In 2021, Wycliffe Church announced the sale of their subdivided property to Bishard Development Company to fill in the lake that many of us have known as “Red Bridge” (and the city has called Lake Conrad 2) to build 12 new homes.  Over the past two years, Bishard Development has been conducting a “feasibility study” to determine if they can accomplish their goals.  During this process, the city of Virginia Beach determined that no new stormwater drainage pond was necessary and the developer could just extend pipes to accommodate the 55,000 gallons of water that the pond currently holds. Despite the regulatory agencies, including the Virginia Marine Resource Commission, the VA Department of Environmental Quality, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and our city’s planning and storm-water departments being engaged by your community leadership, permits to fill in this beautiful environment are being approved to clear the path for development.

In late 2022, the city stormwater management division of public works requested that City Council transfer money from a state and federal funded account to purchase a water filtration device for the lake to a “cost participation arrangement with a private developer.” This action was unexpected, and there was not time to engage the community for more help. However, several representatives from our neighborhood wrote letters of objection,  since we had not been involved in any discussion about this new device or the propriety of assisting a private developer without any known benefit to our community.  Immediately, GNE Civic League President Derrick Copeland to the Council about our concerns, expressed appreciation for the “indefinite deferral” ruling, and then proposed the idea of making this an Open Space purchase by the city instead.  Also GNLA President Ryan Sully expressed objection due to the conflicting information presented to the Lakes Association.

The Great Neck Estates Civic League and the Great Neck Lakes Association are asking for your help engaging our City Council to not approve this application that will result in the development and instead preserve the land as a stormwater park for our community.

 Historically, this land served the Helping Hands Summer Camp for children with special needs (as featured in the Great Neck Neighbors West magazine). It also housed the early intervention program for young children with special needs. During this time, the city (us taxpayers) paid for improvements to the property that will be sold.  A new roof, mini-split system, carpet and paint was paid for by the city when they terminated their lease. Trees were removed and dredging was done at a cost of $140,638.10 to the City. The playground that our neighborhood has enjoyed (and is still welcome to use) was built as a donation to the special needs community.  The lovely grounds have seen scout troops, weddings, Easter egg hunts, and many walkers and hikers. The application before City Council states that it has not been used for Religious Purposes for "decades" yet it is still being used today as a path to the church for residents of GNE, via the sign that is advertising services on Great Neck Road, and by visitors to the outdoor sanctuary that is actively used by the community, as intended when the church constructed it.

The builder plans to demolish all of this so that he might build homes on the wetland infill. The addition of 12 homes will result in additional traffic and safety concerns on this busy intersection. Residents and visitors to Great Neck Estates and Great Neck Manor currently have to make U-turns to safely turn left out of their neighborhoods. Adding 200+ cars daily to this intersection will necessitate a traffic light when widening the median has already been rejected by the Traffic Engineering Department. We expect the lower waters of Fairbanks Cove in Great Neck Lake to be flooded when the grounds, trees, and pond are no longer there to absorb water flowing off Great Neck Road, unless another containment solution is devised between the city and the developer. The recommendations currently indicate "no mitigation" is necessary. Homes adjacent to the property on Millwood Road will have to endure two or more years of construction.  The historic structures on the property, possibly dating back to the 19th century, will be destroyed. The hunting lodge from Pepsi Cola executives will have to withstand the nearby pile driving.

Property that has been the home to migratory birds, endangered long-eared bats, bald eagles, and monarch butterflies will be removed to build “high end homes on 10,000 square foot lots.” This does nothing to alleviate the lack of affordable homes in our city, the density in our Great Neck corridor, or flooding into our storm drainage systems. It does nothing to improve our quality of life. A stormwater park under the Open Spaces program will allow a safe place for children to play, for seniors to walk through a natural setting, and a place for friends to congregate. A water filtration system has already been approved and budgeted (a hydrodynamic separator) to improve water quality into Great Neck Lake. And the historic grounds can continue to serve both the drainage needs and the social needs of our neighborhood and surrounding communities. A stormwater park is the highest and best use of this property, not new housing. Thank you for your voice!!

Great Neck Estates Civic League opposes the request for Modifications by Wycliffe Church to their Conditional Use Permit from Religious Use to Residential Housing zoning for the following reasons:

1. The Property has been used by the residents for decades as a path between Great Neck Estates’ Millwood Road and Poplar Point Road, as a park to walk their dogs, as a playground to swing their children, as a safe nature walk around the trails, and as a link to businesses such as the Lynnhaven Dive Center, nearby restaurants, and services.

2. Great Neck Manor has a 5 parcel, R-10, city-owned buffer between the neighborhood and Great Neck Road. Great Neck Estates should also.

3. The property fits the new criteria for the Open Space Program and would serve the community and city better as green space with stormwater drainage than as 12 or less homes that don’t fit the affordability criteria for the city.

4. Great Neck Lakes Association has expressed concerns over flooding when the water is no longer contained by almost 4 acres of soil, trees, and 53,500 cft of water contained perpetually in Lake Conrad 2. The city has suggested a substitution that is not intended, per the manufacturer, to hold water, only to filter it, so these concerns have not been addressed. 

5. Virginia Beach made commitments to the citizens under the Flood Protection Program referendum not to approve any project that increases the demand on our waterways. The City Council has had four opportuities since the referendum passed to implement legislation, as promised, and have not done so. If they had, we would not have this concern in front of us.

6. The city has made investments in this property for decades, using it as a wet pond for drainage off Great Neck Road, installing larger drains when The Reserve, Spring Branch, and surrounding commercial properties were developed. Most recently, the city dredged part of Lake Conrad 2 and removed trees from the banks at the cost of $140,638.10. The city also spent tens of thousands in the A-frame building within the last five years. The attorney for the Church described it as "deteriorated" because the church can't afford to maintain it. Tax-payers have invested heavily in this property that the Church is asking to be returned to Residential Housing in order to maximize their profit.

7. The city use of Lake Conrad as one of their identified wet ponds and MS4 receiving waters has caused a financial hardship to the Church, resulting in the actions to subdivide and sell the property. A few years ago, the city had threatened to fine the Church $32,000 for not maintaining a clearance around the lake, until the DEQ intervened. The church spent $13,000 to remove trees on the side that they were maintaining and then the City came and removed even more trees surrounding the entire lake just prior to the developers application. The lack of communication surrounding this property has resulted in wasted expense and an investment by the citizens of Virginia Beach that should enjoy a return as well.

8. With assistance of national and state funding, the city had planned the installation of a Hydro- dynamic Separator to clean water flowing off Great Neck Road into Lake Conrad 2. The project was suspended when the developer made inquiries into buying the property. This has caused a delay in the water quality improvements that were announced to Great Neck Lakes Association and Great Neck Estates Civic League in 2019, with the assistance of Attorney General Jason Miyares.

9. Residents object to the destruction of this natural habitat, which is home to several migratory birds, endangered monarch butterflies and long-eared bats, ospreys, hawks, bald eagles, beavers, ducks, otters, tree frogs, bullfrogs, turtles, and a variety of fish.

10. Residents have concerns about the increase in cars coming from a new development, especially with increased dangers turning left from both Great Neck Estates and Great Neck Manor. An addition of 200+ car trips to and from this intersection is a danger to the community and commuters on this 6 lane major artery.

11. Residents object to the style of housing that is proposed by this developer which is not cohesive with the mid-century neighborhoods on both sides of Great Neck Road. Since this is the style that any builder will employ to maximize profits, the neighborhood objects to changing the Use from Religious to Housing. The neighborhood recommends changing the zoning to conservation, recreation, open space, and stormwater drainage-- a stormwater park is this land's highest and best use.