Residents and Neighbors heard some important and interesting updates at the well attended March 7 OPCL meeting at the Brock Center:

Councilman Joash Schulman announced that the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp would be gated at night as a temporary solution to the “public safety hazard” that has been an ongoing concern. He asked the City Manager to instruct the Parks and Rec Dept to proceed to close the gate at night. He noted that there were logistics that must be worked through including addressing the concerns of the boating community. He said he was happy to talk about any concerns and promised a “robust engagement with stakeholders” adding that “public safety is #1”. He urged people to call him directly with concerns. jschulman@vbgov.com 757-840-1291.

Officer Schonbach, VBPD Public Liaison, also provided some interesting information in his update about the LBR. In response to residents’ complaint that calling about activity at the LBR entailed a long phone interrogation, he said that callers do not need to stay on the phone. Operators are trained to get as much information as possible and will continue to ask questions as long as a caller will answer. He advised callers to say that there is a disturbance involving reckless driving (or whatever) and an officer needs to check it out and then to say “I’m sorry I can’t stay on the phone.”

Officer Schonbach also detailed the drawbacks of the newly installed cameras. Police can’t give a ticket to a car: they must be able to identify the driver. Coming soon is a Realtime Crime Center which could pull up live feed of a camera IF there is a call for service. The police do not have the manpower to monitor all the city cameras 24/7.

Officer Schonbach addressed some misconceptions about which violations are chargeable on the LBR property which is city property that is open to the public. Some violations like running a stop sign can only be charged on a city street. BUT reckless driving is absolutely enforceable.

Derek Dubay presented plans to preserve and restore the historic Ocean Park Baptist Church. His father and he have restored properties in Chic’s Beach (in slide presentation) and have a record of responsibly restoring old buildings. Derek described the Ocean Park church built in 1949 as having details such as 6 over 6 windows and woodwork that make it appealing. He has already talked to many city departments about the project: Planning and Zoning and has had a very positive response from the city. A zoning change to B-2 with conditional use restricted to assembly use is required. In response to questions, Derek gave some further details. The capacity of the church is 125-130. He will work on cross parking permits with Bucketheads. Currently there are 35 parking places and 70 would be required. A shuttle could be run from their offices a short distance away for additional parking. Care would be taken to ensure the live oaks on the property would be preserved.

Derek mentioned that the immediate area of the church is also unusual because it is one of few intersections in the city where all four corners have original buildings standing. He is pursuing inclusion on the local historical register. He described the passion he shares with his father for saving old buildings of which we have few in Virginia Beach in general and not too many in Ocean Park. Comments and questions are welcome! president@opcl.org

Guests enjoyed a wonderful time at the Brock Center on Sunday at the first ever Wine Tasting presented by our neighbor and professional sommelier Tina Morey. Tina showcased natural wines and delighted her audience with her humor and very informative commentary on biodynamic wine, organic wine, orange wine and Pet-nat sparkling wine. Wines from Oregon, the Loire Valley in France, Austria and California made up the program were accompanied by a beautiful charcuterie array to stimulate senses.

In 2024 the Ocean Park Civic League marks the 80 year anniversary since its founding on Nov. 28, 1944. As a part of this celebration, we would like to continue the work of The Ocean Park Story: a soft cover book published in 2015 by a committee headed by Nadine Isaac Hook Costenbader after five years of work piecing together the history of Ocean Park with articles, documents, photographs and oral history from residents and descendants.

There are more pieces of the puzzle out there! We would like to include more stories! The plan is to include new chapters in an addendum to the book and republish an anniversary edition. If you or your family have information, documentation, memories, photographs or are interested in working on the project: please contact communication@opcl.org. We are planning to meet up soon- get on the email list! Talk to your neighbors!

The Louise and George Lyon Memorial Scholarship for high school seniors in Virginia Beach is open for applications until March 31! While special consideration is given to Ocean Park residents, the scholarship is open to any qualified resident of Virginia Beach. The scholarship award is $1000 @year and can be awarded for up to four years to students who remain eligible. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2024. Applications should be mailed to OPCL Scholarship/ PO Box 55385/ Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Here is the link to the application: OPCL.org/scholarships.

Over the past few months, we have been working with members of the Lyon family who expressed interest in starting a second scholarship for graduating high school seniors.  Susan Lyon, George Lyon, Jr., and Ann Lyon Ackiss have provided funding and guidelines for the Lyon Family Scholarship offered for the first time this year. They have asked the OPCL Scholarship Committee to administer the scholarship. While similar in its focus to the original scholarship, there is an added emphasis on community and volunteer activities.   We are grateful to the Lyon family for creating this opportunity and are pleased to partner with them in the review of applications and award of the scholarship this spring.  

The few new Ocean Park sunset design hoodies and crewneck sweatshirts that remain are available at BeachBuilt on Shore Dr. next to Froggies! Stop in to see all their great things and pick up an Ocean Park sunset hoodie ($45) tshirt ($25) or live oak design long sleeve tshirt ($25). (all proceeds go to the civic league). Thank you to Beach Built for generously sharing your space!

Why are Ocean Park residents upset about how the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp is managed? What’s going on?

Problem #1.

Since approximately 2021 car clubs and sport bike groups have congregated in the boat ramp parking lot and used the area to stage racing activities late in the night waking residents in Ocean Park and all along Shore Dr. with disturbance from excessive loud racing engines. In July of 2023 a car drove up and shot into the crowd wounding two. The case remains unsolved. Residents have contacted 3rd Precinct Captain Guevara, Parks and Rec Dept. Director Michael Kirschman and City Councilman Joash Schulman. President Danny Murphy and many residents have contacted and worked with these department heads who have appeared before the civic league. Car Racing Video.

Attempted Solutions: Police have told residents to call the non-emergency number so that incidents can be documented. Over the years, residents have repeatedly made reports and shared pictures and videos of incidents in progress. These meetups often occur late at night, so providing this evidence has required great effort on the part of OP residents. One resident who has spent a lot of time working with the city on this describes how effective this solution has proven: “As far as calling, I’m tired of it.  You sit on hold for so long and then you seriously have 20 or more questions to answer – it takes forever.  All the calls I’ve made, the pictures and videos I’ve taken AND given to the police (with license plates) has done nothing to help.  When I asked the   Captain what they did with the video I provided to them (the one that ruined my evening plans with my grandson and took 3 hours of my time) he didn’t even know what I was talking about – said he’d get back to us, but he didn’t .”

In August temporary cameras were installed and Mr. Kirchman stated: “Police have access to the video”. But more incidents followed in December and January 3. Permanent cameras have now been installed January 2024. How have cameras helped?

How often does this go on? Racing was documented with videos posted on these dates: July 28, Aug 12 2022. In 2023 April 4, April 10, April 11, April 12, June 19, June 20, June 22, Oct. 6, Oct 22, Nov. 11, Dec. In 2024 so far Jan. 3, March 1 and 2. Many posts have been taken down so there were many more incidents.

Problem #2 Ocean Park’s neighborhood was not designed to accommodate traffic overflow from the LBR.

This results in traffic gridlock, blocked driveways, damaged property and unsafe conditions. Due to poor signage and poor direction from P & R employees, those turned away from the LBR must attempt to navigate out of the neighborhood on their own. They frequently attempt to turn around at unsafe intersections including the Tazewell Triangle in an attempt to get in line for the entrance to the LBR. this results in further gridlock, blocked driveways and damage to the Adopt-a-Spot, to which neighbors have donated substantial time and money. The streets around the LBR are not adequate to support this volume of traffic, especially considering the size of many of these vehicles towing boats and trailers. More available parking for boaters at the LBR, better direction for and by Parks and Rec employees and better signage could improve conditions.

The problems at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp will be on the agenda at the Ocean Park Civic League Meeting on Thursday, March 7 at the Brock Center 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. Councilman Joash Schulman will attend.

Pay your 2024 Ocean Park Civic League $20 dues and get your 2024 Membership Sticker! You can pay now online and we’ll put it in your mailbox or pay at the next OPCL meeting March 7! We only ordered 100 this year so get yours early! Questions about your membership? Email:membership@opcl.org .

Ocean Park Civic League Exclusive Wine Tasting at the Brock Environmental Center Sunday, March 10th,  4-5:30 pm, for $40 per person. Open to OPCL members (2024 dues paid). This reservation-only event is sponsored and conducted by our neighbor Tina Morey, a certified sommelier from East Beach’s Crystal Palate Wine & Gourmet. We are full for this event but you can get a spot on the waiting list. Tasting@opcl.org.

The Bayfront Advisory Commission met at OPVRS on Thursday, Feb. 15 for their regular meeting. Some updates from that meeting:

• Funds have been encumbered for the planned temporary sidewalks on Shore Drive. Real Estate acquisitions and private utility relocation are underway. Construction is expected to begin October 2025 and be completed April 2026
• Lights at Lynnhaven boat ramp: an expedited permit has been approved for the underground cable repair. Work should begin next week or two.
• Chic’s Beach Sand Nourishment: 105,000 cubic yards of sand $1.7 million. Project will take 4-8 weeks. First project was 7 years ago, 350,000 cubic yards of sand- “less sand is typical for renourishment process.” USACE is forecasting a solicitation as early as the end of February. Contract award expected in April with an NTP in May. These dates are subject to change if the solicitation is not posted by the end of the month
• Jeremy Kline from Public Works reports: “There is not planning to pursue a SS4A grant for either Shore Drive Phase III or IV. Shore Drive Phase III (East of Lester Bridge) is close to a construction start and is currently only funded with state and local funding. Adding federal funds to this project at this late stage would require us to delay the project while federal provisions, such at NEPA, were completed. The Shore Drive Phase IV project does not meet the SS4A timeframe to expend the funds. It is not far enough along at this point (sarcastic remark deleted). Additionally, we are unsure at this point if we want federalize the SD Phase IV (West of Lesser, Ocean Park) project. “
• Comprehensive Plan: next public meetings will begin in mid May and include 6 meetings around the city (previously 4 were planned)
• Rt 35 bus route approved to begin May 12 to run every 30 min. instead of every hour.

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, vision, goals and purpose and welcomes input from residents. Many opportunities will be planned for public engagement.

Shore Drive Corridor Plan

Shore Drive Design Guidelines

ULI Study

Comments: president@opcl.org