Join us as we dedicate the new OPVRS flagpole to Don Anderson and his 40+ years of volunteer service to the Ocean Park Community and the City of Virginia Beach.
Live Oak Walk. Join us JUNE 10 Saturday 8am-10am. Get the low down on live oaks & maritime forest at FLSP!
Friends of Live Oaks is Hosting hosting a Live Oak Walk (LOW) at First Landing State Park Picnic Area. 2500 Shore Drive Virginia Beach Virginia 23451 JUNE 10 from 8am to 10am. JOIN US!
Start here at FriendsOfLiveOaks.org to sign up for this rare treat!
“The City Council approved on Tuesday the transfer of $1.2 million from the parking enterprise fund for Freebee.”
Shore Drive gets shafted yet again. So far.
While OceanFront again secures infinite funding, the Bayfront Shuttle budget gets SLASHED IN HALF.
“Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.”
BAYFRONT SHUTTLE ROUTE 35 at HRT.
Pints for Preservation: Enjoy History Trivia and Craft Beer in Support of Cape Henry Lighthouse
In partnership with Preservation Virginia, the nation’s oldest statewide historic preservation organization, the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission invites you to celebrate May as Historic Preservation Month through “Pints for Preservation.” Take part in this refreshing experience at local craft breweries in support of the Cape Henry Lighthouse and its ongoing preservation needs.
Throughout the month of May, each participating brewery is donating $1 per pint sold of their special designated Historic Preservation Month beer to support the lighthouse. The special beers are:
- Reavenator Maibock – Reaver Beach Brewing Company
- Without Question Light Lager – Pleasure House Brewing
- Witty Wilde Belgian Wit. – Vibrant Shore Brewing Company
Find out how much you know about local history as your trivia team competes for prizes during the two remaining trivia nights. Each event will test your knowledge about Virginia Beach’s history starting at 7 p.m. on these dates and locations:
- Monday, May 22, Pleasure House Brewing, 2032 Pleasure House Road
- Thursday, May 25, Vibrant Shore Brewing, 505 18th St.
Commemorative pint glasses will also be available for a donation ($10 each; 2 for $15) during the trivia nights and all proceeds go to the lighthouse’s restoration fund.
Contact Mark Reed, 757-385-8573, mreed@vbgov.com for additional information about the Historic Preservation Month events.
The Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission is a City Council-appointed body that advises council on issues related to historic resources. They seek to preserve, protect and maintain the historic integrity of Virginia Beach and the former Princess Anne County through a program of advocacy and increased public awareness and involvement. The commission actively supports projects to survey historic resources, recognize historic buildings, districts and events, and research hidden areas of the city’s history. Visit www.VBgov.com/historicpreservation for additional information about the Historic Preservation Commission.
When will Shore Drive Phase IV Happen? New Engineering Study and Recent budget defunding point towards Never.
Shore Drive Phase IV (SD P4 as many like to call it) has been planned for the past 17 years. The project is slated to improve traffic and pedestrian safety as well as stormwater and aesthetics on Shore Drive between Marlin Bay and the Lesner Bridge in Ocean Park.
The City Council recently defunded, for the 3rd time, the SD P4 project indefinitely as part of their 23/24 FY Budget. The community was recently made aware of a new SD P4 study, which can be researched below, that identifies a project cost increase of $20 million from $30 million to $50 million. Based on the huge increase and lack of Council support, it appears that this project may not begin construction until 2040 or beyond.
The newly released SD P4 Engineering Design Study and background information can be found at the Ocean Park Civic League website – https://opcl.org/2023/05/09/this-just-in-2/
The actual study documents are fairly large file sizes and can be downloaded here – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aMyj-7ws1xg9tOgIjLc4lxC3kI-1TXhr
So is this project a pipe dream? We certainly hope not. Stay tuned for more developments and make sure to attend upcoming Bayfront Advisory Commission meetings to provide your input. Next BAC meeting is Thursday May 18th at 3:30pm – https://weloveshoredrive.com/2023/05/10/bayfront-advisory-commission-meeting-thursday-may-18-at-330pm-ocean-park-rescue-squad/
***New Start Time***District 8 Community Meeting – Thursday May 18 @ 6:00pm Great Neck Rec Center
Please note the new start time for the District 8 Community Meeting. The meeting will start at 6:00pm on Thursday May 18th.
Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting – Thursday May 18 at 3:30pm, Ocean Park Rescue Squad
The Bayfront Advisory Commission will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday May 18th at 3:30pm in the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad building.
The meeting agenda, past month’s minutes and additional package information can be found below. The file is slightly large, so be patient with the download.
District 8 Community Meeting – Thursday May 18 @ 6:00pm Great Neck Rec Center
Councilmember Chris Taylor will host a town hall meeting on Thursday May 18th at 6:00pm to update residents on current city projects & issues that impact District 8. City representatives will attend to discuss topics such as recruitment needs, EMS & volunteer squads, election system updates, traffic safety & more.
The meeting will be held in Rooms 1 & 2 of the Great Neck Recreation Center. Click here for a map to the center https://goo.gl/maps/KRmhPfTd8kaoNWGw8
Election System Community Engagement – Online Survey
This is an opportunity for residents to have a say in policy development and decision-making. City Council has requested that residents be provided an opportunity to provide their input as to how they want to elect their City representatives.
The online survey hosted by the Cooper Center for Public Service is now available. It is open to Virginia Beach residents through Friday, May 26.
To request a hard copy of the survey, contact Community Engagement Strategist Nancy Bloom, nbloom@vbgov.com, 757-385-6279. Surveys received by May 26 will be provided to CCPS for inclusion in their report.
The community listening session meetings concluded on Monday, April 3. Each meeting was live-streamed and recorded and can be viewed on demand on the “Past Meetings” tab.
“There are no time of year restrictions imposed for this project. Salmons anticipates completing all sand hauling efforts by late July 2023.”
Thanks for update about moving sand from Lynnhaven Boat Ramp to Cape Henry Beach!
Regarding work hours and days per week, the contractor is allowed to work between 7:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday as per the City contract. Salmons will be working these hours and will be allowed, as necessary, to extend the work hours to 7:00am to 5:00pm. Should Salmons request to work on a Saturday, our office will take serious consideration as to how this request will affect the use of the Lynnhaven Municipal Boat Ramp, expected traffic along the Lesner Bridge corridor and on Cape Henry Beach. If the weather forecast for a given Saturday is for a non-boating/non-beach day (i.e., due to rainy weather or rough seas), then we will consider allowing Salmons to work. Salmons will not be working on Memorial Day weekend (i.e., Saturday through Monday) or on the July 4th holiday. Salmons may work up to a half day on Friday, May 26th.
Salmons has been notified to take all necessary precautions to protect the public from the project site during sand placement operations. Salmons is using orange construction fence to cordon off the work areas and the truck haul corridor along the beach. There will be openings in the construction fence to allow residence to access the beach in the areas where the contractor is not working. Signs will be posted at the openings cautioning the public that the beach is a construction zone. The contractor has been notified to have flaggers and other safety personnel at the Jade St beach access and on the beach to protect the public.
Public Works Engineering is excited as I know the Cape Henry Beach community are to begin the truck haul in a safe and expedient fashion.
ROUTE 35 is BACK SUNDAY MAY 14!
Hooray!
There was fear the bayfront community wouldn’t receive the funding for this too but we got it!
Route 35 Bayfront – The frequency will be modified to operate every 60-minutes. Route 35 will not provide service to Parks Avenue/19th Street. Service will be streamlined along Pacific Avenue. Route 35 will service the Edgar Cayce A.R.E on 67th St.
Hopefully HRT will market Route 35 as it seems most people have no idea this terrific service exists.
“City Council approves all Shore Drive Safety Task Force recommendations!” #ThrowbackThursday 17 years
Equitable safety improvements for cyclists & pedestrians like contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes are coming to Shore Drive!
DELAYS since June 7th 2006!*
Read the news here where Vice Mayor Jones was quoted:
“I think the council is committed to getting the improvements done[.]”
* Remember when the powers that be tried making Shore Drive 6 LANES in the 90s?!
Remarkably, the then named Shore Drive Advisory Committee(SDAC) heard the presentation from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force at their April 20th 2006 meeting.
Highlights:
Here is the entire report from the Shore Drive Safety Task Force from April 20 2006. [LOL CITY OF VB BROKE THAT LINK. AGAIN. CUZ NEW WEBSITE. 🤡]
SHORE DRIVE SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL 2006. (PDF open in new tab)
SDAC, now named the Bayfront Advisory Commission(BAC) has their public meeting today at 330pm at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad where they will be grappling with the news of yet another PROPOSED delay in upgrading circa 1950s infrastructure in the “Gateway to the OceanFront & Virginia Beach” while the OceanFront continuously receives virtually infinite money for almost every idea proposed there.
Why do City priorities continue to ignore the infrastructure needs of this area let alone the aesthetics that it’s embarrassing & looks like shit?
Schulman added, “To see the project was delay deferred was extremely disappointing to me, because I knew it would be also extremely disappointing to our residents.”
Coverage of Shore Drive by WTKR’s Angela Bohon.
“Decades long controversy”
PUBLIC COMMENT on PROPOSED BUDGET TOMORROW
“Residents wishing to make comments during the hearings must register with the City Clerk’s Office by calling 757-385-4303 prior to 5 p.m. on the day of the hearing. If participating virtually, please also register via WebEx.”
Start here for PROPOSED Budget.
BAYFRONT ADVISORY COMMISSION Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad 3769 E. Stratford Drive (Enter on side opposite Shore Drive)April 20 2023 Thursday at 330pm
Thanks to Hank for Agenda!
“I have a saying, let’s get to yes on alotta things.”
First 27 minutes 30 seconds is discussion about why no presentation.
~ 27 minutes 35 seconds starts “Budget Reduction Options”.
~ 2 hours 53 minutes starts Presentation for Proposed CIP for Transportation Section including Phase 4 Deferred/Delay. Lower your expectations accordingly.
All you people who came out against 6 lane Shore Drive have delayed 2 miles of contiguous sidewalks in the 2nd most densely populated area in VB for 30 years.
Shore Drive, the 2nd most densely populated area in the largest city in Virginia, is getting contiguous sidewalks & bike lanes soon!
The Gateway to Virginia Beach, which is located on the Chesapeake Bay, has now become a high priority on par with the Oceanfront.
Woo hoo!
VB Election System Community Engagement Starts Sat. March 25th
This is an opportunity for residents to have a say in policy development and decision-making. City Council has requested that residents be provided an opportunity to provide their input as to how they want to elect their City representatives.
Community Meetings are the first step of the process. There will be 12 meetings over a 10 day period for citizens to learn how we reached the current voting structure and have the opportunity to provide feedback and future recommendations.
Meetings will be held in person and virtually. The list of meetings is shown in the image below.
If you plan to attend a meeting, it is recommended that you register online at the following link. You can also learn more about the additional steps being taken as part of this community engagement effort there.
“This project first appeared in the FY 2007-08 CIP. On January 9, 2007, City Council established this project with the appropriation of FY 2005-06 fund balance from the General Fund.”
Not to bury the lede:
Shore Drive is a major east-west arterial in the northern portion of the City. The existing roadway carries 38,800 vehicles per day with a current capacity of 36,900 vehicles per day. Without this project, the roadway will continue to experience vehicular, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety incidents, and restrict traffic volume due to inadequate stormwater drainage.
🟢 The City Manager’s Proposed City Budget at VBGOV.com.
A few highlights of Proposed City Budget include:
Economic & Tourism Development
EV-22-0001 $200,000
Shore Drive Study Update
This project provides an update to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan (2000) and the Shore Drive Corridor Design Guidelines (2002). Flood mitigation strategies from the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) for JEB Little Creek and JEB Fort Story (2019) as well as the bond referendum projects will be integrated into the update creating a broader, more comprehensive Shore Drive Plan. The Bayfront Advisory Commission will be utilized as a steering committee for the development of the update, public input, coordination, and engagement with the local community. The updated plan/guidelines will include: determination of existing conditions; development of a community wide public input survey; identification of issues and opportunities; development of specific land use recommendations by corridor segment; and development of architectural/landscaping/signage/public infrastructure guidelines.
To bury the other lede:
By the way, with this current proposal YOUR real estate taxes will probably jump over 10% based on recent new assessments.
OPVRS Earns Platinum Transparency Recognition
Congratulations OPVRS!
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad is proud to announce that it has earned the Candid (formerly Guidestar) Platinum Transparency rating for the year of 2023. This puts OPVRS in the top 0.1% of nonprofits globally.
Check the news on their blog. Start here to DONATE.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 