The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The city might turn a shopping center on Virginia Beach Boulevard into a transfer station for dredge spoils, ousting about 10 tenants in the process.
The plan supplants one that would have used the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp, near the Lesner Bridge, to move sand and silt dredged from the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven River from barges to dump trucks. That idea was tabled after it met with opposition.
Owners received a letter June 19 saying the city is eyeing their property at the shopping center east of Town Center, just west of Gus & George's Spaghetti & Steak House. One owner said he's been told to expect a written offer from the city this week.
The city has not made the proposal public and it has been discussed only in closed sessions. By council directive, city staffers say, they can't talk about it. In the spring, the city had dismissed the site, noting the proximity of the Princess Anne High School parking lot.
Councilman Jim Wood, while declining to discuss specific negotiations, said that, in addition to the spoils transfer site, the city would like to use the tract to build a fire-and-rescue station to replace the aging Thalia fire station.
"In all cases, the City Council prefers to work with people rather than do any other sort of eminent domain," Wood said.
But if owners reject the city's offers, it could be taken by eminent domain.
"It's human nature to take advantage of a situation," insurance agent Bill Wright said. "And they know they have the power here."
After 33 years as a tenant in his State Farm insurance office, Wright bought the building two years ago.
"Gold Mine" owner Steve Kruth has been at his location for 32 years. He has paid for improvements himself, including bullet-proof glass and steel-lined walls. Like many of the tenants, he has a long-term lease and his next 10 years' rent payments are locked in.
"It's like Big Brother's walked in and said one day we'll be here, the next we won't," Kruth said. "I'd have to build a whole new business, start from scratch after 32 years."
Tenants say they won't find comparable space at a similar price.
"I picked this location knowing we'd be in the Town Center," said Bob Allan, who has leased space for his Batteries Plus store for eight years. "Now, when it blooms, they want me out. It doesn't seem right."
Tenants also question the wisdom of putting a dredge transfer station along the high-traffic corridor of Virginia Beach.
"With downtown as the city's crown jewel, they're going to put a dredge site here?" Kruth said. "What are they thinking about?"
The Lynnhaven site hasn't been scrapped. Councilman Wood said the city ultimately wants to build three dredge transfer stations, in phases.
Wood said there will be no public hearings on the proposal and the public will be updated when council votes on a purchase.
John Warren, (757) 222-5114, john.warren@pilotonline.com
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Don't Blame Shore Drivers
The "Shore Drivers" didn't kill the Lynnhaven ramp as a spoils site as B4184 says. The fishing and boating public of this city killed an attempt to destroy the ONLY municipal boat ramp this side of Owl's Creek. The issue is that the neighborhoods that will directly benefit from the dredging have enough clout with council to see that the soils site isn't in their neighborhood. That leaves the city with only two choices: Pembroke or Lynnhaven. The choice to use imminent domain is simply typical of this city.
Why??
Why is that Mr.Concerned?? Maybe because it is no longer going to be in your neighborhood? One only has to read some of these comments to determine which are the Shore Dr. residents. An area full of "not in my backyard" attitudes. Contagious maybe...better get your water checked.
Bailey...where to start. Would you even care if it didn't involve a FD? My guess is no. You would go along with anything the city wants to do...as long as it included a new fire station. What ever happened to the peice of property on Bonney Rd. that was suppose to be reserved for a new St.7?
I have a better idea!
Fill in Lake Trashmore; it's already a toxic dump.
I agree, but
Brian, It's not that you have to break it to the pilot, they could care less about corectness in their news reporting, but what does scare me is the comment was made by a VB Councilmember!!
Now maybe it's Jim Wood that you need to educate on VB council rules with regard to when the public can and will speak to elected officials.
How arrogant can an elected official be? It appears that Mr. Wood has a desire for a dictatorship form of government.
Hey Brian, read it again
Since you obviously missed it, the last sentence of the article states:
"Wood said there will be no public hearings on the proposal and the public will be updated when council votes on a purchase."
In realistic words, we the taxpayers who will be footing the bill don't get a say in this purchase. That, kind sir, is unacceptable.
Now, you were saying????
There is always a public hearing
I hate to break it to the Pilot, but the public can speak at Council meeting on any agenda issue, and once a month about anything they darn well please. Also, specific public hearings are scheduled every time the city buys or sells property.
Vote out current City Council
No public hearing . . . . I can't wait to vote! Get rid of them all!
Great Idea: Lets get started!!!
I think it is a great location for a replacement fire station and a transfer facility. Frankly nobody wanted those dump trucks in their neighborhood so putting the trucks out on VB Blvd seems like a “win-win” for all of VB. Many of the businesses impacted are in decline and it would bode well for them to move to a new location as long as they get a fair price. I think they will…
If we can replace the too small 50+ year old fire Thalia fire station and protect the community by improving the capability and reducing responses times of emergency response employees, then I'm all for this. Congratulations on a great job by Council member Wood!
Why not let the policemen
Why not let the policemen open their tattoo parlor next to the high school too?
Dredge Site and fire station relocation
There must be public comments and hearings on these proposals. We do need a larger fire station to deal with the increased development around Town Center and it should be located fairly close to the existing station to provide timely response for Thalia residents. The original site location by the Lesner Bridge was certainly better than the one next to Thalia Elementary or near the strip mall on Virginia Beach Boulevard. The city really needs to come up with a long range solution to regularly dredge and maintain ALL of the channels in the Lynnhaven River estuary. I can't believe that moving mud by truck would be cheaper than securing a dredge dump site 20 miles off the coast. We have environmental consultants in Virginia Beach who could craft a plan and secure the necessary permits for a long term solution to maintaining all of Tidewaters channels for commercial, military, and recreational uses.