If you have power around Shore Drive area, you’re very lucky.
“Save the Old Cavalier”? Join the discussion at the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE)
…The sale is a court-ordered transaction involving private property. As such, the City of Virginia Beach has little control over the sale of the hotel other than the ability to enforce existing zoning laws. The City’s Historic Preservation Commission, however, would like to protect the old Cavalier Hotel on the basis of it historic and architectural merit. A special committee convened by Mayor Will Sessoms and chaired by Mac Rawls, former chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and former Director of the City’s Museums and History Resources Department, has been appointed to study possible uses for the old hotel and make recommendations to City Council regarding the hotel and the City’s role in protecting it.
Coastal Storm Update from VBGov.com
Read the entire update at VBGov.com:
The City of Virginia Beach is closely monitoring the developing coastal storm. It is anticipated that the storm will cause higher than normal tide cycles.
Possible tidal flooding up to elevation +4 feet above sea level
Maps:
“Blipfoto is a community of people from all over the world,” said Giles, a resident of Cape Story by the Sea. “Some people have done this for years, and some are just beginning. I’ve done it for over a year now.”
Check out the Pilotonline.com article about Martha.
Giles’ favorite photo subject is nature, particularly birds. Favorite local sites include First Landing State Park, the Chesapeake Bay and Pleasure House Point.
“You’ll find that many of my pictures are of birds,” Giles said about her online gallery, http://www.blipfoto.com/mmg. “I never set out to take just pictures of birds, but that’s just how it happens.”
Online Petition to Preserve Live Oak in Ocean Park
Update: March 2, Saturday morning, lot is cleared. Thank you to all that signed the brief petition campaign.
One Tree. Why bother saving one tree? Well, in order to get to your destination, you have to take one step at a time.
Please take a minute and sign the online petition to show the property owner that One Tree really does matter. Click here for the petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-live-oak-at-bar-harbor/
Here are several additional reasons why saving one tree is a good thing.
- The Live Oak is the City of Virginia Beach’s official tree.
- The majority of Live Oaks in Virginia Beach are located in the Bayfront area.
- The property owner is an understanding developer. He has already agreed to save the logs from other live oaks that needed to be removed from this “by right” project.
- Having one “Tree Conscience” project may lead to other responsible developments.
For more about saving Live Oak Trees, visit www.friendsofliveoaks.org
Thanks to CBF for generously accepting to stage live oak lumber at their PHP parcel.
There was a lot in Ocean Park recently cleared of all but one of its live oak trees. It was impossible to save these trees.
Thinking boldly, CBF, thanks to Christy’s work, generously agreed to stage this lumber at PHP for use in a future inspirational art project.
We imagine many interested parties working together creating a magnificent sculpture in the near future with inspiration from birds, Native Americans ….
We can also imagine other interested parties helping create smaller pieces, benches, Native American inspired art…
Please join us in using the live oak’s precious lumber to create something worthy of their beauty & strength.
NOTE:CBF did not cut these trees down. CBF generously allowed them to be staged at their PHP parcel.
Amazing news about live oak lumber being preserved!
From an email from Todd:
Bar Harbor Tree Removal – Proffers
T
Todd Solomon
to Kal, Faith, Clay, +7
35 minutes agoDetails
To All:This development went through the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process almost a year ago. I know it wasn’t a topic at any SDCC meetings last year, but can’t answer for BAC. However it appears it was reviewed by Planning with the Shore Drive Design Guidelines in mind. Landscaping in accordance with the guidelines, saving the logs for Friends of Live Oaks and a monetary donation were all added as proffers for approval. Unfortunately this doesn’t save the trees, but it is a major improvement over the developments being built 10 years ago the totally ignored these issues.
Vince does identify an ongoing communication void that could still benefit from some improvement. CUPs are identified as required in the Beacon, but unfortunately the citizens don’t catch them all. And even if we do, the details in the paper are too vague to identify specific tree removal issues. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think all the CUPs go before the BAC for review. If they do, then maybe a more detailed agenda would be helpful to the community. I also thought the Planning Commission always asks if the developer has met with the neighboring civic leagues as part of their approval. If a review at BAC is being substituted for meeting with the civic league, then maybe BAC will now have to validate that requirement.
Maybe we can perform a critique on this CUP and look for ways to improve communication. Anything we come up with can be discussed with the appropriate groups that can help implement the suggestions.
Sincerely,
Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition-Secretary
(757) 667-8533 cell
“Shore Drive, We Love This Place”, check out http://www.sdcc.info
Subject: Bar Harbor
Hi Ron and Steve,
We are receiving numerous calls regarding the clearing of the site at the intersection of DuPont Circle and Shore Drive. I just want to make sure that the developer, Steve, has proffered the agreed upon money to the live oak fund (that Clay administers). Also the oaks being taken down should be donated to the Friends of Live Oaks. Here is the condition on the use permit –
# 9. The applicant, as agreed upon, shall work with the Environment and Sustainability Office to determine an appropriate donation to the Live Oak Fund to help offset loss of the live oaks on the site, and to have the logs of the trees set aside for Friends of Live Oaks (http://www.friendsofliveoaks.org).
Faith Christie, CZA, CBO
Planner, City of Virginia Beach
2405 Courthouse Drive, Room 115
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-385-6379
Time sensitive art project using live oaks!
COASTAL ACTION STORM PLAN Emergency Response “CASPER” FAMILY DISASTER PREPARATION AND RECOVERY PLAN
“CASPER” FAMILY DISASTER PREPARATION AND RECOVERY PLAN (24 pagePDF)
Thanks to Dave for having us repost his work! We highly recommend you download it, study it and take action before catastrophic storms are forecasted.
unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012
2013 Watersheds Forum – SIGN UP NOW
Brought to you by VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
If you love the magnificent bounty of our local waters – GO.
View Lynnhaven River NOW’s E-News here.
2013 Watersheds Forum
March 21, 9:00-2:30, Virginia Beach Convention CenterOyster Roast 3 The first Virginia Beach Watersheds Forum will be held on March 21, 2013 at the Vriginia Beach Convention Center. Registration will begin at 8:15 AM and presentations begin at 9 AM. The Forum is 9 AM-1 PM and includes a box lunch.
The Forum is being held jointly by Lynnhaven River NOW and the Back Bay Restoration Foundation and is sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.The 2013 Forum will have two panel presentations from regional experts on adapting to Sea Level Rise and how our natural resorces fit into Virginia Beach’s long range planning. Additionally, break-out sessions for the northern and southern watersheds will feature speakers from VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Registration is $15 and includes light morning refreshments, a box lunch and all presentations. Add-on workshops will be held at the close of the informational presentations from 1:00-2:30. For an additional fee, participants can build their own rain barrel, learn about gardening with native plants and receive their own native plant, or build their own worm composting bin.
Please register here using PayPal. If you prefer to pay with a check, please contact Mary Tilton at mary.tilton@bbrf.org or 757-619-6429.
For more information, visit our website or contact Karen at Karen@LRNow.org or 757-962-5398.
We hope to see you all on March 21st for an interesting day!
A Pebble in the Pond- The Living Building Challenge Charrette from CBF about PHP’s new center
SDCC General Meeting Notice and Agenda – Monday Feb. 25th
Click here for a printable versions of the agenda SDCC FEB 2013 Agenda (1)
Shore Drive Community Coalition
Monday 25 FEB 2013
SDCC General Meeting
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, 25 FEB – 7:30-8:30 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order
Meeting topic: (1) Neighborhood Security Measures for residents
(2) VA State Personal Self Defense Laws by David Williams
Officers’ Reports:
President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Rick Mercadante
Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –Jan Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Ryan King
Update on issues:
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- Monday March 25, 2013 (Please note Easter is 31 March)
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- TBA
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
“The Department of Parks and Recreation will begin the preliminary design and associated cost estimates for a dog park at Bayville Farms Park.”
The department will work to identify funding for the project within its upcoming FY 2013-14 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Funding Plan, and if so identified, the target date for completion and opening of the dog park would be Spring 2014.
Great news for dog lovers everywhere! Let’s help the project get funded!
“Outta control”. That’s the title of yet another message we’ve received about dogs NOT on leashes on PHP.
Currently – this person has counted 7.
ANIMAL CONTROL
tel:757-385-4444Yes they called.
Fatal accident reported on Shore Drive near First Landing State Park – 2/14/13
It’s very unfortunate, but after almost 3 years without a fatality on Shore Drive (April 2010), another tragic death has occured.
The following was taken from WTKR’s website:
UPDATE: As of 4:00pm., Shore Drive remains closed to East Bound traffic from Kendall Street to Fort story.
Virginia Beach, Va. – Police tell NewsChannel 3 one person has died and one has been injured in a vehicle crash on Shore Drive near First Landing.
It happened at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, February 14, 2013, in the 2500 block of Shore Drive near First Landing. Police say a vehicle was heading eastbound in the 2500 block of Shore Drive near First Landing Park, when it crashed.
One person was reported deceased; and a second person was injured.
Eastbound traffic on Shore Drive is closed from Kendall Street to Fort Story.
NewsChannel 3 is working to find more details. Watch starting First at Four for updates.
Citizens Invited to Help Participate in Review and Adoption of Community Sustainability Plan
The City of Virginia Beach invites all residents, business owners, community leaders and other stakeholders who have an interest in how the city plans, manages, protects and promotes its current and future sustainability initiatives to participate in the City Council’s review and adoption of “A Community Plan for a Sustainable Future” over the next several weeks.
The City Council will be holding a public comment session on Tuesday, Feb. 12 beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Building 1, 2401 Courthouse Drive, 2nd Floor.
The City Council will also be holding a public hearing and vote on adoption of the plan on Tuesday, Feb. 26 beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Building 1, 2401 Courthouse Drive, 2nd Floor.
The draft plan is available for the public to review prior to these meetings at http://www.vbgov.com/government/offices/eso/sustainability-plan/Documents/vb-sustainability-plan-web.pdf. These public input meetings are the final steps in a yearlong public outreach process to seek ideas and direction from citizens to help guide the City in the development of its first comprehensive Community Sustainability Plan.
For additional information, please contact Clay Bernick in the Planning Department/Environment and Sustainability Office at 385-4899 or visit www.VBgov.com/sustainplan.
Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet Feb. 21
The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The agenda for the meeting will include the following:
- Update on public and private projects in the Bayfront area.
- Update on committee activities in the Bayfront area.
There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on projects in the Bayfront area. The committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.
Also, the Bayfront Advisory Design Subcommittee will meet on Feb. 21 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Resort and Conference Center. The subcommittee will continue its deliberations regarding recommendations for commercial design standards along the Shore Drive corridor.
For additional information or to obtain a copy of the draft agenda, contact Faith Christie in the Planning Department at (757) 385-4621 or fchristi@vbgov.com. For more information regarding the Bayfront Advisory Committee, visit www.VBgov.com/Bayfront.
“Today we had an incident in the Landings on Croix Drive that is worth sharing with your list.”
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
The following was received Tuesday, Feb. 12 from a resident in the Landings (across Shore Dr. from the Food Lion shopping center):
A young male, 6’2 tan skin, dark black hair had his face cupped against the passenger window of a work van belonging to one of our neighbors. When our neighbor’s wife asked him if she could help him, he replied in a hostile voice, that he was looking in the mirror. He then got into his faded red Toyota Tercel, license plate (WUS —-) and struck one vehicle as he frantically left the Landings.
He then came back and threatened this young woman, yelling that he knew where she lived and that if she called the police he would be back.
…Master Police Officer Shortridge responded. The vehicle was found parked at Rite aid at Cape Henry Plaza with no occupants. The officer was diverted to other calls.
This evening, this person came back
His vehicle was seen parked behind this woman’s building and the door was ajar- no occupants. By the time that I and others were alerted, the vehicle had left. The person was then seen walking through our community and took off when someone said ” Hey, who is he? He keeps walking back and forth, I don’t know him, who is he?”
The police were notified.
Later tonight at Rite Aid, I spoke with [someone] who lives on Oak Street who described a similar situation- same vehicle, same plate, occurring between 5-530 tonight.
Please pass this info on, as the behavior of this individual is very bizarre and merits the attention of all of our residents.
The following received from the resident on Oak St.:
Today around 5:30 p.m. I noticed two older teens engaging in very suspicious behavior. They were riding in an old, faded dark red vehicle (lic. # WUS —-).
Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. Also, please call or email the NW Coordinator so crime reports and suspicious activities can be shared with all of our residents.
Child bit by German Shepherd in Cape Story on Feb 9th. Do you know the owner ?
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
My son and I were at CSBTS park Sat. 2/9/13 playing basketball. Somewhere around 5:30- 6:00 a woman wearing a black parka (hood up so I couldn’t really see her face) was walking her German Shepherd. My sons basketball went into the bike path in the park and he went to retrieve it when the dog jumped up and bit him on the arm. My son was wearing a sweatshirt so luckily there was no blood but the dog did break the skin on his arm and his arm is black and blue so there was pressure in the bite. I was busy consoling his crying and the owner said “I am sorry”, waited a couple of minutes and turned and walked back down the bike path.
She was walking away in the direction of Great Neck Rd and it is possible she lives between the park and Oak, I lost sight of them about Oak. I am concerned and, at this point, only need to know the dogs shots are up to date etc. It would have been nice of her to give me her contact information just in case. I did not think to ask her that while she was there as I was more concerned with my son. Does anyone know this dog? Is there anyway you can help me find them?
Thank you for any assistance you can give. Carol K.
Please email any info that could help.
Coolest neighborhood on Shore Drive? Ocean Park of course! Advertising proves it.
Full disclosure – I live in Ocean Park … but ya can’t argue with VB’s choice of which neighborhood to market.
And this was in a magazine called AARP or something like that:
Ocean Park baby!
“SB 926 Wetlands; governmental activity. 01/31/13 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources”
YEAS–Hanger, Watkins, Puckett, Ruff, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Marsden, Black, Miller–10.
NAYS–0.
ABSTENTIONS–0.
Thank you.
Members of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources:
- Senator Emmett W. Hanger Jr.Republican-District 24
- Senator John C. Watkins Republican-District 10
- Senator Phillip P. Puckett Democrat-District 38
- Senator Frank M. Ruff Jr. Republican-District 15
- Senator A. Donald McEachin Democrat-District 9
- Senator J. Chap Chapman Petersen Democrat-District 34
- Senator Ralph S. Northam Democrat-District 6
- Senator David W. Marsden Democrat-District 37
- Senator Richard H. Black Republican-District 13
- Senator John C. Miller Democrat-District 1
Special thanks to Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters Republican-District 8 for requesting SB926 to be stricken.
Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters Republican-District 8
#WeLoveShoreDrive 