On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, Virginia Beach City Council has a workshop.
On the agenda: “Trees with Barbara Henley”
At this Council meeting the discussion should not be if trees are important. The questions are:
– What are the ramifications against the City if they continue to ignore the laws currently in place?
– And what remedies do citizens have against the City and developers when their property is damaged due to this lack of enforcement?
The fact is that there are already laws in place — the City of Virginia Beach refuses to enforce them.
For instance, the same federal legislation that established the no longer existing “green line“ not only assists the City in obtaining, protecting, and managing the land in these critical areas — it requires them to do so.
The Commonwealth of Virginia has additional regulations the City has not enforced in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. Many of these provisions the City has already adopted in their municipal code — yet, they go completely unenforced.
I have spoken with multiple individuals who have reported violations of these provisions to the City. To date, I am not aware of a single incident being investigated; and, in a single one, of nearly one hundred incidents, a fine was levied.
It takes a mere drive through the Princess Anne District to see that trees are being cleared at a greater rate than ever before. The irony that Barbara Henley can, but hasn’t, prevented this from happening, but wants to talk about its importance…!?
That has already been decided. What can I, as a citizen, do to hold the City accountable for their continuing negligence?
State requirements:
Section 10.1-1127.1. Tree conservation ordinance; civil penalties.
Section 15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process in certain localities.
Section 15.2-960. Planting of trees destroyed during construction.
Section 15.2-961.1. Conservation of trees during land development process in localities belonging to a nonattainment area for air quality standards.
Virginia Beach Municipal Code:
APPENDIX E – TREE PLANTING, PRESERVATION AND REPLACEMENT
APPENDIX F – CHESAPEAKE BAY PRESERVATION AREA ORDINANCE
APPENDIX G – SOUTHERN RIVERS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORDINACE
Unenforced provisions:
Keep Virginia Beach Above Water 