Board discusses site-visit access and potential VIMS training for wetlands education

Board members at the May 20 meeting raised concerns about site access for permit review and suggested the board pursue more field-based education, including programs from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).

One board member said the meeting packet implied site access but the property was locked and suggested the board be given clear instructions on whether a visit requires a request: “if we get a package, my you know, I politely asked that we should know whether we can get access or we need to request it,” the member said. Community Development staff offered to have the chairman coordinate access with the applicant or property contact, and the applicant’s representative said Dan Jacobs would be “more than willing to have somebody come down and do a site visit.”

Members discussed whether attending together would constitute a meeting under FOIA and asked staff to check. The board also discussed arranging educational opportunities: one board member suggested VIMS webinars and field trips to learn to identify wetland plants and habitats. Staff said she would check whether funds exist in the wetlands board professional services budget to support VIMS training or field trips.

Board members agreed that seeing completed permits in the field is useful for learning and oversight; staff and the applicant offered to coordinate site access and follow-up visits after permits are issued or work begins.