The February General Membership Meeting proceeded on Zoom last Thursday. Thanks to all the members who are willing to wrestle with the technology to come together and keep the work of the civic league going! And hurray for all the folks who have joined in over these last 10 months! The continued involvement of the membership is crucial and appreciated. But we miss the fun of the social events and we look forward to their return and to seeing our neighbors again!

At the meeting on Thursday, the 2021 budget was introduced by Blake Norris and approved by the membership. Betty Demers summarized the bylaw updates that she and Paul Schubert have been working on: Bylaws Amendments Summary.docx. They will be voted on in the March meeting. Carly Swift gave a report on the meeting with the developers concerning the Marlin Bay Project: Report. Jill Doczi gave an overview of the situation with beach replenishment. Read the full minutes of the meeting for further details here: February 4 2021 Meeting Minutes

Thank you to those who have paid their 2021 dues! Send us your street address to get your cool car sticker for 2021: communication@opcl.org . To join OPCL for the first time or to renew your membership go to : Join OPCL

The lead photo this week comes from Ocean Park resident Grant Simmons who it turns out has a collection of vintage historic beach photos at vintagevirginiaphotos.com

Annual membership dues that support the civic league are due in January. Please consider using Paypal and joining or renewing your membership now. The new 2021 stickers will arrive shortly! Pay your dues and get a 2021 sticker. (as long as the supply holds out!)

How can you pay? Go to Join OPCL (even if you are renewing) and sign up to pay by Paypal. Or you can send a check to the PO Box. Here is the link: Join OPCL

On Tuesday January 19th, the City Council approved a Memoradum outlining next steps for beach replenishment for the bay beaches including Ocean Park.

Full memo: Approved Memo of Understanding with Virginia Port Authority for sand replenishment.pdf

Excerpt:

The first General Membership meeting of the new 2021 year kicked off on Thursday, January 14th on the Zoom platform. Danny Murphy took the helm in his first meeting as President. The meeting highlighted updates on STRs, Marlin Bay, and the LOVE sign as well as a preliminary look at the 2021 budget and By Laws Revision. Take a look at the draft minutes of the meeting: General Membership Meeting minutes-January 2021.docx

January is the BEST month to pay your dues or become a member of OPCL. The membership fee is still only $20 and if you pay or renew by PayPal in January you will help OPCL. Paying now in January and using electronic means helps the civic league know how much in dues is coming in and who are our members. Please consider using PayPal and renewing or starting your membership now at the beginning of the year.

Throughout these months of restrictions since last March, OPCL has continued to work hard to keep the community informed and take action on the community’s behalf on issues such as: STR Overlay Plan, Marlin Bay Development, PHP North, Marlin Bay Extension, Beach Replenishment, and Fireworks among others. Please support OPCL by renewing or joining now.

Ocean Park T-shirts and hoodies make great gifts and benefit the efforts of your Civic League at the same time!

These shirts and sweatshirts are awesome! T-shirts are $15 and hoodies are $40. The short sleeve cotton t-shirts colors are white, blue, gray and pink sizes S-XL. The sweatshirts are gray hoodies (no zipper) in sizes L-XL and a few 3X. To gauge sizes for children: the S size has chest measurement of 34 in. and is 24 in. long.

T-shirts are $15.00 and sweatshirts are $40.00. If you would like to buy a great shirt and support OPCL, click on the buy now button.

The Bayfront Advisory Commission heard a presentation about the Marlin Bay Apt. project at it’s regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19th. The meeting location had been changed to the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 5 1000 19th St. There was seating for 25 not counting staff and the Commission. Several Ocean Park residents spoke to the BAC during the comment time.

Here is the presentation that was shown on Thursday at the BAC meeting : Marlin Bay Marketing Brochure.pdf

After hearing the proposal presentation, the BAC commented on the proposal based on:

• Shore Drive Corridor Plan Shore Drive Corridor Plan.pdf
• Shore Drive Design Guidelines Shore Drive Design Guidelines.pdf

The BAC Design Committee raised a number of concerns with the proposed Marlin Bay development citing the height, massing and scale of the plan as not complying with the Shore Drive Design Guidelines and not being consistent with the Corridor Plan, as well as several other concerns. The committee reiterated that they see their role as providing advice and working with project applicants to find solutions. Mr. Peterson, representing the developer, said they would be willing to work with the BAC Design Committee.

This slides lists the developer’s reasoning for why the project should be approved:

Minutes from the meeting can be reviewed here: Nov 5 General Meeting-Minutes-draft.doc

The slate for the 2021 OPCL Board was presented to the membership for a vote.

• President: Danny Murphy “I am a native of Virginia Beach and longtime resident of Shore Drive. I graduated from both Virginia Wesleyan University and Old Dominion University. While I spent 20 years in corporate marketing, I’ve also owned several small businesses in the area including currently Gateaux Bakery & Cafe. I am serving my current term as Vice President of OPCL. My goals for the civic league are to improve safety, quality of life and reinforce the community spirit which binds our neighborhood.”

• Vice President: Andrea Lindemann “After 30 years of nomadic military life, we settled down in Ocean Park because it was everything we hoped to find in a community -the feeling of a real neighborhood and a beautiful beach. I’d like to help however I can to preserve this lovely unique place. I have been the Membership Chairperson for 2020, I am the Northside rep now and I work on the website. (I also have Ocean Park t-shirts and sweatshirts in my garage for sale!)”

• Secretary: Betty Demers “I have been a resident of Virginia Beach since 1976 and a resident of Ocean Park since 2012. My five sons and their families all live in Virginia Beach, so I am a very lucky grandmother! I am a retired educator, and I enjoy being involved in my community and currently serve as both OPCL Secretary and Chair of the Scholarship Committee. If elected, this would be my second full elected term in this position.”

• Treasurer: Blake Norris “I’ve been semi-retired since 2017. I’ve lived in Ocean Park for 5 years. I lived in Great Neck for 30 years. I have two grown and married children and we will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in April 2021. I have been OPCL Treasurer for 3+ years.”

• Northside Rep: Mary Noonan “I’ve lived in Virginia Beach for 21 years, and have been a resident of Ocean Park since 2016. I think we live in the most naturally beautiful neighborhood in the city and I’m interested in helping to keep it that way. If elected, this would be my first term in this position.”

• Southside Rep: Brian Snyder Brian Snyder lives in Ocean Park with his wife Jenny and son Creighton. You’ll see them outside year round enjoying the beach, Pleasure House Point, and surrounding trails with their dog Kona. Brian is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a partner at Clark Nexsen, working as a structural engineer and project manager.

• At Large Rep: Don Caskie: “I’ve lived in Ocean Park nine years and absolutely love living here! I feel fortunate and blessed, as I have the best neighbors one could ask for. Belonging to the OP Board gives me the opportunity to meet new people and make a difference in our neighborhood.”

• At Large Rep: Jill Doczi Jill Doczi writes and edits in public relations, marketing and journalism, in addition to organization project management for special events. She has started and run two farmers markets to further her mission of supporting local food producers and the availability of fresh food to the community. She also invests heavily in the Ocean Park neighborhood and surrounding area by volunteering as the fireworks chairperson for about a decade, previously writing, designing and editing the Ocean Park Echo newsletter for a decade and participating in civic league activities. She truly appreciates the majority of her neighbors and how lucky we are to live in this magical neighborhood by the bay. She has resided in Virginia Beach-her home since the end of high school-and has lived in two locations in Ocean Park since moving here just after college. She enjoys overseeing her postage stamp of property by the bay, while defending her “urban farmstead” from squirrels.

• Past President: Ryan Cochran “I’ve been a resident of Ocean Park for almost 4 years since moving from NC. I’ve been happy to serve as Vice President in 2019 and President during 2020. During a challenging year with COVID, I have ensured the league has continued with virtual meetings. Especially during a busy year with new Development Proposals and Short-Term Rentals. I plan to continue to represent and support Ocean Park as a Board member.”

Tuesday night at the City Council Meeting many Ocean Park residents spoke movingly and eloquently against the proposal for the STR Overlay District. The Council heard speaker after speaker from Ocean Park who were well informed and who brought out many important points about how this proposal would adversely affect our community. People told their personal stories and stressed the family orientation and close-knit neighborhood character of the community. Many speakers noted that this zoning change is being imposed on a community that is against the change and who fear the negative effects that will follow. A grateful shout out to all those who took the time to sign up to speak at the City Council Meeting both in person and virtually and to those who spoke up at the Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting where Mr. Jones and Mr. Wood were present.

Mr. Jones clearly heard these heartfelt concerns and moved to remove Ocean Park from the Proposal. This is a proud day for Ocean Park!