PLANNING COMMISSION: Beach Club Gets Building Permit

 By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

October 3, 2012

Two large construction projects are on the drawing board in Cape Charles, with one of them nearly underway.

Bay Creek Resort received a building permit yesterday authorizing construction to begin on the Beach Club and Fitness Center at Bayside Village in the Bay Creek golf course complex.

The members-only facility will include a 3,000 square-foot member lounge, cardio area with exercise equipment, indoor and outdoor pools, snack bar, and children’s game room.

Bay Creek spokesman Oral Lambert told the Wave last month he expects construction to take about eight months.

The other project is even more ambitious but still in the early planning stages: Eastville-based South Port Investors LLC envisions a Cape Charles Yacht Center, with yacht repair, manufacturing, and sales.

Cape Charles Town Planner Tom Bonadeo reported to the Planning Commission last night that South Port has submitted plans for permit updates, including wetlands mitigation.

The plans must be approved by the Northampton County Wetlands Board and others. South Port hopes to begin work this fall along the wetlands near the harbor, Bonadeo said.

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Public Utilities Director Dave Fauber earlier noted that the Town will not issue South Port a permit until several state and federal agencies have signed off, including the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, the state Marine Resources Commission, state Department of Conservation & Recreation, and state Department of Environmental Quality.

Cape Charles Town Council held a closed-door session September 27 to hear a South Port proposal to amend leases on five Town-owned parcels. South Port has leased the location of the old sewer treatment plant on Bayshore Road. The treatment plant has been demolished except for the main building, which South Port intends to utilize.

HARBOR DREDGING

In other Planning Commission news, Bonadeo said he will meet this week with the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and others to discuss dredging Cape Charles harbor to 22 feet. At present the harbor is maintained at 18 feet.

Bay Shore Concrete has requested a deeper channel in order to expand operations.

Bonadeo envisioned that with a deeper channel, small cruise ships could dock at the harbor.

FLOOD INSURANCE DISCOUNTS

The Town is also working on raising its flood safety score. Residences in the flood plain, which includes most of the Historic District, are rated at a score of 9 and qualify for a 5 percent discount on flood insurance. Instituting informational safety programs is a way to reduce the score and obtain a higher discount, Bonadeo said.

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