According to VBGov.com:

Concert in Virginia Beach to Benefit Migratory Songbirds

On Tuesday morning, May 20, Singer-songwriter James Taylor will be available for an hour news conference with the media to talk about his support for conservation of bird habitat on the Eastern Shore, the launch of his U.S. tour and forthcoming album.  He will be at the VIP Club at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.

A portion of the proceeds of the Virginia Beach concert will benefit the Southern Tip Partnership ), a coalition of conservation groups including the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, The Nature Conservancy, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The groups are working together to protect habitat for migratory birds along the Eastern Shore, which has been recognized as a globally important place for migratory songbirds.  (http://www.deq.virginia.gov/coastal/eslandconservation.html

The song birds also need more habitat to survive their trip & Pleasure House Point being 100% open space would certainly help.

June 5th Public Meeting, 8:00 AM at Dockside Inn

Our featured speaker for the June 5th public meeting is Delegate Joe Bouchard.  Delegate Bouchard represents the northwest quadrant of Virginia Beach in the state legislature and serves on the Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee.  This is your opportunity to hear about his first year in the General Assembly and to ask him questions or bring up the issues that interest you.  He is interested in hearing about our concerns.  Please join us for this important meeting.  All are welcome; no pre-registration required.
More at LynnhavenRiverNow.org.

The tribute to the first explorers of the New World and the American Indians of the Chesapeake region includes docent lead tours of the American Indian village and the colonial outpost and live theatrical performances on our unique outdoor stage.
Check out the details at FirstLandingFoundation.com.

“It’s high-end, low-impact tourism,” said Donna Bozza, director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission. “We don’t want the scale of Virginia Beach, especially given our fragile area here.”

A former journalist herself, Bozza added, “If we get paved over and look like everyone else, we’d lose what makes us special.”

Imagine eco-tourism being promoted in cooperation with the Eastern Shore as another reason to visit here and/or live here.
Imagine promoting using the LBR&BF to launch kayaks to tour our special places, as people in the know do today.
Imagine Pleasure House Point staying a special place, remaining open space.

Now imagine a Permanent Public/Private Dredge Spoils Transfer Station at the LBR&BF & PHP becoming 1/2 asphalt and a thousand housing units.

Read article at Pilotonline.com.

From CBF.org:

The legislation will provide $188 million over the next 4.5 years for a new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program, and increase the region’s share of national conservation programs more than $252 million over five years. CBF estimates that the funding could reduce nitrogen pollution by as much as (40) million pounds annually to local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

How is this also related to Indigo Dunes on Pleasure House Point?
The enormous increase in nitrogen that will be dumped in Pleasure House Creek from the project if it’s approved as presented to date vs. it remaining open space as it is now.

SDCC General Meeting – Monday May 19, 2008,  7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

There are no planned programs for this month.  This time will be deferred to the Old/New business due to the many
important issues and concerns that need to be addressed.

The general agenda for the evening will be: 

Officer’s Reports – Brief Reports
Secretary – Tim
Treasurer’s Report – Leslie
Vice President & President – Daphne & Todd

Old Business- 
Indigo Dunes Project – Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a Preliminary Permit and will be
holding a public hearing at their office 5636 Southern Blvd on Monday June 9th.  The formal hearing starts at 7:30pm,
but the informal part starts at 6:30pm.  The informal part will include a presentation by me on the draft permit, a possible
presentation by the applicant (if they choose to do so), and Q&A. The comment period continues until June 24th and
written comments will be accepted until then.

Lynnhaven River Proposed Spoils Transfer Station – SDCC has sent a letter of opposition to the LBR site and a
letter requesting Council to make an official vote on any site that is picked No response has been received.  Only 3
sites are being considered, Saw Pen Point, Thalia Elementary and LBR.  City Staff plans to present City Council their
recommendation on Friday May 23rd , it’s unknown if this briefing is open to the public.  If the LBR site is chosen, the
VMRC plans to hold a public hearing on Tuesday July 22nd.  Residents will be asked to send emails and make phone
calls to Council members letting them know that LBR is the wrong site.

Cape Henry Beach Sand Replenishment – City Council and the City’s Attorney’s Office have issued letters to 6
groups stating their claim to public easement and plans to move ahead with paperwork to make Cape Henry Beach the
spoils site for the next dredge cycle in 2009/2010.

Proposed Rezoning of City Marina – Planning Commission review hearing was deferred.  A new review date has not
been set.  It was deferred to provide more detail on proffers/restrictions for the request to rezone the marina to B-1. 
SDCC will be taking an official position vote on this at our June 30th meeting.  SDCC reps need to discuss this with their
organizations before then.  Visit the website for latest proffers and restrictions.  Remember, the current arrangement is a
money making venture for the City, about $50,000 per year.  Making it a private venture runs the risk of losing this
income.

SDCC Oyster Roast – Mark your calendars for Saturday Nov 15th from noon until 4pm at the VB Resort Conference
Hotel.  Committee meeting will begin in June/July.  Email Todd if you’re interested in helping.  Todd@sdcc.info
 
SDCC Officer Nomination Committee – The nominating committee is getting an early start for the upcoming election
of 2008/9 officers.  If you are interested in running or know of anyone that may be, please contact Dan Creedon at
DanVaB@aol.com.  The committee will make their presentation of names at the October 27th general meeting.
Shore Drive Clean Up – Clean up held on May 10th was a success.  Thanks to those dozen volunteers who came out. 
Periodic clean ups have resulted in less trash being found each time.  Keep up the good work.  More volunteers are
always welcome. 

New Business – 
Action Plans for LBR – Discuss and vote on any actions or position statements.  Since validation has been received
showing that the State did pay for a portion of the ramp, Joe Bouchard has been asked to weigh in on the LBR site, but
no response has been received to date.

Action Plans for PHP – Discuss and vote on any actions or position statements.  Email campaign, call list to get people
to the public hearing, etc.  Make sure your groups are filling in the call list blanks for those willing to attend meeting in a
show of support. 

Phase IV Shore Drive Demonstration Project – A citizen information meeting will be held on Thursday May 22nd from
5 to 7pm at Hermitage Elementary School regarding the planned improvements to Shore Drive between Marlin Bay and
East Stratford Rd in the Ocean Park area.

Clean the Bay Day – Clean the Bay day is June 7th.  Mark your calendars.

Print this and bring it to the meeting:
SDCCGenMtgAgendaMay19-08.pdf [1pg]

Thanks to Cherie for providing us her letter to .

Be sure to email Ms. Kattan your letter!

The project proposal will compromise the public welfare/good by overbuilding in a fragile resource area and will destroy wetland buffers and RPA (Resource Protected Areas) WITHOUT justifiable cause or necessity, other than sheer profit . The proposal has not fully avoided and minimized impact as required by law. ALSO, the measures being taken to minimize discharge & pollution from 1,063 more units are insufficient based on exaggerated and inaccurate information related to current drainage patterns, and the actual value and functioning of the wetland area, which already filters and buffers. Additionally, the proposal does not prove that there will be a “no-net” increase in pollution/run-off and discharge when the project is considered alone. Bottom-line, you don’t add more of the same to purportedly, do a “better” clean up. This land area is not a wasted, valueless, ineffective and corrupted wetland as the developer has reported it to be. My husband, Gary Vaughan, and myself are totally against this project for the above mentioned reasons, as well as, for the negative impact of increase in traffic, road deterioration, and over crowding of schools that the building of this site and eventual residency will bring to this area.
Sincerely,
Cherie and Gary Vaughan

Sections of Cape Henry Beach, between First Landing State Park and the Lesner Bridge, have eroded and need the sand, officials said. In exchange for the sand, the city wants residents to sign over public use of the beach for recreation. Twelve of the 21 property owners and condominium associations within the two-mile stretch have agreed.
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com.

This is for JPA#2 and not the JPA in litigation in City of VB vs. VMRC.

The ad went in the paper on Saturday which starts the public comment period.  This comment period continues until June 24th (which is 15 days after the public hearing date).  The public hearing will be held at our office here on June 9th (Monday).  The formal hearing starts at 7:30pm, but the informal part starts at 6:30pm.  The informal part will include a presentation by me on the draft permit, a possible presentation by the applicant (if they choose to do so), and Q&A.  You can submit comments in writing anytime during that period. Also, if you speak at the hearing, that will be counted as formal comments as well since the hearing will be recorded.

View Larger Map

The Draft Permit Conditions & cover letter:
62601PermitCover.pdf [1pg]
62601SpecialConditions.pdf [17pgs]

Please be advised the Conditional Rezoning request for the City of Virginia Beach for Change of Zoning District Classification from P-1 Preservation District to Conditional B-2 Community Business District at 3211 Lynnhaven Drive (the City Marina) is being deferred. Staff is requesting the deferral to further clarify the request and proposed uses.

If you have any questions or need further information please contact Barry Frankenfield or Brian Solis at 385-1104.

Faith Christie, CZA, CBO
Planner, City of Virginia Beach
2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 115
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-385-6379

Be sure to follow the Topic link to learn more.

This friendly reminder is from one of our neighbors.

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT:

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, and the
check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys
beside your bed at night. If you hear noise outside your home or someone
trying to get in your houseor vehicle, just press the panic button for your car. The
alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you
turn it off or the car battery dies.
Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option #1,  to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. 

15 volunteers, ~15 bags, ~350lbs, 2 hours.
Join us next time.

Check this out:

Lynnhaven Luau
Saturday May 31, 2008
7:00-11:00pm
Featuring
The Original Rhondels
Get your beach shoes on and come out and play!
Heavy Appetizers
Cash Bar
Free Shag Lessons
50/50 Raffle
Tickets $30.00
$35.00 at the door
Sponsored by
Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church
2217 W. Great Neck Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757.286.3220

If your idea of retirement is a permanent vacation, it makes sense to choose a locale with plenty of wide-open spaces. Parks not only provide refuge from the noise and bustle of the city, but they also strengthen neighborhoods, reduce pollution, and inspire lazy strolls and impromptu picnics.

Parks are especially vital for densely populated urban areas, says Peter Harnik, director of the Center for City Park Excellence at the Trust for Public Land. “The more crowded a city is, the more important parks are,” he says. “Fewer and fewer people have their own private green space, so they depend on public space.”

Hmmm… the Bayfront is the densest populated area in the City, an Open Space study showed we drastically lack open space & picked Pleasure House Point as the number one property to purchase to create more open space, it’s well known “empty-nesters” are a large portion of the residents & homeowners in the area & therefore contribute more to the “bottom line” of the City’s tax revenues. Did you also know First Landing State Park is the most visited park in the entire state? Wouldn’t that also mean we, at the Bayfront, need more open space?!
Read 10 Greenest Places to Retire at US News & World Report.

The next meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15, at the First Landing Fire Station.  The station is located at 2837 Shore Drive on the south west corner of Shore Drive and Sunstates Court.
More at VBGov.com.

More info at VBGov.com.
Item 16 in Agenda.

May 3, 2008

To Whom It May Concern:

The Lesner Cove Condominium Association located at 2140 Vista Circle, Virginia Beach, VA., is opposed to the rezoning of the City Marina from P-1, Preservation to B-2, and Commercial for the following reasons:

  * The Marina as it exists and is managed at this time is a public service to the taxpayers of Virginia Beach and one of the last facilities controlled by the city that is located in this water based recreation area. In a time when the preservation of all natural space is important and discussed by the city in various meetings, we feel that maintaining the Preservation Area zoning is in keeping with the city plan to preserve as much natural space as possible. We feel that the Marina is a feather in the City’s cap and do not understand why the City would want to give up control. Was this an opportunity to be explored because it would be a solution to the parking problems that exist with the commercial establishments in the area?

  * The Marina is a profitable property for the city returning $54,000 annually to its coffers. What is the need to allow a private entity to use it commercially and what are the exposure risks to the city if the management is outsourced? Why would the city want to hold property for a commercial purpose?

  * We are concerned about a private manager asking to put fuel tanks back on the property. The tanks that were there before split and fuel seeped into the ground and river. Oversight of fuel tanks would be the responsibility of the city creating more responsibility for the city. Again what is the risk to the city, property, river and surrounding neighborhoods and restaurants?

  * Vista Circle, the street address of the Marina is already overcrowded with traffic that at times, blocks the street both ways making it impossible for emergency vehicles and residents to gain access to their homes and businesses there. The area around the Marina includes a large number of residential homes and condominiums. Presently the marine generates little traffic other than a few boat owners and the Virginia Beach Marine Police which operates several police boats from there. The increase in traffic from a commercial establishment would have an all round detrimental effect on the community. The remaining empty piece of property abutting Chick’s Restaurant on the West side and owned by Mr. Francis, has already been zoned for a restaurant should he decide to build it, which will create more traffic on Vista Circle. We don’t feel that turning the Marina into a commercial entity and creating even more traffic challenges and more need for parking in the area is a responsible decision on the part of the City.

  * We have heard for several years about the creation of Waterman’s Walk in this area. Creation of Waterman’s Walk was a nice plan but would require business owners along the river to surrender property on the riverfront for a walkway. On the original plan for this nice thought, there was to be a parking lot at the intersection of Shore Drive and Vista Circle. We know of no plans that the city has at this time to purchase property for such a parking lot nor are we aware of any plan that the city has in place to gain access to the property on the riverfront necessary to accomplish “Waterman’s Walk.” Therefore rationalizing that this is a part of the city’s plan for Waterman’s Walk is not valid. There is no specific plan.

  * We do not want the open space at the back of the Marina destroyed. Once again preservation of the few open spaces that remain is important to citizens.

We will be attending the zoning hearing on May 14 and requesting that the city not rezone the City Marina. Any help or input you can give would be appreciated.

Respectfully,

Emily McBride, President
Lesner Cove Condominium Association

There are a number of rumors and unanswered questions flying around about the Permanent Public/Private Dredge Spoils Transfer Station being located at our beloved LBR&BF.

Previously we reported the results of our FOIA requests.

Some reports are not yet posted on the Official Project Page. Some analytical reports were just started & some completed only recently even though it was recommended back in 2006 the LBR&BF was the top choice for being available, for free, to handle all the dredge spoils from public and private dredging operations in the entire Lynnhaven Watershed. Note: The transfer station will be a permanent facility that can be used for the municipal project along the Western Branch, as well as along Crab Creek, the Eastern branch, and for various private dredging projects. [Quote from Official Project Page.]

Some of the rumors we believe need to be substantiated one way or the other, and also should be clarified publicly:

the winning bidder – the dredge company, will be responsible for
all safety related issues including operations at the LBR&BF & the
barges running near the Lesner Bridge, and for contacting the
appropriate emergency responders in the event of any type of
accidents.
[Currently there are no minimum requirements we know of.]

there will not be any contractual requirements specifically
placed on the operations of the barges such as no weather
restrictions, no restrictions on the number of tenders pushing/pulling
the barges, age of the tenders, number of personnel required to be on
the tenders, etc.
[Again, no contractual requirements.]

drug testing will not be required for any employees or
sub-contractors of companies operating at the facility.
[Remember…heavy equipment will be in use nearby families with children.]

background checks will not be required for any employees or
sub-contractors operating at the facility.
[Again, no requirements made public about sharing this recreational
facility.]

there will be no limit placed in the contract on the number of dump
trucks used per day, and therefore no limit placed on the number of
barges used per day.
[Unlimited dump trucks & barges is current plan.]

One rough draft slide from a presentation being put together addressing real & serious safety concerns re: barge strike on the Lesner Bridge if appropriate safety measures are not contractually required of dredging companies.

We’ve been assured that we will receive the data Clark-Nexsen is working from on their risk assessment. We’ve also been in contact with various agencies including the US Coast Guard, Homeland Security & others who are charged with protecting federal/state/local infrastructure from catastrophic failures.

Note: This risk assessment was only started in April 2008. Safety measures contractually required from assessment that would obviously also add to the cost of the operation are not part of any economic estimates for the use of the transfer station at the LBR&BF including estimates made at various meetings including March 19th 2008, nor are they included at the Official Project Page yet.

New info posted at the Official Page entitled “Contractor’s Responses to Citizen’s Concerns for Lesner Bridge Impacts”.
Risk assessment & safety plans not posted yet.

Dear Madam Mayor and City Council Members,

The Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) is adamantly opposed to a dredge material transfer station being placed at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR) Crab Creek site.  At our April 28th general meeting, SDCC member organizations voted unanimously to oppose a transfer station based on many reasons, some of which are listed below.

·      Safety Concerns – Council’s effort to make Shore Drive safer have been paying off.  It has been 2 years since the creation of the Shore Drive Safety Task Force and the last fatality on Shore Drive.  The approval of the proposed project takes a giant step backwards.  The addition of even one truck onto Shore Drive will pose a safety threat no matter how well the impact is mitigated.  Boater safety is also a concern from the 50+ barge trips per day planned.  Pedestrian safety at the LBR will be an issue with the 140 truck trips a day planned.  All aspects of this project will have adverse impacts on the safety of the Shore Drive area.

·      Lack of Vision – Council has spent almost 10 years and ½ million dollars creating a vision for the Shore Drive Corridor.  A dredge material transfer station was never part of this vision.  Public works has never participated in the planning of this vision and should not be the group making this vision destroying decision.  Long term goals for the Shore Drive Corridor need to be taken into account and weighed heavily for all projects and plans in the Shore Drive area.

·      Risk outweighs Reward – Barges crashing into the Lesner Bridge, barges crashing into other boats, pedestrian and vehicular accidents on Shore Drive, accidents in a heavily used boat ramp facility, and the increased degradation of the structural integrity of the Lesner Bridge from 140 truck trips per day.  These risks far outweigh any reward this site may hold over others along the Lynnhaven River.

Unfortunately, the SDCC doesn’t have the answer to the Lynnhaven dredging dilemma, but we do know the solution is not at the proposed LBR site.  SDCC members have expressed an interest in helping Public Works and Coastal engineers locate alternate temporary transfer sites that have less risk and safety concerns.  The SDCC also suggests creating a Lynnhaven River Dredging Task Force to help study the issues and identify sites acceptable to all communities.  It appears a new decision making process should be implemented since the 2 sites that have been identified over the past 2 years have both been opposed by the local residents.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at 869-5447Cell or 688-8365Work or todd@sdcc.info

Sincerely,

Todd R. Solomon

Todd R. Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition, President

Distribution:

Mayor Oberndorf
Mr. Dan Adams
Vice Mayor Jones
Mr. Justin Worrell, VMRC
City Council Members
Mr. Kal Kassir, BAC Chairman
Mr. Jim Spore
Ms. Deirdre Fernandes, Virginian-Pilot
Mr. Dave Hansen
Ms. Irene Bowers, Virginian-Pilot Beacon

TranStaOpLtrCouncil.pdf [1pg PDF]

Dear Madam Mayor and City Council Members,

The Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) overwhelmingly supports City Council’s decision to officially vote on any dredge material transfer site prior to its implementation.

At the March 19th public hearing, Mr. Hansen stated that no final sites would be chosen without being approved by a City Council vote.  Since the hearing, this initiative has also been verified by a few Council members during general discussions with SDCC members.

The location of a temporary or permanent transfer stations is a highly charged and controversial topic.  City Council’s plan to endorse all sites by vote after receiving adequate technical justification and listening to public comment is the correct decision.  We agree as you do, that decisions on this matter are too important to be made by City staff alone.

Thank you for giving the residents a voice in any final decision that is made.

If you have any questions, I can be reached at 869-5447Cell or 688-8365Work or todd@sdcc.info

Sincerely,

Todd R. Solomon

Todd R. Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition, President

Distribution:

Mayor Oberndorf
Mr. Dave Hansen
Vice Mayor Jones
Mr. Dan Adams
City Council Members
Mr. Kal Kassir, BAC Chairman
Mr. Jim Spore

Councildecisionvotetransfersite.pdf [1pg PDF of Letter]