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

OPCL is always in need of and appreciative of donations.

What a great night at OPVRS for the Chili Cook Off and community social on Thursday, Feb. 8th. HUGE thanks to OPVRS for allowing us to use the space and to the small army of volunteers who made it happen from help with planning (that’s YOU Social Committee!), set up, silent auction, front table, clean up (whew!) and all the chefs and bakers who made such great food! Grateful shoutout to the Tidewater Bluegrass Society for creating the music! President Danny Murphy: “I was thinking the chili cookoff isn’t our biggest event, certainly not our most glamours event, but it is the one that truly feels like our community and celebrates its roots. Terrific job by everyone involved.”

The city has posted signs on the dunes asking the public to stay off the dunes.

Sec. 6-14. – Disturbing or removing structures, grass, etc., placed to catch sand for rebuilding dunes. It shall be unlawful and a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to disturb or remove any structure erected or maintained or any grass, vines, shrubbery or brush located within two hundred (200) feet of the shoreline of the city for the purpose of catching sand for rebuilding sand dunes.

The BAC monthly session on January 18th (there was no meeting in December) included some good news announcements. The temporary sidewalks for Shore Dr. have been recognized as part of Phase IV project and will be funded out of that pot of money which just got a boost from the infusion of funds from the sale of easements to Dominion Power. Jeremy White, Public Works, had no update on when the project would get started. Our lone bus route 35 will be funded to have 30 min. runs.

Chic’s Beach sand nourishment is planned for March to include 105,000 cubic yards of sand. The neighborhood has concerns about the sand quality.

The community’s continued and frustrated concerns about the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp were raised. Most recently in addition to illegal car racing, parking and other problems, now the street lights have been out for weeks with no action from Dominion Power. Given the illegal and unsafe activities at the LBR that go largely unchecked, the dark streets are not helping.

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Walter Camp, Chair of the Active Transportation Advisory Committee gave a very informative overview about the work of the advisory committee and the recent Site Tour where members of the Planning Commission, City Council and others visited Shore Dr. to view the conditions. He included a video of the Virginia Beach Trail. (we had some sound difficulties so you may want to see it again!) Here is a link to the ATAC page .

Andy Broyles narrated a presentation about the many problems at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. President Danny Murphy said that the civic league would like to convene a summit of all the principals: Parks and Rec; Police, Dept of Public Works in order to get concrete action before the season begins and the boat ramp gets busy again.