Area Traffic Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels — “In the ‘inner suburbs’ of Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, traffic was 94% of pre-pandemic norms as 2022 closed…Several factors may be contributing to this seeming disconnect — congested highways but half-empty offices — but most eyes have turned to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Canan said.” [Washington Business Journal]
Wolf Trap National Park Brings Back Food Service — “The Fermented Pig, a barbecue-focused food vendor, will return to Wolf Trap’s on-site restaurant Ovations. There will be an updated farm-to-table buffet menu with vegan and gluten-free options as well as a picnic box option and new quick service bar.” Picnic boxes will be available for the first time since 2019. [Patch]
County to Recognize Contributions to Black Community — “Nominations are now open for the 2023 Juneteenth Resiliency Award for residents ages 13-21. This award recognizes the incredible resiliency shown by young people in Fairfax County who have made meaningful contributions in their lives and in the lives of others.” [Fairfax County Government]
Virginia School Bus Driver Shortage Persists — “Public schools continue to face challenges transporting students to school amid ongoing bus driver shortages spurred by factors such as low pay and strict safety and retirement regulations…Data also reveal the situation is far more complicated, making it difficult to determine whether shortages are actually improving.” [Virginia Mercury/Inside NoVA]
Hundreds Join Herndon Easter Egg Hunt — “More than 300 children and their families descended on Bready Park on Saturday to take part in the annual Hoppy Egg Hunting event hosted by the Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation Department. Children up to the age of 7 took part in three egg hunts.” [Patch]
How Local Family-Owned Restaurants Are Faring — “Though she’s never been formally employed at her parents’ A&J restaurants in Rockville and Annandale, Debbie Tang says she’ll always be the general counsel — whether she wants to be or not. Her paid work is at an executive search firm, but she’s an attorney by training. So she will still look over a restaurant’s lease, for example, if asked by her parents, Elaine and Jye Tang.” [DCist]
County Could Support Bonds for Inova Projects — “Fairfax County supervisors on April 11 were set to authorize the county’s Industrial Development Authority to issue health-care revenue bonds periodically to support capital projects undertaken by Inova Health System…Inova’s revenues will support the bonds, which will not constitute a debt obligation to the county or the Board of Supervisors, county staff said.” [Gazette Leader]
Prepare for Library Catalog Outage — “FCPL’s catalog system will be undergoing maintenance Monday, April 17. Because of this maintenance, the public catalog including Libby and Overdrive will be unavailable to the public from 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. that day.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered clouds. Mild. High of 75 and low of 43. Sunrise at 6:38 am and sunset at 7:41 pm. [Weather.gov]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is going to take a second stab at its ambitious Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project (zMOD) after Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down the prior approval.
The county’s zMOD overhaul involved a variety of sweeping changes to the zoning ordinance, from loosening limits on accessory dwelling units to changes in regulations governing flags and flagpoles.
Unfortunately for the Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Supreme Court voided the 2021 approval of zMOD because the meeting where it was approved and prior public hearings were held virtually, which it said violated the county’s Virginia Freedom of Information Act requirements.
The ruling raised questions about development and land use decisions made in the wake of the zoning code update, though Virginia passed a new law last year that loosened restrictions on virtual public meetings.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), the board is set to start the public hearing process to give zMOD approval another go. An administrative item at the board’s meeting for tomorrow would grant “authorization to advertise public hearings on the readoption of the zoning ordinance.”
According to the docket:
If the Board’s 2021 adoption of the zMOD Ordinance was void, so was the contemporaneous repeal of the 1978 Zoning Ordinance (as amended), leaving that earlier Ordinance still in effect. As a result, new public hearings are required for reconsideration of the zMOD Ordinance as previously adopted on March 23, 2021. And while subsequent Zoning Ordinance amendments are not addressed in the opinion, staff recommends that they be included as part of the complete Zoning Ordinance being considered.
Unsurprisingly, the county executive is recommending that the board authorize advertisement of public hearings for an ordinance it already approved in a 7-3 vote on March 23, 2021.
If the advertisement of public hearings is approved, those will come at the May 3 Planning Commission meeting and the May 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, meaning zMOD could be reapproved less than two months after the original approval was struck down.
(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) Reston Town Center Association wants to increase its number of sip-and-stroll-style events in the town center.
But RTCA needs the approval of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to increase the number of licenses it has per year for designated outdoor refreshment areas. The matter heads to the board for a vote tomorrow (Tuesday).
If approved, RTCA would have permission to host up to 50 events — up from 16 — with Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) licenses.
The association will work with the Fairfax County Police Department for security purposes. It is also working with an on-site security team to maintain the perimeter where alcoholic beverages are allowed.
The request comes after the association hosted several sip-and-stroll events last year in the town center, allowing individuals to purchase alcoholic drinks at participating restaurants into the streets or park.
The association’s board has approved similar events for this year, including at least 12 Darden and Friends jazz events for the spring and fall. There will also be 14 Reston Concerts on the Town, a concert series that returns this year after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic and renovations at the pavilion and Mercury Fountain.
Another half-dozen events are proposed on Saturdays.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) can increase the frequency and duration of events after Fairfax County adopts an ordinance formally requesting an increase, according to a county memo.
“I don’t think there is any controversy here,” Robert Goudie, RTCA’s president said. “ABC is aware that we would be seeking an increase to the cap. Last year’s events were well-received and well-managed.”
RTCA is expected to reach its 16-event limit by July. In 2021, the General Assembly amended state code to create the licenses. A licensee is currently only allowed up to 16 events — each of which can last up to three consecutive days.
RTCA’s board is expected to vote on the issue on May 9 at 4 p.m. following an introduction of the proposal at the board meeting tomorrow.
The reconstruction of the Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) intersection at Baron Cameron Avenue begins this week in Reston.
Part of a massive project to expand Route 7, the construction will usher in new traffic patterns on the nights of April 10-14 and April 16-20 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The triple left-turn lanes from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will be reduced to a single-left turn lane from 8-10 p.m. only. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is in the process of widening a nearly 7-mile stretch of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive.
“Please use caution and be alert to vehicles and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All work is weather-dependent and subject to change,” VDOT cautioned in a recent traffic alert.
Between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., drivers on Springvale Road to Baron Cameron Avenue will turn right onto westbound Route 7 and follow a detour route to Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue in order to get to Baron Cameron Avenue.
Drivers on Baron Cameron Avenue, Hunter Gate Way and Hunter Mill Road who are trying to reach westbound Route 7 will follow Baron Cameron Avenue westbound to a detour route along Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway.
Additionally, all Route 7 eastbound traffic will be reduced to a single-through lane.
Between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the triple left-turn lanes from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will be completely closed. Drivers on eastbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will use a service road at a nearby car wash to access Baron Cameron Avenue.
The right-turn lane from Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7 will remain open at all times.
According to VDOT documentation from a recent meeting, the project is expected to cost roughly $314 million and should wrap up by the end of July next year. Construction began in May 2019.
Key milestones so far include the addition of a left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue, temporary intersection improvements at Towlston Road, and a third through-lane from Riva Ridge Drive to Reston Avenue.
The new Lewinsville Road intersection with a displaced left-run lane from eastbound Route 7 to Lewinsville is expected to open in late May, according to VDOT.
Driver Hospitalized After Mount Vernon Crash — “Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department are investigating the single vehicle crash that occurred on Sacramento Drive near Bedford Terrace on Saturday. Police say the driver was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries following the collision.” [WUSA9]
Man Shot in Kingstowne — Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting on Friday (April 7) near Barclay Drive and King Centre Drive. Police say a man was found with a gunshot wound to the upper body and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe preliminarily that it was “an isolated incident.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Metro Police Turn to Localities for Staffing Help — “Metro is working to increase its use of police officers from other agencies in the Washington region, paying overtime rates for extra shifts at train stations and bus boarding areas to combat a rise in crime within the transit system.” The Fairfax County Police Department says it doesn’t have a formal agreement with Metro but works with the agency on joint initiatives. [The Washington Post]
County Opens Mental Health Clinic on Richmond Highway — “A group of people, led by retired school social worker Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch, came together to address the local need for culturally competent, accessible, community based behavioral health care on Richmond Highway. Their work resulted in the opening of The Growth and Healing HUB, which provides affordable, inclusive behavioral health and wellness services to children and families in southern Fairfax County.” [FCHD]
Capital One Pushes Workers to Return to Offices — “The McLean banking and credit card giant, one of the D.C. region’s largest employers, is telling workers companywide that they will be required to be in their offices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting May 2, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported this week.” [Washington Business Journal]
Colvin Run Bridge Work Will Require Traffic Stoppages — “On Tuesday, April 11, weather permitting, Hunter Mill Road (Route 674) will have early afternoon traffic stoppages between Crowell Road (Route 675) and Cobble Mill Road to install beams for the new bridge over Colvin Run…The full traffic stoppages lasting up to ten minutes each will occur between noon and 3 p.m.” [VDOT]
Lawsuit Challenges Rollback of Felon Voting Rights — “A discretionary process being used by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to decide which felons can get their voting rights back is unconstitutional and could lead to decisions based on an applicant’s political affiliations or views, a lawsuit filed Thursday argued.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
George Mason University Band Goes to White House — “The Pep Band has some very exciting news… we are thrilled to announce we will be performing at the @WhiteHouse Easter Egg Roll on April 10th! We can not wait to perform at this amazing event!!” [GMU Green Machine/Twitter]
It’s Monday — Sunny. Mild. High of 65 and low of 38. Sunrise at 6:39 am and sunset at 7:40 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) The Fairfax County Police Department and George Mason University have joined forces with an Arlington-based think tank to study how the attitudes and behavior of police officers evolve over the course of their careers.
Touted as the first of its kind in the U.S., the long-term or longitudinal study is intended to give the FCPD and other police departments a better understanding of how to address staffing challenges by following a select group of officers, potentially over decades.
The results could inform the FCPD’s recruiting efforts and provide a new look at what makes someone a successful police officer, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a 1 p.m. press conference, noting that divorce, suicide, alcoholism and domestic violence rates among police are “higher than the national norm.”
“We’re really happy to engage in this long-term journey to figure out what success looks like for Fairfax County, because we want to continue to lead on behalf of our profession,” Davis said. “We think over time and hopefully over many years, we’ll learn a lot more about who wants to become part of this profession and, once they enter our ranks, what determines their trajectory for success.”
Looking at both applicants and current officers, the study will be conducted independently by Dr. Cynthia Lum, a criminology professor in GMU’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, and the National Policing Institute.
With a gift provided by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022, the institute is funding the estimated $300,000 cost of the study’s first three years. That includes $186,401 that went to GMU to support its costs, according to National Policing Institute President Jim Burch.
Researchers hope to get enough money from public and private funders to continue the study for 10 to 20 years, Lum said.
With a current vacancy rate of 206 positions, the FCPD has been operating under a personnel emergency since July 2022, meaning officers are required to work overtime with two shifts in rotation instead of the usual three.
Compensation has emerged as the top concern from interviews with officers, though it’s not the only one, according to FCPD Administrative Support Bureau Commander Major Gregory Fried, citing a desire for a better work-life balance as another issue that has come up.
The police department has recently committed more money to job advertising and pay for public safety workers, along with efforts to modernize the hiring process. The next academy class starting April 24 will have 58 graduates, the most in a decade, Davis said.
Still, officer recruitment and retention have become a struggle for law enforcement agencies across the country.
“We’re losing some of our best, and we struggle to bring in the best as well. As we face these challenges, though, taxpayers rightfully expect more,” Burch said. “Communities want more effective and fair policing. They want safer communities…The reality is policing is a profession. It’s not a vocation…We must invest, and that’s what this study is about, investing in those who step up to serve in their communities.”
The national exodus of officers has frequently been attributed to declining morale in the face of heightened public scrutiny, but Covid and mass early retirements may be bigger contributors to burnout, according to The Marshall Project, which reported earlier this year that local government employment in general has dropped since 2020.
Burch hopes to see the study of Fairfax County police officers replicated in other jurisdictions.
“What we learn here in Fairfax County will inform and improve policing across the United States,” Burch said.
The FCPD is also working with the D.C. nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) on a review of shootings by its officers, which increased last year. That study was initiated in early March after Maryland resident Timothy Johnson was shot and killed outside Tysons Corner Center on Feb. 22.
Davis announced on March 23 that the officer who fired the fatal shot that evening had been fired.
The popular outdoor concert series, Friday Night Live!, will return to the Herndon Town Green on May 5.
Organizers released the schedule for the program’s 29th season earlier this week.
“We have an exciting band lineup this year and can’t wait to see all our fans again this summer. It’s hard to believe that this is our 29th season,” Laura Poindexter, the chair of Friday Night Live!, said.
Sponsored by the Dulles Chamber of Commerce, the series will include 16 concerts every Friday through the end of August.
“We have a great variety of bands within the rock cover band genre. Where other venues and concert series have moved toward tribute acts, we’ve found that our audience prefers a more varied experience at our events,” Poindexter continued.
The complete schedule is below:
- May 5: Under the Covers
- May 12: Shake the Room
- May 19: It’s All Good
- May 26: Royals
- June 2: Herndon Festival (no Friday Night Live!)
- June 9: Gonzo’s Nose
- June 16: 8 Track Jones + Billy T Wilde Band
- June 23: JunkFood
- June 30: keeton + All-Star Band
- July 7: LauraLea & Tripp Fabulous
- July 14: Doc Marten and the Flannels
- July 21: Herr Metal + Dr FU
- July 28: Turtle Recall + More More More
- August 4: The Reflex
- August 11: The Rockets
- August 18 Screaming Mönkeys
- August 25: Social Call
Food from local restaurants like Bolay and Jimmy’s Old Tavern will be available on site. Beer and wine is also available for purchase. A portion of tip money from alcoholic purchases will go to the Herndon High School’s alcohol-free grad party.
Great Falls will officially have a Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) retail store.
The business will open on Wednesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. at 9843 Georgetown Pike in the Great Falls Center.
“This new store means Great Falls residents no longer have to drive to Reston or the Tysons area to purchase their spirits,” Virginia ABC Chief Executive Officer Travis Hill said. “We hope to continue to offer a high level of convenience to our customers, both here and elsewhere in the commonwealth.”
The public is invited to the grand opening ceremony for the roughly 2,000-square-foot store, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m on Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
This is the authority’s 399th location in Virginia. Store inventory includes 232 different brands and sizes of American whiskeys, 132 cordials, 174 vodkas and 124 tequilas.
A Deep Dive Into the Fight Over the FBI HQ — “What both delegations agree on is that this is a once-in-a-generation contract that could serve as a 50-year anchor for either community, potentially bringing tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the winner. There are political legacies at stake here. Plus, there’s the CIA angle, which no one can talk about.” [Slate]
Lake Barcroft House Fire Starts in Jeep — “A fire caused by an electrical issue with a Jeep parked outside a Fairfax County home is responsible for a resident being displaced and thousands of dollars worth of damage.” One firefighter got “a minor injury” while responding to the fire in the 6300 block of Cavalier Corridor on March 31. [FOX5]
Construction on Historic Workhouse Buildings Prolonged — “Work at buildings W13 and W15 at the Workhouse Campus in Lorton is expected to extend into mid- to late summer 2023,” per the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The buildings, one of which will house Bunnyman Brewing, were expected to be finished this spring. [On the MoVe]
Annandale Business Owner Joins Mason District Race — “Steve Lee, a business owner and community leader, announced Wednesday that he has filed the required paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination for the Mason District supervisor’s seat…If elected, Lee would be the first-ever Asian American on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Virginia First Lady Awards Fairfax Cafe — “First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented a 2023 Spirit of Virginia Award to Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a retail location for the nonprofit, Every1 Can Work, whose mission is to provide employment to adults living with an intellectual disability through a supported group environment by teaching work and life skills to further independence.” [Fairfax City Economic Development]
Herndon Tech Company Plots Expansion — “Herndon cybersecurity startup Strivacity Inc. has raised $20 million in new funding to push forward on its research and bolster its sales, marketing and engineering teams, ultimately planning to grow the 42-person company to 70 in the next 12 months.” [DC Inno]
Netflix Wants Lovelorn Locals to Star in Blind Dating Show — “Casting directors are still scouring the D.C. area for folks who might want to star in a future season of Love is Blind. The show just released its fourth season based in Seattle but is continuing to cast for the future, with its fifth season predicted for a fall 2023 release.” [DCist]
The Dr. Seuss Experience Opens in Tysons — “Starting April 7, fans of Dr. Seuss can journey through popular children’s books like ‘The Lorax’ and ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ with immersive sets and sights at Tysons Corner Center…The experience will run until Labor Day.” [WTOP]
Entertainers Sought for Annual Reston Cultural Festival — “Reston Community Center is seeking performing arts groups of all ages and cultures for the 2023 Reston Multicultural Festival. The festival will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Reston Town Center with performances in the Pavilion and Reston Town Square Park.” [RCC]
It’s Friday — Sprinkles. Overcast. Cool. High of 57 and low of 48. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 7:37 pm. [Weather.gov]
A luxury hair salon has officially opened in the Town of Herndon.
The Salon de Muse held a grand opening in late January at Reston-Herndon Business Park.
Located at 366 Victory Drive, the salon has six chairs for independent hair stylists on the main level and an upper level with three treatment rooms that host massage therapists, estheticians, and make-up and eyelash extension technicians, according to its website.
The business is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Nordic-Knot, a local business that specializes in pretzel baker, has also signed a lease for that building for a production-only location, the property manager announced earlier this week. Its flagship location at Lake Anne Plaza will remain.
Co-owner Melissa Romano emphasized that the second location is strictly for production only.
“There will be no change to operations for our business, we are simply adding additional production space off-site,” Romano wrote in a statement.
Nordic Knot specializes in hand-made pretzels that are baked to order.
The Fairfax County School Board will have a lot of new faces next year — and perhaps, a couple of members reemerging from its past.
The latest member to opt out of a reelection bid is at-large member Abrar Omeish, who told FFXnow that she has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit that focuses on youth law and advocacy.
She will also serve on the board of a national youth organization, though she’s not able to publicly announce the exact positions yet.
In a statement on her decision, Omeish cited frustrations with the legal and public relations battles that she says have undermined the school board’s efforts to further equity and inclusion.
“Because of how stifling these investigations have been on the ability of our school system to implement real change, I have accepted an offer to fight the very legal battles that have bled our system and so many others on a national level,” she said. “My work will allow school systems across the country to pass more equitable and inclusive policies without fearing the legal threats of lawsuits and investigations, fighting for every child in the nation.”
Elected to the school board in 2019 at 24 years old, Omeish was one of the first Muslim women and the youngest person at the time to win elected office in Virginia.
Sharing supportive comments from current and former students, she says her proudest accomplishments while on the board include advocating for free virtual tutoring and mental health services for students, the addition of more religious holidays to the school calendar, and support for expanded language translation services.
However, Omeish has clashed at times with her colleagues on the school board, some of whom publicly criticized her for calling Israel’s treatment of Palestinians “apartheid.” In addition, the student-led LGBTQ advocacy group, Pride Liberation Project, accused her in 2021 of making “bigoted comments” during a phone call, for which she later apologized.
Fairfax County Public Schools as a whole has faced political and legal challenges over the past few years, from the ongoing lawsuit over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions process to a federal review of its special education services during Covid and a state investigation of its handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations.
Omeish was one of three school board members targeted by recall campaigns in 2021 led by parents who opposed school closures for the pandemic. The petition against Omeish didn’t get enough signatures to reach court, while ones against Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen and Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen were dismissed.
Still, Omeish says she remains “proud of all that my team has been able to accomplish and bring to benefit Fairfax County.”
“I will remain a voice in our community and in FCPS — the system I grew up in and still have family in, the system I came to serve and love — to see much of what I will fight for come to life at the local level in my own home,” Omeish said. “For now, I will remain laser-focused on giving everything I have to this work. We still have a bright eight months ahead to do all that we can for our kids, and I still have a few ideas left for what I hope to accomplish.”
Even with Omeish withdrawing, the race for the board’s three at-large seats remains crowded, with 10 candidates in the running — including former members Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen, who had both stepped down at the end of 2019.
When officially announcing his candidacy today (Thursday), McElveen said he will advocate for “gun violence prevention, universal pre-kindergarten, free and healthy meals for every student, and solar panels on every school” if elected again.
“I see in the eyes of my daughters and all of our students that our best days are ahead of us,” he said. “As a county, we need to reset, reorient our priorities, and rebuild. I am ready to take on that challenge and work with our community to bring the joy back to education.”
Only three members of the 12-person school board will seek reelection to their current seats this November: Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill), Karl Frisch (Providence), and Ricardy Anderson (Mason).
At-large member and current board chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer could return as the successor to Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, who will join Tholen, Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Franconia) and Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon) in retiring.
Cohen, at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra and Stella Pekarsky (Sully) have launched campaigns for General Assembly seats.
The Town of Herndon is considering a proposal to demolish two historic structures on the Adams-Green Funeral Home property.
At a Historic District Review Board work session yesterday (Wednesday), staff recommended denying the proposal to demolish a historic house at 724 Elden Street and and a historic carriage house near the primary house.
According to an application filed with the town in January 2020, there are no immediate plans to demolish the buildings and secure the site with fill dirt and grass.
“The applicant is not proposing any development or construction on this property at this time,” the application says.
In a Feb. 1 letter to the town, the applicant’s attorney, Michael O’Reilly, argued that it’s not practical or cost-effective to relocate the building — an effort that the applicant undertook when they previously relocated a building on the property in the early 2000s.
Both historic structures are located in the Herndon Historic District. They were built in the late 1800s by Charles Reed, a prominent member of the community at the time. His family also started the first funeral business in the town.
“The house is a classic and well-preserved example of the Folk Victorian residential architectural style,” the staff report said, stating that it retains much of its original structure despite alterations over the years. The carriage house on the lot is simpler in form.
Staff noted that the demolition of historic buildings in that area is strongly discouraged because it results in the permanent loss of the historical integrity of the district.
“Historic resources once removed are gone forever and create gaps in the fabric of historic neighborhoods,” the town said.
Staff also said the pair of historic buildings are in a particularly prominent location in the historic district and do not have any known damage or deterioration issues.
The applicant filed a demolition plan after an engineering analysis found that the building is “not a candidate for renovation and commercial reuse,” according to a report by Goughnour Engineering.
“The work to strengthen the structure and foundation and to meet fire code and accessibility requirements will result in the demolition and reconstruction of significant portions of the building to the extent that very little of the existing building will remain to be incorporated the new structure,” the O’Reilly wrote.
Vienna Metro Station Gets New Bikeshare Stop — “We partnered with @fairfaxcounty to install a new Capital Bikeshare Station at Vienna Metro Station and relocate our bike racks under a canopy for increased protection from the elements. This means a better biking experience for all of our customers!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Herndon Robbery Under Investigation — “The victim told police that two men approached him from behind as he was walking on the sidewalk on March 29. One of the men showed what appeared to be a handgun and they demanded the victim hand over his property, according to police. Once he did, the two men drove off in vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.” [Patch]
Republican Joins Senate Race Against Chap Petersen — “Ken Reid, a former Loudoun County supervisor and Leesburg council member, announced on Sunday that he was running to fill the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate…[Petersen is also] facing a challenge from fellow Democrats Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz in the June 20 primary.” [Patch]
Restoration and Updated Trail Near Finish in Mount Vernon — “Around April 17, the scaffolding will come down from the exterior of Mount Vernon’s Mansion following a multi-year project to restore it to its 1799 appearance…Later this spring, an upgraded route to George Washington’s home will be unveiled as the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail fully opens for pedestrian and bike access from Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Candy Corporation Swallows Vet Company — “Mars, best known for its candy empire including M&Ms and Snickers bars, also owns a large pet care business, and it’s adding to it with a $1.3 billion acquisition of veterinary diagnostic company Heska. Mars’ pet care business is one of the largest in the country.” [WTOP]
Local Arts Organizations Awarded Grants for Recovery — “ArtsFairfax [Wednesday] announces 29 nonprofit arts organizations as recipients of the ArtsFairfax Pandemic Recovery Grant. A total of $250,000 was allocated by the County for grants distribution to the arts sector in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [ArtsFairfax]
Annual Horse Expo on the Horizon — “Calling all horse enthusiasts to the Annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park! This massive event is for everyone – experienced riders, beginners, and anyone who loves horses or hopes to become a rider. Trot over to the farm on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy the show!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Thursday — Thunderstorms late. Overcast. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 58. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 7:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County staff have pared down the draft of Reston’s proposed comprehensive plan from 180 pages to 133.
At a Fairfax County Planning Commission workshop on March 30, staff walked through their amendments to the proposed plan, a process that kicked off more than two years ago with a community-driven task force initiated by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
The task force approved draft recommendations on Aug. 28 after 58 public meetings, significant public feedback and rigorous debate. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn convened the task force after he took office in 2020.
Overall, staff’s version of the plan avoids policy and prescriptive language in specific areas, particularly land use. It also combines chapters about equity and community health — previously created by the task force as separate chapters — under the umbrella of “new town elements.”
St. Clair Williams, senior planner with the county’s Department of Planning and Development, said the change was intended to avoid language that could clash with current county policies, particularly the county’s One Fairfax policy on equity.
“There were concerns raised regarding new chapters. Was it created new policy or was it something that was exceeding current county policy?” Williams said.
Revising the community health section was challenging due to the lack of a formalized, countywide health policy that the plan could use as a basis, he said.
Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter emphasized that staff’s edits are intended to “implement…instead of create new policy.”
“We’ve tried to emphasize the use of active verbs,” Carter said.
A road network near Association Drive was revised by staff in order to allow flexibility in the future. It now highlights that an east-west connection between Soapstone Drive and Association Drive should avoid tree areas.
The county is considering a major site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) that would redevelop the buildings on Association Drive into a mostly residential project.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said she hoped that nomination would preserve some of the historic aspects of the site.
Other major land use decisions in Reston’s transit-oriented areas were removed from the plan. Those proposals are currently being pushed through the SSPA process, which includes several redevelopment pitches for major projects in Reston.
The plan also adds additional water retention and quality targets for new development. Other general elements related to air, climate, resiliency and invasive plant species were removed, though the new draft has sections on vegetation and “green buildings.”
Staff also revised language guiding the number of full-size athletic fields in Reston’s TSA, saying that the “equivalent of 12 fields” should be provided.
“Staff had identified some of the challenges with finding sufficient space for full-size fields,” Williams said.
No land use changes for Reston’s golf courses are recommended — a major point of contention in the community.
For affordable housing, the plan ups the bar on requirements for developers on Reston projects.
In Reston’s transit station areas, affordable housing requirements for rental workforce dwelling units (WDU) are higher than surrounding areas. In the TSAs, 12% of units should be set aside as rental WDUs — half of which should target households making between 71 and 80% of the area’s median income.
The countywide policy requires that 8% of rental units in residential developments be set aside as WDUs.
Staff will release their final version of the plan on May 11. Public hearings are slated before the planning commission on June 14 and June 28, with potential action on the latter date. Meetings are tentatively scheduled with the Board of Supervisors this month, though the schedule is subject to change.
Fairfax County Public Library’s annual food drive “Read and Feed” is now underway, replacing the “Food for Fines” program.
The county library system is asking residents to drop off “unexpired, commercially produced food items” as well as new, reusable grocery bags and kitchen tools to any of its 23 branches during their regular operating hours.
Last year, “Read and Feed” replaced the “Food for Fines” program after FCPL stopped charging overdue fines on most materials. The program had given library cardholders a reduction on fines based on the number of donated items.
Donations go to the nonprofit Food For Others (FFO), which will then distribute the items across the county. Food For Others provides food to about 3,000 families and meals to 3,500 FCPS students at 44 schools every week, per the county’s press release.
That represents only a small percentage of students in need, though. There are another 13 schools on the waitlist.
There was about a 30% increase in terms of families that FFO helped between 2021 and 2022, FFO’s director of development and outreach Anna Slaten said in a county press release.
It’s anticipated that inflation over the past year will make the need even greater. Relatedly, donations in the summer of 2022 were down 30% from the previous year.
“With inflation, not just our clients are feeling the effects, but our donors are also,” Slaten said.
Additionally, pandemic-era emergency SNAP benefits ended last month, leaving locals looking for even more help.
FFO recently expanded its Merrifield warehouse to address the growing need.
Library branches across the county are accepting pretty much all canned foods, though there are a few items that FFO needs in particular:
- Oil
- Cereal
- Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb.
- Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz.
- Rice, 16 oz. packages
- Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
- Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz.
- Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Pasta
- Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz.
- New or clean reusable grocery bags
- Can openers
Items not accepted include food that is not labeled, food that’s cooked, opened items, and canned food that is more than three years past its expiration date.
