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.

On Tuesday, July 30th the committee will meet 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.

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.

The BAC will review the application for a Re-Zoning and Conditional Use Permit for the Ocean Park Baptist Church property at a special session to be scheduled soon. The BAC has purview over considering the project in light of the Shore Drive Corridor Plan, Design Guidelines and the Comprehensive Plan and can make a recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council based on those parameters. The decision will be made by the City Council on whether to approve the zoning change and the CUP.

What are your top 3 concerns about development guidelines in Ocean Park? The BAC will take up this discussion and needs to hear from you! Email: communication@opcl.org

Shore Drive Corridor Plan

Shore Drive Design Guidelines

COVB Codes and Ordinances: Article 17 Shore Drive Overlay District

While the Shore Drive Corridor Plan and the Shore Drive Design Guidelines may be more familiar, the Urban Land Institute study that they were based on is also available. The study was done in 1997 and does contain outdated information. Several suggested developments: Waterman’s Walk, Fisherman’s Village did not prove viable.

“The questions the panel was asked to address were divided into four major topic areas: market potential, development and marketing strategies, planning and design and implementation. The panel was asked to evaluate potential development in the corridor and how these sectors differed from markets in the oceanfront resort area.” The Executive Summary shows that many of today’s issues were already clear then: “The absence of a vision results in unclear plans for the future and a tendency toward hodgepodge development patterns. The city has many of the tools necessary to implement a plan but in the absence of a clear vision it is hard to find the basis for consistent administrative action and strong political will, especially when pressures to accommodate narrow interests are significant. ” Issues listed for the west side of the bridge (Ocean Park) include: Density, Development Standards, Road and Parking Standards, Future development impact on wetlands.” In 30 years not much change.

The final recommendations called for the city to better control development by requiring compliance with environmental regulations , site design criteria and landscape and parking design regulations. The city “should use these tools aggressively to improve the overall quality of development in the area. The city has the capacity to better communicate with developers regarding design issues and show endeavor to work more closely with the development community to achieve better design outcomes. The Bayfront Advisory Board could be instrumental in this effort.” It draws a parallel between the powerful Resort Advisory Committee and the Bayfront Advisory.

As a part of the Comprehensive Plan update, the Shore Drive Corridor Plan will also be updated. The same consultant firm will address the Shore Drive part of the Comprehensive Plan later next year. In the coming months, the BAC will work toward laying a foundation for that work by reviewing the old plan: its vision, goals and purpose and welcomes input from residents. Many opportunities will be planned for public engagement. The Ocean Park community is invited to review the current guiding Shore Dr. documents included in this post and think about needed changes.

Comments: president@opcl.org

• Experts recommend never digging a hole deeper than the knee height of the shortest person in your group – with 2 feet being the maximum depth.
• When either the sand forming the hole dries out or someone stands near the edge of the hole, adding extra weight, the sand hole collapses in, and the heavy grains fill all open spaces in the hole. This leaves no air available for a trapped person to breathe.
• While skiers trapped in avalanches can cup their hands to form an air pocket because snow is light, but that’s not the case when sand collapses.

After much nail biting about the weather outlook for the July 6 Firework Show, our Fireworks Wizard Jill Doczi was again proven right- the only constant about our weather is its unpredictability! It was a beautiful show BEST EVER (we say that every year). The whole community joins in thanking Jill for all she does to make it happen: permits, barge/tug shopping, envelope distribution and paperwork paperwork paperwork! (see earlier post: What Does it Take-list too long!) . Thank you to all who helped stuff those mailbox flags: every street-every house; to the civic league for handling the money and getting the word out and to a wonderful audience who behave and clean up!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATE ! (it’s not too late!). This show is paid for one dollar at a time with contributions by so many- big and small! Thank you neighbors and visitors! Thank you also to Westminster-Canterbury on the Chesapeake Bay for their generous donation this year.

Thank you also to Virginia Beach Police Department for providing traffic safety to those crossing Shore Drive! Thank you to the Virginia Beach Special Events Office– Zack our new best friend!

Ocean Park showed its love for America and for our neighborhood in 4th of July holiday celebrations!

We started off with the Parade on the morning of the 4th of July! Thank you to all who joined in and all who cheered them on! Thank you to President Danny Murphy who wrangled the thorny permit issue. And to our Uncle Sam-Shane Abell directing traffic and our Lead Start car- Jill Doczi and her son and Zoe Ermen! Thank you to Lauren Harrington and her sons Ethan and Charlie who provided icy treats on a hot morning! Thank you to Kevin O’Hara, photographer extraordinaire, who took amazing photos of the parade and those who watched! Thank you to donors who helped fund the permit costs!

Please support this organization if you live in Ocean Park: only $20 for 2024 membership in the Ocean Park Civic League. Making the fireworks happen is one project every year (which is not put on solely by the civic league but it plays a key role). The Ocean Park Civic League works hard to put on fun activities throughout the year that bring our neighborhood together: Fireworks, 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 the issues affecting the neighborhood, gives out scholarships, supports Lynnhaven River Now and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Your $20 membership matters! Join or Renew today if you live in Ocean Park! Thank you!!