SDCC Asks City Council to Approve Lesner Bridge Lighting Schedule and to Include May 31st Remembrance

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Email sent May 25, 2022

Dear Mayor Dyer and City Council Members,

I recently read on the City’s website that City facilities will light up blue in remembrance of the victims of the May 31, 2019 tragedy. 

“Love For VB” Around Town

  • The Love For VB symbol is displayed in the “Love” sign at the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center.
  • The forget-me-not flower will again be painted at Mount Trashmore on the front façade of the hill below the City seal. Weather permitting, it is scheduled to be completed around mid-May.
  • Remembrance flags, featuring the Love For VB forget-me-not flower, will be flown at more than 40 locations throughout the city.
  • City facilities including Building 30, the Virginia Beach Convention Center and Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center will light up blue in remembrance, May 23-31.

However, I would argue that one of the City’s signature structures was left off the list, the Lesner Bridge.  The $100 million signature structure was designed to be a beacon of welcome to residents and visitors.  The LED lighting was one of the few upgrades added to put the “Signature” in signature bridge.  The first year after completion, the lights followed a well thought out schedule.  After this time, the schedule was scrapped and the lights were set to permanent blue/white scheme. 

Recently it took a City Council resolution to have the lights changed to a Blue/Yellow scheme in support of Ukraine.  So it is possible to have the lighting colors changed, although it doesn’t seem easy to get approval.

I would like to pass on two requests that have been mentioned by Shore Drive residents and hope you will be able to take action on both.

  1. Can the Lesner Bridge lights be changed to all blue (matching the blue on City facilities) on May 31st in remembrance of the victims of the May 31, 2019 tragedy?
  2. Can the original lighting schedule be approved and reinstated for year round celebrations?  The first opportunity would be the Red/White/Blue scheme for Memorial Day, which I know may be too quick a turn around, so maybe July 4th?

I have attached a link to the previous lighting schedule for information if needed.  What’s up with the fancy lighting on Lesner? Check out the plan. | #WeLoveShoreDrive

Thank you for consideration of this request.  I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Todd Solomon

Shore Drive Community Coalition President

Council Adopts FY2022-23 Budget

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From City Page at VBGov.com.

FY2022-23 budget has no increases to the solid waste fee, water service charges, sewer charges, stormwater charges, and avoids a real estate tax rate increase.

With the exception of a few fee increases for permits within the department of Planning and Community Development, the FY2022-23 budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) are supported through natural growth in citywide revenues. Below are some of the key elements in the upcoming budget.

Ocean Park sand replenishment starts about May 30

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“Due to the recent set of storms and the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend the Ocean Park sand nourishment project is scheduled to begin after the holiday, approximately May 30th.“

Info at OPCL.org.

BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 IS BACK PEOPLES !

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Woot woot!

Official HRT link.

This is an EXCELLENT way to commute around the Bayfront and travel to the Oceanfront.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Route 35 possible!

BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad 3769 E. Stratford Drive(enter on side opposite Shore Drive) May 19, 2022 at 330pm.

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Join us!

BACAgendaMay192022.pdfDownload

Fitch Downgrades Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay (VA) Rev Bonds to BB+

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View analysis at Fitch.

On a forward-looking basis and assuming WCCB is able to proceed with the full scope of its capital plans, debt is expected to increase from $76 million to $496 million (or $508 million inclusive of it $12 million debt guarantee for the Senior Options Community’s acquisition of The Overture).

VIRGINIA BEACH VA DEV AUTH RESIDENTIAL CARE FAC REV Bond Detail.

CUSIP: 92774NAH3

North Atlantic Challenge rowing from VB to France

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Launch from LBR delayed until ~ May 15.

Follow at the official website.

FINAL Reminder Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Improvements – Public Information Meeting May 11th – 6-8pm – Bayside Recreation Center

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Update about meeting!

Press release about meeting.

Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Improvements page.

ESDD Public Meeting Postcard 10 x 6.pdfDownload

“Definitely happening in May extending into June”

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About Ocean Park beach being “truly restored” like Chix Beach was:

“This is a substantial volume of sand.”

Watch discussion by Jim White & Dan Adams with Prez of OPCL.

About “truly restored” vs “placement sites” for beach nourishment:

“Then we’re going to turn our sights on Cape Henry Beaches.”

About the pile of sand at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp:

“We plan on doing a truck haul, & place that material between Page Avenue & the gazebo at Duck Inn.”

About volume of sand:

“Truly restored” Ocean Park beach is getting ~ 400,000 cubic yards, LBR holds ~ 60,000 cubic yards, when Lynnhaven Inlet is dredged – happening soon – that yields ~ 100,000 cubic yards.

More info here.

Sunk boats near Lesner Bridge GONE!

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Learn more about VDRF who did the work, how you can help & more!

Some Instagram scoop:

BAC Agenda for April 21 ‘22 330pm at OPVRS

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See ya there!

From Mark:


BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad

  3769 E. Stratford Drive 

(enter on side opposite Shore Drive)

April 21, 2022

CALL TO ORDER – 3:30 pm

There’ll be an update.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Review and Approval of Minutes from 3/17/22

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Welcome Guests and Introductions – Phil Davenport, Chair

STAFF REPORTS & UPDATES

​Eastern Shore Drainage Lynnhaven Colony Pump Station

Open Space Program

64th Street Oyster Project (tentative)

COMMITTEE REPORTS & UPDATES

Design – Bob Magoon

Communications – Vacant

​Public Safety, Transit, Parking & Pedestrian Access – Martin Thomas

PRESENTATIONS/COMMISSION ITEMS

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

COMMUNITY REPORTS & UPDATES

ADJOURN

Wed. May 11th Public Meeting on Eastern Shore Drive Storm Water Improvements – Additional Background Documents

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The following document is being provided as additional background information for the planned City public information meeting to be held on Wednesday May 11th to update the residents on planned storm water projects for Eastern Shore Drive.

Please check the links contained in this document to get to the detailed plans for each project. They will explain engineering processes for how designs were chosen as well as detail possible site/home acquisitions or eminent domain alternatives.

eastern-shore-drive-drainage-improvements-__-vbgov.com-city-of-virginia-beachDownload

Sat. April 16th Recycling Event at Mt. Trashmore to Celebrate Earth Day.

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Electronics, Hazardous Wastes, Old Medications/Pills are all accepted.

9 am – 1 pm on April 16 | Mount Trashmore (Parking lot next to YMCA) 

Come out to Mt. Trashmore where a recycle zone will be set up for the general public to be able to drop off items to vendors such as hazardous household waste, documents for off-site shredding, electronics, old medications, and pills as part of the VB Police Dept. “Prescription Take-Back Program”. In partnership with AAA, Car Batteries and Children Automobile Safety Seats will be available for drop off as well. 

Wed May 11th – Va Beach Public Works to Hold Public Meeting Update on Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project

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​Va Beach Public Works to Hold Public Meeting Update on Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Project

The Virginia Beach Public Works – Stormwater Engineering program has scheduled a public meeting for the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage on Wednesday, May 11th, 2022, between 6 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road. 

This will be an informal public meeting, beginning with a 30-minute update presentation on the Eastern Shore Drainage Project – Phase (CIP 7-151) – as well as group discussions about key issues in the project area. Representatives from Public Works will be available to answer questions following the presentation and group discussions.

Attendees will also be asked to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the presentation, as well as any comments or concerns.  

“UPDATE FOR CXB ON LITIGATION CHALLENGING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF REZONING AND REDEVELOPMENT OF WINDSONG APARTMENT SITE ALONG PLEASURE HOUSE ROAD”

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MARCH 21, 2022

On January 19, 2021, over objections of our Civic League, City Council approved (7 to 3) Collier’s application to rezone the 15-acre Windsong Site, and to redevelop it increasing the number of residential units there from 272 to 411, a 51% increase, decreasing the amount of land capable to absorbing stormwater, providing fewer parking spaces than standard zoning rules require, permitting construction of two 4-story apartment buildings 10 feet from Northampton Boulevard, and one 3-story apartment building 5 feet from Pleasure House Road.

Approval was made with scant consideration as to whether the approved redevelopment would urbanize and transform the character of our long-established community, impair the efficacy and safety of our roadways, and cause stormwater runoff damage to our roads and our residences.

In February 2021, about 40 of us filed an action in Circuit Court seeking to have approval of the Windsong Site rezoning and redevelopment plan declared unlawful. We contended that approval violated specific provisions of the Virginia Beach Zoning Ordinance and its Comprehensive Plan.

The City Council and Collier challenged our right to judicial review.

On August 5, 2021, without any explanation, Circuit Court dismissed our action denying us access to judicial review of City Council’s approval.

On December 13, 2021, we filed our petition for appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, asking the state Supreme Court to permit us to appeal.

The City Council and Collier challenged our right to judicial review.

On August 5, 2021, without any explanation, Circuit Court dismissed our action denying us access to judicial review of City Council’s approval.

On December 13, 2021, we filed our petition for appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, asking the state Supreme Court to permit us to appeal.

On March 9, 2022, the Supreme Court scheduled a 10-minute period after 9 a.m. during the morning of April 5, 2022, for us to make oral argument in Richmond to support our petition. George Squires will argue. Although they prohibit the in-person attendance of observers, except attorneys for City Council and Collier, they permit anyone to hear a live feed of the argument by using the following link:

http://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/home.html

“The City of Virginia Beach extended a conditional use permit to Westminster to contract, among other things, a structure which violates the use regulations and density restrictions for the B-4 mixed use Shore Dive Overlay District. The Demurrers were erroneously sustained.”

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The Appeal & opposition to appeal documents.

Petition for Appeal OSCA.pdfDownload
220112 Westminster-Canterbury Brief in Opposition to PFA.pdfDownload
220112 Virginia Beach Brief in Opposition to PFA.pdfDownload
Rendering used in WAVY coverage.