Some Restonians are calling on Fairfax County to invest more funds into transportation safety upgrades in local schools, particularly within the South Lakes pyramid.
In a March 30 memo to the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren flagged specific, problematic areas that may need more crossing guards, signage or physical upgrades and a comprehensive evaluation of crossings and bus stops.
“The safety of our students and community members is paramount and as you know all-too-well throughout Fairfax, residents have experienced transit-related deaths, incidents and close-calls,” reads the memo, which was first reported by WTOP.
Their hope is that concerns and considerations will be incorporated or inform the ongoing update to Reston’s comprehensive plan. A document resulting from over-two-year-long effort is expected to go before the Board of Supervisors later this year.
Tentatively, a staff report on the draft comprehensive plan created by a task force assembled by Hunter Mill District Walter Alcorn is expected sometime this month.
In a statement to FFXnow, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay emphasized that bicyclist and pedestrian safety is a top priority of the county.
The Board of Supervisors takes the issue of traffic safety seriously, especially pedestrian and bicycle safety. Which is why we have committed $100 million for infrastructure improvements, $25 million of which has already been allocated. We have launched a speed camera pilot program that in 30 days issued over 1400 warnings to drivers and is expected to issue many more once all potential violations are processed. We are exploring our options with red light cameras and other types of photo enforcement as well.
Reston Association’s Multimodal Transportation Advisory Committee (MTAC) has scheduled a virtual town hall for 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss pedestrian safety near Reston schools.
“As Reston’s citizen advisory committee on various forms of transportation modes throughout the community, MTAC would like to hear from members on their experiences, concerns and suggestions about transportation in Reston,” RA said in a newsletter last Friday (May 5).
A breakdown of the concerns raised by Meren is below:
Crossing guard positions are requested at:
South Lakes High School – a guard and/or a light at the South Lakes stadium entrance; Forest Edge Elementary School – primarily at the bus exit to assist with traffic; and Lake Anne Elementary School – the crosswalk on Wainwright Dr.
Updated signage and/or physical upgrades, including installation of devices where appropriate, including:
“No Left Turn” sign from 7:30-8:30am weekdays coming out of Tanbark at Seahawk Dr; “No Parking” signage enforcement on Ridge Heights Rd in the Langston Hughes Kiss-and-Ride zone, and evaluation for making this area safer during arrival and dismissal;
Speed radar sign on Ridge Heights Rd;
Outstanding updates needed on Cross School Rd directly adjacent to Sunrise Valley Elementary School, including: a clear crosswalk with signage to make safer what is currently closest to the Sunrise Valley Dr intersection; a sidewalk that is ADA compliant (currently is not) between Sunrise Valley Dr and the school; safety barriers near drainage ditches running along the current “sidewalk”; and moving the crosswalk on Cross School Rd that leads to the school but requires pedestrians to cross the school drive way – this can be eliminated by moving the crosswalk over several feet, plus adding appropriate signage;
Reevaluation of the crossing where the Reston Association path along Sunrise Valley Dr meets Barton Hill Rd, which may include: moving the crosswalk to closer to or further away from Sunrise Valley Dr to allow for more pedestrian visibility by motorists; installing signage at the crosswalk; using bollards on both sides to visually narrow the road;
Reduction of lane width (road diet) on Sunrise Valley Dr to give space for cyclists, and to help slow down the speed of traffic approaching the Barton Hill tennis courts and Cross School Rd; additionally for your information, the Reston Association pathway along Sunrise Valley Dr needs some safety barriers as it is right along the roadway with no buffer from motor vehicles;
Speed humps on Becontree Ln in front of Forest Edge Elementary School;
Blinking pedestrian signage on South Lakes Dr;
Signage to improve the dangerous curve at Inlet Ct and Wiehle Dr; and
Addressing speeding on Colts Neck Rd near Stirrup Rd.
An evaluation of current crossings and county bus stops is needed at:
South Lakes Dr and Tanbark Dr (the Connector stop was recently moved, resulting in students jaywalking);
Crossings between South Lakes Dr and: Soapstone Dr, both entrances to Olde Crafts Dr; Dr, Whisperwood Glen Ln; and Ridge Heights Rd;
Crossing of Barton Hill Rd near Sunrise Valley Dr, as mentioned above;
Sunrise Valley Dr, between South Lakes Dr and Cross School Rd – there is not the continuous ability to remain safely on a sidewalk on the south side, and so pedestrians (many who are going to or from Sunrise Valley Elementary School) must cross Sunrise Valley twice to remain on sidewalks between these two roads; and
Crossings and bus stops on Fairway Dr and South Shore Rd – there is currently only one side walk on one side of Fairway, resulting in children and adults running from vehicles as they attempt to cross Fairway Dr.
McKay said county staff are analyzing problematic areas referenced in the letter for “potential solutions.”
“That work is ongoing,” he said.
County Board Officially Adopts New Budget — “Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a budget that lowers the property tax rate for homeowners and gives county employees raises, part of a larger effort to combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Northern Virginia.” [The Washington Post]
Terrorism Investigation Leads to Raid of Springfield Apartment — FBI agents recently raided an apartment on Kingsford Road and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of providing financial support to ISIS members. Court documents filed on May 4 indicate that Mohammed Chhipa had been under investigation since 2021. [FOX5]
Parents Air FCPS Safety Concerns at Town Hall — “On Monday night, parents of Fairfax County students shared their concerns over school safety directly to the district’s superintendent. Their worries ranged from how threats are communicated to whether entrances are actually secure.” A systemwide security review is currently underway. [DC News Now]
Merry-Go-Round May Return to Springfield Town Center — “Heritage Amusements, the amusement concessionaire for mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI), is seeking Fairfax County’s OK to install a carousel on the first level of Springfield Town Center, near where Lego Discovery Center plans to open this summer.” A lease hasn’t been finalized, but the mall hopes to “align” the opening with that of the Lego center. [Washington Business Journal]
Route 1 BRT Among Projects Up for Funding — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission “is considering 16 projects” to help fund with $48 million in I-395/95 toll revenue. “They include projects related to buses and trains, including an expansion of the Crystal City Virginia Railway Express station and a plan to put bus-only lanes on 16 miles of Route 1 in Fairfax County.” [ABC7]
Old and Young Collaborate on Great Falls Pollinator Garden — “The Residence at Colvin Run, a senior-living facility located in Great Falls, on April 29 welcomed young learners from Kashmir’s Pollinator Garden Club to participate in a Garden Design Challenge…The event was organized by the club…to create a community pollinator garden using the principles of geometry.” [Gazette Leader]
Vienna Church Hosts Prom for People with Disabilities — “It was a night filled with smiles, dancing and happy tears. This was the atmosphere at the Be Our Guest prom, which Vienna Presbyterian Church hosted for guests with special needs. This was a new effort by the church, which runs a Friendship Class for adults with special needs.” [Patch]
Skate Night Coming to Franconia Rec Center — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting the first-ever Family Skate Night at Franconia Rec Center. Grab your roller skates and family and friends for an evening of fun at Franconia Rec Center on Saturday, May 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. The gymnasium…will be converted into a roller-skating rink, complete with a live DJ!” [FCPA]
It’s Wednesday — Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 7 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. [Weather.gov]
As Northern Virginia continues to cement its position as a global base for data centers, Fairfax County leaders say the time has come to reevaluate the impact of the facilities and, potentially, set some boundaries for the future.
At its meeting this morning (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to research environmental issues linked to data centers and what’s being done to address them. Staff will also develop guidelines for site locations and the process for approving them.
The unanimously approved motion introduced by Board Chairman Jeff McKay advised staff to report back by the end of this year, but with more centers in the works, some supervisors suggested an accelerated timeline is needed.
“The technology’s changing, the practices are changing, so there may be some things that we need to do even sooner than the end of the year,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said. “I would just encourage us to be flexible and staff to bring things forward when ready.”
Though Silicon Valley remains synonymous with the tech industry, the internet lives in Virginia, which hosts about 35% of the world’s data centers — including 45 million square feet just in Northern Virginia, according to a recent report by real estate developer JLL. As much as 70% of all online traffic passes through Loudoun County, giving it the nickname “Data Center Alley.”
Fairfax County currently has 11 data centers with five more “in the pipeline,” according to McKay. Alcorn said four of the upcoming sites are in his district, which includes the CoreSite campus in Reston and offices for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Herndon.
With AWS pledging to invest $35 billion for new data center campuses in Virginia, the facilities could “be beneficial from a tax-base perspective and perhaps even a building repurposing perspective,” McKay said in his board matter, which was also sponsored by Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith.
“The region continues to receive requests for more data centers due to our unique location related to the internet’s fiber infrastructure,” McKay said.
However, as the industry’s footprint has grown, so have concerns about the consequences for the environment, local neighborhoods and the power grid.
Citing their impacts on air and water quality as well as electricty usage and greenhouse gas emissions, the county’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) urged the board to develop a plan requiring data centers to use renewable energy “to the extent feasible” and report all emissions and pollutants.
“Actions to mitigate threats to community health and minimize the need for future cleanup of water by County wastewater treatment facilities and Fairfax Water should be undertaken,” EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza said in the March 13 memo. “Moreover, these steps are important to provide the data centers with clear expectations to reduce environmental impacts.”
The proposed data center plan will build off of updates in the county’s recently voided zoning ordinance, which was scheduled for a public hearing and potential re-adoption today.
Contrary to some criticism, the zoning ordinance modification (zMOD) created more restrictions on data centers compared to the existing code from 1978, McKay said. In addition to banning the facilities from residential districts, the new code added size limits and requirements for cooling, ventilating, and other equipment enclosures.
“While we are open to data centers in Fairfax County, they only work if they’re in the proper location and have the proper environmental mitigations,” he said.
The Board of Supervisors voiced opposition last year to an ultimately approved plan to develop a “digital gateway” in Prince William County that could affect the Occoquan watershed, and Bren Mar residents successfully rallied against a proposal that could’ve opened the door for a data center.
Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) proposed waiving air quality requirements for data centers in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties so they could use generators, fearing they would otherwise overburden the region’s power supply. The proposal was later narrowed to just Loudoun before being withdrawn altogether after criticism from residents and environmental advocates.
The power demand for run data centers is expected to grow going forward, according to Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who recounted a recent meeting with the president of the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC).
“Right now, data centers are 20% of their power base. In 10 to 15 years, they’re going to be 90% of their power base but less than 5% of their customers,” Herrity said. “At some point in time, we as the elected body here…need to take a look at are we going to have sufficient power, where’s it going to come from, what’s the grid going to look like.”
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk noted that data center technology is still evolving, so they could take up less space in the future.
While not dismissing the environmental issues associated with data centers, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said they’re still more efficient than the on-site computer servers that dominated before cloud computing made remote storage possible.
“If you just measure the emissions that that building creates — and we should hold them to high standards — you’re missing the alternative, which is most often, much less efficient.” he said. “Unless we all stop using our phones and our devices, then we won’t need them, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Photo via Kirill Sh on Unsplash
An information technology services company is expanding its presence in Reston.
Dev Technology Group plans to invest $366,000 in its current offices at 11440 Commerce Park Drive, embarking on a 10,000-square-foot expansion that is expected to create 90 new jobs. The news was announced yesterday (Monday).
“As a federal contractor, Dev Technology has selected to continue its growth in Fairfax County due to the proximity of clients and access to highly skilled employees, including veterans,” Dev Technology CEO Kendall Holbrook said. “In addition, Northern Virginia is a diverse and inclusive community that allows us to attract and retain people of all backgrounds, which ultimately makes our company stronger and more resilient.”
The company was founded in 1998 to deliver IT services and solutions, including artificial intelligence, to further government missions. Its clients include the Department of Homeland Security, Army National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) president and CEO Victor Hoskins congratulated the company on its expansion in the county.
“We applaud Dev Technology for their investment and plan of hiring 90 new information technology and software employees,” Hoskins said.
FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to secure the project for the county.
“Dev Technology Group is a Virginia success story that bolsters our booming IT industry while providing critical services for the government and 21st-century jobs for civilians and veterans,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. “We are proud to see a longstanding corporate partner benefit from the Commonwealth’s diverse, world-class technology talent that catalyzes growth.”
BIG NEWS: @devtechnology, an information technology services company, will expand in Fairfax County. The company is investing in 10k sq. ft of new office space to accommodate additional IT + software personnel. The project will create 90 new jobs.
: https://t.co/OOqXyv7cW6 pic.twitter.com/nQnJpVfVwF
— Fairfax County EDA (@FairfaxEDA) May 8, 2023
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County could be getting park rangers one day, but it won’t be this year.
With the police department’s staff stretched thin, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has proposed a new solution for addressing service calls in its system: a park ranger program.
But while the Board of Supervisors directed staff on May 2 to review options for law enforcement in the park system, the $1.1 million request didn’t make the cut for the upcoming fiscal year 2024 budget, which will take effect July 1.
Depending on what the review recommends, funding could come in future years.
“In the proposed guidance for the FY 24-25 budget, the Board of Supervisors instructed county staff to ‘initiate a review of options to expand the presence of law enforcement within our park system, including the proposed park ranger program, and return to the Board with recommendations,’” Ben Boxer, public information officer for FCPA, said.
Boxer said issues like graffiti and thefts from vehicles have been increasingly problematic for the park authority in recent years.
“Parks, park users and staff often experience prohibited activities such as graffiti and destruction of property, unauthorized use, trespassing, encroachment, theft from vehicles, animal/dog bites, drug and alcohol use, littering, etc,” Boxer said. “These issues have always been a problem in parks but with Park Authority staffing cuts over the years, this type of activity has been steadily increasing and has driven the need to request and fund police coverage during the past several years.”
The FCPA has requested $1.1 million for a pilot program, consisting of six park rangers and three chief park rangers, along with vehicles and supplies. Those rangers would patrol the parks and educate the community on park rules and regulations.
Boxer said the possible Park Ranger pilot program is based on similar programs in Arlington County and Prince William County.
“Park safety and security rangers have been shown to help minimize the degradation of parks and improve the community’s park experience and satisfaction,” Boxer said. “The role is different from that of traditional law enforcement but can significantly alleviate the pressure on police in responding to calls.”
Instead, the new budget focuses on providing tax relief and increasing county employee pay. The budget is scheduled for adoption on today (Tuesday).
The driver of a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue engine who struck and killed a woman on Glade Drive in Reston did not see the woman lying in the roadway, police say.
Preliminarily, investigators believe that speed was not a factor in the crash, which happened shortly after 2:18 am yesterday (Monday), the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release.
According to the FCPD, the police and fire departments received a call that a woman who appeared to be intoxicated was lying on the ground west of Laurel Glade Court. The officer who arrived first at the scene did not see the woman lying in the roadway, passing her to talk to the person who made the 911 call.
The driver of the fire engine followed the officer. The captain saw the woman and “immediately” called on the engine to stop and turn, but the driver was unable to avoid the crash, police said.
“Fire and rescue personnel immediately began to provide advanced medical care,” the FCPD said.
The woman was identified as Ashley Boardman, 23, of Middleburg. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Police say they are still investigating “if drugs or alcohol were factors for Boardman,” who had reportedly been found unconscious by the caller, according to the initial police dispatch.
Boardman is now the fourth pedestrian to be killed on Fairfax County roads this year. At this time in 2022, there had been six fatal pedestrian crashes, per the FCPD.
As @FairfaxCountyPD releases more information about this morning fatal pedestrian event, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Boardman. https://t.co/x7A38IAmc5 pic.twitter.com/mxLSZmD2Pf
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 8, 2023
Police Begin Speed Enforcement Campaign — “Officers from our district stations & traffic division will be conducting our ’50 means 50′ campaign on the Fairfax County Parkway from May 8-May 12. Drivers can expect extra attention this week as we seek to educate drivers, enforce good driving behavior, & reduce crashes.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Local Man Sentenced to Prison for Capitol Breach — “Hatchet Speed, 42, of Vienna, was sentenced to four years in prison by a judge in DC federal court” for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He “was previously sentenced to three years in prison in a gun silencer case in Virginia federal court.” [Patch]
New Park Open Near Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Fairfax County Park Authority held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday for the Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park, a new park in Bailey’s Crossroads that features a playground, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, and community gardens.” [Patch]
Herndon BBQ Restaurant Cuts Ribbon — “Although the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit had a soft-launch of its new restaurant in Herndon on April 14, town officials joined franchisee owners Mosni and Dhaval Shah for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon.” [Patch]
State Covid Exposure App Is Ending — “Virginia’s COVID exposure notification app will be retired Thursday when the national public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic ends, the Virginia Department of Health announced Monday. More than 3 million users downloaded the COVIDWISE app or turned on COVIDWISE Express, an app-less version for iPhone users.” [Inside NoVA]
Health Department Answers Questions on Fentanyl — Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day, and the Fairfax County Health Department will host a talk at 11:30 a.m. with Jennifer Feltes, population health epidemiologist. “Learn about fentanyl — what it is, where it is found, and what can be done to promote healthy behaviors.” [FCHD/Facebook]
Meet the Board of Supervisors Primary Candidates — “The victors — some of whom…are likely to be determined in the primary — will have plenty to do in governing the region’s largest jurisdiction. We’ve asked the candidates to weigh in on a range of issues facing the county, including financial uncertainty, housing affordability, retention of county employees and issues around police accountability.” [DCist]
McLean Community Center Leader Energized by Job — “Betsy May-Salazar has served as executive director of the McLean Community Center for just four months, but the job has been invigorating so far…The community center’s pace is ‘very fast, with a lot of moving pieces, which I love,’ she said.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Showers. High of 60 and low of 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Sunrise at 6:01 am and sunset at 8:08 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax University of America, an accredited higher education institution, is looking for a new campus in Herndon.
The institution — which offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in business administration, management information system, computer sciences and other fields — is seeking the Town of Herndon’s permission to take over three office buildings on Grove Street.
The application, which is set to go before the Town of Herndon’s Planning Commission tonight (Monday), proposes that the college would operate at 500, 555 and 585 Grove Street, accommodating roughly 295 students.
Roughly 71,000 square feet of existing office space would be repurposed to serve as classrooms, teacher offices and related amenity space, according to the application.
The property would have to be rezoned from commercial services uses to business uses.
“The applicant believes that the office climate has been evolving over the past few years and this evolution has resulted in large amounts of vacancy,” the application says.
Existing businesses in the buildings would remain.
So far, town staff said they generally support using the site as a post-secondary education campus because of the layout of the buildings and their central location in the town.
“Staff has been working with the applicant to address site concerns through updates to the [Generalized Development Plan],” staff said in a report. “Staff issued a comment letter expressing concerns with accessibility and circulation.”
Fairfax University’s campus is currently located at 4401 Village Drive in Fairfax.
Image via Google Maps
Thanks to higher-than-anticipated revenue, Fairfax County gave a financial boost last week to its affordable housing goals, public library collections and park facilities, among other initiatives.
Before taking a preliminary vote on the next budget, which will be adopted tomorrow (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved nearly $10.7 million in changes to the current fiscal year 2023 budget — known as the third-quarter review — when it met on May 2.
For the biggest adjustment, the board increased funding for affordable housing by $8 million on top of $10 million already recommended by County Executive Bryan Hill.
The county has now committed over $118 million to affordable housing over the past two years, including $45 million in federal Covid relief funds, as it aims to produce 10,000 new units by 2034, per county documents.
“I think most people in our county, including very profoundly, the business community, understand that affordable housing is an essential ingredient for economic success,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said. “It’s not just a nice thing to do. It’s a requirement.”
Also included in the package was $300,000 for Fairfax County Public Library materials. FCPL Deputy Director Kevin Osborne says the library was “so pleased” that the board approved the funding, which will go toward research database subscriptions and ebooks.
“Due to the nature of eBook licensing to libraries, adding to the digital collection is more costly than adding to the physical collection so we are also hoping to purchase additional eBook licenses for some titles that have some excessively long hold queues,” he said in an emailed statement.
During a budget policy committee meeting on April 26, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity put forward an “alternative” third-quarter proposal that gave $2 million to FCPL to expand its collection and hours, which were reduced last summer due to staffing challenges.
At the time, a library spokesperson said the vacancy rate was about 18 to 20%. While current numbers weren’t available by press time, filling the system’s 390 positions evidently remains an obstacle.
“Like many other employers, public libraries continue to face recruitment challenges,” Osborne said. “We have no update as to when normal hours will resume.”
Herrity’s proposal also suggested allocating $5 million to county park maintenance — with the combined $7 million coming out of the affordable housing funds. A version of the proposal without the library money died at last week’s meeting after no one else on the board “seconded” the motion for a discussion.
The approved third-quarter review did include $2.1 million for Fairfax County Park Authority projects:
- $1.7 million to improve six fields at Wakefield Park so they can accommodate softball
- $300,000 to replace and upgrade Lake Accotink Park’s playground, which has been closed since an inspector determined the equipment was unsafe in November
- $100,000 for a safety assessment of other playgrounds with equipment from the now-defunct vendor used at Accotink
The playground at Lake Accotink was removed the morning of May 2, according to the office of Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, whose district includes the park.
“FCPA is currently in the design process and expects to have information on the concept in the next few weeks,” a spokesperson for his office told FFXnow.
With its adjustments to the third-quarter review, the board also approved $217,308 to hire a contractor to remove signs illegally located in the public right-of-way and a $60,000 contribution to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, an Annandale-based nonprofit that preserves land and water from development.
A pedestrian was killed after being run over by a fire engine near the Reston Glade Apartments early this morning (Monday).
A medical unit with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched to Glade Drive at Dosnia Court near Dogwood Elementary School for a medical emergency around 2:19 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
Around the same time, Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to Dogwood Elementary School for a “suspicious person” after a caller reported an apparently unconscious woman on the ground.
At 2:24 a.m., a responder told the dispatcher that the “patient’s in the road, run over by engine 31. Appears to be DOA.”
A police officer said at 2:30 a.m. that the road would need to be shut down.
“The fire truck actually struck this individual,” the officer said.
Detectives with the FCPD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit were sent to the scene of what it described as a “fatal pedestrian crash involving @ffxfirerescue,” the department tweeted shortly after 4 a.m.
Glade Drive was closed for over an hour between Laurel Glade Drive and Rosedown Drive.
The roadway is open. Follow our blog for future updates. https://t.co/YUigMm3yDx
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 8, 2023
Fox Mill Road Closed for Stormwater Pipe Replacement — Fox Mill Road (Route 665) will be closed to through traffic between Waples Mill Road and Vale Road from “Monday, May 8 through Wednesday, May 10 between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day…Traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement (near 3283 Fox Mill Road, adjacent to Lake Edge Way) in either direction.” [VDOT]
Motorcyclist Killed in Route 1 Crash — “Around 5:40 p.m. Saturday, officers with the Fairfax County Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 1 and Birch Crest Way in Lorton, Virginia. Police say the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead. Their identity has not yet been revealed.” [WUSA9]
Metro’s Yellow Line Resumes Service — Service across the Potomac River returned to Metro’s Yellow Line yesterday “following an eight-month rehabilitation project to repair the deteriorating 1970’s tunnel and bridge. The reopening, announced last month, will provide a faster, more direct connection for customers between Virginia and downtown D.C.” [Inside NoVA]
Campaign Website Draws Warning of Legal Action — “A representative of Democrat Chap Petersen’s campaign sent a cease and desist letter to Saddam Azlan Salim, his opponent in the District 37 race for the Virginia Senate.” The letter argued that Salim’s campaign is infringing on domain and trademark rights by attempting to register websites referring to Petersen, which it says may mislead voters. [Patch]
Suspect in December Shooting Incidents Arrested — “On May 4, 2023 City of Fairfax Police arrested a subject in connection with two shootings that occurred on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairchester Drive and Lion Run on December 8, 2022.” In one incident, a driver sustained “minor injuries,” and in another, an occupied vehicle about two miles away was struck, but the lone occupant wasn’t injured. [City of Fairfax]
Clifton Townhouse Fire Causes $155,000 in Damages — “On Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 8:53 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 13500 block of Canada Goose Court.” Three people were displaced by the fire, which investigators determined was started by “improperly discarded smoking materials.” [FCFRD]
Community Garden Under Construction in Lorton — “Work is steadily progressing on the development of the new community garden at the former Nike Missile Site in Lorton. Contractors are building a total of 19 garden plots with three raised beds each at the 1.4-acre site, which is located at Laurel Hill Park.” The garden is expected to be finished and open this summer. [On the MoVe]
Tysons Theater Announces New Season — “1st Stage has announced its 2023-2024 season, which will begin with the Logan Festival of Solo Performance from July 13 to 23, 2023.” Shows will include the Tony-nominated “The Nance” and an adaptation of Chaim Potok’s novel “The Chosen,” the theater’s second time adapting Potok’s work after the first one in 2016 became “the most successful production in 1st Stage’s history.” [DC Theater Arts]
It’s Monday — Passing showers. Overcast. Mild. High of 66 and low of 53. Sunrise at 6:02 am and sunset at 8:07 pm. [Weather.gov]
Reston Museum will take a deep dive into the history behind street names, Reston’s transportation system and the road to accessibility at a special event on May 10.
Called “This Way to Reston,” the program will kick off at 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne. Although the program is free, registration is required. Programming is supported in part by RCC.
Presenters will include museum board member Caren Anton, a museum board member; Mike McDermott, chair of Reston Association’s Multimodal Transportation Advisory Committee; and Colin Mills, project director of the Reston Accessibility Committee.
Reston Museum Executive Director Alexandra Campbell noted that transportation has played a major role in Reston’s history, influencing the community’s master plan in 1962, community volunteerism, and the area’s live, work, and play philosophy.
“We look forward to sharing historical photographs of this history and learning from Mr. McDermott and Mr. Mills on the Reston modes of transportation today,” Campbell wrote in a statement.
The event comes as Reston’s master plan undergoes a major revision. Fairfax County is expected to release a staff report of its recommendations on a draft master plan update sometime this month.
Early voting for the 2023 Democratic primary begins today (Friday) in Fairfax County with a number of notable races on the ballot.
Three locations in the county will open this morning for early in-person voting on weekdays through June 17.
Those include the Fairfax County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as the Mount Vernon Government Center and North County Governmental Center, both open from 1-7 p.m.
Voting will also be available on two Saturdays — June 10 and 17 — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at all three locations.
Starting June 10, 12 government centers and libraries will be open for in-person voting from 1-7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those two Saturdays (June 10 and 17) as well:
- Burke Centre Library (5935 Freds Oak Road)
- Centreville Regional Library (14200 St. Germain Drive)
- Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road)
- Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike)
- Herndon-Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street)
- Lorton Community Center (9520 Richmond Highway)
- Mason Governmental Center (6507 Columbia Pike)
- McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road)
- Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive)
- Sully Governmental Center (4900 Stonecroft Blvd)
- Thomas Jefferson Library (7415 Arlington Blvd)
- Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike)
- West Springfield Governmental Center (6140 Rolling Road)
There are also ballot dropboxes at the Fairfax County Governmental Center for those who requested an absentee ballot by mail. One box is inside the complex, and one is outside near the handicapped parking spaces.
Curbside voting will be available for residents who are 65 and older or have a physical disability.
The ballot
Perhaps the most hotly contested race on the primary ballot is for Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney, with incumbent Steve Descano facing a challenge from prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Ed Nuttall.
In a recent radio talk, Descano accused Nuttall of associating with “MAGA, antisemitic conspiracy theorists,” while Nuttall retorted by calling Descano a “liar” and “incompetent.”
While both are running as Democrats, they have shared differing positions, methods, and visions for the office. No Republican challenger for the seat has emerged.
The Democratic nomination for county sheriff is also up for grabs between incumbent Stacey Kincaid and Herndon High School football coach (and former D.C. police officer) Kelvin Garcia. Kincaid was the county’s first female sheriff when she took office a decade ago. Garcia is positioning himself as a more progressive option.
Elsewhere in local races, all Board of Supervisors seats are up for election in November, but only two incumbents are on the primary ballot: Chairman Jeff McKay, who has been challenged by retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing, and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, who is facing off with Maritza Zermeño.
Other contests feature newcomers seeking to challenge or succeed incumbents:
- Dranesville District — With John Foust retiring, the candidates are Jimmy Bierman, former chair of the Dranesville District Democratic Committee, and David Fiske, a McLean Citizens Association board member
- Mason District — Four candidates are vying to replace retiring Penny Gross, including Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez, Rep. Don Beyer staffer Jeremy Allen, Steve Lee, and Reid Voss.
- Springfield District — Albert Vega and John Nowadly are vying in the primary to take on incumbent Pat Herrity, the only Republican on the board
The Fairfax County School Board isn’t on this primary ballot since candidates must run as independents. However, today is the last day to register to participate in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee endorsement caucus. This is the first time the FCDC is opening the process up to all registered voters.
On the state side, every seat in the Virginia General Assembly is up for election this year. The impacts of redistricting and a number of veteran lawmakers not running again have set the stage for a unique year in terms of open seats.
- House District 7 — Four candidates look to fill the seat long held by the retiring Ken Plum, including at-large school board member Karen Keys-Gamarra, Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth and Mary Barthelson
- House District 15 — Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen, software company founder Eric Schmidt and teacher Dr. Henri’ Thompson
- House District 19 — Woodbridge residents Rozia “J.R.” Henson, Mayka Little, and Natalie Shorter. While most of the district lies in Prince William County, about 38% of it is in Fairfax County.
- Senate District 33 — Former lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala is facing off against former gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carrol Foy in a high-profile race
- Senate District 35 — State Sen. Dave Marsden and nonprofit worker Heidi Drauschak compete to succeed the retiring Dick Saslaw
- Senate District 36 — Sully District School Board Representative Stella Pekarsky is challenging incumbent George Barker
- Senate District 37 — The primary pits “old-fashioned” incumbent Chap Petersen against “progressive” challenger Saddam Azlan Salim
The Democratic primary will be held June 20, when dozens of polling places will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ZMOD Recommended by Planning Commission Again — After being struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court, Fairfax County’s zoning code overhaul got the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support on Wednesday (May 3), even as “dozens of residents” voiced “the same complaints raised the first time” it was proposed. Concerns included allowances for data centers and accessory living units. [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Introduces Solar-Powered Port-a-Potties — “Now open in Old Town Square and Van Dyck Park, Throne bathrooms bring the feeling of an indoor bathroom out into the parks. Thrones are ADA-accessible, are run by solar-power, have no touch entry and exit, changing tables, no touch flush, and running water!” [Fairfax City Parks and Recreation/Facebook]
Hybla Valley Is Getting a New Tex-Mex Restaurant — “A new Tex-Mex restaurant is coming to the former El Pollo Primero location in Hybla Valley. El Fresco, a fast-casual grill featuring ‘real fresh Mexican food,’ currently has locations in Chantilly and Centreville, and plans to expand in the near future to Sterling and Alexandria.” [On the MoVe]
John Legend Weighs in on County Prosecutor Race — “I’m excited to announce the endorsement of singer, songwriter, and philanthropist, John Legend. John’s activism has led him to work on justice reform in America. I’m proud to receive his support. Here’s the robocall he just released for my re-election.” [Steve Descano/Twitter]
Vienna Nonprofit Advocates for Memorial to Journalists — The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation has been approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts to begin designing a “first-of-its-kind memorial honoring journalists who’ve lost their lives while covering the news.” In 2020, Congress authorized the memorial to be built with private funds on federal land in D.C. [Washingtonian]
Franconia Splash Pad Ranked No. 2 in Country — “The Park Authority’s Our Special Harbor spray ground was just named the No. 2 splash pad in the nation in the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards…After four weeks of voting, Our Special Harbor came in second in the nationwide people’s choice selection. The popular water feature is set to open the 2023 season on Saturday, May 27.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Reston Couple Gains Fans With Dinner Party Prep — “Every time Andy Hoyle posts photos of the dinner parties he hosts with his wife, Noelle Sharbaugh, on the Northern Virginia Foodies Facebook page, the 126,000-member group goes wild…The tablescapes, designed by Sharbaugh, are luscious and Pinterest-y…[Hoyle’s] elaborate, multicourse menus look professionally plated.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Free Lyft Rides Available for Cinco De Mayo — “The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) will activate its SoberRide initiative for the Cinco de Mayo holiday…In collaboration with Lyft, those who may have had too much to drink during the holiday will be able to receive a free ride home (up to $15 value) from May 5 at 4 p.m. to May 6 at 4 a.m.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Friday — Cloudy. Mild. High of 69 and low of 51. Sunrise at 6:06 am and sunset at 8:04 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new sign plan aimed at creating uniformity in Herndon’s Worldgate Centre has been put on hold.
At a work session public hearing before the town’s Architectural Review Board last night (Wednesday), town staff indicated that the property owner intends to withdraw the plan because of the town’s efforts to adopt Uniform Sign Standards.
“The applicant’s agent has indicated their intention to withdraw this application given the adoption of the Uniform Sign Standards, however, a formal withdrawal has not been received at this time,” Tamsin Homes, a lead planner with the town, said in a May 3 memo.
The owners of Worldgate Centre submitted an application in March to create additional design criteria with a new master sign plan.
“The applicant proposes to amend the current master sign plan to accurately reflect the location and size of existing tenant spaces within the shopping center and provide updates sign area allocations for each respective tenant in accordance with each tenant space,” the application said.
In a Feb. 22 memo, the applicant stated that the plan allows the center to get revamped and refreshed signage that will “ultimately improve and enhance the quality of this prominent shopping area in the Town of Herndon.”
A formal withdrawal request has not yet been made.
Image via Google Maps
