Bayfront Advisory Commission Update

The Bayfront Advisory Commission met on April 16th at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. City Staff presented the following updates:

• The Comprehensive Plan will be considered by the City Council on April 23rd.
• The Planning Department liaison Hank Morrison solicited input from the Design Committee regarding scope of work for the upcoming work on the new Shore Drive Guidelines
• Public Works Deputy Director Katie Shannon noted that a major shift in traffic for the Phase III project will come on April 20th. She responded to concerns about tree cutting by Dominion Power which proceeded this year without input from the COVB. This falls under the purview of the Parks and Recreation Dept. In regards to Phase IV, there have been amendments to the Preliminary Engineering Plan which will be briefed soon to the Dept of Public Works and the project will shortly move to 30% design.
• The footings for the new electronic signs for the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp are in place, sign to follow shortly. The signs will say ‘open’ or ‘full’.

Public Works Project Update Spreadsheet for April:

Committee Reports:

• Design and Project Outlook Committee Chair Joe Bovee reviewed the Shore Drive Condo project and led a discussion of the project with regard to the Shore Drive Design Guidelines followed. The project is likely to be on the June Planning Commission Agenda.
• Infrastructure Committee Chair Sandy Cohen attended a workshop on the Bikeshare Feasibility Study contributing to the discussion of local needs and priorities.
• Communication Committee Chair Morgan Ayers-Comegys related the the Shore Drive Business Coalition will meet Monday, April 20th. In addition, Westminster Canturbury will have an Open House for viewing the ships.
• Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Committee Chair Windy Crutchfield related that the weekly reports will resume May 1.
  

Project Briefing: Westminster Canterbury representatives gave a presentation on a plan to construct a parking garage. The plans were originally approved in 2008 but the project did not move forward. The change from the 2008 plan is an additional story: from two to three stories on the space where open parking lot is now. The goal is to provide enough parking so that surrounding neighborhoods will not be impacted: 346 more spaces. Tower expected finish is Nov. 2026. Noise mitigation: auger piles instead of driven/pounded piles and use of precast concrete.