PLANNING COMMISSION
Residential Density Limits Considered for Harbor District
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
August 9, 2012
Cape Charles Town Planner Tom Bonadeo has recommended adding density limits to the Harbor District zoning ordinance.
At the August 7 Town Planning Commission meeting, Bonadeo said a density limit could pre-empt proposals for overcrowded residential development in the Harbor District.
Bonadeo added, however, that he was unaware of any plans for residential development in the Harbor District at this time.
The Town Council adopted Harbor Area Design Standards in September 2010 as an addendum to the Comprehensive Plan.
In 2006, the Town paid for the “Harbor Area Conceptual Plan and Design Guidelines” study.
REZONING REQUEST ON RANDOLPH AVENUE
In other Planning Commission business, a proposed change to the Commercial District (C-1) zoning ordinance was raised by IES Holdings, LLC, owner of commercial property at 718 Randolph Avenue. The firm is requesting permission to build two residential apartments behind the existing property. The commissioners agreed to inspect the property before making any recommendation to Town Council. [Read more…]
Should Town Encourage Rt. 13 Commercial Development?
By KAREN JOLLY DAVIS
Cape Charles Wave
August 8, 2012
Should Cape Charles, with its new wastewater treatment plant, make it easier to commercially develop nearby Route 13? That’s a question that will be on the table Thursday night at the Town Council meeting.
The Public Service Authority (PSA), which once hoped to provide sewer service around Exmore and Cheriton, has scaled back its goals. Now, the PSA is focusing on the strip along Route 13 between SunTrust Bank running south to the Corner Mart, with a branch to the Fairview mobile home park. The wastewater generated there would be pumped to the new Cape Charles plant.
“When taking the temperature of the community, we found significant interest by the commercial property owners,” said Bob Panek, who is both the assistant town manager of Cape Charles and the chairman of the PSA. “So we decided to concentrate on service for the commercial properties. Then we could build on that, should the grant funding climate improve in the future.”
A preliminary cost estimate for the small system is $1.5 million to $2 million. There are about 53 acres of commercially zoned property near the Cape Charles traffic light, and 32 acres zoned industrial. The PSA contacted 65 parcel owners to see if they were interested in a wastewater system. [Read more…]
Judge Sets Town Council Election for November 6
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
August 7, 2012
Cape Charles will hold a special election November 6 to select a replacement for the late Town Councilman-elect Donald L. Clarke.
The winner of the election will serve a term of approximately three years and eight months, until July 1, 2016.
Clarke was elected to Town Council May 1, but passed away on June 13. He was due to take office July 1.
The special election was ordered by Northampton County Circuit Court Judge W. Revell Lewis, III, and was in response to a petition filed by the Town Council.
Persons wishing to run in the special election must file their candidacy at least 81 days prior to the November election, making the filing deadline August 17 at 5 p.m.
The November 6 Special Election will be held concurrent with the Presidential election, so the Town will not incur any extra election expense. [Read more…]
Robert Bois Funeral Friday at St. Charles Catholic Church
Robert D. Bois Sr., 80, husband of Anne Bois and a resident of Seaview, VA, passed away suddenly Monday, August 6, at his residence.
Funeral services with military and VMRC honors will be held Friday, August 10, at St. Charles Catholic Church, 545 Randolph Ave, Cape Charles, at 2 p.m. with Father J. Michael Breslin officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Catholic Church, 545 Randolph Ave, Cape Charles, VA 23310.
Robert Bois was born July 7, 1932, in South Grafton, MA, the son of the late David Bois and the late Albina Lucier Bois.
He served four years in the Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Missouri and the USS Albany, and then 18 years in the US Air Force, both in the United States and overseas, retiring as a Master Sergeant. After the military, he began a second career with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, completing 18 years of service to the local community, retiring as Captain for the Eastern Shore and Peninsula areas. [Read more…]
Super Successful Clam Slam Festival Ends with a Bang
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
August 6, 2012
Cape Charles Harbor Master Smitty Dize was tired but happy Sunday evening as he counted up ticket proceeds for the just-completed Boat Docking Contest — the grand finale of a very successful weekend comprising the Town’s first Clam Slam Festival.
Some 800 tickets were sold for Sunday’s boat docking competition which drew watermen and their friends and families from up and down the Shore. Nine boats competed this year — a 50 percent increase over last year. Proceeds go to pay the cash prizes, plus $300 to each boat to help cover fuel costs.
It was the success of the first boat docking contest last year that inspired Dize to expand Harbor events to fill a full weekend, including a Shriners Parade, marching band, and car show on Saturday.
Boat dock competitions are wildly popular on the Shore, with Crisfield, Maryland, having one of the largest. But Dize was happy with the Cape Charles crowd and nine boats — big enough to give a good show, but not so large as to drag on interminably on a hot afternoon.
Three local boats competed: Jay B, Three Brothers, and The Pound Netter.
Master of Ceremonies was the popular Erik “Flea” Emily.
Watch the 5-minute Wave video above, and then read more to see the list of winners.
Boat Docking Contest Is Clam Slam Sunday Finale
SUNDAY CLAM SLAM SCHEDULE
10 a.m. – Artists & Crafters along Mason Avenue
11 a.m. – Captains registration at Harbor
12:30 p.m. – Captains Practice
1 p.m. – 2nd Annual Boat Docking Contest ($5 admission fee) (See Feature Story)
TUESDAY 8/7: Planning Commission to Review Commercial Densities, Apartments on Randolph Street
The next regular meeting of the Cape Charles Planning Commission is 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 7, at Town Hall.
The Commission will discuss commercial densities in the Harbor District, Mason Avenue Corridor.
The Commission will also consider allowing more ground floor apartments in a commercially zoned area on Randolph Avenue.
Public comment will be heard at the beginning of the meeting.
THURSDAY 8/9: Town Council to Discuss Providing Sewer Service to County
The next regular Cape Charles Town Council meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 9, at St. Charles Parish Hall. Agenda items include:
- Eastern Shore Public Service Authority Chairman Bob Panek is asking Town Council to confirm its willingness to provide sewage treatment for areas outside Town boundaries.
- Town Manager Heather Arcos is asking Town Council to award $96,000 for design and engineering (but not construction) of a Town trail on the north portion of Peach Street and on Washington Avenue.
- Town Planner Tom Bonadeo is asking Town Council to discuss boat parking on Town streets, with possible changes to the Town code to prohibit parking.
Public comment will be heard at the beginning of the meeting.
