SATURDAY 10/26: Flash Mob Photo Shoot at LOVE Sign
Calling All Lovers — Cape Charles lovers that is! The LOVE sign is leaving, but before it goes, join us for a Flash Mob Photo Shoot Saturday, October 26, at 11 a.m. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 10/26: Super Yard Sale in Sting-Ray’s Parking Lot
Ray (Fig) will be having another sale down at his shop in Capeville, on the north end of Sting Ray’s parking lot Saturday, October 26, beginning at 8 a.m. to whenever. [Read more…]
County Sewer Hookup Fee Could Be ‘Game Changer’
Owners of yellow properties on special tax district map have informed the PSA that they don’t want to be included. Owners of the green properties, currently not included, say they want to join. The rest of the proposed tax district is shown in purple. (CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 25, 2013
Plans to pipe sewage to Cape Charles from commercial properties near the Cape Charles/Cheriton traffic light have hit another snag: hookup fees.
Chairman Bob Panek informed fellow members of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Public Service Authority October 15 that Cape Charles Town Council wants to charge connection fees to new users of the Town’s sewer treatment plant. But PSA calculations had always assumed no connection fee. The fees could add $200,000 to costs, which according to Panek could be a “game changer.”
Hookup fees are intended to cover future costs of expanding the Cape Charles treatment plant, and every new user in the Town is required to pay the fee. The current residential sewer hookup charge for Town customers is $7,475. But Panek had not planned to charge out-of-town customers.
Panek also reported sentiment for allowing County property owners to opt out of the proposed special tax district. As originally formulated, some 70 parcels were included in the district, each of which would pay close to double their current County real estate tax. But of those 70 properties, only about 30 are developed.
Panek alluded to discussion over changing the source of funding for construction of the sewer pipe from the County properties to Cape Charles. The County has already budgeted to pay 25 percent of the cost, with the remaining 75 percent coming from landowners in the special tax district. Panek said that figure might possibly be changed to 50-50, meaning that half the cost would come from the County budget, and half would come from the special tax district. [Read more…]
Sunset Photo Is LOVE at First Sight!
Photo by Irene Munz (click for full-size view)
October 24, 2013
The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s LOVE sign arrived in Cape Charles for the Town’s October festivals, but the weather cast a pale — day after day after day. The exhibit was due to be removed last week, but somehow it remained — waiting, perhaps, for the sun? Finally, the gorgeous sunsets have returned, and local resident Irene Munz, who has photographed over a thousand sunsets from this same vantage point, last night caught the sun right in the clasp of the “V.” Thank you to whoever procrastinated in removing the LOVE sign — now we have what we wanted!
Town Council Overrides Planning Commission (By FAR)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 23, 2013
Two years’ work by the Cape Charles Planning Commission fell victim to an email from an absentee councilman at last Thursday’s Town Council meeting.
The Planning Commission, composed of seven volunteers, had been studying floor area ratios for the Town’s Harbor District. The higher the floor area ratio (or FAR), the denser the development allowed by right.
The Planning Commission worked “about two years” on a FAR recommendation to Council, according to Joan Natali, who sits on both Town Council and the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission recommendation was presented to Council at its September meeting, where Town Planner Rob Testerman explained that a FAR requirement would “prevent any hugely dense, out-of-character development” in the Harbor District. The recommendation was tabled for further thought when two councilmen disagreed: Frank Wendell argued that the FAR should be lower (less density), while Steve Bennett believed it should be higher. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Rotary Club Cleans Up
Cape Charles Rotary Club members and their friends picked up a truckload of trash last Sunday along Stone Road, their “adopted” highway.
CAPE CHARLES WAVE
October 20, 2013
Last Sunday’s threatening weather couldn’t dampen Cape Charles Rotary Club’s first cleanup of their adopted highway, Stone Road coming into town.
Rotary President Paul Strong reports that 12 volunteers – some members and their children, and some friends, donned florescent vests and proceeded to pick up enough trash off the side of the road to fill a pickup truck.
Strong said that prior to the cleanup he had no idea the group would find as much trash as they did. In addition to ordinary litter, they picked up a Cadillac hubcap and an old tire. [Read more…]
FRI/SAT 10/25-26: All Hallows Eve at Belle Haven ESO
The ESO in Belle Haven will host a night of horror, plays, poetry and music as the Edge Theater brings All Hallows Eve to the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. [Read more…]
SATURDAY 10/26: Design a Halloween Costume at Arts Enter
Join Costume Mistress Vera Miller on Saturday, October 26, in the Arts Enter Art Room at 10 Strawberry Street from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. [Read more…]
