The Lancaster County Wetlands Board approved a series of shoreline permit applications Tuesday, clearing projects that board members said are intended to repair eroding banks and, in one case, install a living shoreline in Bridal Cove.

The approvals cover several separate property owners and agents and received little substantive opposition during the meeting. County staff and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) told the board they had no outstanding concerns on the applications that were presented.

Board Chair Edna Revere opened the meeting and called up each application. Kelsey English of Ransons Nursery and Maintenance represented the applicant for a living-shoreline proposal at Bridal Cove. "We plan to install a living shoreline," English said, adding the project did not qualify for a Group 2 general permit "due to the 40-foot section in the middle that is to remain beach nourishment." English said the middle section would preserve public access by foot and small nonmotorized craft and that wetland plantings at the ends are expected to migrate into that area over time.

Joseph Scott of Solterra Solutions represented two separate riprap applications. For a project on Diamond Creek for Ellen and Brian Clark, Scott said his team removed a previously proposed 35-foot section after a February site visit and stopped the revetment in front of a large oak tree. "We did get rid of the 35 feet that's on the end of this particular project," Scott said. The board recorded that vote as 5-0 in favor of the Clark project.

Scott also described a larger riprap project for Albert Frankenhoff and Robert Walker that will span three parcels to armor failing bulkheads and eroding sections of shoreline; he described the total project length as 370 feet and said the work is intended to place material in front of failing bulkheads and to stabilize undercut banks. Another application from Kelsey English sought repair of about 50 feet of existing riprap on a peninsula property where underlying filter cloth has failed and sections are beginning to sink; staff said the project is essentially a repair of the existing revetment.

VMRC staff member Tiffany Burch told the board VMRC had no additional comments on the Bridal Cove application and was processing any required subaqueous permits. County staff likewise said the applicants and agents had satisfied the county's application requirements.

Votes at a glance: the board approved each of the presented permit applications and approved the minutes from the March meeting. The Clark riprap permit was recorded as 5-0; other approvals were passed after motions and seconding and by members indicating approval during the meeting record (no individual roll-call tallies were read for those items in the transcript).

Why it matters: The permits allow property owners to install or repair shoreline stabilization structures that the applicants and their agents say are intended to arrest bank erosion and protect shorefront property. VMRC review or permitting was noted as pending or in process where work extends channelward of mean low water.

The board adjourned at 9:46 a.m.