Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
We got a sneak peek of the newest Halley Rise community in Reston and its first Fall Festival.
A community event taking place onsite Saturday, October 22 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) featuring live music, food, and family-friendly activities (including pumpkin painting and make your own bouquet stations).
It will also include the introduction of the Farm at Halley Rise, an urban farm operated by Up Top Acres that grows food and flowers and provides produce to organizations working to reduce food insecurity.
Such a fun way to spend a fall Saturday!
Best,
Sharmane
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Fairfax County will waive fees for permitting and installing electric vehicle chargers for at least the next year and a half.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Tuesday (Oct. 11) to waive all county-imposed permit, installation and signage fees for electric vehicle chargers for a trial period of 18 months. The waiving of fees will go into effect alongside the release of the new Planning and Land Use System (PLUS) on Oct. 31.
“Exempting EVC installations from permit fees may help incentivize use of electric vehicles,” reads the staff report as the rationalization to waive fees.
Staff said it will report back to the board in a year on the “effectiveness of eliminating permit fees in incentivizing installation of EVC equipment.”
Coupled with the “Charge Up Fairfax” program aimed at supporting HOAs in installing electric vehicle chargers, the fee waivers indicate the supervisors have made it a clear priority to encourage more of the public to make the transition to electric vehicles.
The board directed staff in late September to look at the possibility of suspending the fees.
“This is but another step towards our journey of a carbon-free Fairfax,” Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck said. “[It’s] an essential statement about our board’s further commitment to incentivizing, supporting, and encouraging…folks who want to make a difference with the vehicles they drive. That and buildings are the single highest emitters of carbon and if we can start addressing those two major ones…we can start making a difference.”
He noted that this might be “one piece…of a larger package” in reducing the county’s carbon footprint, but it’s one of the “most visible” pieces.
The board vote technically included a public hearing, but no one from the public commented. The discussion was also minimal among supervisors, only lasting a few minutes.
By waiving the fees, however, the county will be missing out on some money. Fees vary depending on the size and complexity of the charging stations, but the county is expected to lose between $10,000 to $15,000 in revenue during fiscal year 2023, which started July 1.
Still, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the entire Land Development Services budget.
“The lost revenue will not have a significant impact on the adopted LDS budget of approximately $46 million,” reads the staff report.
As a whole, the county’s budget is nearly $5 billion.
Reston will officially welcome a new steakhouse next month.
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is set to open at Reston Station on Nov. 1, the company announced yesterday (Thursday). A grand opening party is slated for that day from 5:30-8 p.m.
The 11,000-square-foot steakhouse will be located at 1902 Reston Metro Plaza.
Items on the menu include appetizers, homemade pasta, prime steaks, seafood and desserts.
Proceeds from the grand opening party will be donated to Cornerstones, a Reston-based nonprofit organization.
The steakhouse takes up ground floor space in a building that is the headquarters of international consulting firm ICF. The restaurant has 10 locations across the country.
Photo via Valerie Rose/Facebook
Major Earthquake Drill Coming Next Week — “This year’s Great Southeast ShakeOut Day earthquake drill is scheduled for 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. Make plans to join millions of people worldwide who will participate in earthquake drills at work, school or home.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Motorcyclist Dies After Crash in Groveton — “Darrell Hayes, 75, of Alexandria, was operating a 2018 Honda Goldwing motorcycle, making a left turn from northbound Lantern Place to westbound South Kings Highway. Hayes lost control of his motorcycle, laying it down on the roadway. Hayes was taken to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 13.” [FCPD]
Board Calls for Changes to State Arrest Notifications — “The chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is urging Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera to make immediate changes to current procedures to ensure that school systems are notified when an employee is arrested.” [WTOP]
Metro Sees More Crowds — “Trains are 35% more crowded during the 8 a.m. hour and 13% more crowded during the 5 p.m. hour, Metro officials said during a Thursday board meeting. The Red Line (between NoMa and Metro Center and between Farragut North and Van Ness) and the Orange and Silver lines (between Virginia Square and Farragut West) are seeing the brunt of the crowding — despite Metro adding 1-2 extra trains during peak periods on those lines.” [DCist]
Covid Testing Sites Coming to Schools Later This Month — “COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS students, teachers, and staff at five locations across the county on October 17, 18, and 19. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID.” [FCPS]
Debate Over an Independent McLean Continues — “Should McLean incorporate itself as a city or town to obtain greater sway over its fortunes than being under Fairfax County’s control? The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) in January 2021 formed a Community Governance Committee and gave it a five-year mission to ponder those prospects in detail. The MCA board on Oct. 6…found that members are divided on how — and whether — the work should continue.” [Sun Gazette]
Brothers Add Public Art to Penn Daw Development — “This past August, Jared and Aaron Scales, brothers who launched the BroCoLoCo design firm from their Washington, D.C. apartment a decade ago, spent nine or 10 days under the hot sun painting two brightly colored murals at the South Alex residential and retail complex.” [On the MoVe]
Youth Fishing Event at Lake Accotink Tomorrow — “On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, a free Youth Fishing Derby for youngsters ages 15 and below will take place at Lake Accotink Park Marina located at 7500 Accotink Park Road in Springfield, Virginia. This event promises a morning filled with fun, fishing and prizes.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
A Look at Lorton Prison’s Transformation — “The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton is real-life proof of the adage that everything old is new again. The refurbished former prison, which officially closed two decades ago, now hosts community performing and visual arts events, classes, and studios for artists…It’s poised for even bigger things: Its first retail businesses are coming, in addition to a relatively new apartment complex.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 65 and low of 48. Sunrise at 7:18 am and sunset at 6:33 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County planners want to cultivate more tree-lined streets, but to make that a reality, some more leeway for developers may be needed.
With a proposed pilot program, the county’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will let developers in more urbanized areas count street trees as part of their 10-year tree canopy requirements — an option already offered in Tysons.
Credits would be awarded in tiered rates designed to encourage high-quality trees, while recognizing that some sites can’t meet the county’s existing standards, staff told the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s environmental committee last Thursday (Oct. 6).
If approved, the pilot will involve Tysons; transit station areas in Reston, Herndon, West Falls Church, Springfield and Huntington; and the county’s community revitalization districts in McLean, Lake Anne, Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, Lincolnia, Merrifield, Springfield and Richmond Highway.
“Street trees have a lot of requirements for soil volume, for underdrains, for watering, and so, fundamentally, they’re very expensive to install,” JoAnne Fiebe, who manages the county’s revitalization program, said. “We count them as some of the most important trees that we can plant, particularly in areas that are urbanizing, yet we currently don’t give them credit in most areas.”
According to Fiebe, Fairfax County’s “treeless areas” like Annandale and the southern Route 1 corridor tend to more urban, hotter and home to its lowest income residents, raising equity issues.
Trees can also provide a critical buffer between streets and sidewalks. To illustrate the safety issues that come without that buffer, Fiebe showed an image of Maple Avenue in Annandale, where a driver hit four pedestrians, including a DPD employee, and killed one of them in May.
“I’m not saying that street trees would’ve prevented that incident, but they create this visual friction as you’re driving that just encourages you to look around you and slow down,” she said. “I can’t help but think that if we had designed this road differently, we would’ve had a different outcome.”
The county’s public facilities manual generally requires tree planting areas to be at least 8 feet wide and over 4 feet away from any “restrictive barrier.” At least 700 cubic feet of soil must be provided, with about 500 cubic feet added for each additional tree in the pit.
Under the proposed tiered system, developers would get 1.5 credits toward their tree canopy coverage if they meet all of the requirements and a full credit if they at least meet the soil standards.
The pilot would give developers partial credit for street trees if the planting area is at least 5 feet wide, 17.5 feet long and 3.5 feet deep with 300 cubic feet of soil provided per tree. They would also have to maintain and replace the trees “in perpetuity.”
The proposed standard would allow trees in spots where they otherwise won’t fit due to limited space, utilities and other constraints, Fairfax County Urban Forestry Management Director Brian Keightley said.
“Right now, we see a lot of trees in these smaller spaces,” he explained. “…This would allow those smaller spaces, one, to become bigger, two, for us to kind of guarantee good quality soil is installed, and three, we have significantly more influence on the long-term stability of the tree.”
While staff said the tiered system would incentivize developers to meet the county’s full requirements, Fiebe acknowledged that the Tree Commission and other environmental advocates worry that the lower standard will become the default, a concern shared by the planning commission.
“I’ve just found that [developers are] going to default to the smaller trees,” Franconia District Commissioner Dan Lagana said. “I know they’re going to do that. And we lose the benefit of the deep root systems that we’re in really short supply of right now.”
Commission was generally supportive, but had concerns that we may wind up with more lower quality trees as opposed to oaks and other natives that give lots shade, cool their surroundings, and absorb rain water w/strong root systems.
— Dan Lagana (@Dan_Lagana) October 7, 2022
According to Keightley, the alternative standard would still surpass what’s required by neighboring localities like Arlington County, where street tree pits are typically 12 feet long and 5 feet wide.
A former Arlington employee, Keightley pointed to trees along Columbia Pike outside the Penrose Apartments as an example of what would be acceptable under the new standard. However, DPD wants to avoid isolated trees in small, shallow pits like what can be seen on Wilson Blvd in Ballston.
Fiebe said criteria for when the partial credit option can be used will be specified in an amendment to the county’s urban design guidelines. They anticipate presenting the amendment to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 6.
Mason District Commissioner Julie Strandlie, whose district includes Annandale, asked how more street trees could be added without having to wait on developers.
Fiebe said the county should ensure street trees are provided with transportation projects when feasible, and the revitalization districts have maintenance programs that could monitor the trees. However, to do more than one-off plantings, the county needs a full street tree program like in Arlington.
“Unless we have a true program that looks at both installation and maintenance, we’re going to be reliant on the development community,” Fiebe said. “But [for] those capital projects, we should have a policy that they get included anywhere possible.”
Maple Avenue image via Google Maps
Continuing a tradition set by former Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, an annual winter coat closet will return to Reston from Oct. 17 through Nov. 10.
Conducted in a partnership with nonprofit Cornerstones, the drive will provide residents with free winter hats, coats, gloves, mittens and scarves.
Residents are encouraged to drop off new and gently-used coats and new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves to Cornerstones or Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn’s office.
“Several years ago my predecessor Supervisor Cathy Hudgins joined forces with Cornerstones to ensure that our neighbors in need of warm winter coats would be able to get one. We continue that tradition of neighbors helping neighbors this year with the upcoming opening of the Winter Coat Closet,” Alcorn wrote in a newsletter on Wednesday (Oct. 12).
For the duration of the drive, residents can drop off items at Cornerstones (11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be a drop-off site at the North County Government Center on Nov. 19, Dec. 17 and Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Residents can drop by one of several dates throughout the winter to pick up items. In cases of inclement weather, distribution will happen indoors.
Fairfax County has officially allocated millions of unspent revenue from the previous year’s budget for items like restrooms for school stadiums and a boost of the county’s hiring program.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 11), the board voted 7-1 to allocate $7.5 million in carryover funds to help install permanent restrooms at 15 Fairfax County Public School outdoor high school stadiums.
“At its heart, this is a matter of equity. No matter which school a student goes to in Fairfax County, it is expected they receive not only a high-quality education, but that they are provided high-quality, accessible facilities as well,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay wrote in a statement.
The school board has already agreed to pitch in half of the funds needed for the new facilities.
The board also approved an additional $2 million for a “comprehensive hiring incentive program,” which could grant up to $15,000 in bonuses for new hires in critical county positions. In total, the reserve includes more than $4 million, but exactly where the money will go remains to be determined.
“A portion of all the funding could be used for all agencies, but we do not know exactly how much of the allocation will be towards hiring incentives until the County Executive reports on the design of the program,” McKay’s office told FFXnow.
The move comes as the Fairfax County Police Department and other public safety entities face historic vacancy rates and staff shortages.
Tammie Wondong, a 32-year county employee and president of SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax, lauded the board for amending the carryover package to create a hiring incentive program instead of funding raises for top executives.
A recent “benchmark study” of the county’s executive and managerial positions found salaries were generally below market rate. Staff recommended that the pay scale be simplified and adjusted to be more competitive at the Board of Supervisors’ personnel committee meeting on July 26.
“The Board clearly heard employees’ voices because they changed the carryover package to invest in a hiring incentives reserve, instead of executive pay,” Wondong said. “However, the county must do more to ensure fair pay for their hard-working employees who got our community through the worst of the pandemic.”
The union delivered hundreds of petitions urging the county to maintain transparency around the use of carryover funds, relieve wage compression, and ensure all county employees are engaged in future benchmark studies.
Dave Lysons, executive director of the Fairfax Workers Coalition, said the county is no longer competitive for many jobs, adding that its current vacancy rate is 13% overall with a 17% rate in public works.
“Fairfax County is no longer competitive for these jobs…We can’t continue like this,” Lyons said.
Other allocations include roughly $25 million for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, part of an overall commitment to fund $100 million in projects over six years.
Supervisors had requested that funds be provided specifically for new sidewalks to Huntley Meadows Park and trail improvements in Gum Springs, but those items didn’t make the final cut.
“The sidewalks were not a part of this current package but may be considered as part of the ongoing $100M commitment to pedestrian safety,” McKay’s office said by email.
Among other needs, the county also allocated $175,000 to design and construct a picnic shelter, ADA-accessible pathway and picnic tables and benches for Justice Park in the Mason District.
A new dental studio has opened Sunset Hills Road in Reston.
Aglow Dental Studio is planning to host an official grand opening today (Thursday) from 4-6 p.m. in suite 303 at 11150 Sunset Hills Road.
The business is led by Rosemary Ahanor, who graduated from St. Elizabeth Hospitals in D.C.
“Aglow Dental opened its doors in August 2020 during a time when it was difficult to host social gatherings,” the company said in a press release. “Therefore, we are so excited to celebrate with the Reston and neighboring community on this special day.”
Services include oral cancer screening, dental exams, cosmetic dentistry, whitening, implants, root canal treatment, veneers and crowns.
To celebrate its grand opening, the dentistry is taking appointments for free cleaning and extractions, according to a statement from the business.
Fire Department Unveils Platform for Sharing Emergency Information — “Community Connect is a free, secure, and easy to use platform that allows residents and/or business owners to share critical information about their home or business that will aid FCFRD firefighters and paramedics during an emergency.” [FCFRD]
Last New Route 7 Lane Opens in Reston — “The third westbound lane along Rt 7 between Riva Ridge Dr and Reston Ave is now open! It arrives ahead of schedule just like the third eastbound Rt 7 lane a couple weeks ago as part of the Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project.” [VDOT/Twitter]
Hybla Valley Mobile Home Park Residents Share Struggles — “The future for residents of Harmony Place is precarious. Tenants say much-needed repairs aren’t happening quickly enough. The rent, currently $900 per month, is expected to rise next year. And a major transportation project getting underway in the next few years could wipe out some homes and raise land values, making redevelopment of the park more enticing to developers.” [DCist]
Merger Between Tysons and Reston Consultants Allowed to Proceed — “A federal judge in Maryland on Tuesday ruled against the Department of Justice’s antitrust effort to halt Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.’s deal to buy Reston cybersecurity contractor EverWatch Corp…The acquisition — which is valued at $440 million, according to securities filings — was announced in March” [Washington Business Journal]
COVID-19 Relief Grants Available for Local Arts Groups — “ArtsFairfax, the nonprofit designated as Fairfax County’s local arts agency, today announces the Pandemic Recovery Grant, a funding opportunity that prioritizes underserved arts and culture organizations. ArtsFairfax will distribute $170,000 in Pandemic Recovery Grants to both established and emerging arts and culture groups impacted by COVID-19.” [ArtsFairfax]
Movie Theater Incentives Are a Go in Falls Church — “The Falls Church City Council in Virginia voted Tuesday night to approve controversial tax incentives for a new movie theater, a few weeks after the city’s planning commission recommended against the incentives…The first $20,000 in ticket tax revenue and $10,000 in concessions tax revenue each year would go to the city; the rest would go back to the developer, Mill Creek Residential Trust.” [WTOP]
Fairfax City Gets State Funding for Flood Projects — “The City of Fairfax, Va., was awarded $144,000 in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to implement two projects to make the city more resilient to flooding…The outside funding will allow the city to develop a community flood resilience plan and to conduct a flood study for the Mosby Woods area.” [City of Fairfax]
Volunteers Wanted to Help Clean Scott’s Run — The Fairfax County Park Authority will host a fall Watershed Cleanup Day at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 15). People of all ages are welcome to meet at the park’s lower parking lot to help “remove tires, bottles, cans and other debris from local waterways.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Rain until evening. High of 66 and low of 60. Sunrise at 7:17 am and sunset at 6:34 pm. [Weather.gov]
The first union election that Fairfax County employees have been allowed to hold in over four decades is now underway.
With an election for representation that launched Monday (Oct. 10), firefighters, medics, fire marshals and other Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department workers will determine whether the union IAFF Local 2068 can represent them in upcoming contract negotiations with the county government.
Voting is being conducted electronically through the independent company BallotPoint and will continue until Oct. 31, according to IAFF Local 2068, which has a membership of approximately 1,500 FCFRD employees.
“Our department is filled with intelligent, highly qualified and highly trained people,” IAFF Local 2068 President Robert Young said in the news release. “We’re first responders who love our jobs, love serving the Fairfax community, and want to continue to ensure that we are providing the best fire and medical emergency services possible. Bargaining allows us to do just that, while also ensuring that the concerns of our members and our community are heard and treated equitably.”
Earlier today we issued the following Media Advisory re our Collective Bargaining Election –
“At the end of the day, this is about creating an equitable and collaborative relationship..We’re happy to have the overwhelming support of the community who made this possible.”#ffxva pic.twitter.com/ec5p5q0Vzh
— Fairfax Firefighters (@IAFF2068) October 10, 2022
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a collective bargaining ordinance on Oct. 19, 2021, giving county government employees the power to have a union negotiate their pay, benefits and working conditions for the first time in more than 40 years.
Public sector workers had been barred from collective bargaining in Virginia since the state Supreme Court ruled in 1977 that the General Assembly could prohibit the practice. The court cited the Dillon Rule that limits local governments’ powers and has become a source of frustration in Fairfax County.
Localities finally got the authority to adopt ordinances recognizing labor unions and giving employees the ability to collectively bargain in May 2021, when a bill passed by state lawmakers and signed by then-governor Ralph Northam in 2020 took effect.
Under its approved ordinance, Fairfax County will recognize separate bargaining units representing general county employees, the fire department, and police, an approach that some workers’ groups had opposed.
Since no other unions have been accepted for firefighters, the only options in the current election are to approve Local 2068 as the bargaining unit or “no one,” organizer Jeremy McClayton told FFXnow by email.
General county employees and the police will hold their own elections. They both have multiple unions vying to serve as their bargaining unit, according to McClayton.
Fairfax County Public Schools has yet to grant collective bargaining rights to its employees, though a resolution for the school board to adopt is being developed.
On the county side, the Board of Supervisors confirmed Sarah Miller Espinosa as its labor relations administrator on June 7. The administrator serves as a neutral party tasked with establishing union election procedures, overseeing negotiations, and mediating disputes.
If Local 2068 wins, the union will begin contract negotiations with the county in the spring.
Young said in the press release that, with collective bargaining, the union hopes to create “an equitable and collaborative relationship” between workers and the county.
“It’s about ensuring that all of our employees are heard, that they’re all a part of the decision making process, and that they all have a sense of ownership of their careers and lives,” Young said. “We’re happy to have the overwhelming support of our elected officials, and all the members of the Fairfax community who made this election for representation possible.”
The Arrowbrook development near the Innovation Center Metro Station got a funding lift yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.
The 274-unit project, which includes 148 units under the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, received $3 million in funding after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the fund transfer.
The move fills a $3 million funding gap that the county says was created by “supply change shortages resulting from COVID,” according to county documents.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity voted against the proposal.
The funds will be repaid by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority using revenue generated from the project.
Located at the future Arrowbrook Centre Drive and Centreville Road in Herndon, Arrowbrook is being developed by SCG Development Partners.
The project is already under construction and is more than 70% complete.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay touted the county’s efforts to reach its affordable housing goals.
“The work to ensure every resident of Fairfax County can live and work here is a nonstop focus of the Board. Earlier this year we doubled the County’s goal to 10,000 net affordable units by 2034, and we have 4,000 units either completed or in the pipeline. We are proud of the work we have done and continue to do with our partners, both non- and for-profit, throughout the region,” McKay wrote in a newsletter following the meeting.
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.
Whether you engage in a weekly game of bridge with friends, or compete in tournaments to earn masterpoints, playing the game pays off “in spades” when it comes to maintaining and even improving cognitive health.
“It’s a great way to maintain memory processing skills, as well as challenging your basic logic skills. It’s a lot of fun!” says Eleanor Linde, who regularly plays five time a week. Eleanor lives in McLean and is looking forward to moving to The Mather, a Life Plan Community that is coming to Tysons in 2024. “Bridge is a wonderful way to connect with people” says Eleanor. “I’m delighted that a group of future Mather neighbors has already met once.”
Van and Fran Hitch are also avid bridge players who are moving to The Mather. When Fran retired, the couple decided to take bridge lessons together, and got hooked. “I thought this was just a game I was learning,” said Van. “But I quickly found out it involves a great deal of strategy and communication with your partner.”
Research shows that those who play bridge regularly can reap a handful of valuable health benefits, regardless of their skill level.
A Brain Workout
It’s been proven that regularly playing cards and board games helps us retain mental acuity in later life, improves performance on cognitive tests and even protects against the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Bridge in particular is a rigorous mental workout, requiring concentration, problem solving and multitasking (including, but not limited to, memorizing cards played and continually analyzing mathematical odds while noting verbal and non-verbal clues from other players).
“I’ve read that playing bridge is one of just a handful of pastimes that can increase your brain power — and we definitely are challenged,” says Fran. “We both like to work out and keep our bodies in shape. Bridge does that for our brains.”
A Social Exercise
Of course, regular bridge players reap the benefits of social interaction, which is also good for brain health, as well as mood.
“The social part is just as important to us as playing the game,” says Fran. “Starting with our very first lessons, we’ve met some really nice people. Some have become very close friends.”
A Boost for the Immune System
One study found strong evidence that playing bridge protects physical health, because it stimulates the area in the brain responsible for the immune system.
“Bridge is good for you. We look forward to playing with our future neighbors at The Mather,” says Fran.
The Mather, projected to open in Tysons, VA, in 2024 for those 62 and better, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community that defies expectations of what senior living is supposed to be.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
It may be a while before Lake Anne’s fountain is functional again.
Repairs are expected to take at least two more months to complete due to supply chain issues, according to Reston Association.
“The repair facility is basically rebuilding the motor/working parts. It had to be done at their shop. They are experiencing part delays which is typical in this post-pandemic era,” RA spokesperson Mike Leone wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The fountain closed in late August after its pump and motor burnt out. At the time, staff estimated parts would be available within three to four weeks.
Leone said that the association hopes that the fountain will be operational by Thanksgiving — assuming that the rebuilt motor arrives on schedule.
“If there are further delays, then it could be pushed into December,” Leone said.
The fountain was inspired by Jet d’Eau, a 140-meter single geyser fountain on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Photo via Reston Association/Twitter
Centreville Man Charged in Fairfax Hit-and-Run — “City of Fairfax Police arrested a 34-year-old Centreville man for driving away from a multi-car crash on Saturday afternoon, according to the weekly crime report. Responding around 1:03 p.m for the report of a crash, officers found two vehicles that had sustained significant damage at Main Street and Judicial Drive.” [Patch]
Metro Plans Bus Network Redesign — “Metro is going on the road with Better Bus, a new initiative to rethink, redesign, and revitalize bus service. In a bold inaugural effort to redesign the current bus network, Metro is holding events across the region to hear from customers and the community.” [WMATA]
County Assisted With Alexandria Apartment Fire — “Apartment fire in 6200 block of Edsall Road on 10/8 at 10:41 AM. One occupant rescued by firefighters from second-floor window via ladder. No reported injuries. Cause: Unattended cooking on stove. Damages: $12K. Three occupants displaced. @AlexandriaVAFD assisted” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Reston Community Center Adds Board Members — “On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the request of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed three Reston residents to the nine-member Reston Community Center Board of Governors: Beverly A. Cosham, Paul D. Thomas and Shane M. Ziegler…The three-year terms for Cosham, Thomas and Ziegler will begin on November 7″ [RCC]
Input Sought on New Annandale Community Space — “The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is hosting a series of Community Engagement Forums regarding the upcoming community space at Heritage Center in Annandale. The 1,800-square-foot space is located in a retail shopping plaza and will house the Boys & Girls Club.” [NCS]
Firefighters Free Dog’s Paw From West Falls Church Playground — “Excited for his afternoon playdate with friends yesterday, Baloo wanted to try the monkey bars; it was his first time. He was nervous, and as he pawsed to plan his leap, a digital pad got stuck in one of the holes on the playground. Fortunately, his friends were there to help.” [FCFRD]
Full Launch of New County Land Use System Pending — “Fairfax County’s land use systems will partially shut down from Friday, Oct. 21, to Monday morning on Oct. 31, when the new Permitting and Land Use System (PLUS) becomes fully operational…For several weeks after Oct. 31, data will still be migrating, and the processing of records might be affected.” [Annandale Today]
McLean-Based Hockey Star Details Morning Routine — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will start his 18th season with the D.C. hockey team today (Wednesday) against the Boston Bruins. Resident of a five-bedroom mansion in McLean since 2012, Ovechkin says he starts each day at 7 a.m. with a shower, feeding time for his black Labrador, and a walk. [Axios D.C.]
It’s Wednesday — Possible light rain overnight. High of 69 and low of 49. Sunrise at 7:16 am and sunset at 6:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
The end of Fairfax County’s state of emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic won’t mean the end of expanded outdoor dining.
At a land use policy committee meeting last week, the Board of Supervisors indicated strong support for permanently relaxing the county’s permitting rules to let restaurants and other food and drink service establishments set up temporary outdoor dining areas.
Under the proposal put forward by county staff on Oct. 6, restaurants would only need an adminstrative permit to provide outdoor dining in parking spaces and other hard-surface areas, such as an existing patio or sidewalk, for a six-month period.
“The administrative permit would place limits on the size of the outdoor dining area, the hours of operation, and the duration of the permit,” said Jennifer Josiah with the Fairfax County Department of Land Development Services. “No site-related plans would be required, as long as there’s no land disturbance.”
She noted that regular health department inspections would continue, and businesses would still have to get approved by the fire marshal “to ensure all safety standards are met regarding tents, heaters and seating areas.”
The new process would be similar to the looser regulations in place since May 2020, when the board approved an emergency ordinance letting some businesses operate in outdoor tents to encourage social distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19.
The Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency for the pandemic on March 17, 2020, giving the county more flexibility to respond. In addition to enabling more outdoor dining and fitness activities, the board reduced fees for hospitality-related development and streamlined the process for establishing temporary medical facilities.
All of those provisions must end one year after the state of emergency concludes. The county told FFXnow this summer that the board could end its declaration in September, but the vote was evidently postponed, as staff were still reviewing the implications.
Staff have recommended that all of the emergency measures be allowed to lapse except the one for outdoor dining.
According to the county, 91 businesses have taken advantage of the ordinance since it took effect, though as of Sept. 1, the Department of Code Compliance only found five sites still using parking spaces for outdoor dining. When board members expressed surprise at that number, Josiah allowed that there may be more businesses that weren’t counted.
“We were working off a list that the health department gave us of all the eating establishments and food establishments that they licensed,” she said.
The administrative permits for outdoor dining will likely carry a $200 to $500 fee, similar to those offered for other temporary uses, such as farmers’ markets. In comparison, the minor site plan approval typically required costs $3,901.
To ensure compliance, staff suggested that the county could require businesses to regularly renew their permits, but the board appeared to lean away from the idea of expiration dates.
“I think the one thing the pandemic has clearly shown a lot of people is the beauty of the outdoors and dining outdoors,” Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said, shouting out street closures in Old Town Leesburg and Alexandria. “…I’m clearly in favor of doing this as easily and as quickly and as flexibly as we can with no need to come back on the administrative permit.”
In a rarity, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay was on the same page as his lone Republican colleague, noting that permits could always be revoked if there are issues with accessibility, noise, and other conditions.
According to Josiah, the county has gotten “relatively few complaints” about outdoor dining, but on a few occasions, tents have collapsed, though no injuries have been reported.
As was the case in the Town of Vienna, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross predicted that noise will be the biggest challenge to address, singling out the Skyline Plaza in Bailey’s Crossroads as an area where amplified music has drawn complaints.
County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson noted that a separate special exception permit is required for public entertainment. Though the county has a noise ordinance to regulate sound levels, Gross said the outdoor dining ordinance should still include clear, specific guidelines on noise.
“I think we really owe it to the residents nearby,” Gross said. “I have a lot of residential areas that are hard up against the fence line of a shopping center, so we need to have that kind of protection in there.”
