Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC_July_Agenda_2011.pdf

Monday 25 July 2011
SDCC General Meeting – Monday, July 25, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)

Call to order

Discussion:
Slide presentation, “Your Local Hurricane Preparations”
Long Creek Dredge Spoils Update http://www.longcreekwetlands.com 
Pleasure House Point Update

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the June Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins
Update on issues:
Old Business

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm Monday Aug 29, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

The Bayfront Advisory Committee will hold its annual workshop on Thursday, July 21, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center, Executive Board Room, 2800 Shore Drive. The regularly scheduled committee meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m in the same location.

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.

Please take a moment to read, vote and pass on this information to all your friends, relatives and co-workers.  Charlie is a Kemps Landing student that charged into battle to help save Pleasure House Point.  Please take a momnet to vote for his project which has the potential to raise $50,000 to help offset the purchase of the property.  Email excerpt from Charile Harrelson below:

Hello everyone,

Well… here we go again! Last time we did voting, I got 1,250 dollars for VBPRF… now I can get 50,000 for VBPRF with the help of you!!! You see, the Save Pleasure House Point team placed a project idea into Pepsi Refresh and we got selected!!!

If you follow this link…

http://www.refresheverything.com/savepleasurehousepoint

You can vote to SAVE PLEASURE HOUSE POINT! Watch out for all Pepsi 12 & 24-pack boxes, bottle caps, etc. for codes to get up to 100 Power Votes! This chance only comes once in a lifetime!

Best of luck voting,
Charlie Harrelson

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, June 27, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Click here for a printable version of the agenda – SDCC_Agenda_June_2011.pdf

Call to order

Discussion:
Long Creek Dredge Spoils Update
http://www.longcreekwetlands.com 
Save Long Creek Petition
Pleasure House Point Update

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the May Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins

Update on issues:
Old Business

New Business

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm Monday July 25, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

UPDATE

The Swimming Advisories for Chic’s Beach and Chesapeake Beach locations have been lifted.

Here is a snapshot of the monitoring results.  Anything over 104 results in a beach closure.  Historically, levels are less than 10 in our area.  In 2010 there were about 10 beach closures for the entire year.  Visit the following site for more detailed results and information.  Beach Monitoring Results

CHESAPEAKE BEACH
05/17/2011 10   10 Open
05/24/2011

Release Date:  Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:40 a.m.

The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Rockbridge Road and Ocean View Avenue. Recent testing conducted by the Health Department showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the State Water Quality Standards. The advisory does not affect the Virginia Beach oceanfront or resort area.

Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as Enterococcus, the indicator of choice in estuarine and marine waters.

“The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them weekly from May through September,” said Venita Newby-Owens, M.D., Director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health.  “On the occasions when waters fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”

To see the Virginia Department of Health’s Swimming Advisory Map, click here http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring/beachadvisories/VirginiaBeachMap.htm

City Council passed the following resolution directing the Beaches and Waterways Commission to study the Neighborhood Dredging Project.  Please note the public involvement portion of the resolution and be prepared to provide comment when appropriate.  Thanks to everyone that has put a lot of time into this issue.  A special thanks to David and Lynn for making sure the voice of the community has a chance to be part of any decision.

Click here to read the entire resolution Council_JUNE_14_2011_AGENDA-1.pdf

(Excerpt from resolution passed June 14, 2011)
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA

1 That the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission is hereby requested to study the issues of dredge spoils removal and transfer stations and to present a report to City Council detailing its findings by February 7 2012.

2 That the study shall include at a minimum

• The feasibility of alternative dredging methods such as hydraulic rather than mechanical dredging
• The potential for beneficial re-use of spoils
• Opportunity for public input from all concerned citizens with at least one facilitated structured meeting for public input
• An analysis of the impact on affected communities both those receiving dredging and those in the vicinity of the existing and proposed transfer stations with a focus on identifying sites that are sufficient to support the needs of the project but that have the least potential adverse impact for the community and
• A proposed framework with parameters for operation of the spoils sites including potential use of the sites by the public for dredging by entities or individuals other than the City

Volunteers and Attendees Needed.  If you can help volunteer for a couple of hours on Saturday, please contact Kim at the Park.  If you can’t volunteer, maybe you can attend one of the wonderful events planned.  See the following flyer for more information.

First Landing 75th Anniversary Flyer

Email from Kim Miller, Park Volunteer Coodinator

Hello Volunteers,

We need at least four more volunteers for the 75th Anniversary Events this Saturday! Volunteers will assist park interpreters and exhibitors manning education stations.

I’ve attached a copy of the event flyer. Please feel free to forward it to your friends and family. Don’t forget that parking is free at First Landing State Park from June 14th – June 19th!

Please let me know if you are interested and your availability. We really need your help to make the 75th Anniversary Event 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
Kim.miller@dcr.virginia.gov

“For nearly 10 years, some folks in Virginia Beach have been trying to preserve a swath of undeveloped land on the Lynnhaven River off Shore Drive…” Virginian-Pilot Editorial – Tuesday May 24, 2011
To read the entire editorial and provide comments, click herehttp://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/last-open-spot-lynnhaven

The Pilot did a great job in summurizing what we have been saying for the past 10 years.  However, “Some” seems too small a word for the number of concerned neighbors that have dedicated many hours of their lives to this effort.  Thank you all for your continued effort in making this dream a reality.  Next step – secure loan.  Then, public dialogues to brainstorm land use resource stream ideas.  Stay tuned.

For a printable version of the draft postion statement, click here SDCC_Position_Statement_Dredge_Spoils_(V4_14_May_2011).pdf

Shore Drive Community Coalition
DRAFT 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;

• 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 formally approved by the Mayor and a majority of the City Council members
• Reasonable best practices are safely utilized
• Project is fully supervised by the City for full contract compliance
• The burden of expense for this project be borne by those property owners who would directly benefit
• The environmental quality of the basin’s natural ecosystems is maintained and preserved
• 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.
• 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
SDCC_Position_Statement_Dredge_Spoils_(V4_14_May_2011).pdf

Shore Drive Community Coalition (SDCC) General Meeting
Monday 23 May 2011

Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC_Agenda_May_2011.pdf

SDCC General Meeting – Monday, May 23, 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.

Call to order

Presentation: Point Chesapeake project (formerly Duck-In property)
  Presented by Mr. Tuck Bowie of the Terry-Peterson Cos.

Officers’ Reports
President’s Report – David Williams
Vice President’s report- Thomas Cantwell
Secretary’s Report – Todd Solomon – Minutes of the April Meeting
Treasurer’s Report – Carol Collins

Update on issues:
City Dredge Spoils Transfer site in Lynnhaven Basin
Pleasure House Point project and preservation efforts
Position Statement for SDCC on Dredge Spoils Project
Old Business

New Business

Dates to remember:
Thursday 16 June Bayfront Advisory Council meeting- at Bayside Rec Center 3:30 pm 4500 First Court Rd.

Adjourn

Next SDCC Meeting 7:30 pm June 27, 2011
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Speaker- To be announced

Please check http://www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events

Lynnhaven River NOW and the Tidewater Bicycle Association are co-sponsoring a guided tour by bike of historic homes, farms and churches along the Lynnhaven River.

This is an 11 mile, familypaced ride. A lunch and drink will be provided. Helmets are required. Cost is $20 and includes lunch, drinks and any entrance fees. Pre-registration is required.

Click here for more details Bayside History Day Bike Tour

The next meeting of the Bayfront Advisory Committee will be held at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 19, at the Bayside Recreation Center on First Court Road.

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.

Click here for a printable version of the meeting notice http://www.vbgov.com/file_source/dept/planning/051911BACPressRelease.pdf

By Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 16, 2011
VIRGINIA BEACH

City leaders are pursuing a state loan to help with their planned multimillion-dollar purchase of environmentally sensitive land off Shore Drive.

To read the rest of Deirdre’s article and to vote on their online poll, click here http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/va-beach-seeks-8m-loan-buy-land-shore-drive

As of the May 10, 2011, City Council session, the possibility of the City availing itself of an $8M bridge loan for the purpose of completing the acquisition of Pleasure House Point remains alive and well.  Delegate Chris Stolle and the Trust for Public Land worked together with state officials to identify potential funding sources.  The following information comes to us courtesy of City Councilman Bill DeSteph.

Facts Regarding the State Loan Available for the Purchase of Pleasure House Point:

-The source of the loan that is available for the purchase of the property is the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund – Land Conservation Program.  Every state has such a revolving loan fund to provide low cost financing to local governments for water and sewer infrastructure projects that improve water quality.  Some states, including Virginia, have also made a portion of their loan pool available for purchases of land which will help protect and/or improve water quality.

-The Trust for Public Land, believing that this project would qualify, applied for the loan in July, 2010 through the DEQ’s annual loan request process to provide maximum flexibility and options to the partners while they worked together to pursue federal and state grant opportunities to try and preserve the whole property.

-The loan request was then evaluated by DEQ staff with other agency input and recommended for funding to the State Water Control Board at its September, 2010 meeting.  After consider by the board and after being open for public comment, the SWCB authorized a loan for the project at its December 2010 meeting, and set the terms of the loan:  $8 million available for up to 10 years at an interest rate of .25%.  This essentially establishes that the project meets their water quality and loan purpose criteria, and sets the general terms.

-If the City would like to avail itself of the loan, the next step is for the City to work through the financial evaluation process with the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) which is the source of financing.  If the VRA approves, they will issue a commitment letter to the City.  The City can then formally elect to utilize the loan.

-Del. Stolle’s role has been to write to the Governor late last summer to express his support for conserving Pleasure House Point and requesting his assistance with any sources of funding that may be available through the state, and to organize a meeting last winter with state natural resource agencies and TPL to fully discuss all funding options.  Through those discussions, it was determined that the above loan that was approved, and the upcoming Virginia Land Conservation Foundation grant round were the two most likely sources of state funding.  Del. Stolle has also spoke with a number of other elected officials to express his support.

Rally on Da River
Sat. May 14th from 1-5pm
End of Hackberry Rd. on Broad Bay Island

Come on out and show you support for preserving Long Creek.  Sign the petition against the City’s plan for a permanent dredge transfer station at Marina Shores. 

Oh yeah, there will also be Oysters, BBQ and Live Music.

To check out the details, click on the this flyer Rally_on_Da_River.pdf

Please help the State Park by volunteering.  See the email and attached file for more information.  Click here to see the list of May_June_Volunteer_Opportunities.pdf
 
Hello Volunteers!

Here is a list of the current volunteer opportunities available at First Landing State Park for May and June.

Please let me know if you are interested and your availability. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Thank you,
Kim Y. Miller
Volunteer / Events Coordinator
First Landing State Park
Phone: 757-412-2308
Cell: 757-536-0088
Fax: 757-412-2315