Replacement Councilman to Be Discussed Tonight
By Cape Charles Wave Staff
July 3, 2012
The first meeting of the newly elected Cape Charles Town Council is tonight, and the first item of business is to discuss filling a council vacancy.
Donald Clarke was elected to Town Council on May 1, but he passed away June 13 before taking office.
The other two members elected to Council May 1 are Thomas Godwin and Frank Wendell, who will assume their positions on Council beginning with tonight’s meeting.
No action will be taken tonight, because the meeting is a work session for discussion only. Council will vote July 12 on an interim replacement for Clarke.
The interim replacement would serve until a candidate is chosen by special election. It is not yet known when a special election might be held. Unless a special election occurs at the same time as a regularly scheduled election, the town is required to pay all expenses associated with it.
Meanwhile, whoever receives a majority vote by Town Council July 12 will be appointed. The only requirement for an appointee is that he or she be a qualified voter in the electoral district.
Mayor Signs Contract to Sell School and Parkland as Opposition Mounts
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
July 3, 2012
The Cape Charles Wave has learned that Town Mayor Dora Sullivan has signed a contract to convey the old Cape Charles school and a portion of Central Park to a real estate developer.
Cape Charles Town Council approved the contract in a unanimous vote June 14. The contract then was signed by Echelon Resources, Inc., a Richmond developer, and returned to the mayor, who signed it June 29.
The contract also conveys a portion of Central Park now used as a basketball court, which the developer intends to use as a parking lot.
The school building is to be converted into 17 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments.
The contract requires the Town to give the developer all federal disaster funds that may be received following earthquake damage to a portion of the school building’s wall. How much money may be conveyed is not known, but the Town has estimated damage to the wall at $200,000.
Echelon Resources first approached Town Council last summer, but the plans were kept secret until February 9 of this year.
The Town Council decided to accept the Echelon Resources nominal offer of $10 for the school and basketball court without requesting bids from any potential competitor.
When plans for the school became known, a group of town residents formed a legal entity, Old School Cape Charles LLC, with the intent of buying the school and using it for a community center. Old School Cape Charles made two offers to Council, with the more recent being for $10,000. Town Council did not formally vote to accept or reject either of the group’s offers.
Old School Cape Charles President Wayne Creed said he is disappointed that Town Council did not even respond to the $10,000 offer and instead was moving forward with plans to sell the school.
Creed foresees many hurdles for the Town before the developer could actually take possession of the school, including zoning, procedural, and political issues. Some issues may go to court. “The skids are greased and the fight is really just beginning,” Creed said.
Old School Cape Charles plans to appear at the Town’s Fourth of July Parade, and asks that supporters assemble at the Fire House on the Plum Street side at 9:45 a.m.
The group also plans a Crab Feast and Music Festival fundraiser on Saturday, July 21 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Wendell Distributers building on Madison Avenue.
Southport Yacht Center Looks for Funding, Site Plan Approval
By KAREN JOLLY DAVIS
Cape Charles Wave
Cela Burge outlines plans for Yacht Center to Town Council.
July 1, 2012
Southport Investors want to build a yacht repair center at the head of Cape Charles harbor. They’ve filed site plans for the development with the town. But they’re faltering over the cost of installing utilities.
“The Southport group is not asking for anything,” attorney Cela Burge told the Cape Charles Town Council June 28. But she did ask the council to work with the investment group as they seek state and federal funding for wastewater infrastructure.
Southport investor Eyre Baldwin has been talking about the yacht center for years. He’s floated several rounds of public meetings, making detailed Powerpoint presentations to local boards about the economic impact their regional plan could have on Northampton County.
But the site plan has been a long time coming to the Cape Charles town office. And site plan approval is one of many hurdles the company must clear before the business can open.
If the yacht center is built as depicted, it will have three floating docks attached to the southeast end of the harbor, next to the Coast Guard station. Two travel lift piers and a pad are integrated into this portion of the design.
A 600-foot floating dock, with water and electric hook-ups, is planned to run along the south harbor bulkhead. This dock would extend well beyond their property line and out into the water in front of Tom Gallagher’s parcel.
A walkway made of permeable pavers would surround the waterfront. There would be a stone surface boatyard next to the Coast Guard station, and most of the other road surfaces would be made of stone. The development would include a repair shop, an office, two areas for multi-rack dry boat storage, fuel tanks, a Washmaster system for cleaning the yachts, and a SaniSailor vacuum system for pump-outs.
Yet Another Public Hearing on Rezoning Old School
By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
June 29, 2012
Cape Charles Town Council voted last night to refer the proposed rezoning of the property known as Old Cape Charles School to the Planning Commission, along with the request for a conditional use permit that would allow the school to be converted into an apartment building.
The rezoning and conditional use permits are requirements of the contract with Echelon Resources, Inc., which Town Council approved June 14 for the sale of the old school in the park.
The Planning Commission will consider the rezoning and conditional use permit July 10. A public hearing will also be scheduled for that date.
This will be the 7th time that the public has been asked to provide comment on the sale, rezoning, and conditional use of the former school building, as follows: [Read more…]
Group Offers to Pay Town $10,000 for Old School Building
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
June 28, 2012
The group known as Old School Cape Charles, LLC, has submitted a proposal to the Town of Cape Charles offering to purchase the former school building adjoining Central Park for $10,000.
The proposal is contained in a letter dated June 26 addressed to Mayor Dora Sullivan. The Cape Charles Wave obtained a copy of the letter today.
On June 14, the Cape Charles Town Council voted to authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with Echelon Resources, Inc., to sell the school property for the nominal price of $10. Echelon Resources would then convert the school into a 17-unit apartment building.
The letter from the attorney representing Old School Cape Charles states that “it is my . . . understanding that no contract has been executed yet.” The Old School Cape Charles proposal “should be far more attractive to the Town Council,” wrote attorney Kevin Martingayle.
In addition to paying the town $10,000, the proposal includes paying all applicable taxes as well as water and utilities.
Old School Cape Charles hopes to convert the school into a community center. Financing would rely on a funding plan including grants, capital campaigns, pledge drives, cultivation events, sales, fees and rental charges, as well as tax incentives and other programs available through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
The full letter to Mayor Sullivan from Old School Cape Charles may be read by clicking here: OSCC proposal
