and requested changes for Route 35 Trolley.
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update – November Public Workshops. Join us!
The Public Workshops will consist of a short recap presentation on themes developed in the Focus Groups and the Vision Mapping process. We will then proceed to break out into small groups to provide more direct, specific feedback on each of the draft themes. The Vision Map will take the draft themes of balanced growth, sustainability, connectivity, diversity, and wellbeing, and apply them to areas of the city to create a framework of how the city should grow and develop over time. There will be an interactive planning exercise in our small groups.
The workshops will be held at these times and locations:
- Saturday, November 4th at 2pm: College Park Elementary School Cafeteria – 1110 Bennington Road
- Monday, November 6th at 6pm: Kellam High School Cafeteria – 2665 West Neck Road
- Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm: Bayside Recreation Center – 4500 First Court Road
- Thursday, November 9th at 6pm: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3 (2nd Floor; Middle of the Building) – 1009 19th Street
There is no need to RSVP to these workshops. We estimate this meeting to run about 1.5 to 2 hours. Please pass along the information to your friends, family, neighborhoods, colleagues, youth groups, civic leagues, faith groups, etc.
The more engagement we have from the community in this process, the better the plan will be! City Staff and the Consultant Team are eager to hear from as many residents as possible, so we hope to see you there!
Here’s where we are so far.
As always, for more information or if you have any outstanding questions, please reach out to me at RacMiller@vbgov.com or Hank Morrison, the Comprehensive Planning Administrator, at JMorrison@vbgov.com.
You are aware about the reality of sea level rise(SLR) correct?
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION meeting at Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad September 21, 2023 330pm. Join us!
THE NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION OF ABOUT 6 LIVE OAKS, The City Tree, will be on the Agenda.
Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting link at City’s website.
Bayfront Advisory Commission Agenda next week includes the Virginia Natural Gas property in Ocean Park. Join us!
Complete agenda, once we receive it, will be shared in another post.
BAC meets at OPVRS Thursday, September 21st.
“City Council approves all Shore Drive Safety Task Force recommendations!” #ThrowbackThursday 17 years
Equitable safety improvements for cyclists & pedestrians like contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes are coming to Shore Drive!
DELAYS since June 7th 2006!*
Read the news here where Vice Mayor Jones was quoted:
“I think the council is committed to getting the improvements done[.]”
* Remember when the powers that be tried making Shore Drive 6 LANES in the 90s?!
Remarkably, the then named Shore Drive Advisory Committee(SDAC) heard the presentation from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force at their April 20th 2006 meeting.
Highlights:
Here is the entire report from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force from April 20 2006. [LOL CITY OF VB BROKE THAT LINK. AGAIN. CUZ NEW WEBSITE. 🤡]
SHORE DRIVE SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL 2006. (PDF open in new tab)
SDAC, now named the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) has their public meeting today at 330pm at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad where they will be grappling with the news of yet another PROPOSED delay in upgrading circa 1950s infrastructure in the “Gateway to the OceanFront & Virginia Beach” while the OceanFront continuously receives virtually infinite money for almost every idea proposed there.
Why do City priorities continue to ignore the infrastructure needs of this area let alone the aesthetics that it’s embarrassing & looks like shit?
Schulman added, “To see the project was delay deferred was extremely disappointing to me, because I knew it would be also extremely disappointing to our residents.”
Coverage of Shore Drive by WTKR’s Angela Bohon.
“Decades long controversy”
PUBLIC COMMENT on PROPOSED BUDGET TOMORROW
“Residents wishing to make comments during the hearings must register with the City Clerk’s Office by calling 757-385-4303 prior to 5 p.m. on the day of the hearing. If participating virtually, please also register via WebEx.”
Start here for PROPOSED Budget.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 