Indigo Dunes, Safety Issuses on Minds at Bayfront Meeting
By IRENE BOWERS
By Irene Bowers
Correspondent
BAYSIDE
Indigo Dunes development , Shore Drive safety improvements and beach replenishment were on the minds of residents at a recent Bayfront town hall meeting.
City officials heard the standing-room-only crowd at the meeting hosted by the Shore Drive Community Coalition.
Sandler at Indigo Bay LLC owns the Pleasure House Point property and plans to develop 1,063 residential units that include two 11- story towers and mixed-housing types on 69 acres . Twenty-one acres of linear shore will be a park for resident and visitor use, with plans to provide treatment for storm-water runoff for Indigo Dunes and adjacent Ocean Park, plus traffic improvements on Marlin Bay Drive.
Town hall attendees voiced concerns about the development’s adverse impact on wildlife, the Lynnhaven River, density, traffic and safety.
The area has the highest density in the city. According to city engineers, Shore Drive has about 46,000 cars per day on its four lanes, compared to 49,000 cars on eight lanes at Virginia Beach Boulevard’s Town Center.
“We have so many concerns with the rampant development of the Bayfront,” said Martha Thereault, one of an estimated 270 residents who attended the meeting at Baylake United Methodist Church. “We really want the city to preserve this last space for the benefit of all.”
Current Planning and Zoning administrator Karen Lasley said the site was zoned in 1970 with a vague land use plan showing a maximum 7,000-dwelling unit cap. That was reduced to 1,500 units in 1985, provided that all environmental constraints were addressed.
“At this point, it is the city’s position that no development can be allowed until a land use plan is approved by City Council,” said Lasley. “This is a very complicated issue.”
“We believe the density we are proposing is well below what is permitted for the site,” said Joel Rubin, spokesman for L.M. Sandler & Sons. “We have been in touch with both members of City Council and civic associations, and hope we can reach an accommodation that is fair to the property owner and acceptable to the community.”
A Virginia Beach Wetlands Board hearing for Indigo Dunes has been deferred to 9:30 a.m. May 21 .
The Chesapeake Bay Area Preservation Board, Planning Commission and the City Council have not scheduled hearings. Vice Mayor Louis Jones told the town hall assembly that he is not in favor of development of the site, stating, “This is not a done deal. The city will always try to make a decision that is fair.”
Heather Ham from the Department of Public Works provided an update on Shore Drive Safety Improvements, Phases I-IV. Phase I construction of sidewalks, bike path and safety improvements are under way. Remaining phases are in the design stage, with public meetings to be announced. Lesner Bridge designs include widening it to six lanes, two of which may be designated pedestrian traffic.
A proposed replenishment of two miles of Cape Henry Beach would require homeowners to grant the city a public recreational easement, according to Andrew Barnett, SDCC. The easement allows city equipment to replenish and maintain the beach, but provides no additional facilities.
To reach Andrew Barnett, e-mail: Abarnettbythebay@aol. com. For info on Indigo Dunes, visit: www.indigodunes.com. For info on local opposition, visit: www.noindigodunes.com or www.sdcc.info
Irene Bowers, bowersi@aol.com
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