Rezoning for Marlin Bay Apartments

Developer’s request for zoning change to build 222-unit apartment complex in Ocean Park

Negative Impacts on Ocean Park

The developer is asking the city to alter the current zoning for the properties at Marlin Bay from B2/PDH1 to conditional B4 in order to allow a residential density that is far above existing density in Ocean Park. A four story monolithic building for hundreds of people and 4 1/2 story parking garage for 372 cars in the heart of Ocean Park do not fit among the single family homes, duplexes and townhouses on our narrow streets.

This project is not consistent with the Corridor Plan for Shore Drive which city staff planners turn to when making their recommendations for projects in Ocean Park. Here is a quote from the staff recommendation for recent townhouses: “Planning policies that apply to this request include.. preserving and protecting the character of established neighborhoods and achieving the lowest reasonable density.” Another quote from a staff planner in recommending approval of a recent project in Ocean Park: “The proposed rezoning is consistent with the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan for Shore Dr. Corridor by promoting compatible infill development at a density compatible to the surrounding area.”

These concerns were voiced by the Bayfront Advisory Commission:

  • Main concern is the height, massing and scale of the project.
  • A four story building that is that long along Shore Drive does not comply with the Shore Drive Corridor Plan.
  • The boat sale parcel could segregate itself and then be developed separately.
  • A four story structure across the driveway from 2 story townhouses is overbearing.
  • It’s all about jamming as many units as possible into the project.

This proposed complex is not compatible infill development and will not preserve and protect the character of the established neighborhoods. It is not reasonable density. These properties should not be rezoned for this project.

Environmental study needs to be performed to determine the impact on PHP .

Here is the Marlin Bay development website to get information from the company developing the project. https://www.marlinbayvb.com

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In the ‘Park

Please consider paying your 2021 dues now. Since we have not had our usual in person meetings and Spring and Fall social events, dues are not finding their way to OPCL. We are continuing the work as best we can and we do need the community to contribute their annual dues. Follow this link to pay: Join opcl Thank you!

Please let us know your street address so we can get a 2021 car sticker to you! communication@opcl.org

Excerpt from ” The Ocean Park Story” by Nadine Costenbader and the group she formed. This book is available at Tin Soldiers on Shore Dr.

Those of us who grew up in Ocean Park during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s cherish the memories of this small town-like community–no Mayberry RFD but close. We felt safe playing in the woods or on the beach, trick or treating, ‘dropping’ valentines, skating at a tennis court on Friday nights, sledding in the snow all day on the hill near the railroad tracks, waiting for a bus to take us shopping in Norfolk or to the movies at the beach, or sleeping on the front porch at night because there was no A/C. Everyone knew everyone! Even our school bus drivers lived just down the street.

The center of our world as we knew it in Ocean Park was the firehouse, conceived, constructed and manned by the people who lived there. This was a place where scouts met, girls had dance classes, Halloween and Christmas parties celebrated the holidays and “Junior Firemen” emulated their parents. During the Cold War, sky watchers/plane spotters had their own special place atop the building. Our mothers, fathers and neighbors organized and met as the Women’s Club and Ocean Park Volunteer Fire Department.

Milk was delivered on our doorsteps each week in glass bottles (cream on top!) from Bayville Farms. Right before Mother’s Day, the delivery included a bouquet of peonies. Bayville Farms also provided a source for potable water that we pumped into jugs from an artesian well.

We honor the men and women who were the founders of Ocean Park and dedicate this history to their hard work and determination to create this community and give it a true sense of small town America. We hope that those who have followed as residents will accept the torch that has been passed to you to preserve the area and its character. “

The Ocean Park History Project Committee: Nadine Costenbader, Chair

Judy Connors, Grace Moran, Anne Kane, Ann Lyon Ackiss, Susan Lyon, Susie Walston

reprinted here with permission from Nadine Costenbader

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Better Days ahead!

A new way to be in the know! Join this group on Next Door that will take you right to posts that are specifically about Ocean Park: Next Door Group.

Pay your 2021 dues ($20 annually) and receive the new car sticker! Go to Join OPCL to renew or join! Join OPCL.org Send along your street address to get it in your mailbox: communication@opcl.org

What questions do you have about beach replenishment? Send your questions to : communication@opcl.org and we will try to get answers.

Next General Membership Meeting will be on March 4th at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Check back here for Zoom login link.

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BAC hears Marlin Bay Apt. Presentation

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:

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:

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Westminster Canterbury Project

At the last general membership meeting, the OPCL voted to match the first $1000 of individual Ocean Park residents’ contributions to the Stop Westminster Canterbury legal fund. This contribution is made in support of the Shore Dr. Community’s opposition to the plan as currently proposed as the plan was developed without civic engagement or collaboration and violates current zoning regulations and Shore Dr. design guidelines. If you would like to make a matched contribution, use the link below and forward your email confirmation to the OPCL Treasurer or board member by Jan 31. Please include your full name and street address.

.https://www.gofundme.com/f/legal-fees-to-stop-westminster-canterbury?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email_m_pd-5332-donation-receipt-adyen&utm_content=internal 

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Speakers do Ocean Park Proud at City Council Meeting!

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!

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Today! Attend the City Council Meeting! Make your voice heard! Oct. 20th 6 pm

Residents who oppose the proposal of the Ocean Park STR Overlay District should attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday Oct. 20 at 6:00 pm at the Convention Center , Suite 5 1000 19th Street. At the Bayfront Advisory Commission meeting on Tues. Oct. 14, Council member Jones and Council member Wood indicated that emails and letters are not sufficient to be persuasive about Ocean Park’s opposition to being placed in a STR Overlay.

Here is a link to the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday: https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/city-clerk/city-council/Documents/CurrentBriefAgenda.pdf

How can you participate?

Meeting info: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 3:00 P.M. Meeting called to Order followed by working session and then the formal Session at 6 pm. Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 5 1000 19th Street.

Citizens may comment either in person or virtually. If you would like to speak in person, please call the City Clerk’s office at 757-385-4303 to sign up.

If you wish to make comments virtually on an item, please follow the two-step process provided below: • Register for the WebEx at: https://vbgov.webex.com/vbgov/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee627a0d522bacf90ddba7c5d8347e7ce • Register with the City Clerk’s Office by calling (757) 385-4303 or via email at ABarnes@vbgov.com prior to 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2020

The City Council meeting will be streamed live on www.vbgov.com and Facebook Live, and will be recorded for rebroadcast on Cable TV. Citizens are encouraged to submit their comments to the City Council prior to the meeting via email at CityCouncil@vbgov.com.

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STR Proposal: City Council members attend BAC meeting Oct. 14

At the Bayfront Advisory Council meeting on Tues. Oct 14, the proposed zoning change to create STR overlay areas was on the agenda. Council member Louis Jones started off by explaining the impetus for his Overlay Proposal. He explained that applications for Conditional Use Permits for Short Term Rentals are increasing in all areas of the city where they have never been before. When the City Council reviews the CUP applications, there is often no community input. The purpose of the Overlay would be to restrict STRs to certain areas since having STRs leads to “the deterioration of residential districts.” Since no Ocean Park residents had attended any hearings about the 3 STR applications, he said he assumed that Ocean Park is ok with STRs. BAC member Morgan Ayers pointed out that OPCL had conducted polls and taken a formal vote showing that Ocean Park residents are overwhelmingly opposed to being in the Overlay district. This brought no response. The point was also made that it is precisely this deterioration of a neighborhood character brought on by STR concentration that Ocean Park residents fear. No response was forthcoming. Councilman Jones was also asked directly if he would speak to Ocean Park’s opposition in council discussion since he represents the OP district and has now been informed of the strong opposition. He declined and said it was necessary to wait and see what the Planning Commission put forward. It is unclear why Chesapeake Beach and Baylake Pines were able to be deleted from the Overlay by Mr. Jones in this preliminary period but not Ocean Park.

Director of Planning for the city, Mr. Bobby Tajan answered many questions about the process ahead for the proposal. At some point in the process all property owners will receive a letter concerning the zoning change. Mr. Tajan suggested that residents contact the Planning Commission with their input. “Citizens are encouraged to submit comments to the Planning Commission prior to the public hearing via email to wlandfair@vbgov.com or via United States Postal Service to Bill Landfair, 2875 Sabre Street, Suite 500, Virginia Beach, VA 23452.” Here is a link to the commissioners emails and phone numbers: https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/boards-commissions-committees/Pages/pc.aspx

Tues. Oct. 20 City Council MeetingCity Council will vote on whether to refer the Overlay Proposal to the Planning Commission
Nov. 4 Planning Commission Meeting Planning Commission Briefing
Dec. 9? Planning Commission MeetingPlanning Commission Public Hearing and Vote
Jan. ? City Council MeetingCity Council Public Comment Forum
Jan.? City Council Meeting City Council Hearing and Vote to approve or deny

He wasn’t able to provide firm dates as recent cancellations had upended the schedule.

Another issue in the discussion was communication between residents and the city. Both councilmen seemed to indicate that emails do not carry much weight. Mr. Wood said that “we get so many emails”. Mr. Jones said that he hadn’t received emails or the OPCL letter about this topic. Mr. Jones noted that he spent an hour on the phone with one constituent who was pro-STR so perhaps phone calls are a more efficient method for him. Mr. Wood and Mr. Jones both said that the most effective way to communicate is to appear in person at a City Council or Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Wood suggested also that one person could speak and a block of residents could sit together and stand up to show strength in numbers. Mr. Wood also noted that some Civic Leagues like the North End have Zoning Committees which follow zoning and land use issues closely for their area.

Bottom Line: concerned residents must go to City Council and Planning Commission hearings in order for their concerns to be heard.

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