Where is Osprey Point Nature Park?
It’s proposed to be located directly next to the City Marina in Ocean Park at the base of the west side of the Lesner Bridge. The ‘old spoils site’.

Urge Congress to Fund LWCF State Assistance program; Vital to Public Parks and Recreation

The President has proposed terminating the Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance program (LWCF) in the FY 2006 budget proposal ($91.5 million in matching funds was granted to the states last year and over $544 million in the past four years).

Please navigate to the National Parks & Recreation Association’s website to send an email in support of funding this program.

On March 5th a number of neighbors cleaned up an area on Urchin Road that is a paper street.

“We were amazed to find many live oaks buried under vines and briars.  Here’s a before and after photo. we’re not finished cleaning up, but we think the trees look great and we hope they will be healthier.”

Just a few minutes ago the City Council in their Preliminary Session placed the Ordinance:
“Resolution to establish the public’s interest in Cape Henry Beach and authorize acceptance of dedicated public beach easements regarding implementation of a beach erosion plan.” [discussed here]

on the Council’s Consent agenda which means it is grouped with other Ordinances and is generally voted on favorably.

Dear Madame Mayor and City Council Members,

On behalf of the Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC), I formally request that you approve the resolution being considered at the March 8th City Council Session regarding Cape Henry Beach.  The approval of this resolution is the first step toward a much needed sand replenishment program for the beaches located East of the Lesner Bridge.  A public easement and sand replenishment program will benefit the local residents as well as the entire City and implement a program currently recommended by the Beaches and Waterways Management Plan.  The SDCC also suggests that a Task Force be created to help maintain the momentum of this initiative.  The specifics of this Task Force have been included [below].

Thank you for your consideration in approving this “everyone wins” resolution.

Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition – President

Formation of Cape Henry Beach Sand Replenishment and Beach Ownership Task Force. [Word Doc.]

?My son still talks about the day we saved a bunch of live oaks,? Wood said. ?He?s kind of a barometer of our community. If we can get more people aware of how important these trees are, that?s a good thing.?

Villaire agreed. ?I think they?re one of the great jewels we have here in Virginia Beach,? she said. ?It?d be a shame to lose them.?

Read entire article at Pilotonline.com.

This Tuesday March 8th City Council will vote on a resolution regarding sand replenishment along Cape Henry Beach.  Sand Replenishment and public beach easements were one of the SDCC’s priorities and goals for 2005.  This is a big step in allowing a portion of the Lynnhaven Inlet dredge material to be placed on the beaches East of the Lesner Bridge.

If all things go well, the beaches East of the bridge may receive sand during the 2007 dredging.

The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is seeking citizen input on a draft ordinance regulating where parking on lawns will be permitted in the City of Virginia Beach.

You’re probably aware there was an Open Space Sub-Committee meeting held yesterday at Bayside Rec Center.

The Sub-Committee was looking for feedback on which properties to purchase for Open Space in the Bayside area and obviously Pleasure House Point was the overwhelming choice.

We have been terrible stewards of this natural treasure. Decades of inattention, as well as relentless encroachment have spoiled the watershed. The river is far too important to Virginia Beach, to the region, and to the Chesapeake Bay to allow it to deteriorate further.

This is a reminder for all Civic League and Condo Associations,

The City’s Open Space Subcommittee will hold a Community Involvement Workshop for the Bayfront area on Monday February 28th at the Bayside Recreation Center.  The meeting will be held in room #3. 

The Open Space Subcommittee will have it’s general meeting from 3:00 to 4:00pm and will follow with a Community Involvement Workshop from 4:00 to 5:30pm.

1.    President Todd Solomon called the meeting to order at 7:40 PM.  Eighteen members and guests were present.

The main event for this meeting was a presentation on the plans for the VB 2007 Jamestown Commemoration by Mac Rawls, Chairman of the VB2007 Steering Committee.  The Committee is planning and coordinating all of the related activities to take place in Virginia Beach during that time period.

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC)- General Meeting
Monday February 28, 2005
7:30pm to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Fire & Rescue Hall

The planned program topic for this month’s general meeting will be “Parking on Lawns – Will the City’s Proposed Ordinance Effect You?”  A City Representative from the Code Enforcemnent Department will be present to explain the newly proposed ordinance and entertain questions.  This new ordinance is planned for all residential and duplex zoning throughout the City.  If you live in a R5R or R7.5 area, you may be restricted from parking on any part of your grass even if you use the vehicle every day.  This violation has a penalty of a $150 fine for every offense after the second.  Homeowners with small lots and multiple cars may want to be part of this discussion. 

At the SDAC meeting this past Thursday, Sergeant of Special Operations John M. Lourenco made a report about the traffic and safety issues concerning Shore Drive. Apparently he was invited by Councilman Wood after several residents, including myself, questioned the traffic and safety issues of Shore Drive at the previous SDAC meeting.

Submitted by Ken Jobe, Second VP CCO

What is a ?Flush Tax??  Should CCO support this tax? Come to the 9 Feb meeting and find out.  Don?t we all want clean streams?  Don?t we all want to recreate and fish in such streams?

NOVEMBER 29, 2004

Minutes:

President Todd Solomon called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.  Twenty-five members and guests were present.

Monday January 31, 2005
7:30pm to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Fire & Rescue Hall

The planned program topic for this month’s general meeting will be “VB 2007 – Celebrating 400 years of History”.  Mr. Mac Rawls, Chairman of the VB 2007 Steering Committee, will present Virginia Beach’s plan to participate in this event. 

City Council members unanimously agree that a proposal to condemn and buy homes around Oceana Naval Air Station is dead.
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com.

Apparently the Resort and Conference Center would like to build a Gazebo on the beach in front of the hotel.

The project goes before the Wetlands Board on Jan 18 and the only issue that we can see right now is a precedence to begin building on the bay side of a primary dune.

Resort Gazebo Plans [.PDF file]

Think it sould be allowed to be built?

After the November General Meeting Program, the SDCC obtained the attached letter (see .PDF file) from the City better explaining a potential course of action for Cape Henry beach replenishment.  This proposal will eventually need community support at the City Council level.
Stay tuned to learn how you can help.

Link to .PDF file. [2.12MB file – fast connection friendly]