At the Bayfront Advisory Meeting on August 15, the commission formulated goals for the coming year and assessed progress made toward last year’s goals.

Discussion was wide ranging and included looking ahead to the update to the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and Design Guidelines for future development on Shore Drive. There was a clarification of form-based code which is currently in force at the Oceanfront but not in the Shore Drive Area. “Form-based codes foster predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form rather than separation of uses as the organizing principle. They address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks. The standards in form-based codes, presented in both diagrams and words, are keyed to a regulating plan that designates the appropriate form and scale (and therefore, character) of development rather than only distinctions in uses. 

This contrasts with conventional zoning’s focus on the micromanagement and segregation of land uses and the control of development intensity through abstract and uncoordinated parameters (such as floor area ratio, dwellings per acre, and minimum setbacks) to the neglect of an integrated built form. Form-based codes should not be confused with design guidelines or general statements of policy. These codes are mandatory, not advisory, and are adopted into law as regulations. “

The commission also heard a presentation by Deputy City Attorney, Rod Ingram about “Public Meetings and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act” .

Come find out! We are so pleased and excited to welcome the Virgina Aquarium and Marine Center Stranding Response team to our regular General Membership Meeting! Join us on August 8th at the Brock Center at 6:30 pm to see the exhibits followed by their program. Come have a cookie and a drink! We have seen several instances just this year of a seal or turtle in trouble on our beach come and find out how they are helped!

July Membership Meeting minutes

The planned 5:30 pm August 8 OP Baptist Church project informational meeting is cancelled. The main reason for the meeting was to review the expected staff planning report which would have been released on August 8 but is now moot with the request for an indefinite deferral of the project by the developer. When and if another proposal is advertised, the committee will be re-established. Thank you to all who shared their concerns and feedback on the proposal, and we believe the feedback from all the neighbors will result in the best outcome of the future use of the church site. Our regular membership meeting will occur as scheduled.

The DuBay family will request an indefinite deferral of the proposed project.

On Tuesday, July 30 the committee met to review the pros and cons of the proposed Ocean Park Baptist Church project. We are particularly grateful to subject area experts from the City of Virginia Beach who attended and patiently, professionally and knowledgeably answered questions about the project application for a Conditional Use Permit, Zoning Code as it applies to this project, and the draft Staff Planner report. Thank you to Elizabeth Novak (COVB Staff Planner for the project), Carrie Bookholt (Deputy Planning Director) and Kevin Kemp (Zoning Administrator). We are also grateful to District 8 Planning Commissioner Holly Cuellar who also attended to listen to residents’ concerns and answer questions about the role of the Planning Commission. There are strong views on this application both for and against. Notes from the meeting are available.

A very busy and chaotic weekend at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp: boat ramp parking full by mid morning resulting in turned away boaters and visitors. Boaters had to circle the neighborhood while waiting for an opening at the ramp and visitors parked wherever they found an inch in the Ocean Park narrow streets. Residents turned to the contact suggested in the letter from Councilman Joash Schulman: Virginia Beach Police Lieutenant Jackie Geluso only to find a dead end, on vacation? wrong number? Residents attempted to report the parking and traffic problems to the non emergency number and were transferred time after time. LBR staff said they didn’t report neighborhood traffic safety concerns because “they couldn’t get through”. That about sums it up: nobody can get through on the streets or on the phone.

District 9 City Councilman Joash Schulman has reached out with updates regarding the issues around the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. Here is his letter to the Ocean Park community.

“I know that the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp has been a topic of concern for the community, and as you are aware, I’ve been actively working with City staff on some solutions to help improve the situation. After convening with staff from multiple departments on the various issues we’ve encountered, I am providing you below with a synopsis of the actions taken to-date to help address the various concerns raised regarding the facility and its impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. In addition, please note at the bottom the request to have any future concerns directed to Lieutenant Geluso.“

“Regarding traffic concerns for the days/times when the boat parking lot fills, Parks and Recreation staff have taken great strides to mitigate the impacts both on the neighbors and visiting boaters. Staff will continue to close the parking lot when full, place signage and barricades and notify patrons that the lot is full, and they should exit the neighborhood back to Shore Drive. If it comes to the staff’s attention that boat/trailer traffic congestion is severely impacting the neighborhood, they will use best efforts to contact the nonemergency public safety line for assistance, but not at the expense of impacting their primary duties of managing traffic in and out of the facility itself. In the event that boat/trailer traffic is impacting the neighborhood, we would welcome and encourage neighbors to call the non-emergency public safety line as well, since our staff may not always be able to see what is going on outside of the facility, especially at peak times.”

“Moving forward, in an effort to streamline communication and ensure accurate and timely information is provided, we ask that any future concerns regarding operations or issues at the Lynnhaven Boat and Beach Facility be directed to Virginia Beach Police Lieutenant Jackie Geluso at JJGeluso@vbgov.com or 757-385-2775. The Lieutenant will serve as the central point person for the City with any future issues or concerns.”

Shout out to the neighbors and friends who have funded and worked so hard to improve the Tazewell Triangle! Their efforts have been going on for years- since 2018! They have taken on the city, who was less than responsive, and put in a lot of sweat equity! Hats off to them!! The Tazewell Triangle is now an official Adopt a Program!

Your $20 membership matters! Ocean Park Civic League works hard to put on fun activities throughout the year that bring our neighborhood together: Chili Cookoff, Spring Fling, Fall Fest, Easter Egg Hunt, Holiday Party, Movie Nights on the Beach, Wine tastings and there seems to always be something new! In addition, the civic league stays on top of issues and advocates for the neighborhood, gives out scholarships, supports Lynnhaven River Now and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Join or Renew today if you live in Ocean Park! Thank you!! Please support this organization if you live in Ocean Park: only $20 for 2024 membership in the Ocean Park Civic League.

Please stay tuned as there may be updates. Currently the planned Tuesday, July 30th committee meeting will go forward at OPVRS at 5:30 pm. (if you have not registered your interest in serving on the committee, email President Danny Murphy. ) An informational meeting for OPCL members will be on Thursday August 8th 5:30-6:30 pm (before the regular membership meeting) at the Brock Center to inform members who have not attended previous meetings.

The civic league will host meetings to review the rezoning ( from Residential to B1A Community Business) and Conditional Use Permit (Restricted to ‘ Assembly Use’) application for the proposed renovation/restoration of the Ocean Park Baptist Church. The objective is to assess the benefit to the community of the application based on facts and planning guidelines.

In addition there are public forums where residents can express their personal concerns and thoughts. Bayfront Advisory Commission Special Session (TBA). VB Planning Commission Wed. August 14th at noon in the City Hall Council Chambers.