The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road. 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.”

Signs will be posted on the beach between Wake Forest Street and Rockbridge Road to alert the public of the swimming and wading advisory.

The signs will read:

WARNING!  SWIMMING ADVISORY

Bacteria levels do not meet state water quality standards

Swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice

Virginia Beach has conducted these tests since the mid-1970s. Health officials will continue testing the site until the water quality meets the state water quality standards.  When the sampling test results meet the standards, the signs will be removed.

Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of the fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms.  People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.

“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Newby-Owens. “Typically an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.”

The results of this and all other sampling are located on the Virginia Department of Health Web site at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring.

For additional information, contact the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health at (757) 518-2700.

The second PHP Stakeholder Meeting convened May 15, 2012, at the Bayside Rec Center, opened by Brian Solis.  After thanking the attendees for their participation, he announced that Pete Hangen, of VB Parks & Rec, would serve as facilitator for the meeting.  Solis stated that when the City, the Trust for Public Land and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) formed the partnership two years ago, they outlined in general terms the vision of what PHP might be, vis a vis low-impact access, educational opportunities, stewardship goals and the like.  He enumerated basic groups that the City and CBF were seeking to accomplish long-term, such as establishing “Sustainable Site” guidelines for any improvements, attention to LEED certification, to offer a center for environmental and educational opportunities, as well as natural-history education, and to invest in additional oyster restoration.

The agenda for the Stakeholder’s Meeting was set forth to include a briefing by David Norris, of the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), regarding the $1 million dollar grant received by the City toward the purchase of PHP, followed by a breakout session to gather input from stakeholders in creating a vision and guiding principles for PHP.  Input from stakeholders and their constituents could be shared via a Wikispaces Website, if they can figure out how to use it.

Following the opening remarks, Mr. Norris explained that the inclusion of the DGIF grant in the financing altered the mission of the City with regard to land use.  In ordinary circumstances, “multi-use” applications guided the City in the improvement of public land, but the introduction of DGIF principles allowed the designation to be changed from “multi-use” to “special use.”  This is made possible by the mission of the DGIF to protect and restore wetlands.  Norris stated that over 20 grant applications were received, from which PHP was chosen based on the following criteria:

Lynnhaven Estuary Protection Plan

1.   Will the project reverse wetlands loss?

2.   Will coastal maritime forests benefit?  (Norris stated that points were almost never awarded                              for this criterion, but that PHP qualified.)

3.   Will the project ensure long-term preservation?

4.   Will the project accomplish natural resource objectives of one or more formal coastal

eco-system management plans?

5.   Will the project protect endangered species?

6.   Will the project benefit fish?

7.   Will the project benefit local and migratory birds?  (Norris noted that although there were

nearby natural areas, including First Landing State Park, PHP is the first available stop for

migratory birds.)

8.   Will the project prevent or reduce contamination of soil and water?

9.   Will the project provide a catalyst for future conservation?

10.   Will the project produce beneficial partnerships?

11.   Will the project enhance federal/state cost sharing?

12.   Will the project provide educational/outreach opportunities?

13.   Are there other factors to be considered?

Norris went on to explain that the site must be managed with conservation goals in mind.  Those goals are 1) to maintain habitat values 2) to maintain the coastal maritime forest 3) to maintain water quality

4) to maintain and enhance educational and recreational value while not being detrimental to other aspects.  He also mentioned that the existing shoreline trail was a unique amenity for the public to appreciate the coastal environment.  A copy of his presentation may be found  on the Web at www.vbgov.com/pleasurehousepoint.  Mr. Norris can be contacted at david.norris@dgif.virginia.gov.

Solis then noted that over the next 3 – 5 years, the City would be developing a management plan in co-operation with DGIF, with a timeline for periodic reviews.  The short-term goal is to manage access to the property so as to prevent abuse and to initiate restoration wherever possible.

The group then separated into five groups to consider, in rotation, five elements of planning, based on the Plus/Delta method.  (A format which identified already known benefits…plus… and areas of possible concern…Delta.)

Natural Area:  Pluses included goals to protect the environmental habitat and wildlife; retaining berms to manage trails and run-off; to manage for diversity; to offer educational/environmental opportunities.

Deltas included concerns about abuse by irresponsible dog-walkers and litterers, as well as unauthorized vehicular traffic; effects on nearby shellfish harvests; degradation of berms; concern that excessive foot traffic will “love it to Death.”

Land Access:  Pluses noted that parking possibilities exist on Marlin Bay Drive and at the Pump Station.

Deltas called for caution in realigning Marlin Bay Drive; access for adjacent property owners of undeveloped plats; negative impacts to street parking in the adjacent community; planning the number of access points; restriction of access for shoreline and fishing; sensitivity to wildlife.

Water Access:   Pluses praised the restriction of watercraft to non-motorized craft; opportunity to wed the functions of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility to PHP as mutual support and not competition.

Delta notes included cautions about using the area as launch for crew teams;  ADA access through LBR’s beach wheel-chair (probably should have been listed as a “plus”); concern that proposed operation of a permanent dredge spoils transfer station at Crab Creek would impede water access to PHP and educational activities conducted by both the City and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; desire that all water access be sensitive to wetlands.

Connectivity:  (Bringing the public to the site and the site to the public)

Pluses remarked the opportunity for the public to legally transverse the area; the opportunity to educate the public to environmental issues.

Deltas focused on the lack of an HRT bus stop designated for the nearest major intersection; fire and rescue access to the land and the water; access to adjacent property, as yet undeveloped.  Deltas also urged caution when addressing how to retain or change berms and suggested that bike racks be installed at access points.

Behavior:            Pluses want planning to consider “pack in/pack out” approach with the judicious placement of receptacles and/or signage; to consider the dog-owning and non-dog-owning users with regards to the “No Pet/Pets on Leash Only” question; opportunity to develop sense of “ownership” among residents.

High on the Delta list was the potential for criminal activity; irresponsible use by dog-owners; litterers; risk to water quality; 24/7 access.

In looking ahead, the next meeting of the PHP Stakeholders Committee will be either June 27/28, from 4-5:30 p.m.  A Public Meeting may be planned as early as July 2012, in the evening.  An official celebration event could occur in October 2012.

Respectfully submitted,

Grace Moran

The inaugural meeting of the Pleasure House Point Stakeholder Committee meeting was held at the Bayside Rec Center on April 23, 2012, co-hosted by the City of Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).  It was a remarkable demonstration of the level of interest and commitment by the City and the public, in that there was almost 100% attendance by appointed representatives.

Brian Solis, of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, opened the meeting and provided the following information, which is available on the City website www.vbgov.com/pleasurehousepoint.  The website is live now and currently has CBF’s part of the presentation on the Web page.  (Click on ”Stakeholder Presentation 4/23.”)  Spokespersons from CBF also supplied information about their vision for their facility, which would have the three-fold function of Environmental Center, Environmental Education Center and Environmental Restoration Site.  They hope for their building to go beyond LEED certification to Living Building designation, which can be further researched at https://ilbi.org/

Today’s outline provided the project description as “a natural conservation area, public park and environmental education area.”  Partners are the City, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and CBF.  Funding partners are US Fish & Wildlife, VA Department of Environmental Quality, VA Department of Conservation and Recreation, the City, the Trust for Public Land, CBF, Dominion Foundation, VB Parks & Rec Foundation and the citizens of the Shore Drive area.  It appears that the City is sincere in seeking public input prior to formulating the plans for this area.  This in itself is as laudable as it is unique.

The project timeline will be a part of the posting soon to be available to all, but encompasses the inception of planning in May 2012, through rezoning, permitting, acquisition by CBF of their 10 acre parcel on or about January 2013, and design and construction of the City portion commencing January 2013 through December 2013, if the funding proposed in this fiscal year’s budget for Open Space Development and Maintenance (CIP 3.06) is approved in the City budget.

The presentation offered a brief history of the property and included maps of the parceled areas, showing stormwater management and proposed soft trails, kayak launch area, and a sidewalk with adjacent parallel parking along the northern portion of Marlin Bay Drive.

Miscellaneous enclosures included a section about habitat preservation and the threatened and endangered species that call PHP home, as well as the results of a survey conducted earlier from at least two meetings available to OPCL residents.

The City proposes 3 or 4 more of these meetings in addition to a yet-to-be scheduled public meeting.  The meetings are, of course, open to the public, but in the interests of time, observers are asked to channel their input to one of the designated representatives.  Shore Drive residents can communicate through Kal Kassir (Bayfront Advisory Committee) at kkassir@aol.com, Todd Solomon (Shore Drive Community Coalition) at todd@sdcc.info, Tim Solanic (savePHP.org) at tim@sdcc.info, or Grace Moran (Ocean Park Civic League) at grace@sdcc.info or 318-9224.  Or you can contact Brian Solis (bsolis@vbgov.com) or Barbara Duke (Bduke@vbgov.com) of the VB Parks and Recreation Department or Christy Everett (Hampton Roads Office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) at CEverett@cbf.org.  However, the Committee may also have an interactive Website up and running soon, and many of those listed above already over-flowing in-boxes, so please hold your emails until after the next meeting, which will be confirmed in a subsequent mailing. The next meeting has not been confirmed, but is tentative for 4 p.m. May 21, or May 16 in the morning.

Respectfully submitted,
Grace Moran

Guard Dogs of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp

                                                        SAVE THE LYNNHAVEN BOAT RAMP AND BEACH FACILITY

And the adjacent OCEAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD

OPPOSE THE DREDGE MATERIALS TRANSFER STATION

AGENDA   April 2, 2012

I.   Introductions

A.    The Ocean Park Civic League voted at the Nov 2011 meeting to oppose the DMTS and sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council expressing that position. At the March 2012 meeting the OPCL appointed a committee to represent Ocean Park Civic League as liason for information and inquiry to city agencies and others for all government funded development and redevelopment within and adjacent to Ocean Park waterways.

This committee is named: Ocean Park Waterways Development and

Redevelopment Committee (OPWDRC).  This committee will acquire all

pertinent information regarding waterway development from governing

bodies and present that information to Ocean Park Civic League, share

information with the Guard Dogs, request information via FOIA, and work

with city and state officials.

The Chair is Andy Broyles

Members are Mike Wills , Wendy Vaughn, and Johnathan Macy

Captain Lee Shuler is an Advisor

B.  The Guard Dogs of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp will continue as the

representatives of ALL Stakeholders, Residents, LBR users, Fishermen,

Boaters, and will express opposition through letter-writing, petition, and

other activities.

II.  Understanding the Issues and the History

2007-2008    Opposition to a Dredge Materials Transfer Station at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility– Guard Dogs of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp was the group who led the fight (Andy Broyles, Lee Shuler, Mike Wills, Sharon and Jim Need, Tim Solanic, Todd Solomon, Dorinda Ennis, and many others), and the City of Virginia Beach told us they would use the Thalia site instead.  See www.Boatrampclosing.com

2010-2012 Maple Street Opposition and the Boatel choice – Win for Cape Story and

Bay Island neighborhoods.  Residents in Cape Story and Bay Island fought

the Maple Street site for a DMTS to serve the Eastern Branch of the

Lynnhaven River, and a site near the Boatel was chosen instead.

2012  Ongoing Clean Sand Dredging of Crab Creek Channel – Annually Oct – Feb

places clean sand from channel on sand storage area for future use by the city. When

needed, sand is trucked from the LBR for beach replenishment.

2012 – 2016  Current Lesner Bridge plan – three years of construction beginning 2013

using LBR for staging- completion in 2016. Bulkhead permit to be filed in 2013.

2012       Current city plan for DMTS and SSD at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach

Facility would begin when Lesner Bridge Construction completes.

The City of Virginia Beach has a plan form Special Service Districts to pay for neighborhoods in the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River like Thoroughgood, Witchduck Point, to dredge “Spurs” off the main channel and then “Driveways” to individual properties. The Dredged muck would be barged to the LBR, transferred by crane to 15-ton dump trucks and trucked through the boat ramp parking lot, through Piedmont Circle, onto E. Stratford Rd, then East on Shore Drive, South on Great Neck Road to Virginia Beach Blvd. – ultimately to a borrow pit near Oceana.

Captain Lee Shuler will speak about Dredging and the SSD Special Services District plan of the City of Virginia Beach .

III.              GOALS:   THREE GOALS were established at a March 3^rd organizational meeting to revive the Guard Dogs and plan communications for the OPCL meeting Mar 8^th. The Three Goals are also shared by the OPWDRC. They are:

• We  want the City of Virginia Beach to remove the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from its  DMTS plan.
• We  want the city to ensure that all permits for and construction staging of  the Lesner Bridge construction reflect temporary use only, and prohibit  permanent structures or use.
• We      want the city to ensure that, other than the temporary Lesner Bridge  construction staging and the usual clean sand storage from Crab Creek  dredging, no additional use of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp be made other than      recreational.

IV.   Next Steps for Guard Dogs

A.   WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. NEW PETITION and NEW SIGNS– The OPWDRC is drafting a new

Petition and designing new signs.

The  petition will be uploaded to:  iPetitions with links made available

for use on Facebook and websites. Volunteers will circulate paper

petitions.

Penny Lane and Cyndi O’Grady have agreed to collect the paper petitions

for submission.

The Signs will not be put on city property. We want to ask property

owners including businesses along the proposed truck route and in our

neighborhoods for permission to place signs on their property.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for Petitions and Signs. Please sign

up to distribute petitions and signs. You will be notified by email when the

petition and signs are available.

B.    IDENTIFY other Stakeholders for Guard Dogs email list: send email addresses  to  wendyvaughn2@cox.net

C.  LETTER WRITING campaign to Mayor and City Council, Beaches and

Waterways Commission, Bayfront Advisory Committee – Please see

sample letter from Ocean Park Homeowner at

www.oceanparkcivicleague.org or write your own. A more generic

Stakeholder letter is being drafted that will be added to that website soon

for your use. Email addresses for Mayor and others are on orange handout.

D.  OTHER – see websites and links on orange handout

V.   Other  Future Action Items:

A.  Demonstration at Boat Ramp? Late June after high school graduations

should be a good time. We need a chair for that – we’ll utilize the contacts

we had last time with the dockmaster and the dump truck company. A

planning meeting will be scheduled in early June for that.

B.  Newspaper Radio and TV – please send ideas to me. The OPWDRC will

coordinate when we want to involve media. We don’t wish to stifle

individual initiative, but feel it is important to have a unified and

coordinated message.

c.  Those of us who are Ocean Park residents: please join the OPCL. It is

$15 annually– membership forms available. Please take them to your

neighbors. We CAN drastically increase our membership by personally

asking our neighbors.

d. Comments, Suggestions:

Next Meeting : in June unless otherwise needed.

There were 21 members in attendance Agenda is attached  – contains some information about the issues. Also attached is a flyer containing information about where to find information on the web including sample letter and email mailing list.
Takeaways from meeting :  1.  mailing letters to home addresses of City Council members, Bayfront Advisory Committee members, and Beaches and Waterways Commission should get more attention from recipients than email. SEE HOME ADDRESS MAILING LIST attached 2. a petition is being drafted. It will be published on iPetitions and made available to link to facebook, websites, blogs, etc. 3. yard signs will be created for use on private property. 4. The Ocean Park Waterways Development and ReDevelopment Committee (this committee created as liason between Ocean Park Civic League and City of Virginia Beach and other governmental agencies), is beginning dialog with city officials, VMRC.   Thirteen members signed up to distribute paper petitions and yard signs. If you would like to be added to that list, please email me.
I will send notice as soon as petitions and signs are available.
Tentatively, a June meeting will be planned to plan a late June demonstration at the LBR.
Please SEND LETTERS stating your opposition! Thank you all for your support Wendy

Virginia Beach City Council :

The Honorable Mayor William Sessoms

401 54th Street

VB  23451

The Honorable Vice Mayor Louis Jones

1008 Witch Point Trail

VB 23455

The Honorable Glenn Davis

1548 Stewards Way

VB  23453

The Honorable William DeSteph

2101 Turnstone Quay

VB  23454

The Honorable Harry Diezel

604 Rosater Lane

VB  23464

The Honorable Robert Dyer

1668 Lake Christopher Drive

VB  23464

The Honorable Barbara Henley

3513 Cherry Neck Road

VB  23456

The Honorable John Moss

4109 Richardson Road

VB  23455

The Honorable John Uhrin

515 Delaware Avenue

VB  23451

The Honorable Rosemary Wilson

1304 Wren Place

VB 23451

The Honorable James Wood

3778 Prince Andrew Lane

VB  23452

Beaches and Waterways Commission: (current term expiration shown, but many renew)

Mr. Thomas E. Fraim          6/30/13

2461 Sandfiddler Rd

Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Mr. Michael L. Clark          6/30/13

500 Winston Salem Ave.

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Dr. George L. Grinnan            6/30/12

4041 Bridgehampton Lane

Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Mr. Charles W. Guthrie          6/30/12

2492 Haversham Close

Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Me. William A. Hearst         6/30/13

1004 Witch Point Trail

Virginia Beach, VA 23455-5634

Mr Kenneth D. Jobe             6/30/14

304 Croatan Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Mr. Arthur L. Jones               6/30/14

1109 Ditchley Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Ms. Patricia Keeley                6/30/12

1400 Powder Ridge Court

Virginia Beach, VA 23453-1809

Mr. Wesley B. Lane                6/30/12

526 Virginia Dare Drive

Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Mr. Brady S. Viccelio           6/30/12

616 Thalia Point Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Mr. Rodney Allen Voelker    6/30/12

1640 Grey Friars Chase

Virginia Beach, VA 23456-5433

Note: This list is available at www.vbgov.com  click on Government, then Agenda and Document Archives, click on edocs, then choose Beaches and Waterways Commission

Bayfront Advisory Committee: (current term expiration shown, but many renew)

Mr. Kal Kassir            6/30/13

2009 Alpine Road

VB 23451

Mr. James M. Arnhold    6/30/12

C/O H.A.V., Inc.

3780 Shore Drive

VB 23455/2966

Mr. Scott Ayers       6/30/12

C/O Leading Edge Realty

3149 Shore Drive #A

VB 23451-1129

Mr. Joseph Bovee      6/30/13

C/O HBA Architecture & Interior Design

One Columbus Center, Suite 1000

VB 23462

Mr. Norman W. Carrick   6/30/12

2410 Whaler Court

VB 23451

Mr. Charles Gee Faison Jr.  6/30/12

P. O. Box 5643

VB 23451

Mr. Fred Hazelwood IV   6/30/13

C/O First Landing State Park

2500 Shore Dr.

VB 23451

Vice-Mayor Louis R. Jones   6/30/12

1008 Witch Point Trail

VB 23455

Mr. Charles R. Malbon, Jr   6/30/12

2904 Gaines Landing

VB 23454

Mr. Joseph A. Miller          6/30/14

HBA Architecture and Interior Design

One Columbus Center, Suite 1000

VB 23462

Mr. Stacey S. Patrick        6/30/12

1417 Rutland Dr.

VB 23454

Mr. David S. Redmond   6/30/12

C/O Divaris Real Estate, Inc.

One Columbus Center, Suite 700

VB 23462-5760

Mr. Martin A. Thomas   6/30/15

Decker, Cardon, Thomas, Weintraub & Neskis, P.C.

109 East Main St., Suite 400

Norfolk, VA 23510

Mr. Robert Thornton    6/30/15

Thalhimer/Cushman & Walkfield

5700 Cleveland Street, Suite 400

VB 23462

Mr. James L. Wood   6/30/12

3778 Prince Andrew Lane

VB 23452

Note: This list can be found at www.vbgov.com   click on Government, then Agenda and Document Archives, click on edocs, then choose Bayfront Advisory Committee

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Updated: Sunday, 25 Mar 2012, 8:02 AM EDT Published : Saturday, 24 Mar 2012, 7:42 PM EDT