Shore Drive Community Coalition

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- What’s here & how to get the most out of it.

This site is basically a Blog.

Here’s a great place to start if you’re new here.

Check out the cool map to see where we’re located.

It’s organized under various Topics. Example.

Also by Date in the Archives.

Stay informed by joining our eNewsletter.
[Look over there in the right column. > > >]

Find stuff by using Search.
[Also in right column on every page.]

Get your Event, Meeting, etc posted at our Community Calendar. Here’s how.

Give us feedback, get help, correct us, give us news, etc. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

- Love the Shore Drive neighborhood? Help us.

We meet the last Monday of the month at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad at 7:30pm. Google Map.

About us.

Contact us.

No time to donate? Please consider a financial donation.

- The basics.

We’re the Shore Drive Community Coalition.

There’s the City’s Bayfront Advisory Committee at VBGov.com.

Vice Mayor Jones west of the Lesner Bridge.
Vice Mayor Jones Info.

Councilman Wood east of the Lesner Bridge.
Councilman Wood Info.

Shore Drive Safety Task Force was formed in December 2005 & later reported back to City Council on short, mid and long term recommendations for improving safety along Shore Drive. Recommendations. [18pg PDF]

There’s Shore Drive Topics at VBGov.com.

Watch this space for Economic data, & more.

- What the heck does “PDF” mean & other info.

PDF = Portable Document Format. More at Wikipedia.
PHP = Pleasure House Point.
DEQ = Department of Environmental Quality.  More at DEQ.
DCR = Department of Conservation & Recreation. More at Virginia.gov.
JPA = Joint Permit Application. More at the Army Corp of Engineers website.
RPA = Resource Protection Area. Learn more about the Chespeake Bay Preservation Act.

Use the Discuss link below or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your questions & we’ll get the answers posted here.

SDCC General Meeting Monday, March 31 2008 Agenda

SDCC General Meeting - Monday March 31, 2008, 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall (parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

Presentation on City Marina Rezoning and Privatization Plan – Faith Christie, City Planner, or designated rep. will be present to
answer questions on the new proposal for the City Marina. The request is being changed to a Conditional Rezoning. New signs will be posted shortly. The new plan contains proffers and planned to be heard the at the May 14th Planning Commission meeting. City Council hearing will be in late May or early June 2008. SDCC would like a small committee to work with the City and plan the future of this site. Representatives from Lynnhaven Colony, SDCC, Vista Circle, Boat Slip owners, BAC and City Staff are asked to participate. Proffers for this site are proposed to limit the uses of the Lynnhaven Marina Property. The only uses that shall be permitted in the requested B-2 Zoning Area are listed below.
• Commercial Marina including fuel service, subject to obtaining a conditional use permit (City operation would not require a
Conditional Use Permit)
• Off-site parking (use of parking for off-site uses not directly related to the Marina slip requirements)
• Outdoor Plaza (allows for an open area with paving, planting, and lights, benches and picnic tables also could be permitted for
casual seating and eating sandwiches and snacks purchased in the specialty shop)
• Specialty Shops/retail store of specialty goods, not to exceed 3,000 sq. ft.
• No structure on the site shall exceed thirty (30) feet in height.
Proffers NOT included: The suggested revised proffers do NOT include: Commercial Recreational Facility; Commercial Parking lot, Outdoor Café, and Personal Watercraft.

The general agenda for the evening will be:

Presentation/Discussion - 30 Minutes
Officer’s Reports - Brief Reports
Secretary -
Treasurer’s Report - Leslie
Vice President & President - Daphne & Todd

Old Business-

Indigo Dunes Project – Continued discussion on Botanical Garden proposal from last meeting. An SDCC vote is recommended at this meeting, so be prepared to vote your community’s view. Continued investigation by PHP committee on the possibility of a land swap with commercial property at Corporate Landing. Anyone interested in helping research and put together a proposal to submit to the City is asked to contact Todd Solomon at todd@sdcc.info. SDCC also plans on making this topic a major campaign issue for the Nov. City Council elections.

Lynnhaven River Proposed Spoils Transfer Station - Over 250 residents attended the March 19th public hearing Bayside Middle School. SDCC plans to gather ideas for alternate transfer sites for the Western and Eastern dredgings and has set up an area on http://www.sdcc.info where residents can submit their suggestions.

Cape Henry Beach Sand Replenishment - SDCC has sent a letter to City Council requesting they move ahead with a plan to implement the Cape Henry Beach Sand Replenishment resolution beginning with the next dredge cycle in 2009/2010.

R5R Proposed Code Amendments – Wed. March 12th, the Planning Commission voted (11-0) in favor of a modified proposed amendment change. The approved version limits the size of garages to 15% of lot size up to 1000 sq ft max and has some voluntary incentives changes to R5R lots. Lot sizes 6,500 sq ft. and smaller will have a reduced garage space and lots greater than 6,500 will be able to build the same as before. City Council will NOT be hearing this at the April 8th City Council session. Instead, City Council will appoint another committee to study the issue and try to find a solution that is supported by a greater majority than the modified amendment approved by the Planning Commission.

New Business -

SDCC Membership and Committee Participation – SDCC Membership forms have been mailed out. Our goal is to have 35 paid members this year. This year’s packets contained a information form which we’d really like each group to take the time and fill out. Much of the information requested will help SDCC become a better organization. One items on the form concerns committee participation. With the current number of issues that impact the Shore Drive area, we need more volunteers to help with SDCC committees. So if you have a free hour or two a week, consider signing up for a group.

2nd Annual Shore Drive Town Hall Meeting - Last year’s event held in April was attended by over 250 residents. The main topics of discussion were Indigo Dunes and Shore Drive Safety. At last month’s meeting everyone thought we should hold another Town Hall meeting. We need to determine when to hold it and what main topics should be addressed.

2008 City Council Candidate Questionnaire/Forum – Last month it was determined that we should send our a candidate questionnaire and hold an informal forum prior to the City Council elections. It was also determined to hold the forum as the October General Meeting. Should the forum be kept small or should it be moved to a larger location? If we move site from the OP Rescue Squad, where should it be held? Volunteers are needed to work on this committee. If interested contact Todd Solomon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Fort Story Soldiers Depart – Thanks to all of you who helped provide an encouraging send off to our local service personnel on Monday March 17, 2008. The community received a wonderful email from the Fort’s PAO which can be read at http://www.sdcc.info

SDCC Oyster Roast – Does Saturday Nov 15th at the VB Resort Conference Hotel sound good to everyone? If we move forward with this, we will need a chair or co-chair for the event. If you like to throw a party, this position would be perfect fory you, who will step forward and chair the event?

Proposed changes to City Marina include Conditional Rezoning

Preliminary info from Planning:

The request is being changed to a Conditional Rezoning. New signs will be posted shortly. Below is a list of the proposed proffered uses –

Proffer #1 – The only uses that shall be permitted in the requested B-2 zoning of the subject site include the following uses and any conditions provided with each use listed below:

1.  Commercial Marina, subject to obtaining a conditional use permit

2.  Commercial Recreational Facility, subject to obtaining a conditional use permit

3.  Commercial parking lot, subject to obtaining site plan approval

4.  Eating and drinking establishments without a drive-through

5.  Off-site parking

6.  Outdoor Café

7.  Outdoor Plaza

8.  Personal watercraft, subject to obtaining conditional use permit

9.  Specialty Shops (retail store of specialty goods, not to exceed 3,000 square feet)

Proffer #2 – No structure on the site shall exceed thirty (30) feet in height.

We are not requiring a proffered site plan at this since we own the property. If the property is leased or sold any new development on the site would require a site development plan.

Planning is hoping to move forward at the May 14th Planning Commission meeting.
Public Notice - March 28th 2008 [2pg PDF]

Please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to be part of this process from the beginning.

FOIA Office of VB recent award winner - help nominate them again

Congrats to Chris & most recently Nancy for their award, and in particular for helping us with our FOIA requests!

From the Virginia Coalition for Open Government:

Most recent award winners include: The City of Virginia Beach’s Freedom of Information Office Virginia Beach, the state’s first local-government FOI office in August 2003. The office has handled nearly 3,000 FOI requests, produced more than 46,000 requested documents and aided inspection of thousands more, and provided space for easy record review just a few steps from City Council’s meeting chambers[.]

How to nominate for this year:

Call for 2007-2008 VCOG FOI Award Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for VCOG’s 2006 Freedom of Information Awards.
Entries should be submitted by April 22nd to
VCOG, Box 1293, Warrenton, VA 20188 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Awards are given for outstanding efforts by citizens, media and government to keep government meetings or records open to the public.

Editorial page makes another pitch for transfer station at LBR&BF

Before reading another editorial pitching the idea to use the beloved & award winning LBR&BF as a permanent public & private dredge spoils transfer station, may I suggest reading the FOIAed docs related to the project?

Start here to read the official docs made public so far, Hot Topic: Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility.

Assuming the city monitors the project to make sure it’s meeting all safety requirements, the recommendation, while far from ideal, makes more sense than the few other possibilities on the river.

There are far more safer, cost effective, creative long term solutions available for the handling of dredge spoils from the Lynnhaven.

Share even your craziest ideas here: The Lynnhaven needs your help in developing a long term solution for moving dredge spoils

Read & comment on editorial at Pilotonline.com.

Beacon article about transfer station dump truck demonstration

Front page of the Beacon today:

“This is a recipe for disaster, mixing the barges with recreational boaters right here at the Lesner Bridge,” contended Joe Ferrara, a boat captain who attended the rally.

Read article at Pilotonline.com.

The Lynnhaven needs your help in developing a long term solution for moving dredge spoils

SDCC is gathering ideas that will provide a long term solution to moving dredge spoils dredged from the Lynnhaven Watershed.

Have an idea? .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Use “Discuss” link in this post.

Why? Check out this Topic.

Permanent Dredge Spoils Transfer Station Weds night meeting in Pilot

As you know, there is a plan to build a permanent dredge spoils transfer station at the LBR&BF that would be used, for free, to accept spoils from public & private projects throughout the entire Lynnhaven Watershed.

“I just don’t think it needs to be at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp.”
Ferrara said he also worried about the boaters, some of them inexperienced, who will have to maneuver around these barges in the river.
Other speakers raised fears about a barge getting loose and hitting the Lesner Bridge.

Read & comment on article at Pilotonline.com.

Again, sidewalks not installed - who’s responsible & how is this fixed?

Tragically & unbelievably sidewalks have not been installed on Shore Drive.

Hopefully the sidewalk that was required on a previous Conditional Use Permit will be installed next to the plantings.

The old Colley Marine property:

Concerns about dredge spoils barge strike collapsing Lesner unfounded

Email response from Chief of Finance & Technology, David Hansen:

...That assessment is an engineering estimate stating that at worst case a barge could hit a Pier, damaging it such that it may have to be replaced during which we would shut down one of the bridges (recall the Lesner is two) for 4 to 6 weeks.  Nowhere do we believe the size and velocity create the mass to collapse one of the bridges. This assessment was generated though engineering discussions to include bridge consultants. Should you have a certified professional engineer opinion that differs we would be very receptive to entertaining a professional discussion on the matter.

For those of you who’ve been asking, we have a couple open FOIA requests for docs relating to Safety & the Lesner Bridge.

Thanks to all who came out to support the 241st from Ft Story

In particular, Cape Story:

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Empsy,

  I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for the support shown by the
Cape Story by the Sea Civic League last night as the 241st went down
Shore Drive. I followed the buses out and I saw people standing by the
road with ‘thank you’ signs, and it really meant a lot. I know it meant
a great deal to those Soldiers on the buses to see the support from the
local community. Again, thank you for all your support and all that the
CSBTS Civic League does.

Best,
Monica

Monica K. Miller
Fort Eustis Command Information Officer/Fort Story Public Affairs
757-878-4920 Fort Eustis Office
757-878-4928 Fort Eustis Fax
757-422-7101 Ext. 225 Fort Story Office
757-422-7706 Fort Story Fax
monica.k.miller@us.army.mil

Final Docs submitted to DEQ March 2008 re: Indigo Dunes

Some fascinating reading in these final documents submitted to DEQ.

I believe this completes their application, so DEQ will more than likely be moving forward with issuance of a draft permit.

ID-DEQ-Mar08-Nov-07JPA-FinalDocs [47pg PDF]

City holding up adding safety lights to Shore Drive due to cost of $40,000

Remember the solar powered flashing yellow safety lights that were going to be installed about 3 years ago on Shore Drive?

He said the money will come from a federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant. The $40,000 grant is for eight signs - two in each direction of Shore Drive west of the park; and four on Atlantic Avenue.

Read & comment on Pilot Warrier article.

You know how the North End at Atlantic Avenue has a number of safety measures added to slow down speeders & Shore Drive has none?

Norfolk pulled $500 in city money to post solar-powered flashing lights atop speed limit signs at the intersection. Residents told The Warrior the lights helped slow drivers.

Contact Councilman Jim Wood at VBGov.com & ask him to make this part of Shore Drive safer.

Demonstration of dump trucks sharing the LBR&BF is Top Story at WAVY, WTKR & WVEC

Video at WAVY.com’s home page.
At WAVY.com.
At WTKR.com.
Video at WVEC.com.

Lee Tolliver article about event at LBR&BF today

Be sure to come out today for music, dump trucks & boats at the LBR&BF.

Several dump trucks will be on the site today in an effort to show the public how much space the vehicles will take up during transfer operations.
At a public hearing late last year, the city said the trucks would not disturb traffic at the facility.
Shuler has said that city records show 20,295 boats and vehicles towing them used the ramp facility and parking lot from 2006 to 2007.

Read & comment on Lee’s article at Pilotonline.com.

Virginian Pilot honors The Iraq War Fallen

The Pilot is beginning a 5-day series honoring the fallen today.

More than 50 service members from Hampton Roads have died in the conflict, which began March 20, 2003.

The Iraq War, five years into the conflict.
In Remembrance - view photo & story of each service member, leave tribute & more.

Ft Story Troops leaving March 17th - Convoy heading down Shore Drive ~7pm

Come on out to send them off! More info.

City Marina Revenue & latest repairs estimates from FOIA request

CityMarinaRevenueFOIA-3-08.pdf [3pg PDF]
EstimatesonCityMarinaRepairs-FOIA-3-08.pdf [10pg PDF]

Another FOIA request for info re:Dredge Spoils Transfer Station

Email was sent earlier to Dan Adams, Project Manager for the transfer station.
Contact Mr. Adams: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Official Project Page: VBGov.com

Hello Dan,

I just realized some items are missing from our FOIA request dated ~late February.

This particular FOIA request, and what was supplied, are located at this link:

As a previous member of the Shore Drive Safety Task Force, which as you know was created by City Ordinance, I am always concerned with issues affecting Shore Drive, the City’s deadliest road.

Also, as you are probably aware, there have been 4 deaths in the last 10 years a block from the western edge of the Lesner Bridge.

Finally, as you know, the average speed according to various traffic studies on Shore Drive is ~54MPH.

My questions are:

1. can we have the Traffic Engineering Report(s) that were done that supports the safe use of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & tShore Drive.
2. can we have the Risk Management Assessment(s) that were done that supports the safe use of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Shore Drive.

Undoubtedly these reports will show what measures the City will take to ensure the safe use of Shore Drive when loaded dump trucks are attempting to gain speed to travel safely with the flow of traffic, ~54MPH.

My guess is these studies were done back in late 2006 when the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp was selected as the best site.

Regards,

Tim Solanic
Secretary SDCC

### Please note: This email, and responses to it, will be posted at SDCC.info in our efforts to transparently share information with our community. ###

241st & 119th returning to Ft Story April 22nd

The 241st and 119th and HHD will be returning on the 22nd of April.