The following Op-Ed was written and submitted by local photographer Rachel Stevens.
As someone who has cherished Cape Charles since my childhood, I feel deeply compelled to speak out against the proposed beachfront master plan. My parents first brought me here in 1997, and I’ve watched this special place evolve over the years. Cape Charles has always held a unique charm—a blend of natural beauty, rich history, and a tight-knit local community that makes it unlike any other coastal town. I’ve spent countless hours here as a local who calls this place home.
The beachfront has seen its fair share of change, but nothing as sweeping and irreversible as this proposal. This new master plan threatens to rip away everything our town stands for. The delicate balance between progress and preservation is at risk, and I fear this plan will tip us over the edge. What makes Cape Charles so extraordinary is its sense of authenticity. It’s a place where both locals and visitors alike can feel the heartbeat of a genuine coastal town, where the sunsets over the dunes are magical, and the environment feels untouched.
For me, as a professional photographer who conducts about five sessions a week down at our beach, I’ve been privileged to capture the natural beauty of the dunes, the soft golden light, and the joy on families’ faces as they interact with the untouched charm of the area. This is what draws people here—not commercialization or overdevelopment. This plan would fundamentally alter what makes Cape Charles so special, stripping away that timeless beauty in favor of something much less authentic.
Beyond the visual impact, the environmental toll concerns me the most. The dunes are a fragile, precious ecosystem. They serve as a natural barrier, protect wildlife, and contribute to the overall health of the shoreline. Disrupting this ecosystem could have devastating consequences not only for the environment but also for our future generations. Once the dunes are gone, they’re gone for good.
What’s even more disheartening is that changes like these have a tendency to push locals further and further away from the town they love. Cape Charles thrives on tourism, but it’s the locals who keep the town alive long after the tourists have left. We are the ones who stay here year-round, who attend the town meetings, who raise our families here, volunteer, and who support local businesses even when the streets aren’t bustling with visitors. This plan doesn’t just impact the aesthetics of the beach; it threatens the very soul of our community. If we continue down this path, the charm that brought so many people here—including my own family—will be lost.
I urge the town council to reconsider this beachfront master plan and to listen to the voices of those who have lived here, loved here, and invested in the future of Cape Charles. The charm of this town is irreplaceable, and we need to cherish it, not pave over it in the name of progress. Our town’s future depends on preserving its past and protecting its environment, not on creating a version of Cape Charles that caters only to short-term interests. Let’s keep the locals at the heart of this town, because when tourist season dries up for the year, we are still here, standing strong and invested in this place we call home.
Editor’s Note: Your voices must be heard. Just because you don’t own property in town, or no longer reside inside Cape Charles, the fate of Public Beach, while it is still public, concerns you and your family. Locals have a stake in what happens to the beach and need to speak up. Let them know what you think.
All comments should be submitted either through the Beachfront Master Plan Virtual Public Meeting Room, or by email to our Town Clerk Libby Hume – Email: clerk@capecharles.org.
David Kabler says @ September 2, 2024 at 2:52 pm:
Look ahead 20 years and picture Cape Charles with 3000 full time residents and accommodation for 5000 short term visitors.
That is our reality!
It’s a bold vision for the most attractive asset of our town and we must get started right away.
“The plan, which includes modifications to the dunes along Bay Avenue, is designed to provide unobstructed sunset views.”
Basically tear down the dunes. Walking to the beach for a sunset is too difficult? Nicer to stand on concrete than take the shoes off and stand on the cool sand?
More sand and less concrete!
I think Rachel Stevens. speaks for all the residents who love Cape Charles and not the summer people who
Spend a week here and go home. However money has a louder voice and will always drown US OUT
Waste of money. I could rant 20 things Cape Charles needs before doing a beach front project. Jobs, jobs, jobs is the only thing Cape Charles needs.
This November’s vote for council is the only chance to save this charming town from the carpet baggers that run it now. Vote for candidates that are not recommended by Bay Creek or the lobying group for short term rentals.
Hopefully everyone who loves this little town will either attend the Meet the Candidates forums or watch online, so that we know which ones stand for the interests of the folks who live here and not just about money in their pockets.
I have study the very sophisticate 3d 360 view of the beach master plan. I think the Disney Consultant did a great job replicating a design they used in Orlando Disney World. Kudos to the town for hiring the Disney people. But I didn’t see any mice or duck in the plan
Town Council threatens everything we stand for.
Another golf cart fatality.
Will local press downplay the “incident”?
Perhaps, but the count will grow.
Sad.
Wholeheartedly agree with this piece. The dunes have taken years to build and protect us from storms. The sandbars that remain between the jetty and the first breakwater are loved by visitors and locals. More breakwaters would build a beach where these are now. It’s NATURAL beauty and history that make our town what it is. We residents of the historic district can’t so much as change a light fixture without a permit. What’s proposed here is an affront to our nature and history. The plan does nothing to fix parking for residents. In fact it does nothing at all for residents. The aim is to draw tourists. Enough. We need balance. There are other things we should be spending money on. Residents need to remember we are the ones who vote. Money shouldn’t trump community.
Money always trumps community.
Money trumps everything, even common sense.
Developers are Experts at “persuading” elected officials and other people in leadership positions to go along with the program.
Again, I watched them in action in Virginia Beach.
They are very $lick and un$topable.
Now is the time to enjoy Cape Charles because soon it will become a memory.
They paved paradise, and put in a parking lot!
I agree with Ms. Stevens completely.
The thing about a town like ours – the very thing that draws people here – is that it isn’t like everywhere else. However our leadership doesn’t seem to recognize or value this. All over the world places are becoming more and more the same, in many instances trading for tourists dollars until community is threatened. And in many places residents are pushing back, demanding limits. We have a chance to preserve what is left of what made this place unique and special. Hoping a brave leader will propose something meaningful to residents or fostering of community.
Where and why is all this money pouring into the Eastern Shore?
My investigation into Cape Charles corruption uncovers disturbing links to Jack Fisher, former owner of Bay Creek, who was sentenced for $1.3 billion in tax fraud. Despite the gravity of this case, it hasn’t been thoroughly investigated, especially regarding the additional perpetrators involved, as the focus has largely been on Fisher’s dealings in Georgia. The IRS was supposedly going after all the investors tied to this scheme, but there seems to have been a settlement deal that kept getting sweeter over time. I want to know what that settlement was and whether it’s connected to what’s happening now.
With over $20 billion in land sales tied to Fisher’s cases in Georgia and Virginia, many of the same players are still influencing decisions today. Questionable land ownership, shell companies, and permit flipping are just the tip of the iceberg. This isn’t about poor planning—it’s deliberate manipulation, with powerful financial backers pulling the strings. While many focus on short-term rental debates, the real issue is far more scandalous, involving potential blackmail, bribery, or extortion. The people of Cape Charles deserve full transparency and accountability before these shady dealings reshape our town’s future and the entirety of the Eastern Shore. It’s time to bring these hidden decisions into the light and start asking the tough questions.
I encourage everyone to attend the Board of Supervisor meetings in Eastville and question everything. It seems that Northampton County government and individual town governments have gone a little rogue, and we need to be asking questions and showing up. Also, ask who the board members are of ANY company or nonprofit dealing with the Eastern Shore—it’s very telling.
Democracy starts with the consent of the governed.
And ends……?