“Stocks of menhaden along the Atlantic coast have plummeted to their lowest levels on record. Commission data show that menhaden are currently being overfished and have been for 32 of the past 54 years. Clearly, something must be done to better protect menhaden, a natural resource important to the Bay’s ecology and Virginia’s economy.”

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CBF’s Virginia update on critical action the State Legislature needs to take. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES NOVEMBER 16. Help protect menhaden population in the Bay.

As a companion article in this newsletter details, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is now considering steps to protect and begin restoration of the Atlantic menhaden population. Ensuring that menhaden remain abundant in the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay is critical. Described as the “most important fish in the sea,” menhaden provide a major food source for other fish, marine mammals, and birds.

The companion article mentioned above.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is pushing for fair and reasonable changes to the management plan in order to rebuild the menhaden population and boost opportunities for watermen, anglers, and wildlife:

A 25 percent reduction of the menhaden catch as a first step toward eliminating overfishing.
Achieving the target level fishing mortality within five years.
To avoid undue harm to local fishermen catching menhaden for bait, the allocation scheme should split the new quota 70:30 between the industrial fishery and the local bait fisheries.

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT BY NOVEMBER 16th TO HELP PROTECT MENHADEN.

Many people have never even heard of this boney, oily, unappetizing fish (also known as bunker or pogy).

But without this little unsung hero, the Bay’s ecosystem would likely collapse.

Learn more about Menhaden.

New electronic billboard for 7 story fast food place going up at Greenwell.

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Just kidding.

The sign that just popped up supported by the large silver pole instead of a black pole is part of the Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project. The construction at Greenwell and Shore Drive is for the new LEED certified Fire Station.

Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project

An email about the electronic signs:

The Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project will consist of the installation of 11 motorists advisory Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), overhead sign support structures, equipment cabinets, and communication equipment. The DMS’s will have three line displays. Each line will consist of 12 inch height, LED (Light Emitting Diode) characters. The DMS’s will be installed at eight locations within the City. The DMS’s will be installed at the following locations:

1. Princess Anne Rd and Elson Green Ave, southbound
2. General Booth Blvd at the KOA Campground, northbound
3. Shore Dr and First Landing State Park, westbound
4. Shore Dr and Bayville Rd, back to back DMS’s – photo above
5. Northampton Blvd and Bayside Rd, eastbound
6. Northampton Blvd and Shell Rd, westbound
7. Independence Blvd and Wakefield Dr, back to back DMS’s
8. Shore Dr near 83rd St, back to back DMS’s

The project will also include the installation of two types of vehicle detectors. The vehicle detectors will consist of wireless transmitters, and micro loop sensors. The detectors will be installed at 46 locations within the City. Vehicle detector communication equipment will be installed in the existing traffic signal cabinets. There will also be the installation of one CCTV camera on this project. All of the project equipment will be configured to communicate with the City of Virginia Beach Traffic Management Center.

The DMS’s will convey traffic condition information to the roadway motorists. The vehicle detectors will be capable of instantaneously detecting changes in traffic flow patterns. With the construction of this project, the Traffic Management Center will add to its capability of facilitating the application of technology and engineering, to managing traffic, and disseminating traffic related information to the motoring public.

Meeting, February 9, 2012

A Pre-Construction Meeting was held for the stakeholders of the above mentioned construction project. Construction on this project will commence during the spring of this year. The construction team members of this project included;

1. Midasco, specialty infrastructure contractor, the primary Contractor
2. MBP, a construction and program management firm, the lead inspection team
3. URS, lead engineering design firm
4. Public Works/ Traffic Engineering, inspection and traffic control
5. Public Works/ Construction Engineering, inspection
6. Traffic Management Center

The Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project, CIP 2-039 (Capital Improvement Program), completed its bid opening on October 27, 2011. The Engineers Estimate for the Project was $2.616 million. The bidding was won by Midasco, for $1,616,616.

By the way, stakeholders on Shore Drive were apparently told once about this project a couple years ago. No one remembers being invited to the February 2012 meeting mentioned above.

Here is the Official CIP Project Page for the new LEED certified Fire Station.

This project replaces the existing 9,760 square foot facility supporting 4 Fire and 2-to-5 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, 1 fire engine and 1 ambulance on a daily basis, and various other pieces of equipment that are infrequently used (ranging from fire trucks to zodiac boats).

Todd has been trying to get architectural drawings of the new facility to share.

Update on new Lesner Bridge public notices for required permits

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From an email:

Sent: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 10:01 am
Subject: Lesner Update

Kal,
Just wanted to make you and the BAC aware of a few things that are occurring with the Lesner Bridge Project.

Public Notices for Permitting

The Corps of Engineers, DEQ, VMRC, and Coast Guard are advertising public notices for the construction permit on this project. The Corps of Engineers public notice has already been advertised and can be found at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices.aspx

We know there has been some concern about the City putting in a bulkhead at the boat ramp site. We just want the BAC and the Shore Drive community to understand that the current public notices are for the construction of the Lesner Bridge only. This will include a temporary bulkhead at the boat ramp. Any effort made to change the scope of the construction permit (e.g., make the temporary bulkhead permanent) will require a separate application and approval from the permitting agencies. We want to be clear with the BAC and the Shore Drive community that this current application is only for the construction needs of the bridge project. This is consistent with the approach that we discussed with the BAC and the SDCC in early 2012.

Drilled Shaft Load Test at the Boat Ramp

Our design team is currently mobilizing a contractor to perform a drilled shaft load test. This effort will consist of drilling a 4’ diameter hole approximately 110’ deep, placing reinforcing steel, and backfilling with concrete. Once the concrete has cured, the contractor will jack against the drilled shaft until it fails. This test will give us actual field information about how well the drilled shaft will perform. With this information, we can finish the foundation design for the bridge using the most economical drilled shaft design. You will likely see the contractor on site starting next week. We just wanted to make you aware of this in case there are any questions from the community.

Project Manager Change

Chris Wojtowicz is taking over this project for Toni Alger. Toni is still in our group, however she was selected for a supervisor position and her duties have expanded beyond managing projects. Chris is getting up to speed and will be taking care of the day to day responsibilities. Chris has been doing a great job managing the Laskin Gateway project and will bring a lot of experience to the table as we get closer to construction. I will still be involved and available for questions as well so we will have continuity during this transition.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.

David S. Jarman, P.E.
Transportation Project Management Supervisor
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4144 (direct)
757-385-4131 (main)

Cape Story Oyster Roast – Sunday Nov. 4th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at O’Leary’s

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Lots of food and drink.  $30 advance tickets.  $40 at the door.

Click here for the flyer and additional information.  CSBTS 2012 Oyster Roast

Shellfish Company Fall Fest – Sat. Oct. 20th from 1-4pm (Proceeds benefit LRNow)

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Shellfish Company Fall Fest (Proceeds benefit LRNow)

Shellfish Company Fall Fest
Saturday, October 20, 1-4 PM  at 3323 Shore Drive, Shellfish Company

Portion of Proceeds donated to LRNow 

Get together with friends and family and join us for a party on the deck overlooking the Lynnhaven River.  Live entertainment, door prizes, roasted oysters, Carolina BBQ, steamed shrimp, beer and more!

Tickets are $25 in advance.  Tickets are limited, so get them early!  Tickets are available at Bubba’s, Shellfish Company and The Back Deck. 

BAC Meeting Notice and Newsletter – Thursday Oct. 18th

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Click here for the Bayfront Advisory Committee Newsletter VisionNewsletter 2 10

 

Bayfront Advisory Committee to Meet October 18

The Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, October 18, at the VIRGINIA BEACH RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, Lynnhaven Room, 2800 Shore Drive, from 3:30pm-5:30pm. 

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.

 

 Bayfront Advisory Subcommittees

 The Bayfront Advisory Subcommittees will meet Thursday, October 18, at the VIRGINIA BEACH RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, Lynnhaven Room, 2800 Shore Drive, from 2:00pm-3:15pm.  The subcommittees will continue their deliberations regarding recommendations for commercial design standards along the Shore Drive corridor, communication with the public, and citizen safety in the corridor.

First Landing State Park Fall Fest – Sat. Oct. 20th, 2pm to 6pm

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Fall_Fest_flyer_2012

Dear Shore Drive Residents,

Our Annual Fall Fest at First Landing State Park is Saturday, October 20th from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm and I would like to invite you to participate as a volunteer. I have attached a flyer. Please feel free to forward the flyer to your family and friends!

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thanks!
Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer and Events Coordinator
First Landing State Park
2500 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: 757-412-2308
Fax: 757-412-2315
Cell: 757-536-0088

Thanks to everyone who helped make the LRNow Fall Festival on PHP magnificent! This post is to especially thank the musicians who played.

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You can still donate, and hire the incredibly talented musicians who played yesterday on Pleasure House Point at the Lynnhaven River NOW Fall Festival.

Head over to SavePHP.org now to learn more.

Brandon Bower and his band played a rocking, soulful, non-stop hour and a half set on a perfect day of celebration, learning, and hoola-hooping.

“All of these organizations and the city worked so hard to preserve what we thought was 100 percent of Pleasure House Point. That’s how it was advertised to everybody.”

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Visit WAVY.com to view video and read story.

Brian Solis of Parks & Rec answers questions about CBF’s proposed building for PHP

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Brian Solis, of the Virginia Beach Department of Parks & Recreation responds to questions posed by residents interested in further details about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s proposed educational center to be located at Pleasure House Point.

 What LEED levels will be required? See http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3330

Certified 40–49 points

Silver 50–59 points

Gold 60–79 points

Platinum 80 points and above

 Response: There are not requirements for level of LEED-certification; however, CBF has indicated that the building will achieve LEED-Platinum status.  CBF’s headquarters in Annapolis, MD was the first LEED-Platinum certified building in the world.

 

Will the 10,000 SF CBF building be in accordance with the Living Building Challenge (LBC) requiring its own energy and waste processing? See https://ilbi.org/lbc/LBC%20Documents/LBC2-0.pdf 

Response:  Yes.  The details are being worked through CBF, the Planning Department and several other state and City agencies through the conditional use permit and design process.

 

Can a 10,000 SF building be justified when the LBC is committed to stopping the continued spread of sprawl development that threatens the few wild places that remain?

How can the 10,000 SF building be justified when the LBC prohibits construction on sensitive ecological habitat and/or a 100-year flood plain? 

The architectural rendering on display was a long rectangular building devoid of the features the LBC prescribes:

• Elements that nurture the innate human attraction to natural systems and processes.

• Environmental features

• Natural shapes and forms

• Natural patterns and processes

• Design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to its function. 

• Integration of surrounding tidal ponds, bird houses, and indigenous animals (frogs, lizards, turtles) into the immediate vicinity of the building for view, education, and environmental compatibility.

 Response:  The majority of the Pleasure House Point site is a previously-disturbed site.  The building will also need to meet minimum building code standards as well as those related to flood plain issue.  The detailed design of the Education Center will reveal addressing the majority, if not all, of the above criteria.

 

 So was this it, or did the plan evolve through a proper Charrette (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrette) that looked at several designs and space requirements in consultation with all stakeholders? 

Response:  CBF’s part of the Education Center evolved near the end of the site master plan process.

 

As part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), to minimize square footage, will (or were) investigations undertaken to evaluate other near-by public facilities that could be used for meetings, public gatherings, educational classes, and training?  

Response:  The 10,000 s.f. building program is approximately 2% of CBF’s site.  It is my understanding that CBF did evaluate building spaces in the vicinity of both Norfolk and Virginia Beach to meet their needs before undertaking this opportunity.  Based on where the building is located and the educational programs and minimal staff offices proposed for the space, we do not find the building program to be unreasonable.  Also, the building is sited at the most landward location while still staying outside of the 200’+ Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffer areas that CBF is enforcing on itself (normal RPA buffer requirement is a 100’ setback).

I also just need to reiterate the City’s commitment to working with the Trust for Public Land and Chesapeake Bay Foundation under the Council-adopted Memorandum of Understanding  to achieve a number of goals  for the entire site in a way that compliments each other:  preservation, restoration, education and public access. 

 

And remember – Ribbon Cutting tomorrow at 11am and Fall Festival Saturday from 11-4 on PHP!

Baylake Pines Fall Oyster Roast November 3rd Saturday 4-8p

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Proceeds benefit Baylake Pines Civic League,

Foodbank of Southeastern VA and VA Bch Crime Solvers

Tickets and Information contacts:

John Borum 757-363-9132 or 757-289-6348

Kevin Montgomery 757-268-4733

Dell Young 757-460-2863

Also Available at the Leaping Lizard Café

Printing courtesy of Gay Borum of Konica-Minolta

Your Civic Organization and YOU

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As you know, there are many civic organizations in Virginia Beach. Of the many, how are  Shore Drive Community Coalition(SDCC), Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organization (VBCCO), and Bayfront Advisory Council (BAC) similar or are they different ? These three organizations were formed to address different issues at the time that were not being adequately resolved at the city level. By providing a collective and representative voice for their group,these organizations sought to be heard by the City Council or the staff that serve the Mayor and Council.  What am I trying to point out?

We, Shore Drive Community Coalition are only as effective as our collective efforts at trying to provide a common voice to the issues that impact our Shore Drive community. Many of us have spoken before VB City Council to present our group’s support or concerns on important issues. This is democracy in a republic. Sometimes we have achieved our objective, while other times we may feel as if we have been  ignored by our elected officials. But, while immediate change usually does not happen, I think civic organizations can bring about change.  Look at the change that has come about with civic involvement.  Ask yourself if change would have occurred if no one spoke?  Obviously change comes from participation in the government process.

The Mayor and City Council have acknowledged and most positively responded to our concerns on “Shore Drive 35 Alive” , needed bike paths, and most spectacularly with Pleasure House Point. These excellent achievements would not have been possible without citizen participation and involvement that was recognized at the City government level.

There are many more major issues that our city is facing or will be facing in the near future.  Our city faces major budget deficits in the next five years that will impact all of us. Some estimates indicate that it will reach $500 million dollars unless additional revenues are found.  Translate that to mean higher taxes from us all.  How our city’s projected deficit will impact the Light Rail question, Sports Arena, Neighborhood Dredging Program, our schools and teachers, libraries, and police and fire staffing levels will all have to be discussed.  We can just listen to our city experts, or we can do our own homework and then work with our civic organizations. Our citizens’ positions should be heard. How does that happen?  More residents will have to step forward and get involved.  More residents need to participate in our city’s civic organizations. Civic organizations are only as effective as their membership.  Get involved.  Come and hear your City Council candidates speak on the 17th at Cape Henry Collegiate 7-9pm.  Come to Shore Drive Community Coalition meeting, 29 OCT 7:30-9:00 at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad . If you want the city to listen, sometimes you have to speak with a combined voice.  Change does not occur in a vacuum.  See you there.

A Life bird was spotted this past weekend on Pleasure House Point

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Read, see, and hear more at SavePHP.org.

There were at least 6 birders out on PHP this morning. Probably hunting for the Say’s Phoebe, the life bird spotted that normally hangs out in the western states & Alaska.

What: Virginia Beach Mayoral and City Council Candidates’ Forum. When: Wednesday, October 17th, 7-9 PM, doors open at 6:30. Where: Cape Henry Collegiate School Dreyfus Auditorium, 1320 Mill Dam Road, Virginia Beach.

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Sponsors: Lynnhaven River NOW, Council of Garden Clubs, Shore Drive Community Coalition, Back Bay Restoration Foundation, Princess Anne Garden Club, and the Virginia Beach Garden Club
Free and open to the public. No pre-registration required.

BE INFORMED

“First, two cyclists suffered serious injuries on Shore Drive after motorists struck them and fled in separate incidents May 3 and June 4. Police have not caught the drivers, despite offering several thousand dollars in reward money through Crime Solvers and local cycling groups. “

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Read article at Pilotonline.com entitled Bike crashes in Hampton Roads: Who’s to blame?

Ocean Park Fall Festival and Art Show – Saturday October 6th from 10am to 5pm

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The 2012 Ocean Park Fall Festival and Art Show is
 

October 6th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Festival is sponsored by and benefits the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad.

 
The event is an effort to bring residents together for a day of fun with the added benefit of raising awareness of issues to the local community and various neighborhoods along Shore Drive.
 
The Fall Festival will feature an outdoor art show, live entertainment, a craft show inside the Rescue Squad building, children’s activities, a Bounce House, displays of Rescue Squad equipment, and a fully restored vintage Virginia Beach Ambulance.
 
Located along Shore Drive, the venue includes Rescue One, Lynnhaven Marine and Capt. Max King’s (formerly Browning’s Marine). Local residents are encouraged to walk to the event, however there is parking at Max Kings, Lynnhaven Marine and neighborhood streets.
 
Three live performances beginning at 10:00 am, featuring entertainment by Stan Howard aka The Sax Man, Joe Maniscalco and Grant Austin Taylor.
 
The event organizers hope to make this an annual event that raises funds to support the Rescue Squad. This is also an opportunity to chat with members of local groups that volunteer their time to enhance the community. Many of our residents are members of The Shore Drive Community Coalition, Bayfront Advisory Committee, Lynnhaven River Now, Pleasure House Point and the  Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Mark your calendar now that, plan to spend a few hours or  the entire day with free entertainment, discussion of important local issues, and having some fun with your neighbors!
 
For more information, if you would like to volunteer, or if you want to participate in the art show or craft show, please call 468-1193.

New SDCC Agenda with John Moss as Special Guest Speaker

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Come out and hear Councilman John Moss talk about the City’s proposed projects (Light Rail and NBA Stadium) and the City’s budget along with other issues.

Click here to print the new agenda  SDCC SEP 2012 Agenda

Councilman Moss To Speak at 25 SEP SDCC Meeting

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SDCC members have an opportunity to hear VB Councilman John Moss speak before our gathering this Tuesday 25 SEPT at 7:30. The meeting will be held at our usual location, Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.). Please note that the normal meeting date (the last Monday of the month) has been changed for this September meeting to avoid conflicting with the VBCCO City Council Candidates Forum to be held that Monday, 24 September. Both the VBCCO meeting and the SDCC meeting will offer our citizens the opportunity to hear about significant city issues that will directly impact us now and in the future.  Come hear Council John Moss speak on this side of the issues.