Wetlands Board Approves South Port Yacht Center Plans
South Port engineer Don MacLennan points to mitigation area on map. (Wave photo)
Cape Charles Wave
November 5, 2012
Cape Charles Wetlands and Dunes Board November 2 approved a request by South Port Investors, LLC, to relocate the wetland mitigation approved in 2008.
The approval brings South Port’s proposed Cape Charles Yacht Center one step closer to construction.
Don MacLennan, president of Engineering Resources Group, LLC, told the Board, “If we get approval tonight, we are ready right away, now, to make it happen.”
The Board approved the application, but there are a few more steps before work begins.
Next, South Port is requesting a conditional use permit at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting. [Read more…]
Election Day in Cape Charles Presents Historic Complication
Only Cape Charles voters will see a fourth screen (ABOVE) to select a replacement member of Town Council.
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
November 4, 2012
Tuesday is believed to be the first time in Cape Charles’ history that a Town Council election will be held concurrent with a Presidential election.
And it’s not just a matter of adding an additional page (or screen) to the voting machine.
What complicates matters is that when voters walk into Trinity UMC Fellowship Hall on Tazewell Avenue, some of them will be eligible to vote in the Town Council election and the rest will not.
District 1 covers most of the lower third of Northampton County, extending all the way south past Kiptopeke, and everyone in District 1 has to come to Cape Charles to vote.
About 1,800 voters reside in District 1. Only about 700 of them live in the Town of Cape Charles.
Further complicating the procedure is that all the voting machines will be programed to accept both residents of Cape Charles and non-residents.
Northampton Registrar Terrence “Terry” Flynn told the Wave that dedicating a machine to Cape Charles voters risked creating delays for non-town voters.
Kind of like seeing a long line at the ladies restroom, with no waiting for the mens room. [Read more…]
Hurricane Sandy Leaves Her Footprint on Cape Charles
A&N Electric lineman prepares to remove exposed utility lines behind Sea Breeze Apartments Tuesday after Hurricane Sandy washed out the foundation. The Town of Cape Charles has condemned the building, and residents have been evacuated. (Wave photo)
Mayor Dora Sullivan surveyed damage to the condemned unit of Sea Breeze Apartments.
Photos by CAPE CHARLES WAVE
October 30, 2012
“Can New Breakwaters Save Sea Breeze Apartments?” read a Wave headline on August 28.
Exactly two months later, Hurricane Sandy answered the question with an emphatic NO.
The only question remaining is how much worse the damage might have been without the new breakwaters.
Next door to Sea Breeze on Washington Avenue, the Historic District’s newest home (c. 2011) boasts on homeaway.com that it’s only 150 feet from the beach.
As of yesterday, that is an understatement.
CANDIDATE FORUM
Burke Urges Openness, Bennett Pushes Development
Cape Charles voters will choose between Dan Burke and Steve Bennett November 6 to replace Councilman-elect Don Clarke, who passed away in May. (Wave photo)
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
October 30, 2012
About 70 residents turned out last Thursday for a Candidate Forum at the Palace Theatre, where Steve Bennett and Dan Burke answered written questions submitted from the audience.
Northampton County Supervisor Willie Randall moderated the event.
In introductory statements, Steve Bennett cited his four years’ experience on Town Council. Bennett was defeated for re-election, but is getting a second chance to run due to the death of councilman-elect Don Clarke in May.
Bennett is a project manager with the architecture and engineering firm Clark Nexsen in Norfolk. Previously he was employed by Baymark Construction Corp., the developer of Bay Creek, where Bennett and his wife, Nan, live.
Bennett served on Town Council from 2008 until June 2012. During the forum he lamented both the previous lack of residents’ interest in town government as well as the current degree of contentiousness over the pending sale and use of the old school at Central Park. Bennett admitted that the sale of the old school “could have been handled better.”
Candidate Dan Burke emphasized his professional career at Schlumberger, the world’s largest oil exploration company, where he was manager of engineering, director of security, and an environmental affairs officer. Burke said he believed his career experience would serve him well when called on to make decisions as a councilman.
Now retired, Burke has lived in Cape Charles 14 months, although he and his wife, Linda, have vacationed here for years. Burke said they chose to live in Cape Charles after falling in love with its small town charm. They reside on Madison Avenue in the Historic District.
Burke is running on a platform of accountability, accessibility, and openness in government. He criticized Town Council for holding numerous closed session meetings resulting in decisions of major importance without input from town residents. [Read more…]
Flood Warning, Wind Warning, and High Surf Advisory
Issued by HOLLYE CARPENTER
Northampton County Emergency Management Coordinator
October 28, 2012
Due to the approach of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Sandy, the Northampton County Director of Emergency Services declared a local emergency.
Emergency Management officials are advising all residents to prepare for high winds (50-60 mph) and extended high level tidal flooding as this storm approaches the Eastern Shore.
The County’s Emergency Operations Center has opened effective 12 noon Sunday. A Mandatory Evacuation Notice has been issued for all low-lying and flood-zone areas of the County effective 12 noon today.
An Emergency Evacuation Shelter is open at the Northampton High School in Eastville. If you are planning on evacuating to the Emergency Shelter, please bring a three-day supply of sleeping linens, food, and medications. Pets will not be allowed in the Shelter. [Read more…]
Cape Charles Orders Mandatory Evacuation Below Pine St.
STATEMENT BY CAPE CHARLES POLICE CHIEF CHARLES BROWN
October 28, 2012
As of 12 noon Sunday, a mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the low lying areas of the Town of Cape Charles.
These areas include all streets and avenues west of Pine Street.
Northampton County will open the shelter at Northampton High School at 2 p.m.
Address concerns or questions to the Emergency Operations Center, 757-678-0448.
Charles F. Brown
Chief of Police
Northampton Declares Storm Emergency; Schools Closed
By HOLLYE CARPENTER
Northampton County Emergency Management Coordinator
October 27, 2012
Due to the approach of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Sandy, the Northampton County Director of Emergency Services declared a local emergency effective October 26 at 6 p.m.
Emergency Management officials are advising all residents to prepare for high winds (50-60 mph) and flooding conditions beginning early Sunday and lasting into Tuesday. Three high-tide cycles will be affected, resulting in 2-4 feet of storm surge. This is a large, wide storm, and residents should be aware that areas far from the center will receive damaging winds and high amounts of rain.
Residents should prepare their homes by securing outdoor items such as lawn furniture, grills, planters and other lawn items that may be blown about by high winds. Residents are asked to collect political signs and store till the storm passes. Additionally, residents should also be prepared for colder weather as the storm passes. [Read more…]
STORM PREPARATIONS
Mayor Asks Residents to Help Absentee Neighbors
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR SULLIVAN CONCERNING HURRICANE SANDY
There are many homes in Cape Charles that have part time residents. With the impending storm and the possibility of strong winds and heavy rains, it would be prudent for each of us to pay attention to our neighbors’ homes. Below is a list of items for consideration to avoid damage from the winds that will come with the storm:
SECURE ALL OUTDOOR ITEMS IN CASE OF STRONG WINDS AND/OR FLOODING
- Lawn / yard furniture (tables, chairs, umbrellas, etc.)
- Grills
- Decorative items
- Boat and utility trailers in the yard or the street
DEBRIS
- The Public Works crew will be picking up all loose debris in the alleys and along the streets.
- Debris pickup will then be suspended until after the storm has passed.
- The trash barrels at the beach have been picked up and the trash receptacles on the fishing pier are being secured. All trash receptacles will be removed from the boardwalk and along Bay Avenue.
- Storm drains are being cleared.
- Please DO NOT put any yard debris, brush or other trash on the street curb. Any debris can pose a safety hazard in strong winds and will clog storm drains if any flooding occurs.
HIGH WATER
- DO NOT drive your vehicle through high water. If you cannot see the pavement, DO NOT go through it. This could cause irreparable damage to your vehicle.
- The wake created from driving through the water could cause damage to the houses along the street.
- During the last storm, there was street flooding up to Strawberry Street and a number of vehicles were lost due to the flooding. The parking lot of the former Meatland Building is available for your vehicles during this storm. Please consider moving your vehicles to this parking lot to help alleviate possible damage. [Read more…]
