As expected, the overnight rain turned to snow about 7 a.m. Thursday. The latest National Weather Service forecast for Reston says 3 to 7 inches are expected. Plan for snow all day.
Here are some updates on closings and conditions:
Fairfax County Public Schools are closed. School Age Child Care (SACC) centers are closed.
The Federal Government is closed.
Fairfax County Government offices are closed. Employees are granted emergency administrative leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.
The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are closed.
Fairfax Connector bus service may be affected by the inclement weather. Check the Connector Web page at fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.
For information about FASTRAN, call 703-222-9764Call: 703-222-9764, TTY 711, or online at fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/fastran.htm.
View the public meetings calendar for any potential cancellations of public meetings of Fairfax County government Boards, Authorities or Commissions.
Emergency information is available on Fairfax County’s website (www.fairfaxcounty.gov), Facebook (www.facebook.com/fairfaxcounty), Twitter (www.twitter.com/fairfaxcounty), Fairfax Alerts at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts or by calling the Fairfax County Emergency Information Hotline at 703-817-7771Call: 703-817-7771, TTY 711.
Reston Association offices are are also closed.
What do you plan to do on what seems like the 100th snow day this season?
Snow file photo by Robbie Nolan
Fairfax County remains under a Winter Storm Warning through Thursday night.
Fairfax County Public Schools have canceled school Thursday as 4 to 8 inches of snow may fall in Northern Virginia.
From FCPS:
All Fairfax County public schools and offices will be closed March 5 (Condition 1).
The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:
extracurricular activities
interscholastic contests
team practices
field trips
middle school after-school programs
professional learning and training courses
adult and community education classes
recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS
School age child care (SACC) centers are closed.
Fairfax County Police have arrested a teenager in connection with a series of police impersonations on Fairfax County roads.
Police charged Tyler Scott Polkinghorne, 19, of 5066 Dequincey Dr. in Fairfax, with one count of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer. Polkinghorne turned himself in at the Adult Detention Center on Monday.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Further charges are possible.
Fairfax County Crime Solvers said last week they were offering a reward to anyone led them to information on the run of impersonations that began last October. This arrest did bot end up as the result of a tip through Crime Solvers, however.
Crime Solvers said each of the three incidents in Fairfax County, a person driving on a public highway encountered a vehicle behind them that activated emergency lights, similar to what you would see on an unmarked police car.
Police did not say where in the county the incidents occurred.
The suspect vehicle in each of these three incidents has been described as a black Volkswagen sedan such as a Jetta or Passat, bearing Virginia license plates.
In each of the three incidents, the drivers did not believe the vehicle was an actual police car and therefore, did not pull over. The suspect vehicle drove away without further contact.
Photo: Tyler Scott Polkinghorne/Credit: FCPD
Bechtel Corporation will expand its Reston headquarters, a move that is expected to create 700 jobs here.
Bechtel relocated its global operations headquarters to Reston from Frederick, Md., in 2011, and more jobs were moved here last fall despite Maryland’s efforts to get them to remain.
The engineering, construction and project management company will invest $10 million for the relocation, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Wednesday.
“Bechtel Corporation relocated its Global Operations headquarters from Maryland to Fairfax County in 2011, and continues to thrive in our first-rate business climate,” McAullife said in a statement.
“Today’s announcement further solidifies the company’s commitment to Virginia, and we are thrilled to see the operation grow and create high-value, diverse jobs. Ensuring that our corporate partners succeed and bring jobs of this caliber is critical for building a new Virginia economy, and Bechtel is an important part of our efforts.”
Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, it has 58,000 colleagues that team with customers, partners and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters is in San Francisco.
Bechtel Chief Executive Officer Bill Dudley said Reston has been “ideal location” for the company. The company, currently located in offices at 12011 Sunset Hills Rd., plans to lease another 175,000 square feet of office space, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA) says.
“Since relocating our global operational headquarters to Reston in 2011, we have enjoyed immense support from the business community of Fairfax County and the Commonwealth,” said Dudley. “Reston has proven to be an ideal location for Bechtel. Conveniently situated between two airports, it facilitates international and domestic travel, which is key to our business, provides access to a highly skilled workforce, and offers an enjoyable work/life environment for our employees.”
Dudley said Reston was chosen over Texas and Arizona.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County EDA to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Fairfax County with the project.
The Governor also approved $4 million in funds from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant (VEDIG). VEDIG was established as a self-funded program of performance-based incentives that the Commonwealth awards to exceptional economic development projects with large numbers of employees and very high wages relative to average wages for that particular area.
“This is the second time in less than four years that we have had the pleasure of announcing Bechtel’s job growth, which speaks volumes about the confidence the company has in Fairfax County as a business location,” Gerald L. Gordon, President and CEO of the Fairfax County EDA said. “Bechtel is a great corporate citizen and we are delighted that the company can take advantage of the business assets and quality of life that the county offers.”
Bechtel was the lead partner of Dulles Transit Partners, the contractor responsible for building the first phase of the Metro Silver Line.
All seven candidates for Reston Association’s Board of Directors said at a Candidates Forum on Monday that they are in favor of RA acquiring the former Reston Visitors Center for recreational and community use — but with caveats.
RA has sent a letter of intent to Tetra, the property owner for more than a decade, to purchase the building on Baron Cameron Drive for $2.65 million. The acquisition of the 3.48-acre property adjacent to RA’s Brown’s Chapel Park and Lake Newport would give the association 98 contiguous acres of open space and prevent a developer from purchasing the property — and using the 3,128-square-foot building — for a commercial enterprise, which is allowed under the current Reston Master Plan designation.
RA is planning a member referendum on the subject in April. If approved by the members (10 percent of 17,506 eligible voters), RA hopes to close the deal in July.
Andy Sigle, the former RA Vice President running for the South Lakes seat, said “the devil is in the details” when it comes to the purchase.
“In general, yes, I am in favor,” said Sigle. “We can hold that space and make sure it stays the way RA wants it means a lot. But we need to ask the questions that need to be asked.”
RA CEO Cate Fulkerson said there is $650,000 from an unnamed developer that will go towards renovation and repurposing the Tetra building.
“My question is what’s the next-best thing the money can be used for?” said Sigle.
Incumbent South Lakes Director Richard Chew has similar questions, but says answers are on the way.
“Is this acquisition in the best interest of RA? The short answer is ‘yes,’ ” he said. “Rest assured, the current board is asking difficult questions, financial questions. These are sensitive behind-the-scenes questions. The answers are coming shortly.”
At-Large Candidate Ray Wedell, a leader with Rescue Reston and proponent of protecting open space in Reston, said “this is an issue rare opportunity to seize control of open space.”
“We HAVE to take control of the Tetra building,” he said. “Of course there are issues, but they are all minor compared to difficulties we will face in stewardship of land. We will look back on this as a no-brainer.”
Other candidates Julie Bitzer (South Lakes), Mike Sanio (At-Large), Dannielle LaRosa (North Point) and Charles Dorfeuille (North Point) said they had similar concerns about the developer contributions and other financials, but were in favor of acquiring the building to protect green space and boost community programming.
Other topics of discussion at the forum included RA’s 2016-17 budget, member outreach and support for aging homes and clusters in need of renovation.
See the entire forum on the YouTube clip above.
Voting in the 2015 election (online or by mail) began Monday and will continue through the end of March.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave final approval on Tuesday to Lake Anne Development Partners’ project to revitalize Crescent Apartments and the Lake Anne area.
“Lake Anne redevelopment has been a very long long process,” Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said when introducing the motions for decision at the board’s meeting. “I am pleased today to reach a conclusion.”
The public hearing portion of the meeting was held Feb. 17.
The final approval sets the stage for Lake Anne Development Partners to start the project, which they hope will add density and transform Reston’s oldest area.
Stacy Hornstein, senior vice president and director of acquisition and development for Republic Land Development, an LADP partner, said they hope to break ground in early 2016.
“Lake Anne Development Partners is very excited that the Board of Supervisors approved the plan for redevelopment of the Crescent Apartments and the revitalization Lake Anne,” said Hornstein. “A project of this magnitude requires the expertise and assistance of many county departments, individuals and our team members. It is through their diligent efforts that we have reached this first of many milestones to come.”
The project is slated to add more than 1,000 apartments and townhouses, mostly where the 181-unit, county owned Crescent Apartments stands today. LADP’s plan also calls for 78,000 square feet of office space and 58,000 square feet of retail space, a modest-sized grocery store and realignment of Village Road. The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the project’s county staff report.
The interior section of Lake Anne Plaza, Reston’s original village center, has historic designation and will not be altered. However, developers hope the increased density and revitalization of the surrounding area will draw retailers and people to the plaza. The entire project will take about a dozen years to complete. The project was recommended for approval earlier this year by the Fairfax County Planning Commission. Read More
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Reston and the Washington, D.C., metro area from late Wednesday night through 9 p.m. Thursday.
The NWS forecasts 4 to 8 inches in the area, as well as a trace of ice.
The weather will start as a wintry mix around midnight tonight, then change to all snow. Snow will be heaviest Thursday morning through afternoon, the NWS says.
Expect snow-covered roads with visibility of a quarter-mile at times and temperatures in the 20s to low 30s.
Reston Now will update you with any closings.
File photo by Charlotte Geary
SAIC Acquires Reston’s Scitor — Science Applications International Corp. has purchased Reston-based Scitor for $790 million. [Washington Post]
Big Deal For Urgent.ly — Local start up Urgent.ly, a roadside assistance app, has struck a deal with AT&T. The service will be part of AT&T’s connected car platform. Urgent.ly’s app (built into the car’s dashboard computer) will allow drivers to request service for their stranded car by pressing one button. [Bisnow]
County Plan Focuses on Economy — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a county economic plan. [Fairfax County]
New Sponsor For Arts Festival — Herndon-based Volkswagen of America, Inc., will be the title sponsor of this year’s Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, the Greater Reston Arts Center announced. Volkswagen signed a two-year deal for 2015 and ’16, with a third-year option. This year’s festival is May 16 and 17.
County Commission To Look At Use Of Force — A new task force will examine use of force and community relations policies for the Fairfax County Police Department. [WTOP]
A 30-year-old Reston man and two Reston teens were among those arrested after a police investigation into a violent assault on a teenage girl by alleged Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang members, Manassas police said.
Last week, investigators with the Manassas City Police Department served a total of 43 warrants, with additional charges pending stemming from the Nov. 14 incident.
Jose Angel “Little Crazy” Iraheta Palacios, 30, of 11910 Winterthur Lane in Reston was charged with human trafficking; gang participation (nine counts); gang recruitment (two counts); conspiracy to cause a juvenile to assist in the distribution of marijuana (three counts); conspiracy to distribute marijuana; contributing to the delinquency of a minor; aiding illicit sexual intercourse; use of a vehicle to promote unlawful sexual intercourse; threaten force to encourage gang participation; and obstruction of justice
Also charged:
Carlos Albert Hernandez-Garcia (nicknamed “Momia” and “Albert”), 20, of no fixed address; human trafficking; gang participation (six counts); gang recruitment (two counts); conspiracy to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to cause a juvenile to assist in the distribution of marijuana; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
A 17-year-old male from Reston; human trafficking; gang participation (four counts); gang recruitment (two counts); and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
A 16-year-old male from Reston; gang participation and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
The investigation was triggered by the November assault of a 15-year-old Manassas girl by MS-13 members during a gang initiation ritual, police said. It was initially reported to Manassas police in early December.
Multiple local agencies investigated the incident, police said. Among them: City of Manassas Park Police, the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, the Virginia State Police, Fairfax County police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The suspects are being held without bond in Fairfax County.
Photo of Jose Angel “Little Crazy” Iraheta Palacios/Credit: Manassas Police
Fairfax County Police are investigating an incident involving spotlighting the agency’s helicopter, creating dangerous visibility issues for the pilot and crew.
While returning to the helicopter base in Fairfax on Feb. 24 around 8 p.m., the pilot observed a bright light illuminating the chopper known as Fairfax One.
It appeared that the bright white light was following the aircraft and the beam lit up the entire cockpit. It appeared to come from a home, and police said they are working on developing positive identification of a suspect(s) and placing appropriate charges.
Police did not say the exact location of the home as the investigation is continuing.
The pilot was not using night vision goggles at the time of the incident. Had he been, the bright light would have created a temporary blindness and been extremely dangerous, police said.
It is against Virginia and federal law to shine spotlights or lasers that interfere with the safety of flights, including:
5.1-22. Interference with operation of aircraft; penalties; venue. Any person who interferes with or threatens to interfere with the operation of any aircraft, unless he is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration or the armed forces of the United States, on or over the territory of the Commonwealth shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Where the act or acts of interference or threatened interference are of such a nature as to endanger the life of the aircraft’s operator or the life of any other person, the person interfering or threatening to interfere shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who knowingly and intentionally projects a point of light from a laser, laser gun sight, or any other device that simulates a laser at an aircraft is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Venue for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest and trial of any such person is hereby conferred upon any court having criminal jurisdiction in the political subdivision in the Commonwealth where the aircraft either took off prior to such offense, or where it lands or comes to rest subsequent to such offense, or in or over which the offense occurred.
In this case a laser wasn’t used but there have been past incidents involving laser pointers, said police. Federal law prohibits this and states that pointing a laser at any aircraft, helicopter or fixed wing, is a federal crime with a punishment of up to 5 years imprisonment.
The FBI offers a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest of any individual who aims a laser at aircraft.
Photo: Fairfax One/file photo
Paolo’s Ristorante, a mainstay of Reston Town Center for two decades, will morph into a Mediterranean-themed spot that will be familiar to some Washingtonians.
Thomas Gregg, the new CEO of Capital Restaurant Group — which operates Paolo’s in DC and Reston, J Paul’s (DC), Georgia Brown’s (DC) and Old Glory (DC) told the Washington Business Journal that all the restaurants in the company will be given menu and location overhaul.
The most drastic change will come in Reston, though, where Paolo’s will become Neyla, which was formerly located at 3206 N St. in Georgetown. Neyla, part of CRG, closed in August after 15 years at that location. The owners said at that time they were “actively looking for a new location for Neyla.”
Neyla was praised in Yelp reviews for its Lebanese food — as well as the belly dancing show.
No word yet on when the transformation will occur.
Photo of Neyla Georgetown/Credit: Neyla via Facebook
More of the dreaded wintry mix is headed towards Reston this afternoon — which may make for a messy commute and early school closings.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the entire Washington, D.C., area from noon until 10 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters say expect snow, sleet and freezing rain as temperatures hover right around freezing.
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza issued this statement late Monday:
At this time, we anticipate an on-time start for school tomorrow, March 3, 2015, as we strive to resume our regular academic calendar.
However, the National Weather Service is forecasting the possibility of freezing rain or sleet for tomorrow and this could result in an early dismissal of classes or the cancellation of after school and/or evening activities in FCPS schools or on school grounds.
Please monitor the FCPS website and Facebook and Twitter accounts, plus local media, and expect to receive a Keep in Touch message should we need to dismiss early or cancel after-school events.
Thank you for working with us as we continue to cope with this difficult winter weather.
Other area schools systems have also told parents to be on the lookout for early closings.
Local Peeps Contest — In the tradition of The Washington Post’s Peeps contest, Chesapeake Chocolates at Lake Anne Plaza will be holding its own competition. Celebrate Reston with your original Peeps diorama. Represent your favorite view of Reston with the confections in a shoebox-sized creation. Drop it off at the store at 11426 Washington Plaza West, and they will display it through April 4 in their store. One diorama, chosen by a panel of judges, will win a basket of goodies from Chesapeake Chocolates.
Four Finalists For NOVA Post — Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) has chosen four finalists for the president’s post that was vacated when Robert Templin retired in January. [Fairfax Times]
More Tolls To Take Greenway — The State Corporation Commission has approved a 2.8-percent toll increase for the Dulles Greenway. [NBC4]
Raise Taxes For Better Schools? — The Fairfax County Council of PTAs issued a “call to action” message to parents and residents cautioning that “excellence is at risk” unless the county board of supervisors raises the average tax bill in the county by $100 per household. [Washington Post]
Ice on Lake Audubon/Credit: Joy Every
After years of community discussion, a few months of tweaks to the plan and a snow delay, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is finally set to approve Lake Anne Development Partners’ vision for Crescent Apartments and the Lake Anne Plaza area.
The Board of Supervisors will vote on several LADP-related items at its meeting on Tuesday. Approval will mean the massive overhaul — which is slated to add more than 1,000 residences to where the 181-unit, county owned Crescent Apartments stands today. The votes were deferred from the supervisors’ Feb. 17 meeting due to a snowstorm that day that may have prevented people from attending the public hearing.
LADP’s plan also calls for 78,000 square feet of office space and 58,000 square feet of retail space, a modest-sized grocery store and realignment of Village Road. The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the project’s county staff report.
The interior section of Lake Anne Plaza, Reston’s original village center, has historic designation and will not be altered. However, developers hope the increased density and revitalization of the surrounding area will draw retailers and people to the plaza.
The project was recommended for approval earlier this year by the Fairfax County Planning Commission. The Board of Supervisors held public hearings on the project last month, where they were reminded to remember the residents of Crescent who count on affordable housing.
As part of its agreement with the county, Lake Anne Development Partners must provide 185 replacement affordable apartments and designate 20 percent of the other units as affordable and workforce housing.
LADP was chosen by the county in 2013 to redevelop the aging Crescent Apartments, which was purchased by the county for $49.5 million in 2006 for use as affordable housing.
Among the specifics the supervisors will be voting on at Tuesday’s meeting:
A reduction in parking. LADP requested to reduce by nearly 500 (18 percent) the number of parking spots in the Crescent area.
LADP says Crescent redevelopment is being planned in a more urban style, so it should not have to meet suburban standards and that the project has proffered a comprehensive transportation plan with specific goals and strategies targeted to reduce auto ownership among future residents as well as reducing parking supply. The project has proffered an overall 25-percent trip reduction goal for the resident and office users, which corresponds to a strategy that reduces the parking supply, acccording to county documents.
There will still be 2,167 total spaces when the project is fully developed, says LADP. That includes hundreds of garage spaces for Crescent residents and a 120-space parking garage to be built on a parcel of land adjacent to the current Lake Anne Plaza. That land, formerly owned by Reston Association, was the subject of a controversial land swap in late 2o13.
Land issues. The Supervisors will vote on the agreement for the 99-year ground lease by the county of the site for the replacement affordable units; the conveyance of the remaining approximately 1.2 acre portion of County owned land to Reston Association, who will in turn convey approximately 1.04 acres of adjacent land to LADP to facilitate the project (this is the final ruling on the 2013 land swap). Read more specifics in the Supervisors Agenda Package.
Earlier this year, LADP met county development conditions by agreeing to increase its contribution to the Fairfax County Park Authority from $100,000 to $500,000.
Renderings courtesy of LADP
FCPS Wants More From Supervisors — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza last week asked the county Board of Supervisors for more money than the $2 billion proposed for next year’s budget. The school system is already slated to get $67 million more than in FY 2015, but falls $14 million short of what the school system needs to cover expanding enrollment, full day Mondays and teacher raises, among others. [Washington Post]
ICYMI: County Budget Chat — Fairfax County Executive Ed Long recently held an online chat to talk about the county’s FY 2016 budget, real estate taxes, and other issues facing the county. [Fairfax County]
Nearby: Great Falls Grange Hall Reopens — The Great Falls Historical Society is marking the re-opening of the renovated Great Falls Grange Building with a special history program March 11. [Reston Connection]
