Monday July 31st – SDCC General Meeting Special Presentation and Agenda
Click here for a printable version of the agenda 7.31.17 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday July 31, 2017 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentation – Proposed Urban Winery on Shore Drive – Jennifer Eichert, owner and operator of Mermaid Winery in Norfolk, will discuss her plans to open a winery at 4365 Shore Drive. The plans include an outside seating area with fire pits and a tasting room that will be available for private parties. The project was scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission on July 12th.
Officer’s Reports
Secretary – David Williams
Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak
Vice President – Wally Damon
President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Route 35, Bayfront Shuttle – Update on ridership numbers and HRT’s ideas to expand and make this route more effective. Thoughts and feedback welcomed. Send comments to Todd@sdcc.info Comments will be collected and forwarded to City and HRT.
Pleasure House Point Management Plan – City Staff met with an Ocean Park Civic League steering committee to discuss the planned parking lot, ADA requirements and the wetland mitigation bank.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission (BAC) News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Bay Lake Assisted Living Facility Expansion – The owners of Bay Lake plan to expand by adding new buildings to their vacant lot at the corner of First Court and Shore Drive. The plan requires a Conditional Use Permit and may be heard by the Planning Commission as early as August. The site layout shows an entrance off Shore Drive across from Indian Hill Rd and another off First Court.
Resort Conference Hotel Proposal to Convert to Assisted Living Facility – VB Planning received a Conditional Use Permit application for the transition of the VB Resort and Conference Center to become Housing for Seniors and Disabled Persons. The request is to specifically convert the hotel into independent, assisted and memory care units. A hearing may be as early as September.
Community Concerns and Suggestions – General discussion of neighborhood and community concerns that may need SDCC attention. This is an opportunity for all to share information.
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday August 28, 2017
Swimming Advisory Issued for Cape Henry Area
Swimming Advisory Issued for Cape Henry Area
Fort Story to Starfish Road Including First Landing State Park
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Cape Henry area of Virginia Beach between Fort Story and Starfish Road, including First Landing State Park. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as Enterococcus, the indicator of choice in estuarine and marine waters.
“The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them weekly from May through September,” said Heidi Kulberg, M.D., director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health. “On the occasions when waters fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”
Signs will be posted on the beach between Fort Story and Starfish Road to alert the public of the swimming and wading advisory. The signs will read:
WARNING! SWIMMING ADVISORY
Bacteria levels do not meet state water quality standards
Swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice
Virginia Beach has conducted these tests since the mid-1970s. Health officials will continue testing the site until the water quality meets the state water quality standards. When the sampling test results meet the standards, the signs will be removed.
Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of the fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Kulberg. “Typically an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.”
The results of this and all other sampling are located on the Virginia Department of Health Web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring.
For additional information, contact Brad DeLashmutt, Virginia Beach Health Department at 757-518-2727.
“The Planning Commission will hear Eichert’s application for a winery on Shore Drive July 12. Mermaid Winery at the Beach could open on Nov. 1.”
Plans for the winery in a vacant restaurant building on Shore Drive near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel include an outside seating area with fire pits. A tasting room will be available for private parties.
“It’s a good fit,” said Jimmy McNamara, staff planner for the city.
Norfolk location.
Photo Credit: Mermaid Winery Facebook page.
A presentation was made to the Bayfront Advisory Committee meeting in June ’17.
BAC Capital Improvement Projects’ Briefing
View and download PDF of presentation briefing. (27 page PDF)
PDF includes info such as:
Completed Projects FY17
Shore Drive Bike Facilities CIP 2-300.101
• EB & WB On road bike lanes from Diamond Springs Road to
Northampton Boulevard, approx. 3 miles.
• Completed February 2017
• Total Project Cost: $4.4M
Crab Creek & Long Creek Dredging CIP 8-011 • Spot dredging to address shoaling
• Completed February 2017 • Total Project Cost: $285K
Lynnhaven Inlet Maintenance Dredging • Minor dredging to address shoaling
• Completed August 2016
• Annualized Payments to USACE – $363K
CIP 8-013
July Bayline from Bayfront Advisory Committee
Golf carts on OP Beach causing concern
What began as a low-tech way for the city to allow handicapped people to access the beach on a golf cart has exploded into a full-fledged epidemic at Ocean Park, resident Mike Wills told the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Golf cart drivers have obtained an “accommodation letter” from the city manager’s office which, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, allows the letter-hold with certified disability to drive to and on the beach, City Manager David Hansen wrote Wills about this issue.“Individuals must have the original reasonable accommodation letter and their driver’s license on them at all times and present such documentation for inspection upon the request of any lifeguard, city official or police officer. The letters are not transferrable or assignable to another individual,” the city manager wrote. . .
#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager: “Thursday July 6th, beginning at 12:01 AM and ending at 4:00 AM – Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge will be reduced to a single lane.”
Update from Email:
Folks:
Last week we successfully accomplished a major milestone in the project – moving the gantry crane from the north side of Shore Drive to the south side of Shore Drive and into position to begin assembly of the eastbound bridge superstructure segments. To do this, we had to close Shore Drive and setup a long detour until the move could be completed. The last piece of this move is to remove the two beams that are currently located on the western end of the bridge crossing Shore Drive.
Unlike the first two phases of this gantry crane move, a detour WILL NOT be required to remove these two beams. NEXT Thursday July 6th, beginning at 12:01 AM and ending at 4:00 AM – Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge will be reduced to a single lane and a flagger operation will control the direction of traffic across the bridge. Therefore, motorists should be PREPARED TO STOP on their approach to the bridge during this time period.
Bridge crossing delays of up to 15 minutes should be expected and motorists may want to plan an alternate route while these two beams are removed.
Area of Work and Restricted Traffic on Lesner Bridge July 6, 2017 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM
Please note that on Wednesday July 5th, beginning at 10:00 PM Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge will be reduced to a single lane in each direction in preparation for the flagger operation that will begin at midnight.
We appreciate your patience regarding these traffic interruptions along Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge!
Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day! …and of course Please Drive Safely!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Have info about an assault on April 4th near Brock Environmental Center & Dinwiddie Road ?
Learn more at Southside Daily:
Later, the victim’s brother and mom were called by an unknown person saying they’d found the victim’s belongings and wanted to return them. The victim called that number, but did not get a response.
No one has been arrested in connection with the assault and robbery. Anyone with information on these crimes should call the Virginia Beach Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
CRS presentation made at SDCC Meeting June 26 ’17
Presentation made about CRS by the very capable and friendly Whitney K. McNamara Virginia Beach Planning Department.
View and download 8 page PDF here.
View more about CRS at SDCC.info/Hot.
The National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.
As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS:
Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and
Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
New Bayfront Shuttle – Route 35 Information Webpage
This will be a work in progress and is being compiled by a crack staff of volunteers (Tim and Todd). We are working with existing HRT information and trying to put it into a usable format. So if you have any corrections are would like to have additional information added to the page, please email Todd at todd@sdcc.info and we will try to accommodate your requests.
Bayfront Shuttle – Route 35 Webpage – Click here
Special Presentation – VB Participation in CRS Program – Monday June 26th at 7:30pm
SDCC General Meeting – Special Presentation
A presentation on Virginia Beach’s participation in the FEMA/HUD Community Rating System (CRS) will be made by Ms. Whitney McNamara, City’s Environment and Sustainability Office. Ms. McNamara will be providing an update on City’s progress in joining this program that will help residents save money on their flood insurance premiums and help improve overall city flood management plans.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held on Monday June 26th at 7:30pm in the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad hall (3769 E Stratford Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455)
Additional background information regarding CRS program and efforts to date can be found below:
- CRS Ratings for Hampton Roads Cities and Definitions – CRS City Ratings and Definition
- 2015 VB City Report Recommending Applying to CRS Program –4 CommunityRatingSystemPolicyReport
- Norfolk CRS Rating Improves and Saves Tax Payers Money – Virginian-Pilot Article
- FEMA Notice on Norfolk CRS Improvement – FEMA website notice
We hope you can attend this informative meeting on a very important topic for the Bayfront neighborhoods.
Monday June 26th – SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 6.26.17 SDCC Agenda
SDCC General Meeting Agenda
Monday June 26, 2017 from 7:30 to 9:00pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Special Presentation – Community Rating System (CRS) for Residents in Flood Zones – Ms. Whitney McNamara, City Planning Department will provide an update on the City’s application to FEMA/HUD’s CRS program. This is the program that all but 2 cities in Hampton Roads participate and can bring a 5% to 30% reduction in your flood insurance premiums.
Officer’s Reports: Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business–
Marina Shores Condo/Apartment Proposed Development – Brief update. Presentation made by developer to Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) at June meeting. Project lawyer informs that the dredge transfer easement will be included in the zoning boundary that includes the wetlands and open space.
Proposed Development West of 7-11 near Marlin Bay Drive/Shore Drive – Variance request was scheduled for Monday May 22nd at Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board. Request was withdrawn. No new date has been scheduled.
Route 35, Bayfront Shuttle – Thoughts and feedback welcomed. Send comments to Todd@sdcc.info Comments will be collected and forwarded to City and HRT. Route operating times shown below.
Daily, May 21 – Labor Day, 8:00 a.m. until Midnight, every 45 minutes.
Fri-Sat-Sun, September 8 – October 1, 8:00 a.m. until Midnight, every 45 minutes
Pleasure House Point Management Plan – SDCC has asked City staff for the most up to date information regarding the management plan and the CIP that identifies the creation of a wetlands mitigation bank, parking lot, rest rooms and kayak launch. SDCC has also requested the reconvening of the PHP Management Task Force that helped create the draft of the management plan.
New Business –
Bayfront Advisory Commission (BAC) News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Community Concerns and Suggestions for 2017 – General discussion of neighborhood and community concerns that may need SDCC attention. This is an opportunity for all to share information.
Civic Engagement Opportunities:
Community Meetings to discuss options for the new City Hall (more info here)
July 26 5-6 pm Virtual – on Facebook Live
July 26 6-8 pm Virginia Beach Convention Center
August 23 6-8 pm Westin Hotel Ballroom, Town Center
Upcoming Presentations:
July 31st – (Proposed but not confirmed) – Mermaid Winery development planned for the old Foon’s restaurant next to Beach Buggy car wash. Existing building would be used for a Winery and Restaurant.
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday July 31, 2017
#LESNERBRIDGE open tonight.
Bridge closure is cancelled.
Last night pics.
#LESNERBRIDGE IS CLOSING for BRIEF period of time soon!
From the classic update from a comedian in COVB Media and a guy from Public Works who <3 the Lesner:
This move will be conducted over three nights: June 19th, 20th, and 21st.
Structural Scholars/Bridge Aficionados/Bored Readers:
For those of you who were wondering: “What am I going to read on the beach this weekend,” or “What can I read late at night that will stir me intellectually and heighten my awareness about structural engineering,” I have an answer – Before you is the latest from the Czar of Bridges, Chris Wojo, the Kingfish.
This is IMPORTANT information, so please take note. The Fish speaks of moving the gantry, substructure work, overheight vehicles, and most importantly . . . CLOSING SHORE DRIVE for a BRIEF period. He has gone to great pains to scratch out everything in details, and I have gone to great pains to check for spelling and punctuation errors . . . I know, it’s dirty work, but someone has to do it. It’s my lot in life.
There truly is a lot of information here and we are doing everything we can to get the word out to the local community so that everyone is aware of what will be taking place. Chris and his team have worked very hard to schedule everything so that there is a minimum of inconvenience to everyone.
We will be posting the latest info on our web pages, as well as the City’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you know of an organization or groups we should alert, please let me know and I will be glad to contact them. And if you haven’t already signed up for the City’s FB page or Twitter account, I encourage you to do so so that you receive timely updates from all things City-related.
As always, we appreciate your questions and e-mails, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.
If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them. Please feel free to pass this along to others.
Thanks again for all of your interest and patience throughout this project. So . . . stay safe, look out for each other, and put the phone down while you’re driving.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353*****************************************
Folks:
A lot of you have been asking, “When is the gantry going to be moved?” Now that time has come. I hope most of you have heard about or seen the message on the portable signs on Shore Drive:
LES BRDG CLOSED 12AM-4AM
JUNE 19 THRU JUNE 24We have reached that point in the construction schedule where we need the gantry crane that is currently stored on the north side of Shore Drive to be put in place so that the superstructure of the new eastbound Lesner Bridge can be assembled.
To do this, we need to temporarily close Shore Drive to slide the gantry over the roadway and into position on the south side of Shore Drive.
This move will be conducted over three nights: June 19th, 20th, and 21st.
We will need short-term closures of Shore Drive between the hours of 12 midnight and 4 am, so as to disrupt as little traffic as possible. Note: One lane of the bridge will be kept open for use by emergency vehicles. In the event that emergency vehicles need to cross the bridge during this time, work will be temporarily halted to let the emergency vehicles cross the bridge. The detour route for all other vehicles during these dates and times is provided below.
Detour Route for the Temporary Short-Term Closure of Lesner Bridge
The move of the gantry crane will take place with the following anticipated schedule:
Monday, June 19th: 12 midnight through 4 am.
We will be:
+ Installing two support beams across Shore Drive to connect the falsework on the north side of the bridge to the falsework located on the south side
+ Connecting cables from the winches located on the south side of the bridge to the gantry located on the north side.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: OVERHEAD CLEARANCE WILL BE 13’9” THEREFORE, OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO USE ANOTHER ROUTE UNTIL THE SUPPORT BEAMS ARE REMOVED
Tuesday, June 20th: 12 midnight until 4 a.m.
We will be:
+ Completing preparations to the gantry rolling system and survey the falsework to ensure proper alignment of the channels.
+ Winching the gantry across Shore Drive and onto the falsework located on the south side of the bridge.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: AGAIN . . . OVERHEAD CLEARANCE WILL BE 13’9” THEREFORE, OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO USE ANOTHER ROUTE UNTIL THE SUPPORT BEAMS ARE REMOVED.
Wednesday, June 21st: 12 midnight until 4 a.m.
We will be:
+ Removing the two support beams from the falsework that crosses Shore Drive.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: NO RESTRICTIONS TO OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES.
Gantry Support Falsework
Gantry Move
Other Bridge Construction News:
In addition to the preparations being made for the gantry move, substructure work on the new bridge continues.
Piers 1 and 2 (of 9) of the new eastbound bridge have been completed. All of the drilled shaft foundations and the footing for Pier 3 have been completed and only one drilled shaft remains to be installed for the foundation at Pier 4.Reinforcing Steel at Pier Column 3
As McLean continues to build the new bridge substructure from the west, they are also continuing the demolition of the old bridges to the east and have completed approximately 80% of this demolition.
Bridge Demolition on the East side of Lynnhaven Inlet
AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the superstructure of the new Lesner Bridge. A total of 143 of the 168 segments have been cast for the new eastbound bridge. It is expected that all bridge segments for the eastbound bridge will be cast by August 2017.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:+ Continue bridge demolition;
+ Place concrete and complete construction of Pier #3;
+ Place reinforcing steel and concrete in the footing for Pier #4;
+ Install the falsework and seal slab for Pier #5;
+ Install the falsework and seal slab for Pier #6:
+ Place the leveling pad for the new MSE wall along the south side of Shore Drive between East Stratford Street and the new bridge;
+ Continue filling and grading operations at the new bridge abutments;
+ Install the new traffic signal pole and mast arm on the southeast corner of Shore Drive and East Stratford Street (to be done during the night of the Shore Drive Road closure on June 19th – 20th).
Other information regarding the status of the bridge construction can also be found at http://www.vbgov.com\lesner-bridge
As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding this project and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Drive Safely!
-ChrisChristopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
June Bayline from Bayfront Advisory Committee
. . .
STAFF REPORTS & UPDATES — Mark Shea, Tobias Eisenlohr
COMMITTEE REPORTS & UPDATES
Public Safety, Transit, Parking & Pedestrian Access- Charles Malbon Design Review – Joseph Bovee
Communications – Scott Ayers
PRESENTATION
Mermaid Winery Conditional Use Permit
. . .
4pm meeting at Brock about proposed parking lot CANCELLED
We will keep you informed when we know more.
Thank you for your continued efforts.
Inaugural Route 35 ride !
CLICK FOR 1 PAGE PDF OF ROUTE 35
Route 35 Firsts
First driver: John
First rider: Todd
First rider with a bike: Wally
First round-tripper: Tim
Roundtrip on this Inaugural run started about 905 to 1020am return trip at Vista Circle.
Ride 35.
Bayfront Shuttle that’s starting SUNDAY 830am VISTA CIRCLE
Woo hoo!
You’ll be able to travel from Shore Drive area to the Oceanfront and back without having to drive.
Or it Starts
SUNDAY VISTA CIRCLE 800am!
(Editor note: Brand new service with kinks the first day no doubt.)
Google Map to Bayfront Shuttle Route 35 stop at Vista Circle.
There’s about a 45 minute wait between buses.
Please be patient expect a learning curve for timely, consistent service.
This test year has Shuttle starting at Vista Circle.
Route 35. Starting May 21, ride the VB Wave from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to First Landing State Park, the North End beaches, and all the wonderful Bayfront restaurants on Shore Drive. From May 22 through Labor Day, VB Wave shuttles will run every 45 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to Midnight every day. Then from September 8 through October 1, VB Wave shuttle service will run from 8:00 a.m. to Midnight, but only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Survey we ran back in summer of 2015.
Thanks so far to everyone who has worked on this!!
“The old Lesner Bridge is getting a second life.”
Although the state is paying McLean Contracting to rebuild the bridge, the contractor is using its own money to hire crews that move tons of concrete to the reef. The VMRC monitors the process.
Crews load up a barge of concrete pieces roughly every two weeks and travel about 18 miles to Cabbage Patch Reef. They begin the ride at midnight and make it by the time the sun rises.
Screen Shot of Construction Cam photo taken February 18th at noon.
#LESNERBRIGE
You, the community, are invited to a meeting Tuesday May 23rd at 4pm at Brock re: parking lot idea ON PHP.
Statement from Parks & Rec printed with permission:
“Parks and Rec has requested to have a tree inventory and survey completed of the construction entrance/parking lot area so amore environmentally sensitive parking area can be designed to accommodate 2 to 3 ADA compliant parking spaces and provide adequate space for a couple of vehicles to temporarily park to off load equipment then pull out onto the on street parking.
This parking area will be constructed at the end of the wetlands restoration project and utilize some of the area used for the construction ingress/egress into the wetlands project area.
The tree survey and inventory will also provide information needed for tree protection measures that will need to be put in place prior to and maintained during the wetlands mitigation project.”
Links to various info about Pleasure House Point on this website located here.
History of preservation of PHP back to 2003 is located on this website.
Brief highlights of the community’s involvement with preservation of Pleasure House Point 2001 – 2012:
Approximately $150,000 – $200,000 worth of consulting time was donated to efforts. Those efforts resulted in the most recent real estate speculator to receive exactly 0 required permits. The enforcement of the applicable laws & regulations governing wetlands, buffer, zoning etc reduced the perceived value of PHP & allowed the partners to purchase her for approximately $16.6M discount.
This high-profile property was once being considered for a large waterfront development, but with the help of The Trust for Public Land, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the surrounding community, the City has preserved one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River for generations to come.
The community has been a vital part of Pleasure House Point for years and looks forward to continued participation with all the stakeholders going forward.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 