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Commission clears page‑2 permit block; separately approves Newport News oyster‑fleet work and conditionally approves Norfolk marina extension
Summary
VMRC approved a block of routine waterfront permits, took separate votes on two pulled items — Newport News public‑facility pier reconstructions (approved with abstentions) and Bay Point Marina floating‑dock extension (approved contingent on Navy concurrence) — and assessed royalties and dredging fees where applicable.
At its Jan. 28 meeting the Marine Resources Commission approved a block of routine Page 2 permit items and then considered two items that had been removed from the consent block for separate votes.
VMRC staff presented a group of Page 2 matters (shoreline encroachments, pier replacements, small marinas and dredging requests across several jurisdictions) and recommended approval of the block. The commission approved the block by voice vote.
Item 2E (City of Newport News, permit no. 24-2073) — staff described multiple pier and finger‑pier rebuilds and dredging adjacent to a public facility on Deep Creek intended to improve access for the public oyster fleet. Chief Owen confirmed local and agency reviews and recommended approval. The commission held a separate vote on 2E after removing it from the block; Associate Member Branson moved approval and Associate Member Edwards seconded. Two commissioners, Mr. Erskine and Ms. Kellum, recorded abstentions. The motion carried with six votes in favor and two abstentions. Staff recorded a royalty for the conversion associated with the project as recommended.
Item 2H (Bay Point Marina LLC, permit no. 24‑1886) — staff recommended approval of a 280‑foot by 16‑foot floating‑dock extension at Bay Point Marina in the city of Norfolk, but advised the commission that adjacent navigation concerns required confirmation from the U.S. Navy (Little Creek/Naval facility) because of large ship movements in the channel. The Corps of Engineers had issued navigation concurrence; staff recommended conditional approval contingent on receiving a written green light from the Navy. Associate Member Branson moved approval contingent on Navy concurrence and Associate Member Headley seconded. The motion passed with one abstention (Associate Member White) and the remainder voting in favor.
Staff also summarized royalties and dredging fees for several items in the block: a mechanical dredge of 6,090 cubic yards at Safe Harbor Blue Water (disposal at approved upland facility) with a dredging charge of $3,654 at $0.60/yd3; Kendall Morgan’s dredging request for 106,800 cubic yards at $0.60/yd3 producing an assessed dredging royalty of $64,080; and a bridge encroachment by the Roanoke Cement Company with a recommended encroachment royalty of $4,136 for 2,068 square feet of bottom. For Bay Point Marina staff recommended a royalty of $13,440 for the proposed encroachment in that narrow channel, but advised the commission to make approval contingent on Navy concurrence before issuing a permit.
