In coordination with the neighborhoods surrounding the Old Donation Creek tributary to the Western Branch of the Lynnhaven, the City is considering a new strategy to assist communities in re-establishing navigational channels. The proposal involves the establishment of a Special Service District, where the waterfront property owners within the community would agree to a surcharge on their real estate taxes for the expressed purpose of constructing the navigation channels.
As the proposal currently stands, the City would cost-participate by dredging a ‘spur’ channel from the main City navigation channel to the neighborhood. The Special Service District revenues would cover the cost of continuing that channel, as a ‘neighborhood channel’ into the community to serve all participating properties. Individual channels, linking private properties to the neighborhood channel would be funded entirely by those property owners wishing to connect to the system. The City would provide project management, including design, permitting, real estate acquisition, construction and monitoring. The costs of these project management services for the neighborhood channel system would be paid by the SSD, and by the individual property owners who elect to participate by creating individual channels to their properties.
City Council was briefed on this concept on September 14, 2010. With their concurrence, City staff will participate in a community workshop to share the details of the proposal and to assess the willingness of the community to accept the Special Service District taxing proposal. City Council has agreed with staff’s recommendation for an 80% willingness threshold. If the community indicates a willingness equal or exceeding 80%, staff will prepare an ordinance for Council’s consideration which would enact the SSD. A formal City Council public hearing will occur prior to adoption of such an ordinance.
If this program is successful for Old Donation Creek, it is anticipated that the opportunity will be made available for other waterfront communities, using the adopted program for Old Donation as a template.
Posted Nov. 29, 2016:
Select
Neighborhood Dredging Program Frequently Asked Questions to view Neighborhood SSD questions and answers.
The following informational documents are associated with this program:
Bayville Creek
Posted October 7, 2011:
Posted November 28, 2011:
Posted December 7, 2011:
Posted January 31, 2012:
Posted February 6, 2012:
- Select
Buchannon Creek to view the presentation given at the Public Briefing February 2, 2012
Posted February 10, 2012:
Posted February 21, 2012:
Posted March 16, 2012:
Posted April 17, 2012:
Posted April 25, 2012:
Posted September 19, 2012
Posted November 6, 2012
Posted November 14, 2012
Posted December 21, 2012
Posted January 30, 2013
Posted April 12, 2013
Posted May 20, 2013
Posted July 24, 2013
Posted August 21, 2013
Posted November 20, 2013
- Select
Hurds Cove SSD Briefing given to City Council November 19, 2013, to allow Staff to move forward to the petition phase.
Posted November 18, 2013
Posted January 16, 2014
- Select
Harbour Point SSD to view the Pre-Adoption Briefing given to City Council January 14, 2014
Posted February 12, 2014
Posted March 7, 2014
Posted March 20, 2014
Posted May 2, 2014
Posted May 12, 2014
Posted June 4, 2014
Posted December 3, 2014
Posted January 30, 2015
Posted May 15, 2015
Posted May 15, 2015
Posted August 30, 2018
- Select
Riverhaven SSD to view the Community Briefing given August 27, 2018
Posted November 16, 2018
- Select Gills Cove for the Project Status Briefing given November 8, 2018
- Select Brown Cove to view the Community Briefing presented at Cox High School April 10, 2019