LBR Data for Recent Weekends
This data comes from Michael Parkman, Parks and Rec Supervisor.
Friday, June 13 – 91 total launches, car parking did not fill. The overflow was used for 2 vehicles with trailers.
Saturday, June 14– 135 total launches, car parking was full from 10:45 am until around 5:45pm. The overflow was used for 3 vehicles with trailers.
Sunday, June 15– 75 total launches, car parking was full from 1:30pm-3:00pm. The overflow was used for 3 vehicles with trailers.
- At no point during this weekend did we have to close access to the facility.
- Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed about 10-15 cars in the parking lot closest to the bridge until around 11pm on Friday night. Saturday night was a bit slower overall after hours. Police real time crime took control of cameras around 2-3am Saturday morning. Appeared to be watching a small group of individuals milling around their cars.
Friday, May 30 – 93 total launches, car parking did not fill.
Saturday, May 31 – 189 total launches, car parking was full from 11 am until around 5:45pm. The overflow was used for about 48 vehicles with trailers.
Sunday, June 1– 59 total launches, car parking did not fill.
- At no point during this weekend did we have to close access to the facility.
- Saturday was a very busy day not only with launches but also lots of beachgoers. Staff did receive a complaint from a couple citizens on the beach about loud “inappropriate” music coming from a specific group on the other side of the bridge from the boat ramp property. Staff investigated but found the group to be very large and did not feel safe approaching them. Staff did advise the citizens that complained to also call police non-emergency if it continued to be an issue.
- Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed about 20-25 cars in the parking lot closest to the bridge between 9:30pm and 12am Friday and Saturday nights. All these cars were parked legally and there were very few people milling around the lot during this time. My assumption is that people were on the beach.
Ocean Park Baptist Church Update
Following community discussions last summer about this historic building in Ocean Park, the developer has redesigned their plans for the Ocean Park Baptist Church and surrounding property. The new plan was discussed at the June meeting. The civic league routinely does not get involved with residential variance requests, nor has it been involved in the past since 2014 when the civic league voted to discontinue the practice. The civic league is reticent to take sides between neighbors.
Plan for the Church:
- The Church built in 1949 will stay in its original footprint and is non-conforming.
- The Church building was built too close to the property lines and outside of the current setback requirements.
- 2 variances being requested from the city are for those corners so the building can remain as it is today.
- The Church building’s back corner was built over a lot line and will have to be removed.
- Since this corner will be demolished and rebuilt, a setback variance is being requested from 10 feet to 5 feet so as much of the church building can be saved as possible.
- Lot coverage will be decreased because of the removal of this corner.
- No Parking Variance is being requested for the entire property. The church property contains 4 onsite parking spaces for the church conversion into a duplex.
- No Live Oak Trees will be removed.
Plan for the new duplexes being built:
- The current cinder block Gymnasium sits on two lots and will be demolished for new construction. The asphalt parking lot will be removed. There are no live oaks on these lots.
- Both duplex zoned lots are currently non-conforming in size.
- They are less than 50ft wide, are irregular shaped and are 40% smaller than any other given duplex lot in Ocean Park.
- 2 floor area variances are being requested.
- No set back variances are being requested for these duplex properties.
- Lot coverage will decrease from its current coverage, lot 7 will decrease from 41% to 32%.
- Lot 7 floor area variance is for 193 square feet (209%)
- Lot 8 floor area variance is for 366 square feet (219%)
- Lot 8 is currently 300 square feet smaller in size than Lot 7 which is why the floor area variance is larger.
Letters in regard to the requests for variances can be sent to bza@vbgov.com.
June Civic League Meeting Highlights
Thank you to Ocean Park Rescue Squad for hosting our June meeting! Here are some highlights:
- Officer Schoenbach updated us on the safety and crime in Ocean Park. Over the Memorial Day Holiday 160 parking citations were issued!
- District 9 Councilman Joash Schulman spoke about the various projects: PHP Wetlands restoration, the coming sidewalks as part of the Phase IV Shore Dr. CIP and answered many questions and concerns from the audience.
- The resolution supporting preservation in the Pleasure House Point area was passed by the membership.
- Many updates on the July 6th fireworks and the July 4th neighborhood parade, mural, PHP Cleanup!
Join us 💥tonight Thursday, June 5th at OPVRS🚑 or also on ZOOM! ( NOT at Brock.. see you at the Rescue Squad!🚑)
The June 5th Ocean Park Civic League General Meeting will be held at the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad on Shore Drive at 7:00 pm. The agenda includes updates from Councilman Joash Schulman and on other ongoing issues and civic league activities.
Zoom link for Thursday’s meeting.
Resolution to Expand the Pleasure House Point Natural Area
Whereas the Pleasure House Point area provides a durable and resilient natural separation between Crab Creek and the developed areas of Ocean Park. Virginia Beach is at risk from more frequent recurring flooding due to the effects of sea level rise. While the City is evaluating flood mitigating infrastructure projects that could actively reduce the risk of flooding in Ocean Park, Ocean Park’s current flood risk can be best maintained by continuing to preserve the Pleasure House Point Natural Area. Pleasure House Point Natural Area is a vital environmental asset and community resource for the city of Virginia Beach. Environmentally, its expansive tidal wetlands contribute to the biodiversity and health of the ecosystem by providing habitat for numerous birds, fish, and other wildlife, including species of conservation concern. These wetlands naturally filter pollutants, improving water quality in the Lynnhaven River and the Chesapeake Bay watersheds. It offers natural flood protection by absorbing stormwater and tidal surges, which is crucial in safeguarding nearby neighborhoods and infrastructure from stormwater flooding and sea level rise, thereby protecting the community. For visitors and residents, Pleasure House Point offers substantial open space and canopy trees, allowing for a variety of recreational opportunities, including nature observation, fishing, and birdwatching. Privately held properties adjacent to Pleasure House Point Natural Area are essential for protecting its ecological value and public benefits.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Ocean Park Civic League encourages city, state, and federal agencies to prioritize the voluntary conservation of properties adjacent to Pleasure House Point Natural Area. Supports efforts by conservation groups and philanthropists to acquire land or secure conservation easements through incentives and partnerships. Invites property owners to consider voluntary conservation agreements, such as easements or restoration projects, while fully respecting their development rights. Recommends using tax incentives and grant programs to make conservation attractive and feasible.
The Story Behind the Ocean Park 🎆Fireworks: Part 1! 2025 Fireworks on 🇺🇸July 6th at 9:15🎇
Please donate! Jill Doczi tells the story of how our fireworks show came about:
In the past, neighbors celebrated the day of our nation’s independence starting at sundown and continuing into the early morning hours with their own fireworks on the beaches. From Little Creek Amphibious Base to First Landing State Park, we had a stunning array of light and sound from everything between small sparklers and thousands-of-dollars mini-shows, all illegal, but impressive as a whole for a community.
Over the years, the word spread, and people from outside the community flocked to participate. Sometimes those people showed up a little under-the-influence, excited to share their self-taught pyrotechnic skills. Sometimes they didn’t care as much about the safety of neighbors and sometimes they didn’t have the skills they thought they did — resulting errant shots into dry dune grass, onto roofs and into crowds. Hundreds of fireworks shooting in all directions up and down the beach did start to resemble a war movie.
In 2009, we experienced the Great Fireworks Crackdown. Due to some serious safety issues from the previous year, the city launched a very militant effort to stop the illegal use of fireworks on the Fourth of July along the Shore Drive beaches. In addition to increased beach patrols, they staged police and fire marshal staff at every access entrance. They checked coolers, bags and buggies for explosives and meted out severe penalties. It worked. Fireworks celebrations of Independence Day appeared to have ended on our beaches.
The community realized that maybe it had gotten out-of-hand and unsafe, but we weren’t willing to give up the tradition. How could we celebrate our country in the same patriotic way that centuries of Americans before us have, while not setting each other and our neighborhoods on fire?
In 2010, our then civic league president, Rick Mercadante, proposed we raise funds for a professional show. The city agreed. Word-of-mouth and a loan from the civic league launched our first authorized fireworks show in July 2010.
Updates from May 15th Bayfront Advisory Commission Meeting
- Beach Operations Bureau briefed on preparations for 2025 Beach Season. Residential beaches like Ocean Park are cleaned about 3 times a year. For most beach cleaning they start at 2:30 am and use spotters and bright headlights to prevent accidents with people.
- Shore Drive Phase III ( from First Landing to Lesser, east side of the bridge only) Update
- Public Works Bayfront CIP Tracker Spreadsheet (see below- updated info in red)
- “Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Presentation” by Student Member Aubrey Moore made a strong case for the importance of tree canopy in managing storm water.
- Commissioners voted to establish an ad hoc Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Committee to contribute to efforts to solve the issues of congestion and illegal activities that negatively impact the Ocean Park and Shore Drive community.
- Next BAC meeting will be on Monday, June 16th at 3:30 pm at OPVRS (normal meeting day June 19th is a holiday).
What’s the Story with Golf Carts in Ocean Park?
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.
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 ).
A Sea of Grass! Stay off the Dunes!
Coastal Transplants has installed sand fences and planted American Beach Grass on the dunes. Sea Oats have now also been planted on the crest of the dunes. “Please Stay Off the Dunes “ signs remind beach goers to leave the grass and dunes undisturbed. Let’s give the grass a chance to get established!
