?We felt strongly we should investigate all avenues,? Councilman Ron Villanueva said after the appeal was announced at Tuesday?s council meeting.

Thank you City Council.

Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

In their Editorial entitled “Wetlands debate flips means and ends”, the author suggests doing just that.

As you all know by now…
The law of the Commonwealth, and the City Ordinance derived from that law, clearly states that projects that propose to fill wetlands:
1. must reduce impacts to wetlands to the minimum necessary,
2. must be water-dependent,
3. the public and private benefits of the project must outweigh the public and private detriments.

By Law, all three conditions mentioned above, must be met to grant a permit to destroy wetlands.

While much of the public debate centered on the latter, and there can be reasonable disagreement on these issues, the former two approval conditions can not be met by the Indigo Dunes proposal.

Read & comment on editorial in the Pilotonline.com.

Stay current with Pleasure House Point news.
Learn more about emailing City Council to encourage them to appeal the VMRC decision.

Photo of one area that would be destroyed if the existing wetlands law would be ignored.
[Note: this is an archive photo taken before it was illegal to walk on the private property called Pleasure House Point. Please respect their property rights, do not trespass.]

Visit The Virginia Conservation Network to view their 2007 Briefing Book and to learn more about the organization who’s goal is simply:

“It doesn’t look like it will cause a problem with the bridge,” said Shana Conley, manager of the transfer station project. If a problem arises, she added, the city would reroute the trucks to Independence Boulevard, so they wouldn’t cross the Lesner Bridge.

Read entire article at Pilotonline.com.

Clean Community Commission’s August Issue. [ 1pg PDF]

We are writing to remind you that we will be closing the application period for our new staff position soon and appreciate your referrals.  If there is someone you know who would be great in this position, please encourage him or her to submit his application soon.  We will be accepting applications through August 16, 2007.
View Info Packet. [ 2pg PDF ]
LynnhavenRiverNow.org.

Mr. Schick is wrong in that the Wetlands Board held an extended hearing of data presented by Mr. Sandler’s representatives, which was overwhelmingly refuted by professional and expert witnesses who had thoroughly reviewed the Sandler proposal and data. Mr. Bowman is wrong in concluding that the public benefit superseded the Wetlands Board’s concern. Further, it is beyond the scope of VMRC’s authority to make such a determination.

We in Ocean Park do not deny Mr. Sandler’s right to develop his property, within the limits of local, state, regional and federal guidelines. A city agency has voted that his proposal does not comply in its present form. We encourage the City of Virginia Beach to stand behind its dedicated servants.
Letter to City Council requesting they appeal. [ 3pg PDF ]

Attend!

BAC August Mtg Agenda [ 2pg PDF ]

Note: Meeting location Thursday, August 16, 2007 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Frank W. Cox High School Library.

An excerpt from one article:
Almost every day I hear someone say or read in the paper “I wish our neighborhood wasn’t lacking this or I think the city should have handled it this way. “ You don’t have to wish we have in our power an opportunity to be part of the process, to learn about what is available and how we can achieve our neighborhood goals.

The Community Advocate [ 8pg PDF ]

On Aug 8, our cat Buck became lost. We were trying the PetStop electronic fence, but Buck paniced and escaped during training. He is wearing a bright red collar with a PetStop receiver and dragging a red leash. He is large, very furry and brown striped, but shy around strangers.

Please call Jack or Marion at 496-3823 or 754-9507 if you spot him.

The Design Subcommittee of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet at 8 a.m., Tues., Aug. 14, at the First Landing State Park Trail Center Conference Room.

You can attend, but not speak.
More at VBGov.com.

The VMRC decision is vexing on a couple of levels. First, it is a slap at the ordinary citizens who make the Commonwealth’s tough decisions.

And…

The developer protested, bringing in their high-powered attorney, John W. Daniel II of Troutman Saunders, former Virginia Secretary of the Environment.

Read Skip’s entire article at Port Folio Weekly.

Excerpts:

There were clear, and legal, guidelines that the Wetlands Board followed in making their decision.

This isn?t about a small complaining group of residents, on Shore Drive. It is about our city, our image, and what we want to pass on to future generations.

Please support your voting public and appeal the VMRC decision on Indigo Dunes.  The Virginia Beach Wetlands Board made the correct decision based on the 3 criteria one must prove to destroy wetlands.

From CBCL: …appeals the VMRC’s decision to enure that local boards have the ability to make decisions about local projects.
Read the Chesapeake Beach Civic League Letter. [1pg PDF]

Learn more:
Request for City of Virginia Beach to appeal the VMRC decision made July 25, 2007
NoIndigoDunes.com.

Check out the rankings of over a dozen bridges including the Lesner Bridge that handes ~39,000 vehicles today.
Graphic & article at Pilotonline.com.

Please email City Council to let them know you agree:
[encode=CMOffice@vbgov.com,NoIndigoDunes@gmail.com]Email City Council to encourage them to appeal the VMRC Decision![/encode]

[Note: It’s been clearly stated many times, there is no support for Indigo Dunes on City Council. This email is to encourage them to appeal the VMRC decision.]

Letter sent from SDCC:

August 1, 2007

Madame Mayor and City Council Members
2401 Courthouse Dr.
Municipal Center, Bldg. 1
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Re:    Request for City of Virginia Beach to appeal the VMRC decision made July 25, 2007.

Dear Madame Mayor and City Council Members,

On behalf of the Shore Drive Community Coalition, we respectfully request that City Council direct the City’s Legal Department to appeal the Virginia Marine Resource Commission’s decision of July 25, 2007 to overturn the Wetlands Board denial of the Indigo Dunes project.

The City of Virginia Beach needs to show Virginia State Legislators and the public that it supports the Wetlands Board decision to deny the unnecessary destruction of over 1-1/2 acres of existing wetlands.

The residents of Shore Drive thank you for your attention to this very important issue.

Sincerely,

Todd R. Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition, President

Please email City Council to let them know you agree:
[encode=CMOffice@vbgov.com,NoIndigoDunes@gmail.com]Email City Council to encourage them to appeal the VMRC Decision![/encode]

[Note: It’s been clearly stated many times, there is no support for Indigo Dunes on City Council. This email is to encourage them to appeal the VMRC decision.]

Please join VBCCO on Wednesday, August 8th at the Virginia Beach Central Library for a our general meeting.  Member organizations will have an opportunity to talk about issues, concerns or positive news that is affecting their neighborhood.

There is no charge to attend, and the meeting is open to the public.

Open Mic Night 7pm, Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Virginia Beach Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd in the Auditorium.

Join us for semi-clean, friendly, fun! [Seriously.]

When: Saturday, August 4th from 9am to 11am.
Where: ‘Our’ Starbucks at the Lesner Bridge. Meet around the side.
Why: ‘Cuz you’re cool, you care, and you want to meet some like minded neighbors.
Even ‘make it a date.’
[Try this: Hey, want to meet at the Starbucks for a clean up this Saturday morning? See how easy it’d be to find a like minded person!] You can even us this thingie: LetsMeetatStarbucks.com.

Free drink to the first 30 people!

Latest Clean up.

…soon to be a tradition.

That’s how the CCO has started to promote the event.

Read on the check out this illuminating idea!

Oh, mercy! Developers have once again staked a claim in Virginia Beach. Sandler & Sons will destroy 1.5 acres of wetlands and squeeze more than 1,000 homes on a little over 60 acres….

And…

The message is clear: Put your name on a performing arts center in the center of Virginia Beach?s Town Center and you can build houses anywhere you want, regardless of the impact on traffic.

Go here to read their entire letters, & to add your comments.
How to submit your Letter to the Editor.

Two audio files are available for listening, & downloading/saving at VMRC’s website.