SDCC General Meeting – Monday May 23rd at 7:30pm

Posted on by

Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 5.23.16 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday May 23, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

Special Presentations –  No scheduled presentation.  This time will be used to discuss which future presentations should be pursued.  Possibilities include:

  • City’s Urban Forest and Tree Oversight (Susan French, City Arborist)
  • Long Range Storm Water Plans for Shore Drive East of Lesner Bridge
  • Update on City’s pursuit of Community Rating System (CRS), a National Flood Insurance Program
  • Update on Shore Drive Safety – Have improvements helped reduce accidents/incidents?
  • Any other community concerns?

 Officer’s Reports 

Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon

 

Old Business-

Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments.  City’s Planning Department evaluation update.  When will the project go before the Planning Commission?  

Beach Event Houses – Update from the Beaches & Waterways Commission overseeing this evaluation. 

 

New Business –

Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission. 

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?   

Next SDCC Meeting – Monday June 27, 2016

“The Brock Center intends to be an educational platform for all participants and visitors to better learn and act in responsible ways. The result is an exceptionally informed and inspired constituency that values the Bay and its watershed as a living, connected system.”

Posted on by

Read & view photos of Case Study entitled The Chesapeake Bay Brock Environmental Center:

This site is a fantastic location for an Environmental Education Center, as it provides a wealth of opportunities to study both the ongoing restoration of the landscape and the interface where the land meets the water. The center will be an active demonstration site for important and relevant restoration projects, including living shorelines, oyster, wetland, and other habitat restoration, as well as water quality improvement initiatives.

Photo Credit: International Living Building Institute

Photo Credit: International Living Building Institute

There are 2 errors in the Case Study.
International Living Building Institute have been notified.
Can you find them?

Anyone know who this kayaker is?

Posted on by
Who is this?

Who is this?

He was photographed by John Henley for Trust for Public Land a few years ago for an article about the preservation of Pleasure House Point.

Northampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach closed after crash. Fatality Crash Team at scene. 

Posted on by

View article & photos at Pilotonline.com. 


Coverage at WAVY.com.

Coverage at WTKR.com.

Congratulations to the newest Certified Living Building in the world – Brock Environmental Center on Pleasure House Point

Posted on by

From their Facebook page this morning:

We are incredibly excited to announce to you that CBF’s Brock Environmental Center has been named the newest Living Building in the world!

The Brock Center has officially met all requirements of the Living Building Challenge through the International Living Future Institute! Thank YOU for your support in making this happen–truly a celebration for all!

13217277_1049777575092931_1818229488119016486_o

Congratulations to everyone who helped make this achievement possible!

Learn more about the Living Building Challenge.
Not all of Pleasure House Point is permanently preserved yet.
View map at our Pleasure House Point page.

Cape Henry Beach Replenishment

Posted on by

The following notice was graciously sent to SDCC by Mr. Phill Roehrs, P.E. Water Resources Engineer with the City of VB Public Works Engineering.  Thank you Phill for keeping us up to date.

Dear Shore Drive Residents:

We wanted to let you know about an upcoming truck haul of sand from the City’s stockpile south of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility to a section of Cape Henry Beach.

As you know, the sand stockpile area has been the repository for sand dredged from the Crab Creek channel in recent years.  Portions of Cape Henry Beach have experienced erosion over the previous winter, and would benefit from the placement of the sand dredged from Crab Creek.

There is also a need to remove sand from the stockpile area to create capacity for future dredging of Crab Creek and to help alleviate space issues at the staging area for the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project.

As such, the City has begun coordinating a truck haul of up to 30,000 cubic yards of material from the sand stockpile to a portion of Cape Henry Beach for purposes of beach replenishment.

Some of the details are:

Ø Trucks will begin hauling sand as early as May 9, 2016, in an attempt to finish the beach work prior to Memorial Day.

Ø The replenishment area will be the area to the west of  the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier.

Ø The Jade Street beach access will serve as the vehicular access point for trucks hauling sand  to the beach.

Ø This truck haul will result in increased storm protection for portions of Cape Henry Beach just prior to the upcoming hurricane season, and will serve to nourish the beach westward to the Lesner Bridge by natural drift.

If you have any questions or would like further details about this project, please contact Thomas Gay via email at tgay@vbgov.com, or by phone at 385-4838.

Thank you for your time and please share this information.

 

VB Library Seeks Input on Community Conversation Topics

Posted on by
Vaccinations? Data security? The refugee crisis? 
     Using the City of Virginia Beach’s Web-based citizen engagement tool, Virtual Town Hall,  Virginia Beach Public Library has launched a survey to ask Beach residents what topics they’d like to discuss in a civic engagement series hosted by the library called the “Community Conversation” program. Responses will be used to plan future discussions.
     Held quarterly at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, Community Conversations are small-group discussions on topics of national or local interest. The series brings people together for civil discourse on a given issue to share perspectives, weigh options, consider tradeoffs and attempt to find common ground.
     In addition to asking for topics of interest, the survey asks for suggested days of the week and best times to offer Community Conversations in order to attract the maximum number of 20 participants for each program. The survey will be available for public input through May 15.

Click here Community Conversations Survey to participate.

“Help is on the way, as surveying is complete on a $1 million project to alleviate flooding in several neighborhoods south of Shore Drive. Installation of three sluice gates in the Cape Henry Ditch will commence shortly.”

Posted on by

Check article and photos at Pilotonline.com:

When the project is complete in January 2017, sensors that monitor water height along the ditch will signal the gates to move up or down, a process that typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, according to Mike Mundy, water resource program manager for the city. Though the gates are primarily for protection from tidal water, they will also be monitored to prevent heavy rainfall from causing flooding when they’re closed.

Graphic Credit: Virginian-Pilot

Graphic Credit: Virginian-Pilot

“These funds have allowed us to build 58 acres of sanctuary oyster reef in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers in the Lynnhaven River and stock them with 20 million spat on shell oysters. These sanctuary reefs have contributed greatly to the resurgence of our native oyster population and to the improvements in water quality and habitat.”

Posted on by

Obviously a clean Lynnhaven River makes the world a much better place for all of us!

Learn more about the Virginia Beach Oyster Heritage Fund at LRNow.org:

The shells that have accumulated at the landfill over the past six years are slated to be used to build a 1.5 acre sanctuary reef in Eastern Branch of the Lynnhaven River in spring 2017.

Pelicans on Athey Oyster Reef

Baylines Newsletter of the City Council-appointed Bayfront Advisory Commission May edition is out

Posted on by

Check out the 4 page PDF Baylines here:

Bayfront Advisory Commission meets Thursday, May 19, 2016
3:30 – 5:30
Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center
City Council Appointed Advisory Board
2800 Shore Drive (Subcommittees, when they meet, convene 2-3:30pm)

“Have you ever seen a site like this anywhere in the world?” McAuliffe asked.

Posted on by

Check out terrific article and photos of Virginian-Pilot article Earth Day and every day, Brock Center soars past expectations:

Everett said the Brock Center has exceeded her expectations most in drawing people to it. The foundation invites visitors to come inside, and in its first year 24,000 did – four times more than predicted.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe looks at art made of a live oak tree during a tour . . . Photo Credit: Steve Early | Virginian-Pilot

Gov. Terry McAuliffe looks at art made of a live oak tree during a tour . . . Photo Credit: Steve Early | Virginian-Pilot

A bunch of us have always thought the “site” had great potential. ;-)
Article in Virginian-Pilot Feb 2003.

Monday April 25th SDCC General Meeting Agenda – Special Comprehensive Plan Presentation

Posted on by

Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 4.25.16 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday April 25, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

Special Presentations –  City Comprehensive Plan Update – City staff members Jeryl Phillips, Comprehensive Planning Coordinator, and Steven White, City Planning Evaluation Coordinator, will provide an update of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan with a focus on the Bayfront area.  The Comp Plan is the City visioning document that guides progress in 5 year increments.  In 2015, Bayfront residents provided a large number of comments to the plan at an open house held in John B. Dey ES.  Come out to hear how your comments made a difference to this important planning document.

 Officer’s Reports

Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-

Shore Drive to Oceanfront Bus Loop – First Landing State Park and City are working on a plan to create a stop on the beachfront parking area.  This plan looks possible and if executed will allow the test route to take place in 2017. 

Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments.  City is evaluating parking requirements.  Eastern access road doesn’t look possible due to environmental/Army Corps impact.  

New Business –

Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.

Beach Event Houses – The City is evaluating an ordinance to control the use of rental property that is being used for short term events.  Single family homes are being rented for durations less than a week and being used for large events without following current event permit requirements.  Sandbridge is the biggest impact area, but what impact would this have on the Bayfront area? 

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

Civic Engagement Opportunities-

Comprehensive Plan Comments –

  • City Council Hearing – Tues. May 17th, 6pm City Council Chambers 

City Budget Comments –

  • Public Hearings –Tues. April 26th, 6pm City Council Chambers
  • Online Opportunities – Virtual Town Hall, Balancing Act (links at www.sdcc.info) 

Common Ground for Action – National Issues Forum – Climate Choices online dialogue opportunity.  There will be 2 opportunities to participate in an online conversation regarding Climate Choices.  Wednesday April 27th from 10am to Noon and Friday April 29th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.  Go to www.sdcc.info to sign up.  The event is free.

Next SDCC Meeting – Monday May 23, 2016

PLEASE NOTE MEETING DATE MOVED ONE WEEK DUE TO MEMORIAL DAY

“The city’s Public Works department has the sand, equipment and manpower to do erosion repair on Cape Henry beach after the tough winter.”

Posted on by

Read article at Pilotonline.com:

Crews will focus on the area west of the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier and north of Fort Story.

Virginia Beach used to have a permanent fund for beach replenishment, but stopped putting money in it during the recession, which began in December 2007. Since then, Public Works has shifted money around as beaches have needed erosion repair.

““Keep your pets on the leash and we have no problems,” wrote one person.“What we need is more dog control, licensing, permits, certifications, posted signs and laws,” wrote another.”

Posted on by

Read & comment at Pilotonline.com:

Among the proposed messages: “Keep your dog from running up uninvited to unfamiliar people, unfamiliar dogs, or leashed dogs,” and, “Dogs off leash might claim balls that do not belong to them, which can lead to aggression. If a fight breaks out, pull dogs apart from the back. Call Animal Control 757-385-5000 ext. 2.”

What is going on at Lynnhaven Colony Park?

Posted on by

Check story with photos at Pilotonline.com:

The park, at 3125 Shore Drive, is being prepared for installation of new playground equipment.

Baylines Newsletter of the City Council-appointed April edition

Posted on by

Read the 4page PDF newsletter:

Beach replenishment planned
City Public Works crews are planning to replenish eroded sand on the Cape Henry beach between the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier and Lynnhaven Inlet this spring.
Plans call for 30,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand to be trucked from the Crab Creek storage area at a cost of about $400,000. Funds would be sought within the current budget. Plans and permits from previous beach-replenishment projects are in place and may need only minor modifications, said Public Works Director Phillip A. Davenport in a March 18 memorandum to the city manager.
Works could begin in April or May and should take about 30 days to complete.

“The number of barges anticipated to be operating at any given time during the program should not create a significant issue in relation to the amount of channel traffic that can occur on any given day.”

Posted on by

View 7 page PDF of Questions & Answers about proposed Dredge Spoils Transfer Station at beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility.

Councilmember Rosemary Wilson forwarded me a copy of your numerous questions related to the Neighborhood SSD Dredging Program. Attached you will find responses to each. Let me assure you that the City of Virginia Beach adheres to all regulatory and safety provisions when performing construction work either in-house with our City workforce or by contractors.

Previously at SDCC.info: Search “Dredging” results

SDCC General Meeting – Monday March 28th at 7:30pm

Posted on by

Click on the link for a printable version of the agenda 3.28.16 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday March 28, 2016 from 7:30 to 9:00pm Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Special Presentations –  None

 Officer’s Reports  Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report – Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon

Old Business-

Shore Drive to Oceanfront Bus Loop – Update on proposed seasonal bus route between Shore Drive and the Oceanfront.  City staff, Councilman Wood, Bayfront Advisory Committee, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), First Landing State Park reps and SDCC met at State Park to discuss proposed service. 

Marina Shores Proposed Development – Update on proposal to rezone the site and construct 261 apartments. 

Possible Dredge Transfer Station at Crab Creek – Update on the possibility of using the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp at Crab Creek for a transfer site, the neighborhood dredge program in general and actions of the Beaches and Waterways Commission.

New Business –

Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission. 

City of VB Comprehensive Plan 2016 – The final draft is out for review prior to City Council vote on May 17th.  Would a presentation from City staff at the SDCC April 25th meeting be beneficial?

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

Civic Engagement Opportunities-

Comprehensive Plan Comments –

  • Planning Commission Hearing – Wed. April 13th, Noon City Council Chambers
  • City Council Hearing – Tues. May 17th, 6pm City Council Chambers

City Budget Comments –

  • Public Hearings – Thurs. April 21st, 6pm Cox HS; Tues. April 26th, 6pm City Council Chambers
  • Online Opportunities – Virtual Town Hall, Balancing Act (links at www.sdcc.info)  

Next SDCC Meeting – Monday April 25, 2016