Everyone,
  This Wednesday, Sept 7 at 2 PM in Virginia Beach City Council Chambers (Second Floor Bldg 1), the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will hear public comment on whether the Maple Street transfer site should become a permanent transfer site for non-beach grade dredged spoils.  As you know, this site has been used in the past when the Corps of Engineers was dredging the channel to keep it open for navigation.  This was a hydraulic dredge process that would occur for a couple of weeks every couple of years.  This dredging produced beach quality sand which was spread on our beaches along Cape Henry.  What the city is proposing now is to dredge residential tidal areas that have filled in with street silt and make them “deep water access”. These tidal areas will be dredged mechanically, have the spoils placed on a 20-40 cubic yard floating hopper, barge and then transported to one of two sites as of now (Maple St. and Thalia/VB Blvd). The city has proposed other sites for mechanical transfer, but as of now, only Maple St and Thalia are being established as transfer sites.  This mechanical operation is beyond the current permit for Maple St, because this is not beach quality sand and the spoils can not be deposited at Maple Street, Crab Creek (Lesner Bridge area) without a lot more permitting and approvals. This is key to this BZA meeting this Wednesday.  The city would like to say it is within CURRENT zoning limitations for the site, while we firmly believe that it exceeds R7.5 zoning (Residential) as it is presently zoned.  This meeting will determine whether residential zoning laws prevail, or the city changes it to a permanent industrial transfer site.  This is big. If the city has their way, it could forever change Long Creek. Will the city control and enforce safety rules for barge traffic on Long Creek?  Look how well the city enforces current OSHA safety rules concerning harnesses worn by workers doing second story roofing.  Just my point.  We need your support in this meeting.  Email me if you have questions.  It is just our neighborhood way of life and safety that is in hazard.

Click here for the SDCC_Position_Statement_Letter_for_Dredge_Spoils_Transfer_Sites_2011.pdf

Please send me an email if you need more information.

Your neighbor,
David Williams
SDCC President
 
PLEASE CHECK http://www.LongCreekWetlands.com for documented discussions on this major issue that will impact us.  We need your support in City Council Chambers 7 Sept at 2 PM.  This is really important. 

Please email photos of documentation of flooding, and storm drain failures and we’ll post them.

If you have the documentation from flooding, and damage from Nor ‘Ida & Isabel, please include that as well.

CLICK TO VIEW PHOTO IN POP-UP WINDOW

Note: There was no water visible any where on the street, sidewalk, etc ~4:00 to ~4:30pm. 
The flooding you see is tidal from one out fall on Crab Creek.
Photo taken at 5:39pm.
Tidal flooding you see happened in under an hour.
Projected high tide is ~4-5 hours.

NOAA Hurricane IRENE Storm Surge Probabilities
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The August General Meeting of the Shore Drive Community Coalition will take place on Monday August 29th at 7:30pm in the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall.

Topics of discussion will be:

– Update of Dredge Transfer Stations & Neighborhood Dredging Project Beaches and Waterways Study
– Update on Pleasure House Point (Public input to City Staff on what should and shouldn’t be done on the public portion of the site has been scheduled for September 26th SDCC meeting)
– Update on Lesner Bridge Replacement construction
– Update on Shore Drive Road & Safety Improvement from Lesner Bridge to First Landing State Park

Just an FYI, the SDCC meetings take place on the last Monday of the Month unless it falls on a Holiday then the meeting is moved a week earlier.

A sunset candlelight memorial will be held for Victoria Shuler, daughter of Captain Lee Shuler.  A slide show will end the ceremony.  It is recommend people bring bug spray and umbrellas if chance of rain.  Should there be severe weather, thunderstorms, this will have to be postponed.  Parking is free, but carpooling or walking is recommended.  Cold bottled water will be available.

Memorial Information
Date: Friday August 19th
Time: 7:45pm
Location: Lynnhave Boat Ramp (Sand Dune Area)

Victoria Anne Marie Shuler, 20, passed away on July 21, 2011. Born on June 17, 1991, she was the daughter of Lee M. Shuler. She will be remembered as a loving mother to her one-year old son, Haiden James. Survivors also include her sister and brother-in-law, Maria N. and James Jaskowiak; her brother, James P. Losee, Jr.; her grandmother, Elena M. Lamme of Maine; her aunt and uncle, Lisa and Robert Lamme of Massachusetts. Victoria was a 2009 graduate of Cox High School, loved to fish, and devoted her time to many community activities. Friends and family are invited to attend a sunset, candlelight memorial celebrating her life on Friday, August 19, 2011, at 7:45 PM on the sand dune at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility, 3576 Piedmont Circle, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flower, memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Victoria Shuler at Navy Federal Credit Union, P.O. BOX 3000, Merrifield, VA 22119. On-line condolences may be sent to http://www.hdoliver.com.

THE NEXT VBCCO GENERAL MEETING WILL BE HELD
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AUDITORIUM AT 7 PM

PROGRAM
The program for the Thursday, August 18, 2011 General Meeting will be a presentation about Form Based Zoning and Neighborhood Zoning Issues. Karen Lasley, Director Zoning Division, and supporting City staff will make the presentation.

Click here to see the WAVY10 Story

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A City of Virginia Beach commission has come up with a list of proposed destinations for sludge if they move forward with a dredging project along the Lynnhaven River Basin and Long Creek.

In March, 10 On Your Side told you about the battle brewing between waterfront neighbors in the area.

Folks living along the river want deeper water for bigger boats, but to accommodate larger vessels the city would have to dig up the river bottom and transfer the materials or dredge.

Homeowners previously told us of their concerns about sludge placed on barges and dumped across the waterway in front of their Long Creek homes.

“We’ll never be able to sell them, rent them or live in them without that noise, that pollution, that smell,” said homeowner Lynne Bornstein.

The issue brought out members of the city’s beaches and waterway advisory commission to take an afternoon tour of that site and others.

“If we can find alternatives that’s what we’re all about. It’s fact finding for us,” said Commission Chairman Tom Fraim.

The Commission expects to hear from the public on this issue perhaps as early as next week at its regularly scheduled meeting.

While board’s decision is not expected for several weeks the City Council will have the final say in the matter.

Beaches and Waterways Commission to Meet Thursday, August 18

The Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission will meet on Thursday, August 18, at 4:00 pm in Building 19, Room B, located at 2416 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Up to one hour of the agenda will be devoted to public comments on the following two topics only: 

(1) The feasibility of alternative dredging methods, such as hydraulic rather than mechanical dredging;
(2) The potential for beneficial re-use of spoils.

Public comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker.

Citizens wishing to comment may sign up by calling Jamarr Waples 385-4822 at or emailing your name and the topic on which you wish to comment to jwaples@vbgov.com.

Public comments on additional related issues will be scheduled for future meetings.

The Subcommittee on Hydraulic and Mechanical Dredging will meet prior to the Commission’s meeting at 3:30.  The public is welcome to attend, but no public comment will be taken at that time. 

For additional information or questions, please contact Drew Lankford at 385-8062, or dlankfor@vbgov.com.

The Board of Zoning Appeals will hear an appeal regarding the use of R7.5 property for a permanent dredge transfer station.  The meeting particulars are listed below

BZA Hearing
Wed September 7th at 2pm
City Council Chambers
Building #1, Municipal Center

Ever been in a rush and realized that you have forgotten your shopping list when you arrive at the supermarket. Most people will attempt to remember what was needed as you go about your shopping. Arriving home, you will realize that you have forgotten some important items that you thought that you would easily remember. The same “important items” lapse will probably happen if you attempt a speedy preparation from an approaching hurricane and possible evacuation. Lists are really important to help you efficiently remember what you need. Important items like medicine prescriptions, insurance papers, money, forms of identification,  potty can for the car, address book with everyone’s telephone numbers, cellphone charger and phone, and spare keys are just a few items that I can think of off the top of my head. If you are evacuating the area, time is critical,   A list helps in many ways.  Go to the SDCC website and check CASPER, our 27 page preparation guide. It will take some of the pressure off you to figure out all that you will need to do and bring.  Hope for the BEST.  This could be a tough year.

Click here for a printable version of the notice Beaches_and_Waterways_Advisory_Commission_-_Public_Meeting_-_August_2011.pdf

The Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 4:00 pm in the Public Works Engineering Conference Room, Building 2, Third Floor, at the Municipal Center.

This will be the initial meeting to discuss the referral from City Council dated June 14, 2011, asking that the Commission study the issue of dredge spoils removal and transfer stations

For additional information please contact Rebecca Lear in Public Works Engineering/Water Resources at 757-385-1948 or rlear@vbgov.com

NOTE——THE CITY OF VB IS ASKING FOR THIS MEETING TO BE DEFERRED.  It will NOT be Aug 3rd.
SDCC will post the new date as soon as it is scheduled.

Here are a few helpful bits of information regarding the August 3rd Board of Zoning Appeals hearing.

1) Letter from City’s Planning Department proposing that a “Permanent” Dredge Transfer Station is an acceptable public use on Residential Property.  Click here to see the letter, City_Ltr_re_Dredge_Site_on_R7.5_.pdf

2) Items of interest pulled from the City’s Zoning Codes.  Please note that “Public Use” requires the land to be owned or leased by the public agency.

Sec 501 – City Code says “Public parks, recreational areas, botanical and zoological gardens, and other public buildings and uses”

Section 111 – Definitions
Public use – Any use conducted by a public agency for a bona fide public purpose on land owned or leased by that agency

Use – A “use” is:
(a) Any purpose for which a structure or a tract of land is designed, arranged, intended, maintained, or occupied; or
(b) Any activity, occupation, business, or operation carried on, or intended to be carried on, in a structure or on a tract of land.

Hello Volunteers,

We need volunteers to man the contact station on the trail side of the park. Volunteers will greet park visitors, inform visitors about fees and regulations, collect parking fees and maintain accurate records.

Contact Station volunteers will report to Chief Ranger Charlie Whalen who will also provide a training on cash handling and operations for volunteers that have not worked in the contact station before and for those who would like a refresher course.

You may start as early as this weekend! We need one long-term volunteer for Saturdays from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. We also need another volunteer for the next two Saturdays, July 30th and August 6th in the morning from 8:00 am – 12:30 noon.

Please let me know if you are interested and your availability. We really need your help to make this season a success!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Thanks!
Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: 757-412-2308
Fax: 757-412-2315
Cell: 757-536-0088

An unknow substance washed up on our beaches this weekend and nobody has a clue what it was.  Confusion over what authority has responsibility and the lack of support on a weekend lead to many unaswered questions.  Check out Scott Harper’s article in the Virginia Pilot.

Was it human feces, boat trash, or maybe dead sponges?

Whatever washed up on Chesapeake Bay beaches over the weekend, just west of the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier, remained unclear Monday, only that the wastes smelled awful and caused some grossed-out swimmers to stay ashore.

Click here for the entire article http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/mysterious-funk-fouls-chesapeake-bay-beaches

In an effort to support the upcoming August 3rd BZA hearing regarding the proposed use of Residential Propoerty as a PERMANENT Dredge Transfer Station, SDCC is posting two documents that you may find helpful.

SDCC Dredge Transfer Position Statement, click here for a printable version SDCC_Dredge_Transfer_Position_Statemetn.pdf

City Council June 14th Resloution on Dredge Transfer Study to be completed by Beaches and Waterways Commission, click here to see resolution Dredge_Spoils_Removal_and_TS_Resolution_from_JUNE_14,_2011_MINUTES.pdf

Shore Drive Community Coalition
Position Statement
Neighborhood Dredge Spoils Transfer Project For Lynnhaven Basin

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) recognizes the continuing need and is in full support of maintenance dredging of the Lynnhaven Basin (“The Project”) provided:

• Removed dredge spoils are only trucked from the neighborhoods from where the spoils originated or from transfer stations located in commercially zoned areas along Virginia Beach Boulevard and Laskin Road.  This will eliminate the burden to residents that won’t receive benefit from these dredgings.
• Under “Full Disclosure”, the Project’s scope, duration, costs, environmental impact, and associated risks to the neighborhoods are sufficiently assessed and made public to the citizens of Virginia Beach
• The Project is presented at a public hearing and formally voted on at a City Council meeting.
• Reasonable best practices are safely utilized
• Project is fully supervised by the City for full contract compliance by onsite City employees.
• The environmental quality of the basin’s natural ecosystems is maintained and preserved
• Private dredging companies contracted by individual property owners comply with city supervision, above listed project requirements, and fully compensate the city for the use of their area’s designated dredge spoils transfer site

AUGUST 3RD – WEDNESDAY -2PM
City Council Chambers – 2nd Floor – Bldg. 1
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

Click here for the Aug 3rd BZA Agenda – http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/planning/A08-03.11.pdf

The City is being challenged on their determination that a PERMANENT MUNICIPAL DREDGE SPOILS FACILITY – (a PERMANENT industrial facility with barges, cranes, tandem trucks, sludge & pusher boats) is an acceptable “PUBLIC USE” in R7.5 – Residential Zoning.

You can show you opposition to the permanent transfer station by attending this hearing.  It could be one of the only opportunities to be heard and be seen at a local hearing.  Visit http://www.longcreekwetlands.com/home for additional details.

On Tuesday, Charlie Harrelson, a 14 year old Kemps Landing student, was presented with the WTKR Channel 3 “Peolpe Taking Action” award for his fund raising efforts to help purchase and preserve Pleasure House Point.  To watch the newscast, click here http://www.wtkr.com/videobeta/?watchId=4bdbfa91-128d-49ec-864b-75e846419ffe

And don’t forget, July 31st is the last day to vote for Charlie’s Pepsi Challange project which has the potential to raise $50,000 for the purchase of PHP.  You can vote at the following link http://www.refresheverything.com/savepleasurehousepoint