Some reminders about “golf carts” in our community. Although some communities in the area are designated golf cart communities, Ocean Park is not a designated or approved golf cart community. Because of this, to drive lawfully on the streets of Ocean Park vehicles must be street-legal electric vehicles as defined by state and city law. This means they must have all the vehicular requirements, be titled,registered with low-speed license plates from DMV and covered by minimum insurance requirements. They may only be operated by drivers with a valid license or learner’s permit and the driver must follow all the same rules of the road as a normal vehicle. (Virginia Beach Codes of Ordinance: Sec. 7: 65-68 ).
No motorized vehicles are allowed to drive on the beach except by specific written permission of the City Manager. A handicap placard from a car is NOT transferrable to allow driving on the beach. Virginia Beach Codes of Ordinance: Sec. 6-12.
The weather cooperated! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who made the event a success and neighbors for joining in! Thank you to Taste for great food! Thank you to Johnny Smallwood for great music!
Danny cuts the ribbon to open the event! Treasurer Shane and helper Michael keeping the books! Merc Magician Natalie and Raffle Queen Lauren make the sales! Johnny Smallwood and his mosh pit!
Recently some trees by the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp were cut down. OPCL President Danny Murphy asked the city for details.
Mike Parkman, Parks and Rec Supervisor for Park Events Programs and Special Use replied: “Those trees were initially damaged by vandalism. Someone cut into each of the two trees about 80% of the diameter. One of the two trees was purchased several years ago through our tree buddy program in memorial of a WWII veteran. Our Parks and Recreation tree crew came in and took them down afterward because they were now a safety issue. They are scheduled to be replaced soon, but I do not have a schedule for that.”
The 3rd Annual OPCL Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday was a great success! Thank you to the Easter Bunny for stopping by! Huge thank you to the volunteers who helped organize and make it work! Thank you to all our wonderful neighbors for coming out on a beautiful morning!
The Comp Plan guides development and investment across the city, and all Capital Improvements Program (CIP) projects and new land development projects are evaluated for consistency with the Comp Plan. Virginia Code requires all localities to prepare a formal document outlining planning policies designed to guide and manage future physical growth. The COVB is updating its Comprehensive Planand the process has included public meetings and public input. The plan does not have the force of Zoning Code but an update of the Zoning Ordinance will be undertaken after the adoption of the updated Comprehensive Plan.
We heard updates on upcoming events and meetings. 3rd Precinct Captain James Gordon, Parks and Rec Department Director Kirschman, and Community Liaison Officer Schonbach attended to answer questions about the problems at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp: disturbance of the peace by car clubs and ongoing traffic/ safety problems with boat trailers.
Since the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp incident with large speeding car rally and very large crowd of spectators on Sunday, March 30 VBPD has been working to investigate and capture information on who was there that night and investigate further. They have been reviewing all of the video evidence to identify as many people as possible and are following up on any leads in order to charge individuals if they can prove illegal activity. The investigation continues.
3rd Precinct Capt. Gordon
VBPD Actions Moving forward:
Instituted extra patrol checks in the area, Hotspot checks have increased.
Officers are encouraged (especially after hours officers)to sit at the boat ramp when doing things like paperwork.
Special ops and traffic safety has a special patrol that they host at midnight. The patrol musters around 930, and sporadically, will muster in the boat ramp parking lot. If you see them, you are welcome to come out and join, share concerns.
Citations could include reckless driving, endangerment, destruction of property
Car clubs are a national trend unfortunately. VBPD is aware of it and monitoring social media for the coordinated efforts of the club.
Parks and Rec Department Actions Moving Forward
The community is asking for Clearer Regulations and Signage for boaters and traffic
“Staff is working to place portable digital signage on Shore Drive to alert drivers on when the parking lot is full in hopes of reducing traffic congestion in and around the area. “
The community is asking for increased monitoring and patrols.
“Parks and Recreation will increase staffing at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp for the summer season.”
· April 11 – May 1: 6am – 8pm
· May 2 – May 22: 5:30am – 8:30pm
· May 23 – Sept 4: 5:30am – 9pm
· Sept 5 – Sept 18: 6am – 8pm
· Sept 19 – Nov 2: 6:30am – 7:30pm
· Nov 3 – Dec 31: 6:30am – 5:30pm “
In answer to questions posed at the meeting:
Parks and Recreation Director Kirschman thinks that closing the area to one group (beachgoers for example) but leaving it open for others (fishermen/ boaters) would cause more problems. If for example it remained open only for fishing after hours.
The city beaches are by code open 24/7 unlike many parks in the city which close at dusk.
It was a very cool windy morning! Huge THANK YOU to Mary Faust for organizing despite the weather! Thank you to the hardy souls who came to help! Next clean up MAY 17th!!
Jillian and Holden HoweOPCL President Danny Murphy and organizer Mary FaustMark Faust
On Saturday from 9-12 May 17 ! Meet at the trailhead on Marlin Bay Drive– look for the sign! Organizer Mary Faust will have her delicious warm cornbread and chocolate muffins waiting for you! Come help clean up- gloves, grabbers and trash bags provided! Stroll around the nature area and snag some trash!
Ocean Park Civic League 