VIRGINIA BEACH
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has given a preliminary nod to a housing development on one of the last siz able waterfront properties in Virginia Beach.
The project for more than 1,000 homes called Indigo Dunes has stoked controversy among residents and environmentalists and is at the center of a court case involving the city.
State agency officials are expecting many of the development's opponents to speak at a public hearing Monday night. Their concerns will be taken into consideration.
But for now, DEQ staff feel that the developers have tried to minimize the impact on wetlands and are recommending approval of a draft permit, said Sheri Kattan, a project manager with DEQ's water protection permit program.
"We really feel that they've accomplished the maximum avoidance and minimization of wetlands impact for the project purpose," Kattan said.
This is the first public DEQ hearing on a South Hampton Roads development since 2003, when Eddie Garcia Sr. proposed draining or filling 145 acres of forested wetlands near Stumpy Lake to build homes and shops. That was approved, but the development has yet to receive all the necessary permits.
In the Indigo Dunes case, brothers Steve and Art Sandler of L.M. Sandler & Sons Inc., want to utilize 2.35 acres of wetlands and 2.26 acres of open waters. The Sandlers have proposed replacing the loss with more than 6 acres of new wetlands.
The Sandlers reduced the wetland impact by more than 1.5 acres from their original proposal to win state approval. But they did not change the number of homes proposed on the 69 acres.
"We're very encouraged; we think we have a great project," said Debra Williams, a Sandler spokeswoman. "If people really look at what we have in there, they'll realize we're cleaning up a mess."
Some residents who live on Shore Drive, near the Chesapeake Bay, say they are dismayed by DEQ's decision.
"There's enough space there that they can build with zero impact to wetlands," said Todd Solomon, the president of the Shore Drive Community Coalition.
The Sandlers originally told DEQ they needed to fill the wetlands to build the homes for a profit. When DEQ repeatedly asked for the financial information to justify that claim, company officials replied that the wetlands disturbance was necessary for engineering and logistical reasons, such as stormwater treatment projects and access roads, Kattan said.
That satisfied DEQ's concerns, she said.
If DEQ issues a final permit, the next step is unclear.
Virginia Beach is appealing to Circuit Court a decision by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to allow the destruction of some wetlands on the site. The VMRC decision and the city's appeal are based on the Sandlers' initial application.
The Sandlers will have to start the city approval process from the beginning with the revised plan, according to Kay Wilson, an associate city attorney.
The Sandlers' representatives disagree. The changes in wetlands impacts are just modifications of the original request, Williams said.
Even with DEQ approval, the project is likely to face other hurdles over the Chesapeake Bay buffers, traffic and density in an already congested part of the city.
DEQ is only reviewing one portion of the project's environmental impact, Kattan said.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Collect your money and buy the land
To all those opposed to this project: pull your money together and buy the land. They don't want the homes anymore than you do. They want the money. Unless you are willing to put your money up, it looks like you all just do not want others to have the lifestyle that you all have and are NIMBY complainers.
You can't stop the money train unless you get onboard.
Density Drives the Train to Ruination
What ever drainage improvements were designed into the project will probably benefit the environment instead of deny it. The projected wetland impact is minimal when compaired against other projects and the promoted offsets are legitimate. What might not be legitimate is the process of obtaining approvals from all the different entities involved with this project. For another 1000 homes to arise from the slumbering vegetation will result in another 2000-2500 vehicles passing into/away from that area. Shore Drive will be a literal parking lot. Cars idleing, dripping all manner of fluids and trash and cigrette butts tossed from cars will pollute the system more than the project itself. It is hoped that the buildings will be impact neutral - greef roofing, solar hot water systems for condos, solar electrical systems for project common lighting, and pervious pavement throughout would all be prudent actions on the part of the developers. LEED building practices should prevail. No wonder CoVB planners take sick leave. This project is sickening.
Say NO to the Sandler Development
Development, Development, Development. That is all that is appears to happening all around the Hampton Roads area without regards to the long term consequences destructing the land. Soon enough the area will be wall-to-wall cemment, no trees, wetlands areas, or fields to speak of. Why? All to make monies. It not good enough to have a million dollars, it has to be a million and five. That's why this country is in dispairity. Corporations felt they needed to move abroad for cheaper labor to make that extra buck and the consequence to that is no job base left to support and purchase the products. The same applies here. Global warming has occurred because the very filters, the trees, that take in the carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen are dissappearing. Wetlands are a safe-haven for the filter feeder and naturally filter our waters. Remember the science experiment with putting clams in a dirty fish tank? The water eventually cleared. If you build on the land, you take away the natural overall benefit of the land and put us closer to harm. Do not permit building on this land. There are enough buildings. Enough is enough. Virginia Beach Government turned a blind eye
I hope the project gets denied.
There is already enough traffic on Shore dr. VB does not need this. Leave the wetlands alone.
Far from final approval - view photo of "the mess"
“If people really look at what we have in there, they’ll realize we’re cleaning up a mess.”
Check out http://tinyurl.com/6mh6vz/ or http://www.NoIndigoDunes.com for photos of "the mess" they want to clean up.
Taken before Pleasure House Point was posted for No Trespassing.
Last Chance
Once it's gone it is never coming back.
Why make this area wall-to-wall development.
The attraction of this area is the water. This project negatively impacts the bay and the community.
just say "no"
Can't hardly see any "water" now on Shore Drive. Traffic is already terrible, no need to add more. How much will the city have to "contribute" to this?...you know that's next! Let the Sandlers enjoy time at the theatre in Town Center, you know the one with their name. That should be more than enough to keep them occupied. Bottom line though is I bet this happens and it's a real shame, yes, a real one.