A detailed report to-date on the sand replenishment project east of the Lesner Bridge
A very comprehensive report on the work being done by the Beach Sand Replenishment Task Force of the SDCC, the Army Corps of Engineers and the City.
Thanks to Richard Norman of Lynnhaven Dunes Condos for this very detailed report to-date.
The City has adopted a resolution for sand replenishment of Cape Henry beaches i.e. from First Landing State Park to Duck-In using the Corps of Engineers ( COE ). This project purpose is not like the successful coastal protection of Sandbridge and Virginia Beach, but what to do with the sand from the dredging of the Lynnhaven Inlet. The next planned dredging of Lynnhaven Inlet will be February 2008. In order for the COE to sand replenish Cape Henry beaches, they require the following:
Public access ( will not deal with private concerns to improve property )
No legal or physical restrictions
No encroachments
Budget funding
Completion of engineering
Hence, the City has developed a Deed of Easement Draft [.PDF] and a chart of Cape Henry Beaches [clickable thumbnail to right]. To date, the following is the status of 91 properties involved:
72 documented as public beach
6 willing to dedicate easement
13 unresolved ( including LDCA )
91 TOTAL
It is not the intention for the City to take over our private beaches, but a voluntary approval of an easement for sand replenishment; including, routine garbage pickup and beach cleaning. LDCA will continue to own our portion of the beach. This is a residential community and the City has no intention of promoting this beach as anything other than what it is i.e. a relatively quiet residential beach.
It is the intention of the City to create a documented public interest in Cape Henry Beach from First Landing State Park to Lynnhaven Inlet for recreational use, public enjoyment and to enable the City to exercise stewardship of the beach; including, routine garbage pickup and beach cleaning. The resolution authorizes the acceptance of offers to dedicate voluntary public beach easements from beachfront property owners. This is a residential community and the City has no intention of promoting the beach as anything other than what it is i.e. a relatively quiet beach.
The Shore Drive Community Commission is facilitating dissemination of information on this project via a task force consisting of property owner members and the City - Department of Public Works - Beach Management. The information at the bottom of this page has been accumulated from Lynnhaven Dunes Condo homeowners and presented to the City.
Accumulated list of concerns
List of positives
Initial observations
List of contacts
A final judgment by property owners is pending on further information expected soon from the Department of Public Works - Beach Management.
Final survey to negotiate easement boundaries
Final Deed of Easement
City letter to representatives of property owners
Public workshop
City follow up meeting, if requested by property owners
Photos from 1937, 1960, 2001 and 2004 show the sand moving Westward from Cape Henry to Lynnhaven Inlet estimated @ 15,000 cu. yds. per year and Eastwood from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to Lynnhaven Inlet estimated @ 30,000 cu. yds. per year. The width crest is now just East of Lynnhaven Dunes Condos and this has been moving Westward as well. The Lynnhaven Inlet is a good source of sand for replenishing our beaches.
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Lynnhaven Dunes Condo reports presented to the City.
SAND REPLENISHMENT DEED OF EASEMENT OBSERVATIONS
1- Homeowners will still own the beach. The easement is for
recreational purposes – not conveying other rights or privileges.
2- The City easement rights would allow sand replenishment, cleaning and garbage pickup.
3- It is the intention of the City to replenish sand on beaches from Duck In to First Landing State Park.
4- The sand will be dredged from the Lynnhaven Inlet.
5- People tend to cluster close to public accesses. I noticed this on July 4th. Parking is limited as well.
6- People can not be prohibited from walking across an open private beach.
7- Some beaches are eroding ( Westminster Canterbury ) so, this is a good way to help our community come together.
8- This is a residential community and the City has no intention of promoting this beach as anything other than what it is i.e. a relatively quiet, residential beach.
9- This similar project was successfully completed in Sandbridge.
10- A majority of LDCA units ( 37 ) may be required for our beach approval. The easement survey has been completed on our property.
11- The trust of the city is always a concern due to their bureaucratic nature.
12- A public workshop is forthcoming by Public Works/ Beach Management. This will allow us to weigh the positives vs negatives. Also, follow up meetings will be held with individual property owners to further discuss and clarify the City’s project.
SAND REPLENISHMENT POSITIVES
1- Increased width of the beach via the easement ( like Virginia Beach ) would increase the breakwater line for less erosion.
2- Create more sand for Dune building.
3- Improve property values.
4- Share community responsibilities in assisting some of our neighbors who have serious beach erosion problems e.g. Westminster Canterbury.
5- Homeowners will still own the beach with the easement.
6- The City easement rights would allow sand replenishment due to storm erosion, garbage pickup and beach cleaning. Presently, the last two are voluntary.
Contacts for information are:
Phill Roehrs – Department of Public Works / Beach Management -
( 757 ) 427-4167 proehrs@vbgov.com
Stephen Van Essendelft – Department of Public Works / Beach Management -
( 757 ) 427-8005 svanesse@vbgov.com
Nils Bahringer – Shore Drive Community Coalition Task Force Member –
( 757 ) 412-30238 nils@exis.net
SAND REPLENISHMENT CONCERNS
1- Marginal trust in City Government due to their bureaucratic nature. Can we trust the City to provide services behind their promises ?
2- Leakage in private rights to a local government has ended up in an uncontrollable situation from the standpoint of property owners.
3- This is only a means for the City of Virginia Beach to gain complete
control of Cape Henry Beach and encourage the “public” to have virtually unobstructed usage. We must not only vote unanimously against this proposal, but also encourage the other bayfront condo complexes to do likewise.
4- Does the City have enough equipment to routinely clean the beaches of Sandbridge, Virginia Beach ( ocean front ) and Cape Henry ?
5- The entire Cape Henry Beach will be made public. Wording in the Deed of Easement Draft leads one to believe that the entire Cape Henry Beach will be for public use.
6- Would lose one of the distinct private assets of our Condo property.
7- Spill over of people from public assesses with increased foot traffic across private beaches.
8- We are receiving garbage pickup and periodic cleaning. Our beach is accreting, so why do we need sand replenishment or an easement ?
9- To date, very few owners of private property on Cape Henry Beach have declared intent to grant such an easement.
10- Ordinances restricting dogs during selective hours of the season
( Memorial day to Labor Day )and beverages etc.
11- Police patrols on our beach.
12- Nothing has been fair about the City’s apparent lack of communication to homeowners in a timely manner to execute Deeds of Easement by 2005. The City is acting in deliberation to withhold information that is crucial to tax paying homeowners regarding our property rights.
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More info about the BSRTF to date.
Submit your Bayfront Vision to be published at SDCC.info:
[encode=bayfrontvision@sdcc.info]Email your Bayfront Vision.[/encode]
Thanks again to Richard Norman for putting together this incredibly detailed report.
Tim added the image map, links and pulled text unedited from files.
Topics: BSRTF