Read the questions DEQ has about Indigo Dunes mentioned in article in todays paper.

The Resort Conference Center is going before the Planning Commission on Wed Jan 10 at 12:00pm in City Council Chambers.  The SDCC has not taken an official position on the request.  Individuals and Civic Groups are encouraged to contact the Planning Commission and Staff directly and express their support or opposition.  Send comments to [encode=KLasley@vbgov.com?From SDCC.info-RCC]Karen Lasley[/encode].

The following information may be helpful in making your decision.

The Design Subcommittee of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Great Neck Community Recreation Center.

They’ll also be reviewing its final recommendations regarding new community signs for the Bayfront.

More at VBGov.com.

A Virginia Land Planner with an environmental organization with a local office weighs in on Indigo Dunes after analyzing their most recent JPA.

DEQ is concerned that the total wetland impact isn’t accurately defined in the plan and that Sandler isn’t offering any compensation for filling in the canals and ponds. The agency also questioned the suitability of 11-story condominiums so close to a marshy area.

Great Blue Heron on PHP.

Check out the article to also view a photo of a cormorant on PHP.
And, did you see the photo of a Bald Eagle near PHP in Mary Reid Barrow’s column last week?

Take Poll at SDCC.info about Indigo Dunes financial projections.

Meeting for volunteers, Saturday, January 20th at 3pm.

Check out the flyer for details: Volunteer for 2007 Activities in First Landing State Park [1pg PDF]

Howard Weinberg, new Prez of Ocean Park Civic League, had his poem about Indigo Dunes published in today’s Beacon.

Check it out!

On Shore Drive, Walk, Bike and Drive Like Your Life Depends On It is the main article.
Check out the 1 page PDF version if you missed it in the mail.

Two police officers pulled a man from Little Creek Reservoir about 100 yards from Shore Drive on Thursday morning.
Read entire article in Pilotonline.com.

As requested at the BAC meeting on December 21, this is to inform you that the City Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on how to appropriate the FY 2005-2006 budget year end balance at its meeting on January 9.

Following are the meeting dates for all monthly general meetings for 2007.
Meetings are in all likelyhood held at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad and usually start at 7:30pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Google Map to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad building on Shore Drive at flashing amber lights about a mile west of the Lesner Bridge.

Enter at back of building at door with cypher lock.

The backups in the mornings are brutal, readers tell me. That’s because many of the folks in the neighborhoods off Great Neck hang a right on the boulevard in order to hook up with Interstate 264 on Lynnhaven Parkway.
Read entire Road Warrior article.

How about the obvious solution? A 264 interchange at Great Neck Road.

Thanks to the City Clerk’s office for getting us the transcripts so quickly!

This summer, with the walkway a certainty, the Kendall Street folks met with city coastal engineer Phillip Roehrs. They say they were assured the dune would be stabilized with vegetation so the sand wouldn’t blow toward their homes.http://sdcc.info/pm/index.php?sx=&m=weblog&p=new

Read entire Pilot Warrior article written a couple days ago.
Previously at SDCC.info.

December 15, 2006

Re:  Pleasure House Point, also known as proposed project Indigo Dunes.  GPIN-1489-47-2243.  District-Lynnhaven.

Lynnhaven River 2007 is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and substantially improving water quality in the Lynnhaven River for the benefit of current and future generations.

To preserve and enhance the river?s health, we work (1) to protect and restore valuable habitats such as riparian buffers, wetlands and oyster reefs that filter polluted runoff and improve water quality for the river and its marine life; (2) to identify and reduce the sources of nutrients, sediment, bacteria and chemicals entering the Lynnhaven River; and (3) to raise citizen awareness of the river?s problems and engage the community in the restoration effort.

Saturday, January 20,2007, 8 PM ? 1 AM

Open Bar, Martini Bar, Beer, Wine, Well Drinks

& Heavy Hors d?oeuvres all included

A Creative Black Tie Event!  Black Jack Tables!

Tickets $75.00/Person

($85 per person if sold AFTER January 1, 2007)

Apparently the Wetlands Board, and City Staff supporting them, have adopted an automatic 60 day deferral policy.

In the past it’s been found 30 days is not enough time for the applicant to make adjustments to their application, have City Staff receive the new info, analyze it, and then comment on it.

Indigo Dunes’ Attorney requested it be heard in 30 days at the January meeting however.

The next meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, December 21, at the Bayside Community Recreation Center.  The center is located on the north side of First Court Road between Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road.

Excerpt: Despite any rumors you may here that this project is a done deal, there is a mountain of justification supporting denial of this project.  So keep up the good work and thanks for your continued involvement.

An excerpt of their official, public statement:

Open space provides critical ecological benefits to the Lynnhaven River, such as water filtration, pollutant removal, water percolation and habitat provision.

They’ll be releasing the entire document Monday.