School is in session! A gentle reminder to be on the lookout for kids and buses. We wish all our students, teachers, staff and parents a wonderful year!
LBR Report August 8-10
During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):
“This past weekend August 8-10 was comparatively slower overall to our higher attended weekends this summer. Again, there were small craft advisories for most of the weekend and it very windy each of the days. We had a total of 320 launches over the 3 days:
Friday, August 8 – 34 total launches, car parking did not fill up there was available parking throughout the day. The overflow lot was not used. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.
Saturday, August 9 – 137 total launches, car parking filled around 10:55am and was busy the remainder of the day. The overflow was not used. Barricade operations were not needed.
Sunday, August 10 – 149 total launches, car parking was full from 10:30am-6:30pm. The overflow was used for 15 vehicles. Barricade operations were not needed.
Incidents to report:
- Captain Gordon reported that on Thursday, August 7 the midnight shift officers held their muster meeting at the boat ramp.
- Staff reported that they spoke to several of the party barge captains to explain and reinforce getting their passengers loaded and unloaded quicker and not to tie up the docks while waiting. All were compliant.
- On Sunday afternoon we had a boat breakdown on Ramp #4 which slowed launching and recovery operations down for a short period.
- Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed limited car traffic after hours. Police Real Time Crime Center was seen monitoring the cameras during the overnight. Security is doing a great job of keeping cars out of the trailer lot and checking the front lots as requested.
- Staff have reported one of the Dominion Power lights in the parking lot is out. We have submitted a work order to have it looked at.
Additional information:
- The purchase orders for digital real-time Full/Open signs for the boat ramp have been received and the signs are on order. Delivery and install TBA.
August Meeting: Updates and Marlin Bay Extension Development
At the August 7 Ocean Park Civic League Meeting, President Danny Murphy shared the latest update on the proposed subdivision development within our neighborhood. The Marlin Bay Extension (different from the Marlin Bay multistory building project on Shore Drive- nothing new on that) is currently under review by the Planning Department. The project includes 26 units- 12 duplexes and 2 single family houses located near Pleasure House Point. The project is in the early stages of review and we will continue to monitor it and provide updates. President Danny Murphy secured an assurance from the Planning Department that as the project progresses, staff will be open to attending a civic league meeting to present.
Guest Speakers at the August Ocean Civic League Meeting
On Thursday, August 7th, 3rd Precinct Captain James Gordon and Virginia Beach Marine Police Supervisor Sgt. Brian Ricardo presented at our monthly meeting. We thank Capt. Gordon and Sgt. Ricardo for taking the time to speak to our neighbors. We also want to thank you -our neighbors -for sending in thoughtful questions and engaging in an informative discussion with law enforcement on these critical issues. Safety along our shorelines, at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and on our neighborhood streets is an ongoing issue and we value effective partnerships to make improvements.
Full meeting minutes will be published here however we’ve noted a few highlights below:
Capt. Gordon detailed the officers’ response on the July 26th evening incident when a large crowd gathered on the Ocean Park Beach. He underscored that while there was evidence of cannibis and alchohol, the officers must witness actionable offenses which they did not.
He responded to a question about a picture that was posted on social media of a person in handcuffs supposedly at the July 26 incident. He said that that picture is not related and he doesn’t know where it is from.
When asked what additional strategies were in the works, relayed that he had just toured the LBR site with the City Attorney to talk about getting additional signage warning visitors that they are under surveillance in hopes of providing an additional deterrent through that awareness of the cameras in operation. Signs emphasizing pay parking rules were also discussed.
While the VBPD 3rd Precinct have been working closely with us to keep us informed and aware, Sgt. Brian Ricardo from the Virginia Beach Marine Police was a first time visitor and he brought lots of new information.
- The Marine Police have a vast area to patrol: 40 miles of Atlantic Beaches from the North End to Sandbridge, 20 miles of Bay Beaches, 17 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Lynnhaven, ponds, Broad Bay and more. For this they have 8 officers. Four officers and two boats by us and 3 officers at Rudee Inlet. (one officer is retiring and won’t be replaced).
- All officers have collateral duties in addition to patrolling the waterways.( a recent example: recovery of a child drowning victim in a pond). The training to be a VBPD Marine Officer is arduous. It takes 6 months to qualify and train on all vessels. All VBMP officers have earned US Coast Guard Captain’s Licenses which is not the case in nearby jurisdictions.
- The main concern expressed by neighbors is that they wish to see more enforcement by the VBMP. However VBMP must have probable cause to interdict so that means they must first see a violation of state code (wake zone violation, littering) before they are allowed to conduct a safety inspection (life jackets for all, fire extinguishers). They have no jurisdiction over charter boat activity.
- We had many who asked about the unsafe behavior of jet skis and boats coming very close to swimmers on the bay beaches. Sgt Ricardo explained that some time ago the restrictions on jet skis and boats that are in force at the Oceanfront were taken away through the efforts of a state legislator who lives on the Lynnhaven Inlet. The VBMP can only enforce a violation of reckless operation next to a swimmer rather than limits on how close to shore they can come.
- Coast Guard stationed at Little Creek who need hours to maintain certifications join VBMP operations especially on holiday weekends. They have broader powers to enforce federal laws and to terminate a voyage.
We thank our guest speakers and the VBPD for their ongoing engagement with our community.
Here are the slides from the August 7 meeting:
Thursday August 7th Meeting!
Come have a cookie and a cool drink on Thursday, August 7, at 7 pm at the Brock Center. We will have updates on various topics: McLeskey developments and upcoming events. We have invited Captain Gordon, 3rd Precinct Capt. and Sergeant Ricardo of the VBPD Marine Patrol. We have asked Capt. Gordon for an overview of the VBPD Coordination with the newly implemented nightly security, along with the procedures and timeline of the past weekend’s events. We have asked Sgt. Ricardo for a summary of the VBPD Marine Patrol’s purview and an overview of other boating enforcement agencies’ responsibilities with reference to on-water boating operation and behavior. Capt. Gordon responded that he has rearranged his schedule in order to attend our meeting. Sgt. Ricardo will also join us. We look forward to their information and appreciate their willingness to give their time in an evening event.
President Danny Murphy outlines the plan for the meeting: To ensure a productive and civil dialogue, we plan to implement some guidelines for discussion. Attendees are asked to submit their questions in writing by THURSDAY NOON. Questions received will be provided to speaker in advance to ensure thoughtful responses. This does not mean follow up or additional questions can’t be asked should time allow, but rather it increases the ability of the speaker to gather resources in order to answer the questions from the members. Questions can be emailed to president@opcl.org.
You can also join the meeting on Zoom: Register here!
LBR Report: July 25-27
During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):
Friday, July 25 – 113 total launches, car parking did fill up around 3:15pmand was steady most of the day. The overflow lot was used for 6 trailers. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.
Saturday, July 26 – 247 total launches, car parking was full from 9:15 am until after 9pm (see below for large gathering and influx of cars). The overflow was used for 59 vehicles with trailers. Barricade operations were not needed.
Sunday, July 27 – 169 total launches, car parking was full from 10:10am – 4:30pm. The overflow was used for 30 vehicles. Barricade operations were not needed.
Incidents to report:
- Approximately, 5pm on Saturday, police were onsite and wrote two parking tickets for people illegally parked in the parking lot turnaround area. A third vehicle was ticketed for parking on/blocking the sidewalk.
- On Saturday evening, at approximately 9:30 PM, a large number of individuals began to park at the Lynnhaven boat ramp and gather on the beach. Security and Police personnel were onsite at that time. Per security and police, the students were largely engaged in socializing and enjoying the beach environment. The officers communicated to the attendees that it was approaching curfew and advised them to disperse by 11:00 PM. By approximately 10:30 to 10:45 PM, the crowd amicably dispersed without any incidents or legal violations noted.
- Later that evening, at 11:40 PM, the Garda World security person reported a dispute involving a father and daughter, which prompted officers to respond to address a potential domestic situation at that location.
- On Sunday, the VBPD Marine patrol unit towed in a derelict boat and placed it on the spoil site for removal later by Public Works.
- Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed heavy car traffic after hours until after midnight Friday and Saturday night but no visible loitering in the parking lots. Police were onsite Saturday night/ Sunday morning for periods of time between midnight and 4am.
- Garda Security personnel continue to be a real asset to our operation. They have been very engaging with users and have done a tremendous job keeping cars out of the trailer lot after hours, which in turn has seen the elimination of cars doing donuts, etc. in those lots over the last few weeks.
- Parking Enforcement –I will send these numbers as soon as possible.
During my weekly debrief with Emergency Management and Garda World I found out that the city also has a roaming Garda World security person that works overnight. It was decided that that roving person would also begin visiting the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp during his rounds between the hours of 2am and 7am. They will also act as a second guard on Friday and Saturday nights for short shifts between 11-1 to assist with current security personnel onsite.
Planning Commission Discusses Comp Plan Tonight
The Planning Commission meets this evening to discuss a long-awaited update to the city’s comprehensive land-use plan. It was last revised in 2016, and the update will likely be followed by a rewrite of Zoning Code. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council who must adopt any revision to the comprehensive plan. This latest draft version is from July 15, and at today’s workshop commissioners will discuss revisions with Planning Department staff and the consulting firm representatives.
The Virginia Beach Planning Commission workshop on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Center, 2416 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, Building 19, Room A. The workshop is open to the public, who may observe the discussion.
Here is the link to watch on Webex:
https://virginiabeach.gov/connect/events/planning-commission-special-meeting/
Saturday, July 26 Ocean Park Incident
On Saturday, July 26th there was a large gathering on the Ocean Park beach near the Lesner Bridge with many people and cars in the parking lot at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp. On Sunday afternoon, July 27th, OPCL President Danny Murphy sent a request for information to the 3rd Precinct Captain Gordon. This is the response from VBPD and the City Manager’s Office.
“On Saturday evening, at approximately 9:30 PM, a large number of individuals began to park at the Lynnhaven boat ramp and gather on the beach. By 10:00 PM, a concerned citizen reached out to report the event, expressing concerns about the crowd size and the presence of a limited security team. Security personnel confirmed the size of the gathering but indicated that no violations were occurring at that time. Evening shift officers were promptly dispatched to the location to assess the situation. Notably, one responding officer, serving as a School Resource Officer, recognized several attendees as students from the local high school. The estimated attendance was between 100 to 150 teenagers. It appeared that this gathering was not a formal promoted event but rather a spontaneous assembly facilitated through word of mouth among students.“
“Officers conducted a thorough walk-through of the crowd and did not observe any alcohol, narcotics, or other illegal activities. The students were largely engaged in socializing and enjoying the beach environment. To ensure a peaceful atmosphere, additional midnight officers were deployed to reinforce the evening shift due to the number of attendees. The officers communicated to the attendees that it was approaching curfew and advised them to disperse by 11:00 PM. By approximately 10:30 to 10:45 PM, the crowd amicably dispersed without any incidents or legal violations noted.“
“Later that evening, at 11:40 PM, security reported a dispute involving a father and daughter, which prompted officers to respond to address a potential domestic situation at that location.”
This information was given to the OPCL by the VA Beach Police Department and the City Manager. We understand neighbors are concerned, sharing conflicting accounts of what happened. As a result, we have invited a VBPD representative to come to our next meeting. More information to follow
In addition to the police statement, the civic league has received one email which gives a different account of events and two comments to the website which are below in the comments:
LBR Activity Report: July 18-20
During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):
“Overall, the weekend was a bit slower for launches due to the marine forecast and expected late afternoon thunderstorms, but the car parking continues to be very heavy throughout the day. We had a total of 468 launches over the 3 days. Below is a breakdown by day:
Friday, July 18: 85 total launches, car parking did not fill up. The overflow lot was used for 4 trailers. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.
Saturday, July 19: 208 total launches, car parking was full from 9:15 am until around 8:00pm. The overflow was used for 56 vehicles with trailers. Barricade operations was not needed. Heavy car traffic all day through 9pm.
Sunday, July 20: 175 total launches, car parking was full from 11:00am – 8:15pm. The overflow was used for 25 vehicles. Barricade operations was not needed.
Incidents to report:
On Friday night around 8:45pm, a person on a jet ski was reported to have been traveling at a high speed on crab creek and creating a large wake. When the rider came to the ramp, a resident whose home backs up to crab creek, approached the rider about the wake she created and potential damage to his boat that was moored on his dock. Staff and security intervened and it was de-escalated and the resident left the boat ramp.
Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed heavy car traffic after hours until after midnight Friday and Saturday night but no visible loitering in the parking lots. Police were onsite Saturday night/Sunday morning from approximately 11:30pm-10:50pm walking around and keeping cars out of trailer parking. Police also came through the lot Sunday morning around 12:50am.
Garda Security is working well. We have been working with the contractor and Emergency Management to fine tune the standing orders. Approximately 6 residents were out last Thursday, first night of security, to introduce themselves.”
LBR Activity Reports: July 11-13
During the high season in Virginia Beach, Parks and Recreation staff share weekly updates regarding weekend activity at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp (LBR):
“Overall, the weekend was busy but was managed well by all staff. We had a total of 510 launches over the 3 days.
Friday, July 11: 113 total launches, car parking did not fill up. We did not have to close using the barricades at any time.
Saturday, July 12: 210 total launches, car parking was full from 8:55 am until around 9:00pm. The overflow was used for 52 vehicles with trailers. Barricade operations were put in place from 9:45am- 12:20pm. Heavy car traffic all day through 9pm when staff were leaving.
Sunday, July 13: 187 total launches, car parking was full from 11:15am – 8:15pm. The overflow was used for 40 vehicles.
Incidents to report:
On Sunday, the Aquarium stranding team brought in a deceased dolphin and loaded it on the truck to take it away. Review of video data from Friday until Monday morning showed heavy car traffic after hours until after midnight Friday and Saturday night but no visible loitering in the parking lots. Police were onsite Saturday night from approximately 10:20-10:50pm walking around and keeping cars out of trailer parking. Police also came through the lot Sunday morning around 12:50am.
Parking Enforcement: 42 citations written. You can see a low number for the 4:18pm visit. The manager said they had an equipment malfunction on that visit, or the number would have been higher.”
Ocean Park Civic League 