THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501200266
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK DUROSE, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
If you're looking for good design in Virginia Beach, the Planning Commission says you'll find it in a Back Bay pig sty.
Also, in a Holland Road neighborhood with a wildlife habitat, a surf shop, a nursing home and the 24th Street Park.
Each month, planning commissioners get together in a van and tour the city, looking at landscaping, architecture and residential and commercial developments. At the end of the year, they vote on the best design in Virginia Beach.
Sometimes the results are surprising.
One of this year's winners was the Barry D. Knight Hog Farm on Mill Landing Road. It received the Outstanding Agriculture Operation award for being a pioneer in environmentally aware waste disposal methods.
``As we ride around in the van, we each pick out buildings or projects to vote on at the end of the year. What we like to recognize are outstanding projects, some for design, some for the way they've dealt with environmental concerns or restrictions, some just because we like the way the landscaping was done,'' said Judy Rosenblatt, a commission member and lawyer.
Barbara Ferguson also is a member of the commission and has headed the Design Award committee for all four years it has been in existence.
``We came up with this idea because we felt there were so many developers in the city who have been willing to go further than they need to,'' she said. ``Plus, there are a lot of them who voluntarily consult with our Design Advisory Board to come up with the best results possible. We felt some sort of recognition was due, and, so far, it's been well-received.''
Ferguson added, ``We hoped that this would motivate other developers to take notice of what CAN be done.
``I think it's worked, especially in residential projects, in terms of landscaping and environmental concerns. I see developers more and more wanting to put their signature on it, to be proud of what they've done. In the '80s, it seemed to be pretty much put up a house as fast as you can and be done with it. We wanted to see a move away from that, and I think we have.''
Sharing Ferguson's opinion is Karen Lasley, planning operations coordinator for the Planning Department and liaison between that office and the commission.
``The awards are for people who have gone an extra mile in regards to ordinances and codes, instead of just doing the minimum,'' Lasley said. The first year or two, for example, I don't believe there was even an award given for residential development.''
This year, there were two winners.
Ed Sadler of Sadler-Katzman won the Outstanding Residential Development Award for Mill Dam Forest, a 28-lot subdivision off Mill Dam Road. Sadler was cited for beautiful quality homes and meticulous attention to environmental concerns. The area developed falls within what is called a resource protection area, an ordinance that helps protect the Chesapeake Bay and the surrounding water basin from sedimentation and pollution. A special effort was made to save as many trees as possible, and an easement of 100 feet around the creek was formed.
A certificate of recognition was given to the Hartford Development Group for Parkside Green, off of Holland Road. The developers, in this case, established a certified wildlife habitat that was integrated with the open spaces of their subdivision.
On the commercial end, there were four winners. Jahn Summs won the Outstanding Award for Church Point Commons, which is between Church Point and Thoroughgood on Pleasure House Road. It was chosen for architectural appeal, the pond with aerating fountain and wooden walkway that surrounds the pond.
A certificate of recognition was given to Les Shaw, owner of Wave Riding Vehicles, for his building at Cypress Avenue and 19th Street. A certificate of honorable mention was awarded to Paula Collins and Bruce Mills, the developer/owners of Collins Square Shopping Center, located in the Thalia/Rosemont area.
A special commercial category - outstanding private institutional project - was won by the Sentara Life Care Corporation for the Sentara Nursing Center and Village. Features mentioned were the elegant brick buildings and the buffer of native vegetation between the center and Route 44.
In addition, for the first time, an award was bestowed on the city for outstanding public project. It was granted in recognition of the architectural design and construction of the 24th Street Park at the Oceanfront.
Unlike the other awards, this one will be presented to Mayor Meyera Oberndorf Feb. 8 at the Planning Commission public hearing.
Oberndorf said, ``On behalf of the council and myself, we are quite gratified to have been chosen for the first public award, because the vision for the Oceanfront development is one that has been shared by the council and all the citizens, and it is with a great deal of joy that I'll accept this award for all of us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
The 24th Street Park at the Oceanfront, which is enclosed by white
wooden trellises along the boardwalk and Atlantic Avenue, drew the
first award for outstanding public project for its architectural
design and construction.
by CNB