The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Closed in by a fence and surrounded by a handful of squat, barracks-type buildings, the ARSR-4 radar protrudes out of Oceana Naval Air Station like a giant golf ball on a pin.
For years, it's been little more than a curiosity to passing drivers and even those who work on the base. But as Virginia Beach's leaders are finding out, this particular radar plays a key role in the country's defense.
"They are not optional," said John Pike, director of the military information Web site GlobalSecurity.org. "They are mandatory. Don't leave home without it."
The Federal Aviation Administration has told city officials that buildings taller than about 10 stories, or 110 feet, at several sites at the Oceanfront would block the radar and threaten homeland security. The 31st Street Hilton near one of the sites rises 21 stories.
That notice has jeopardized the Beach's plan to make over the Oceanfront with high-rise buildings, including the Convention Center Hotel. And what about the proposed wind-farm industry? That project also could interfere with the radar.
Beach officials say the only other option is to move the radar, which could cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
"It's a curveball," said Beach Mayor Will Sessoms, who has been trying to get more information on the radar.
This ARSR-4, which stands for Air Route Surveillance Radar Model 4, was commissioned in 1995, said Arlene Salac, an FAA spokeswoman.
It's part of a network of 43 radars installed primarily along the outer rim of the United States in the early 1990s and used by both the FAA and the Department of Defense.
As a long-range radar, it can detect objects up to 250 nautical miles out.
The information gathered by the radar, which spins 360 degrees, is sent to the FAA, which uses it to direct air traffic. The Navy reviews the data to help manage offshore training exercises for its pilots. The Northeast Air Defense Sector, a division of the Air Force based in New York state and charged with protecting the homeland, also has access to the information.
The Air Force has raised the strongest objections to Virginia Beach's proposed building heights, said Gordon Reynolds, a former FAA official and consultant for the city.
The radar allows the Air Force to detect planes flying without transponders, which relay location and other identifying information.
"The bad guys aren't going to have that," Reynolds said.
A series of tall buildings at the Oceanfront could prevent the radar from seeing those planes, especially if they're flying at low altitudes, he said.
And air defense officials don't have any other comprehensive backup system, Reynolds added.
Still, Beach officials say, they aren't sure when or why obstruction of this radar became an issue. In 2007, the city asked the FAA to review a proposed 260-foot-tall building next to the Convention Center. At that time, the FAA said anything taller than 180 feet would pose a hazard, about 70 feet more than the agency is now allowing.
The FAA's notices are valid for only 18 months, and situations for the different agencies accessing the radar information can change, Salac said.
Beach officials say there are also other high-rises recently built at the Oceanfront.
The 31st Street Hilton, a private-public partnership between the city and developers Bruce Thompson and Edmund Ruffin, is about 200 feet tall. Another Thompson development, the Ocean Beach Club Resort, three blocks away, reaches about 18 stories.
FAA officials weren't able to find requests to review either of those sites, Salac said.
Most builders and construction crews know to inform the FAA if a building is going to rise above 100 feet, she said.
"I never ran into an issue where somebody hasn't done it," said Reynolds, the city's consultant, about the Hilton situation.
Repeated calls to Thompson and officials with his company Gold Key/PHR Hotels & Resorts were not returned.
The FAA would not make a developer tear down a building that is blocking the radar.
Deputy City Manager Steve Herbert said it's up to individual property owners to file with the FAA.
"Why somebody did or didn't before, I can't speak to," Herbert said.
The city has filed now and officials are drafting a letter asking the FAA to study moving the radar, Herbert said.
"We'll be sending letters to the FAA asking for an opportunity to discuss how we negotiate with them," Herbert said. "We're not going to do anything to degrade national security."
Pike said the radar could probably be moved within about five miles without harming coverage.
The question is, who will pay the expense, Pike said.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Everybody's an expert . . .
Except even most Navy personnel with a security clearance can't tell you the effective heights and ranges of that radar, so those who claim to know its exact purposes are really just mouthing words (or if they have been given that sort of classified info, they should not be spouting it off here).
One other thing--I doubt we *want* that radar on top of a hotel. Looking at the picture of it, no one works close to it at Oceana. Is it possible that we don't want those rays passing through the bodies of Virginia Beach residents and tourists indiscriminately?
expecting VB taxpayers to foot the whole bill
Not building these proposed high rises costs every taxpayer in VB. The oceanfront is a valuable asset, and high rises maximize that value. The Hilton has the highest room rates on the oceanfront, because of the views the height gives. More high rises, more tax base, more tax revenue.
And why? Because of some threat of "low flying" invaders? From where? Bermuda? There is no credible threat of a low flying aircraft "sneaking" into the US because of a "hole" east of VB.
The FAA and the AF have no one to blame but themselves. This radar replaced the former AF radar at Cape Charles. No one wanted to be in the county, they wanted to be in the big city. Did no one think there would ever be demand for high rises in VB? Or did they think they could just bully the city into not maximizing the value of the oceanfront? And to think that people here go along with the charade.
National Security should be the priority
I still can't get over how Virginia Beach will do anything for its Developers. That includes compromising our national security. There is only so much that can be built in a certain area. I guess that it is now getting to be that the only place to go is higher. If they are going to move the radar out of the area, then I suggest that they also move Oceana as well. Then there would be move open territory for the developers to build on. I always considered that national security trumps everything else but not if Virginia Beach gets its way.
FAA Radar Site
The FAA radar site at Oceana NAS has been there for many years, using the current ARSR and earlier generation radars. Now is the time to move it to the former USAF Long Range Radar site at Cape Charles. Many of the support buildings are still in place and the site could be renovated relatively quickly. Radar coverage would be enhanced and Virginia Beach would be free to destroy the ocean front with more high rise commercial development.
Remember 911
Look at the map and draw a few lines, and viola, there is a monster sized hole that can’t be covered. This is no joke, and it jeopardizes the safety of air travelers as well as our national security. What it takes to locate, design, and build a radar site is not a simple practice that is taken lightly by the DoD or FAA. Did you people forget that the last attack on the country was done with planes, or have you folks forgotten about 9/11?
Why Not...
...place the RADAR atop of one of the new developments???...it would sit 200 feet higher than it does now...and the Hotel/ city can charge
Uncle Sam for the site!!!..you must admit...it will make a tall building look interesting!!!...there...problem solved!!!
Creeds.....evadsti
"Submitted by evadsti on Wed, 07/15/2009 at 7:43 am.
Give the Navy back the airport in Creeds. Virginia Beach owns it now and the Police use it for training. Look at a Google Map and you'll see there's an airport down there! It was a WWII Bomber base. Move Oceana's radar there, then maybe move most of the air operations there. The main drawback is that VB wants to develop the land around that airport, too! The other drawback is the narrow Princess Ann Road, but needs widened anyway to support the development of homes instead of farms."
That might be nice, except that the city, being forever shortsighted, lost the capability of a fine facility by allowing house to be built IN WETLANDS, downrange from the pistol and rifle range. Pure, unadulterated rubbish!! The city police now relies on a facility that may or may not be forced to close due to the current political climate in your capital.
National Defense Argument is Bogus
The necessity of this radar for national defense is bogus. The radar was constructed after the end of Soviet Aircraft deployments to Cuba. During the 30 years or so of those deployments this radar and the new network of radars did not exist. Did DOD not know of these aircraft. Of course not! DOD was well aware of all of these deployments. The only real user of this radar is the FAA to manage civilian air traffic. Of course DOD also integrates that data into their air surveillance picture but it is really just redundant information. So VB, have the developers pony up to move the radar and build away!
Funny-looking Beach radar station is serious business
I'm glad someone found a way to stop high rise building at the Ocean Front. In the late afternoon it is almost impossible to get the sun's rays with the buildings we have now. Building even higher buildings is going to defeat the purpose of the resort area. Why go to a beach with no sun. Tourists will find another location.
Ray G
Virginia Beach
The answer is clear...
The city council and their developers have sent a clear message that they value the tourist industry to the point they are willing to violate the law and jeopardize national security. Time for the Navy and the FAA to move out and let the city have their way. I agree with the others, there are more ideal spots for a radar facility...Ft Story, Ft Monroe, Wallops Island, Cape Charles, OBX...