Shore Drive Community Coalition

McLeskey has asked a judge to temporarily halt the sale of the land for environmental preservation

From Pilotonline.com:

The Trust for Public Land, which is leading the partnership in the purchase of the property for conservation, is aware of the lawsuit, said Kent Whitehead, the Chesapeake project director for the organization.

“It may cause a slight delay, but we remain confident that the conservation of this property will eventually come to fruition,” Whitehead said in an e-mail.

Two ramps connecting I-264 with London Bridge Road will be built over the next two years

From Pilotonline.com:

The exit ramp will end at London Bridge Road, and motorists can turn right toward Oceana Naval Air Station or left to Great Neck Road. The on-ramp takes motorists under the interstate roughly parallel to existing railroad tracks before looping onto I-264.

Trash & recycling services suspended for Friday

From PR from Public Works:

Friday, Sept. 3, Trash and Recycling Collection Postponed

Due to anticipated storm conditions, there will be no trash or recycling service in Virginia Beach on Friday, Sept. 3. Trash and recycling collection regularly scheduled for Friday, Sept. 3, will be collected on Saturday, Sept. 4. 

Residents are advised NOT to place trash or recycling at their curbs prior to Friday evening, Sept. 3, for Saturday collection. Additionally, residents are encouraged to make sure yard debris or other items are not placed in drainage ways such as ditches or street curb and gutter. Yard debris placed in drainage ways can cause flooding.

The City Landfill is scheduled to be open on Friday, Sept. 3; however, pending storm conditions, it may close at any time until conditions become safer for residents. The City Landfill, located at 1989 Jake Sears Road off Centerville Turnpike, is typically open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for Virginia Beach residents. For more information on Waste Management services, visit http://www.VBgov.com/wastemgt.

SDCC Agenda August 30, 2010

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

Call to Order

Present and adopt agenda

Presentation:  Kal Kassir, Chairman, Bayfront Advisory Committee:  An overview of the BAC mission

          Questions and Answers

Officers’ Reports

          President’s Report:  Grace Moran
          Vice President’s Report:  Dave Williams
          Secretary’s Report:  Todd Solomon
          Treasurer’s Report:  Steve Kohler

Update on issues:
          Shore Drive Safety Initiatives
          Pleasure House Point (see below)

Old Business

New Business

Adjourn formal session in order to open informal briefing re: Pleasure House Point.  A working group
has been formed to attempt to raise the $4M which the Trust for Public Land plans to sell a 5-10 acre
tract along Shore Drive. Two meetings have been held to date.  Reports of work in progress.

Dates to remember:

Saturday, September 18, 2010.  eCycling. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science
Center, in partnership with TFC Recycling, is offering its third e-cycling event from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Virginia Aquarium east parking lot. Acceptable personal electronic recyclable items will include personal computers and laptops; telephones, cell phones and PDA’s; printers; circuit boards and components; monitors and flat screens; televisions smaller than 32”; and stereo equipment and game systems.

Saturday, September 11:  11th Annual Community Gardening Festival   The Agricultural Research Station, Diamond Springs Road, north of the intersection of Diamond Springs Road and Northampton Blvd.

Tuesday, September 14:   Bayfront Advisory Subcommittee meetings 3 p.m. at First Landing
State Park (Bayside)  Public Safety, Transit, Transportation and Access and Communications

Thusday, September 16:  Bayfront Advisory Committee 3:30 p.m. at First Landing State Park (Bayside)

Next SDCC Meeting:  7:30 p.m. September 27, 2010.
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Station
Please check http://www.sdcc.info for details as they become available.

Make your tax deductible donation to preserve 100% of PHP

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation is accepting your tax deductible donations to help preserve 100% of Pleasure House Point.

What’s the harm with a small commercial development on this property? The answer is simple. There is no do-over.

And:

Top Reasons to Donate:

1. Save the largest undeveloped parcel of land on the Lynnhaven River for generations to come.
2. Preserve your City’s Green Space and the opportunity to experience shoreline habitat, wetlands, and maritime forest.
3. Protect the natural habitat of birds and marine life.
4. Produce healthy lifestyle opportunities by having trails in close proximity to residences in one of the highest density areas in the City. *
5. Raise property values and prevent added congestion in this area. **
6. Be part of a legacy purchase; we will not have this opportunity again.

Learn more at the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation Pleasure House Point Fundraiser page.

Like a high school student at Cape Henry Collegiate once said about the importance of preserving PHP:

  “I don’t feel like this is an adult issue. It’s our future. It’s our Virginia Beach.”

Please be generous in sharing this link, and in donating.

Any amount will help. Thank you.

PHP is your unknown backyard. Click to view larger.

Swimming & Wading Banned from Little Creek to Ft. Story

The city’s Department of Public Health on Wednesday issued swimming and wading advisories along areas of the Chesapeake Bay and the Oceanfront.  Recent testing by the health department showed bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water-quality standards at five locations in the Chesapeake Bay from the Virginia Beach city line east to Fort Story and at locations between 8th and 22nd streets at the Oceanfront.  The advisories will be lifted when the tests show the bacteria are within state limits.  Northeast winds, rain and high tides have pushed the water higher onto the beaches than usual, exposing it to bacteria, said Erin Sutton, environmental health manager for the health department. Bacteria called Enterococci, found in human and animal waste, showed up in the tests.
Update Note:  Restrictions lifted August 26.

Lesner Bridge Concrete Repairs to Begin in August

This month Public Works Operations will begin a project to perform repairs to the concrete beams on the Lesner Bridge. The repairs will address aging patches of concrete and help slow corrosion to help extend the performance of the current bridge until the replacement bridge project can be funded.

The City’s contractor will be on site from mid-August through January 2011. Repairs will be performed from equipment both below the bridge and from the roadway, which will require some lane closures.  Public Works Operations is also performing repairs to some of the supporting piles for the Lesner Bridge. These repairs are done by barge from the water and consist of placing concrete “jackets” around the piles to reinforce them and contain cracks. These repairs are expected to be completed by the end of August. Repairs to the fender system at the bridge have just been completed.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Phillip Koetter in Public Works Operations at 385-1470 or pkoetter@vbgov.com

No injuries, minor damage in Shore Drive condo fire

A small fire occurred at Chesapeake House on the Bay around 12:15pm Wednesday. 

Click here to read the Virginia-Pilot article.

City Council Pending Item List

Click to view the 20 page document. (.pdf Version)

Click to view the 20 page document. (Google Document Version)

There is a lot of info in there that will affect your life in the Shore Drive community.

City’s latest announcement about PHP

At SavePHP.org:

“The city anticipates working with citizens and partner groups to develop a plan for use of the public open space, building on the city’s existing plans to preserve land and improve water quality in the Lynnhaven watershed, including a return of the famous Lynnhaven Oyster fishery.”

PHP site partnership opportunity presentation at SDCC Meeting

July 26th we had a very exciting presentation from the City of Virginia Beach, the Trust for Public Land and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

View the 5 slides that were presented. (.pdf version)
View the 5 slides that were presented. (Google Docs version)

National Night Out - Tuesday August 3rd - Turn on your porch lights on and keep an eye out for crime

NEWS RELEASE
Virginia Beach Police Department
Municipal Center
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
8/2/2010                                                                           2010-108

national night out in virginia beach

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, communities nationwide will be celebrating the “27th Annual National Night Out.”  The goal is to (1) heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, (2) generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, (3) strengthen neighborhood and police community partnerships, and (4) send a message to the criminals that neighborhoods and the police are united in fighting crime.
Some of the neighborhoods participating in Virginia Beach are:
1st Precinct – Lotus Creek, Ocean Lakes, Red Mill Farm, Shire Village (Buckner Farm), South Shore Estates, Southgate, and Villages at West Neck.
2nd Precinct – Atlantis Apartments, Baycliff, Croatan, Rudee Heights, Seabridge Square, Southall Quarter, Waldon by the Chesapeake, and Wolfsnare Plantation.
3rd Precinct – Bishops Gate, Chesapeake Beach, Cypress Point, Diamond Springs/Gardenwood Park, L&J Gardens, Lake Shores, Little Creek, Summerset Lake Condos, and Thoroughgood Colony.
4th Precinct – Bellamy Plantation, Commons at Princess Anne, Driftide Condos, Fairfield Forest, Framingham Village (College Park), Green Run, Kempsville Lake, Liberty Ridge Townhomes, Salem Woods, and Tivoli Apartments.
Most events begin around 6:30 p.m.
Even if your neighborhood is not having a planned event, we encourage all of the citizens of Virginia Beach to get out and send the message that we are fighting back against crime and drugs.  Leave your porch lights on all night to show your support!
For more information, please contact MPO Helen Gillespie, office 385-1331, hgillesp@vbgov.com 

MPO Jimmy Barnes
Public Relations/Marketing /Spokesperson
Virginia Beach Police Department
jfbarnes@vbgov.com , 757-385-4494

“By the end of the meeting, Wells Fargo agreed to sell the property for $13 million”

Read and comment on article at Pilotonline.com:

On the other hand, if Wells Fargo held out for more money and sold to another developer, environmental permits would be needed before construction could begin and homebuyers would have to return to the market.

Shoulder Paving On Shore Drive & Cape Henry Beach Grooming

The following email update was sent by the President of Cape Story by the Sea.

Paving Project on Shore Drive (southern portion between Beech and Kendall Streets) in Progress —check link below and BE CAREFUL out there
Click here for more information http://capestory.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/shoulder-paving-to-begin-from-beech-to-kendall-on-south-side-of-shore-drive-monday-july-19th/

Also Cape Henry Beach raking and cleaning scheduled for 4:30 AM this Wednesday.  Per City’s Beach and Coastal Engingeer, the area between Beech and Kendall Streets will be groomed to help remove dirt clumps and unwanted plant growth.
Click here for more information http://capestory.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/city-working-to-clean-up-appearance-of-cape-story-beach/

Empsy Munden,
Pres Cape Story by the Sea
emunden@aol.com  869-5785

SDCC thanked for their work by Chesapeake Bay Foundation

From The Bay Daily:

The property, known as Pleasure House Point, has been the focus of extensive community debate, with local groups such as Shore Drive Community Coalition, Lynnhaven River NOW, and CBF vigorously opposed to development proposed for the parcel.

Thank you.

Are you coming out for Share Shore Drive Day ?

Cycling info at ShareShoreDriveDay.net.

Come out and join the Circle in The Bridge from CHKD at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility at 10am to walk.

To the volunteers who protected 100% of Pleasure House Point

The incredible news you heard today:

“Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr.  announced today that the 122-acre property known as Pleasure House Point may be acquired and protected under terms of a deal between Wells Fargo bank and The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national environmental group.  The property has been a top city open-space priority for a decade. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and The Trust for Public Land plan to partner with the city to pull together funding to meet the $13 million purchase price.

Pleasure House Point, located just west of the Lesner Bridge and south of the Chesapeake Bay, is at the confluence of Pleasure House Creek and Crab Creek, overlooking the Lynnhaven River. The property’s owner, L.M. Sandler & Sons, had planned to build a large waterfront development there known as Indigo Dunes.”

... is at the very least exciting for Hampton Roads residents and future generations.

Over the next days, and weeks you will undoubtedly hear more details about the possibilities of what Pleasure House Point will be.

From housing a wildlife refuge & rehab center to being part of the Lynnhaven River Blueway and being a leader in educational programs for disabled children & adults. Pleasure House Point will be home to an inspiring facility that will not only protect a jewel of Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads - but can just as assuredly, incubate big thinking on so many levels we have not had a chance to comprehend. Yet.

If it were not for countless hard working, selfless volunteers who dedicated an incomprehensible amount of time, energy, and effort to save Pleasure House Point from development and to raise the level of awareness to the property’s value for preservation, open space, and environmental education, we would not be having this conversation right now.

Without you, dear volunteer we would not be at this place in time.

Without you, dear volunteer, this opportunity to tell your grand children you were there when… would not be possible.

We hope a thank you is enough. But we know it’s not.

We know protecting 100% of Pleasure House Point is merely a starting point for something bold and grand that you will be proud of.

And in case you haven’t heard it enough, for the work you’ve put in to accomplish this feat - thank you. Thank you dear volunteer. You do and will continue to make a difference.

City Announces Partnership to Acquire Pleasure House Point

City Announces Partnership to Acquire Pleasure House Point
Plans include environmental education center and preservation of open space

City News Release Date:  Tuesday, July 13, 2010 6:30 p.m.
 
...“Thanks to The Trust for Public Land, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the citizens of Virginia Beach, we have a plan to save the vast majority of Pleasure House Point from development,” Mayor Sessoms said. “The strength of this partnership gives us the best chance yet to preserve this unique property. Our persistence is paying off!”...
 

To read the entire news release, click on this link Partnership to Acquire Pleasure House Point

You can also check for additional updates on this topic at the Pilotonline’s article Virginia Beach to buy, preserve Shore Drive property

Shore Drive Corridor Improvements - Phase IV, Ocean Park - Official Page

Here’s the Public Works Capital Projects Detail Sheet Official link to 2.118.000: Shore Drive Corridor Improvements - Phase IV.

Current Estimates
Start: 06/24/2010 End: 09/16/2015 Cost: 12,758,721

More Tips:
You can look up any CIP project by the following steps:
http://www.vbgov.com
Select “Online Services” (on the left side)
Select “View a Capital Project Status”
Select “CIP Project Status”
This takes you to the CIP Search Page (http://198.252.244.2/cipstatus/Search.aspx)
You can search by full name, partial name (ex. Shore) or CIP#

Thanks to David Jarman for the info.

Capital Improvement Projects, CIP, refresher

In case you’re keeping track, here’s the numbers you want to follow improvements for Shore Drive:

CIP Project Updates:

·      Shore Drive Interim Safety Improvements (2-731):  Slideshow attached summarizing work completed to date

·      Shore Drive Demonstration Project (2-115):  Completed 2008

·      Shore Drive Phase II (2-116):  Currently at 30% design, project is on hold due to funding

·      Shore Drive Phase III (2-117):  Currently at 30% design, project is on hold due to funding

·      Shore Drive Phase IV (2-118):  Currently at 30% design, project was funded for construction in 2012, however this may be delayed to 2016. This is Ocean Park area. Marlin Bay > Lesner Bridge.

·      Lesner Bridge Replacement Project (2-168):  Approaching 90% design, no funding for construction or utility relocations