Developer Applies to Convert Old School to Apartments

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

July 9, 2012

The Town of Cape Charles has made public an application by Echelon Resources, Inc., for a Conditional Use Permit to, according to Town Planner Tom Bonadeo, “rehabilitate the Old School Area and convert it to 17 residential apartment units and surrounding grounds.”

The “surrounding grounds” include the basketball court and the parking area currently used by persons accessing the park and adjoining children’s playground.

If the Echelon Resources request is approved, there will no longer be any public parking for Central Park other than on the street.

The current basketball court will become a parking lot, but the developer has made clear that the parking lot will be off-limits to the public.

On March 29, Echelon Resources President Edwin Gaskin wrote in an email to Town Manager Heather Arcos and Assistant Town Manager Bob Panek: “What about the Town altering the entrance to the kiddie park to deny access into our parking lot.” (The email was obtained through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.)

“What about the Town altering the entrance to the kiddie park to deny access into our parking lot.”
– Developer Edwin Gaskin’s email to Town officials

The Town Planning Commission will review the Conditional Use Permit at its July 10 meeting (6 p.m. at Town Hall).

A local resident familiar with the Town’s permitting process has noted several deficiencies in the Conditional Use Permit application:

• Under “Land Owner’s Signature” appears the signature of Edwin Gaskin “on behalf of Echelon Resources, Inc.” But although Mayor Dora Sullivan has signed a contract for the sale of the school and surrounding property, no closing has occurred, and the Town remains the owner of the property.
•  The application has a checked box indicating that attached is a “disclosure statement signed and notarized verifying ownership.” No such statement is attached to the application.
• The application states that a $300 application fee has been paid by the applicant. But no copy of a check is attached, which is another requirement of the application.
• Also required is that “names and addresses of adjacent property owners” must be supplied. A list of 27 property owners is attached, but most of them are not adjacent to the property. For example, four of the named property owners have Tazewell Avenue addresses, which are not even shown on the plat accompanying the application. The school and public areas to be sold are bounded by the park, including the tennis court, and by Madison Avenue and Plum Street. Only two of the “adjacent property owners” listed show an address on Madison Avenue or Plum Street. (Several of the property owners listed have only out-of-area mailing addresses, so it is not known if they are also adjacent owners.)

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SATURDAY 7/14: Boardwalk Gazebo Party with Dancing in the Street

“Applaud the Sun” at the first ever Boardwalk Gazebo Party!  It’s the same kind of fun-filled evening as previous Harbor Parties, but in a new location.  Stroll the boardwalk,  get a cold drink, enjoy some great food, watch the sunset over the beach, and dance in the street to live music by The Waterfront Band!

There will be delicious seafood cooked up by the Cape Charles V.F.D., tasty burgers and dogs prepared by R & D Amusements, and mouthwatering pulled pork barbecue from Billy P’s.  Then top it off with a beer or a glass of wine from the Wendell beer truck.

The event is hosted by the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, July 14th from 6-10:00 p.m. at the Boardwalk Gazebo on Bay Avenue in Cape Charles.  Admission is $5; kids under 12 are free.

 

 

 

Eastern Shore Welcome Center at Bridge-Tunnel Seeks Volunteer Greeters

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Welcome Center at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is seeking additional volunteers to greet visitors to the Eastern Shore and promote the many attractions offered. Volunteers can serve as little as one day per month. Most volunteers choose to work two half-days, either 8:30 to 12:30 or 12:30 to 4:30. The Welcome Center is quite flexible in scheduling. and currently has 8 volunteers. For more information, contact Allan Burns, ESVA Welcome Center Manager, at 757-331-1660, or email [email protected].