Del. Ken Plum is ending a 44-year-long career in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The Democrat, who has represented Reston, will not seek re-election, Plum confirmed today (Wednesday).
In a statement, Plum said he is proud to be part of progressive Democrats who controlled the General Assembly in 2020-2021.
“We have made significant strides, but as the current session of the General Assembly has shown we need to be vigilant and continue our efforts,” Plum wrote in a statement.
Of his years of service, Plum said that issues related to the ratification of the Equal Rights amendment, expansion of human rights protections for the LGBTQ+ population and the protections of women’s reproductive rights stood out.
Here’s more from his letter to constituents:
I could not be prouder than I am of the members of the Democratic caucus who succeed me. The caucus is made up of more women than men, persons of color, a different generation, and a broader perspective than has ever been represented in the State Capitol.
Even Capitol Square looks different than it did when I first arrived. The oversize statue of Robert E. Lee that dominated the original House of Delegates chamber has been removed. The statue of Governor and later Senator Harry F. Byrd that stood by the sidewalk between legislative offices and the Capitol is gone as is the tight hold of his conservative grip on state government that stifled the state’s development for more than a half-century. Signifying the changes that have occurred over recent years is a memorial dedicated to the Indigenous people who occupied the area we now call a state for thousands of years before the English arrived. A unique memorial pays tribute to the women who contributed mightily to the state’s history, and a civil rights memorial now stands featuring Barbara Johns who led a school walkout that launched the Civil Rights Movement in the state and led to the end of school segregation.
Plum said he entered politics to pursue a lifelong dream that Virginia could “do better than being a backward Southern state.” When he entered the House of Delegates in 1978, it was made up of 76 members who were Dixiecrats and a few Republicans who he described as “more moderate.”
He has previously served on the boards of Celebrating Special Children, the Virginia Literacy Foundation, and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Board. He was a teacher from 1967 to 1997.
Plum, a former teacher and school administrator, served as a member of the house of delegates in 1978. His current position representing the 36th district kickstarted in 1982.
Following his announcement, Paul Berry — a former budget and policy advisory to previous Gov. Ralph Northam and a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools — announced his candidacy for the seat.
(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) The proposed 2024 budget has real estate taxes once again increasing for many, as home values across Fairfax County continue to rise.
At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, County Executive Bryan Hill presented his proposed fiscal year 2024 budget. The $5.1 billion budget is up $280 million from last year — an increase of about 6%, largely due to real estate taxes going up.
While the budget calls for the tax rate to stay the same as last year at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, the average bill is set to increase by about $520 for homeowners, thanks to a nearly 7% rise in real estate assessments.
Hill warned in November that assessments were likely to go up, and Board Chairman Jeff McKay told FFXnow last month that he expected real estate taxes to be a big discussion point during the budget debate. But the extent of the increase nonetheless elicited strong reactions from supervisors.
McKay said that, given last year’s numbers, the tax rate is “far too high,” while Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity called the increase “unacceptable.” They signaled strong support for finding a way to provide residential tax relief to residents.
The proposed budget includes $90 million in unallocated funds that can be used at the “Board’s consideration.” A huge chunk of this, if not all, could be used to lower residents’ tax burden in some form, as was the case for the current fiscal year 2023.
The county’s budget continues to rely on real estate taxes, more than three-fourths of which come from residential property owners.
Nonresidential real estate values also increased this year, but by less than residential values. This means that real estate taxes make up more of the tax base than in FY 2023, increasing by about 0.75%.
While seemingly a small tick up, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said the trend is going in the wrong direction and that commercial real estate taxes should make up at least 25% of the tax base. It currently only makes up just over 16%.
“Clearly, we are off. It’s not good and very disconcerting,” he said. “We need a plan or a strategy to address these issues.”
Hill’s budget plan proposes a $144 million increase in funds provided to Fairfax County Public Schools, which typically gets over 50% of the overall budget. That represents more than a 6% hike from FY 2023, which began on July 1, 2022.
The FY 2024 Advertised Budget proposal includes a 6.3% or $144.1 million increase for @fcpsnews in addition to support for programs like Head Start, school health, behavioral health services, crossing guards, field maintenance and other costs. pic.twitter.com/8cNyztgNbJ
— Fairfax County Government
(@fairfaxcounty) February 21, 2023
But that number is about $15 million lower than what Superintendent Michelle Reid initially requested.
As expected, the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers doesn’t agree with this proposal, writing in a statement that it “strongly encourages the Board of Supervisors to fully fund the FCPS budget request.”
One of the bigger questions hanging over this year’s school budget is if the state will rectify a calculation error expected to lead to FCPS getting about $18 million less than anticipated. That includes about $13 million missing from the FY 2024 budget.
It remains unclear if the state will reimburse the missing money, or provide any extra, from its $2 billion surplus. When Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust asked when the state will make a decision on its budget, a few chuckles arose from staff about the uncertain situation.
Christina Jackson, Fairfax County’s chief financial officer, said the county is optimistic and is in a “better position” to see much-needed funds headed their way from the state.
As anticipated late last year, this year’s budget process may be one of the “one of the most challenging” in years. This is due to inflation, staff retention challenges, and surging real estate values.
“Balancing the impacts of inflation, the labor market and other economic pressures with the need to fund critical programs and services has made this a difficult budget year,” Hill said in a county press release. “But I am very proud of the work of our budget staff and all our employees in managing through these challenges and moving forward to meet the needs of our residents.”
Hill led off his presentation to the board by emphasizing that the aim of this year’s budget is maintaining and “stabilizing our core,” meaning county staff and existing programs.
“I know that the Board remains concerned about the retention and recruitment issues that our agencies have been facing over the past two years, and I have spent considerable time with my leadership team developing ways in which to tackle these issues,” Hill wrote in his budget message to supervisors.
In the budget is a $134.5 million increase in county disbursement, including a 2% market scale adjustment for most county employees. That’s lower than even what staff had recommended in order to stay competitive in hiring and retention. They had calculated a rate of 5.44%.
“The proposed Fairfax County budget misses the mark when it comes to giving workers the wages we deserve, ” Tammie Wondong, SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax’s president and a 33-year county employee, said in a statement. “In fact, when the county funds the market rate adjustment (MRA) at only 2% when it should be 5.44%, let’s call it what it is — a pay cut.”
Inflation also adds $18 million to the budget this year, associated with cost increases to cover utility and information technology contracts and lease adjustments.
Supervisors will host a number of public meetings over the next few months to allow residents a chance to provide feedback on the proposed budget.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote and adopt the FY 2024 budget on May 9.
Photo via Machvee/Flickr
County Task Force Back After Assisting With Turkey Earthquake Rescues — “After an intense 11 days searching for survivors in the wreckage of collapsed buildings, members of Virginia Task Force 1 have returned home. They arrived at their base in Chantilly just before midnight on Monday, to a hero’s welcome organized by family and friends.” [WTOP]
Firefighters Tackle Brush Fires in Springfield — “As winds picked up across the DMV Tuesday evening, crews in Fairfax County dealt with several outside fires. According to a spokesperson from the Fairfax County Fire Department (FCFD), crews worked to extinguish multiple outside fires on Old Keene Mill Road near Harwood Place in West Springfield.” [WUSA9]
Gum Springs Residents Wary of County — “About 70 Gum Springs residents, including the newly elected officers of the New Gum Springs Civic Association, lambasted Fairfax County officials for what they termed years of neglect and disrespect at a Feb. 16 meeting at the Gum Springs Community Center.” [On the MoVe]
Man Exposed Himself to Kids in Vienna — “Fairfax County Police said they are looking for a man who exposed himself to three children on Feb. 15 in Vienna. Police said they have passed out more than 600 fliers in an attempt to raise awareness for the man for whom they are searching.” [ABC7]
Herndon Girl Arrested in D.C. Carjacking — “A 15-year-old girl from Herndon was arrested Sunday in connection with a pair of carjacking incidents and a stabbing that occurred over the weekend in Washington, D.C., according to a police release…MPD officers arrested the two suspects a short time later after the stolen vehicle was involved in a traffic accident in the 900 block of 17th Street, Northeast, according to the release.” [Patch]
Redevelopment Possible for Falls Church’s Eden Center — “When word spread that there could be plans for new retail and residential development surrounding the Eden Center, concern grew that it could lead to increased rent prices and drive out business owners…Known as the East End Small Area Plan, the new development proposal began with a community kickoff in November of 2021.” [DCist]
Loudoun Schools Spokesperson Seeks to Move Perjury Trial — “[Wayde] Byard was indicted on Dec. 12. He’s accused of lying to a special grand jury on Aug. 2 about when he learned about the sexual assault in a Stonebridge High School bathroom on May 28, 2021…In asking that Byard’s trial be moved to Fairfax County, Leffler argued that the attorney general’s office stated purpose of seeking justice for Loudoun residents disqualified county residents as jurors.” [Loudoun Times-Mirror]
Public Input Sought on Metro Budget — “Metro has opened the public comment period for the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget that seeks to expand service on Metrorail and Metrobus, provide more equitable fares, implement a low-income fare program, enhance public safety, and maintain a safe and reliable system through capital investments.” [WMATA]
McLean Kids’ Toy Store to Celebrate Relocation — “Come and join us to celebrate the New Year, New Neighborhood, and New Beginnings for our new McLean store location! On Saturday, February 25th, stop by in-store for giveaways, craft tables, and so much more. We’ll see you there!” [Child’s Play/Facebook]
It’s Wednesday — Possible light rain in the morning. High of 54 and low of 42. Sunrise at 6:52 am and sunset at 5:55 pm. [Weather.gov]
Opioid overdoses have been on the rise in Fairfax County since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
After declining between 2017 and 2019, overdoses increased in the Fairfax Health District from 285 in 2019 — 83 of them fatal — to at least 366 in 2022, including 63 fatalities, as of Sept. 30, according to the data dashboard that the Fairfax County Health Department launched last fall.
The department updated the dashboard last week to better illustrate two trends: the presence of fentanyl in nearly all overdose deaths and an increase in overdoses among youths, including kids and teens.
The dashboard now lists people 17 and under as a distinct age group and provides data specifically on fatal overdoses involving fentanyl “to help Fairfax County residents better understand the threat that opioids, including fentanyl, pose in the community,” Director of Epidemiology and Population Health Dr. Benjamin Schwartz said.
The platform previously only highlighted fatalities based on whether they involved prescription opioids or heroin, though the health department notes that overdoses may stem from multiple drugs.
Of the 63 deaths reported in 2022 through September, 61 or 97% involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be used for pain management like morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. In 2021, fentanyl was used in 103 fatal overdoses, compared to 23 for other prescription drugs and 12 for heroin.
“There is an urgent need to bring information to light to make sure teens and families know that the risk is real and that fentanyl poisonings are happening here in our communities,” Schwartz said, stating that the epidemic continues to affect people of all genders and all racial and ethnic groups.
Fairfax County has recently focused its efforts to combat opioids on teens after seeing “a concerning number” of nonfatal overdoses in early 2022, specifically in the Richmond Highway corridor.
The Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, saw five nonfatal overdoses among kids 17 and under just this past January, according to the opioid dashboard. There were 27 nonfatal overdoses in that age group in 2022.
Drug use in schools has emerged as a concern in light of overdoses in Alexandria City and especially Arlington County, where a 14-year-old student died earlier this month.
As of Feb. 4, the Fairfax County Police Department had responded to 26 overdoses among youths 17 and under since Aug. 1, 2022, including one death. Police responded to 30 youth overdoses — five of them fatal — between Aug. 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022.
FCPD spokesperson Tara Gerhard says none of the fatalities occurred on school grounds, noting that the provided statistics “are subject to revision based on lab results and or additional investigation.”
In response to the continued prevalence of overdoses, the county advises community members to talk to their kids or others affected by substance misuse, and to dispose of unused or expired medications. It also suggests taking a training class for administering naloxone, the overdose-reversing drug that could soon be available over the counter.
The FCPD has partnered with Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board to give presentations about drug issues at local schools. Over 20 in-person sessions have been scheduled this year through March, and a virtual session will be held on March 21, according to Gerhard.
Led by the county’s Opioid and Substance Use Task Force, efforts to curb youth overdoses have also included expanding the availability of naloxone to FCPS staff, working with the court system to provide educational and intervention services, and pushing for more treatment options, Gerhard said.
She noted that the county also has programs focused on adults, since the majority of overdoses still involve people between the ages of 20 and 64.
The county has a few options for accessing its substance use-related resources:
If the situation is immediately life-threatening, call 911. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel carry medication that can prevent deaths from opioid overdose.
Call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) Entry & Referral line at 703-383-8500, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to access behavioral health services, including substance use treatment services for youth and adults.
If it’s after business hours, call CSB Emergency Services at 703-573-5679 or the Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-502-7000; both are available 24/7.
CSB Peer Outreach Response Team (PORT) provides outreach, engagement and resource navigation to individuals who have serious opioid and other substance use challenges. If you or someone you know could benefit from PORT services, call 703-559-3199.
Photo via DEA/Flickr
The high winds on Friday (Feb. 17) proved too much for public artwork installed by South Lakes High School’s STEAM club on Lake Thoreau’s spillway.
After high winds blew off several pieces of the artwork “Cerebral,” the exhibit was removed from the platform. Composed of aircraft cable, barrel swivels, wire, paint, solar panels and wood, the artwork was installed in June.
“RA’s CSF team safely recovered all the artwork pieces that ended up in the lake and removed the remaining pieces from the spillway on Saturday morning,” RA spokesperson Mike Leone said.
The pieces were returned to the school. As of now, it’s unclear if reinstallation is planned. Another artwork is planned for the same area this summer.
The county was under a wind advisory throughout Friday evening. Winds were reportedly traveling at 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Developed under the guidance of SLHS art teacher Marco Rando, the sculpture aims to conceptualize the complexity of the brain. The brain and body is depicted as a cohesive force, challenging the idea of humans being left brained or right brained, according to nonprofit organization Public Art Reston.
The artwork is the eighth installed by the STEAM club. Students present designs to Public Art Reston and Reston Association’s Design Review Board for approval. According to Public Art Reston, the design is tested for durability, constructed by students, disassembled and then reinstalled on the spillway.
Fairfax County hopes to make use of American Rescue Plan funding to help provide housing for some of those most in need.
In a meeting of the Board of Supervisors Housing Committee last week, staff from the Department of Housing and Community Development said a tranche of federal funding could help local residents in more extreme levels of poverty than most affordable housing programs in the county assist.
“This is a rare funding opportunity specifically targeted to reducing homelessness and can serve populations at the extreme low end of the spectrum,” said Thomas Barnett, deputy director of the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. “This provides not just housing, but money for supportive services that we know people need.”
Fairfax County was awarded $7.88 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
According to the presentation to the committee:
HOME-ARP funds must be used to primarily benefit individuals or families from the following qualifying populations:
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Those fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
- Other families requiring services or housing assistance to prevent homelessness
- Households at greatest risk of housing instability
Barnett said there are around 88 permanent supportive housing projects in the pipeline that the nearly $8 million in federal funding could go toward. The funding comes as Fairfax County deals with an uptick in people experiencing homelessness, caused in large part by the pandemic and related economic turmoil.
“Chronic homelessness has increased disproportionately during the pandemic,” Barnett said. “[It’s] up 34% in the last 5 years.”
Even within that category, some supervisors said they’d like to see funding targeted specifically on addressing youth homelessness. The most recent Point-in-Time Count — a survey of people experiencing homelessness in the span of one night — found 91 people between the ages of 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County.
“We have, as you point out, a rare funding opportunity with a big infusion of funds,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said. “I’m still troubled by, when we get that Point-in-Time Count, that homeless youth count…I would like more information coming back as to what strategies we might employ to help with that, to use this rare opportunity funding to solve what we know is always a difficult thing to work with under normal circumstances, can any of this be used to accelerate that.”
The renovation of Crossfield Elementary School in Herndon is moving forward.
At a Fairfax County School Board meeting on Feb. 9, the board voted to award a $33.3 million contract to R.J. Crowley, Inc. for the project. The overall project is expected to cost $49 million.
A 2021 and 2019 school bond referendum will fund the project, which includes a nearly 11,600-square-foot addition and renovations of nearly 89,000 square feet of space.
New additions include an administration suite, library, classrooms, courtyard and a front entry area. Existing classrooms, art rooms, cafeteria, gym, music areas, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing areas will also be renovated.
The school is ranked 42 out of 63 schools in the FCPS renovation queue, which was developed in 2009.
According to the school system’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan for 2024-2028, the school is at 89% of its capacity utilization for the current academic year — a number that increased slightly over last year’s figure (86%) and dipped from the 2020-2021 academic year (94%).
Construction is expected to kick off sometime in the spring. The project will be completed in the spring of 2025.
The school first opened in 1988 and is named after A. Scott Crossfield, an aeronautical pioneer who lived nearby the school.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is expanding the use of automated license plate reader technology across the county, despite concerns from civil rights groups.
The department will install 25 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) around Fairfax County by the spring, FCPD spokesperson Sergeant Hudson Bull confirmed to FFXnow.
This expansion of the program comes after an eight-week “test period,” where the camera system was placed in two locations and assisted in “over 35 cases which have led to over 60 arrest charges,” Bull said.
Based on that data, the trial period has now been extended an additional 10 months to Oct. 31, 2023.
Over the next nine months, cameras will watch more than two dozen “high-crime” areas in the county.
“The camera placement is based on data showing where most stolen vehicles are recovered and where most crime occurs that we believe these cameras could assist us in solving,” Bull said.
The camera system comes from Flock Safety, which has installed ALPRs in more than 2,000 localities across the county.
The ALPR cameras capture license plates, vehicle color, make and model, and send a “real-time alert” to law enforcement when a stolen car or a vehicle used in a crime is detected within a database.
During the initial trial period in November and December, FCPD says the system helped it recover six stolen cars worth an estimated $350,000. In one car, fentanyl and methamphetamines were found, and another had more than five pounds of marijuana, police say.
The system also helped police locate two missing persons when the cameras detected vehicles associated with those cases.
“Two persons were quickly located by officers and safely returned home after alerts were sent,” Bull wrote. “The officers can also search the cameras in cases when a person has been missing for several hours but there is a delay in reporting.”
While Flock Safety and FCPD tout ALPRs as crime prevention and solving tools, local civil rights groups have a number of ethical and privacy concerns about the county expanding the program.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU-VA) said it wasn’t aware of the program’s expansion prior to being contacted by FFXnow.
“The ACLU is always concerned about the efforts to expand mass surveillance,” ACLU-VA senior staff attorney Matt Callahan told FFXnow. “We consider the privacy of individuals and their freedom of movement to be a core value of society.”
He noted that the organization believes decisions to use ALPRs and other tracking or surveillance technology should be “in the public’s hands” and not solely left to law enforcement or individual vendors like Flock.
“What we often see is that the public doesn’t favor the kind of widespread expansion of surveillance technology for law enforcement,” Callahan said. “At a minimum, they ask for additional privacy safeguards, like individual audits by outside agencies to make sure that the information is not being misused.”
Flock Safety noted that the cameras “capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces,” and “are not intended for minor traffic or parking violations.”
Data retention has also been a source of debate in the county and Virginia for a number of years.
A Fairfax County judge ruled in 2019 that maintaining a database of photos of vehicle license plates violated Virginia privacy law. A year later, the Virginia State Supreme Court overturned that decision, saying police could keep this data indefinitely.
In 2021, a bill proposed in the State Senate would have limited the storing of data collected by ALPRs to 30 days if there’s no warrant or ongoing investigation. That bill failed, but a similar one is currently being considered in the General Assembly.
The FCPD confirmed that it can collect and store license plate data for up to one year, but Flock Safety’s system only stores data for 30 days.
“Because the storage of LPR data is provided in the initial cost of the Flock Safety system, the FCPD will only keep the data for 30 days…collected by the Flock cameras,” Bull said.
While storing data for a month is less problematic than a whole year, Callahan says it still brings up plenty of worries when it comes to privacy.
“It still lets law enforcement go back and map out travel patterns of people who come under suspicion later. They can basically reconstruct where someone’s been a month at a time,” he said. “That’s…different than merely checking if a stolen car is in a specific place at a specific time.”
Bull said FCPD has heard these concerns, particularly from the NAACP’s Fairfax County branch, and has “directly responded” by ensuring data is used only for “law enforcement purposes.” The department is keeping records of each officer’s use of the system.
There’s an auditing feature as well “supervised by administrators of the system,” and in accordance with the county’s Trust Policy, FCPD has “opted out” of gathering information regarding “immigration status violations,” Bull said.
Despite those promises, the Virginia ACLU remains concerned.
“A license plate is enough often to link that to a person’s identity. The whole point of this technology is to use that information to figure out who was traveling where and when they are in a specific place,” Callahan said. “This information has significant implications for the privacy of individuals who use Virginia’s roads and highways.”
Fire Danger Heightened Today — “There is an increased fire danger for Tuesday, February 21st. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this time and remember to properly dispose of smoking material.” [Ready Fairfax/Twitter]
Mount Vernon School Board Rep to Retire — “Karen Corbett Sanders, the Mount Vernon District representative to the Fairfax County School Board, announced Feb. 15 that she will not be running for a third term later this year…Corbett Sanders told On the Move that her decision not to pursue a third term was difficult and one that she didn’t take lightly.” [On the MoVe]
Five-Vehicle Crash Closes I-495 — Two people were evaluated for injuries not deemed life-threatening after a five-vehicle crash on northbound I-495 before I-66 in the Dunn Loring area. The crash closed the Capital Beltway for about an hour, and first responders had to extinguish a fire around one car. [FCFRD/Facebook]
Virginia Among States Scrutinizing AP Course — “At least four more states will review the new Advanced Placement African American studies course to see if it conflicts with their policies or laws restricting the teaching of race…Officials in Arkansas, Virginia, North Dakota and Mississippi said they had questions and planned reviews before deciding whether the new class may be taught in their classrooms.” [The Washington Post]
Springfield Woman Convicted in Gang Case — “A Springfield woman was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in prison for witness tampering in connection with a federal trial against four people accused of violent gang activity in Virginia, California and other states, according to federal prosecutors.” [Patch]
Staffing Still a Challenge for McLean Police Station — “Residents learned that the McLean police district still has a 30-percent vacancy rate among officers, the same vacancy rate as a year ago…The police district has 38 open positions that it needs to fill, [Captain Carolyn Kinney, who heads the McLean police station] said.” [Patch]
Mount Vernon Celebrates George Washington’s Birthday — “While George Washington’s actual birthday is Feb. 22, large crowds gathered at his estate outside Alexandria, Virginia, to celebrate and learn a little more about the nation’s first president…Overall, Mount Vernon staff estimated Monday’s daily attendance at nearly 20,000 visitors.” [WTOP]
Spring Water Flush Begins — “Each spring, Fairfax Water flushes its water mains by opening fire hydrants and allowing them to flow freely for a short period of time. During this time, the treatment process switches from using combined chlorine to free chlorine.” Treatment began for the McLean and Falls Church areas yesterday (Monday) but isn’t set to start for the rest of the county until March 20. [Fairfax County Government]
County Summer Camp Registration Opens — “Registration for 2023 Camp Fairfax begins on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 8 a.m. The summer day camp is open to rising first through seventh graders living in Fairfax County or the City of Fairfax. Camp Fairfax gives campers the opportunity to explore interests in performing arts, visual arts and sports/team-building.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 61 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:53 am and sunset at 5:53 pm. [Weather.gov]
A consultant tasked with studying the possibility of redeveloping 120 acres of mostly disparate parcels near the Herndon Metro station has officially begun visioning for the project.
Consultant Skidmore, Owings, Merrill is working on the Transit Related Growth (TRG) Small Area Plan, as the initiative is known in planning jargon. The consultant discussed its work so far at a Town of Herndon Planning Commission meeting yesterday (Thursday).
All of the land parcels within the TRG are privately owned and within between one-tenth of a mile to nearly 1 mile from the Metro station. Quadrangle Development Corp. already has a plan approved for its site on Fairbrook Park.
The consultant says the area is an “attractive” location for redevelopment, particularly retail, rental townhomes and for-sale housing, because of its size and proximity to the Metro station.
“The TRG has the potential to emerge as a well-segmented and thoughtfully-designed neighborhood of its own, complementing — rather than competing with — others like Historic Downtown Herndon and Reston Town Center,” the preliminary report said.
The project kicked off in April 2022 with the team interviewing stakeholders, neighboring residential property owners, the town council and the public. It will result in a conceptual plan for the possible future redevelopment of 25 parcels into a “well-designed and viable mixed-use district,” said Ahmad Zaki, who leads long-range planning for the town.
“The plan is expected to encourage redevelopment, recognize the probability of disparate development timelines, provide appropriate buffers to abutting neighborhoods, formulate a unique sense of place as well as an identity integral to the Town of Herndon, and establish a pattern and expectation for innovative, sustainable, and excellence in architectural and urban design,” Zaki wrote in a Feb. 16 memo.
The consultant is also actively engaging in an online survey as it kicks off the project’s third phase, where it will develop three different development scenarios and detail their related impacts to infrastructure.
Currently, 17 property owners control 26 parcels of the TRG — three of which are condominiums. The consultant report notes that areas with multiple parcels under single ownership would reduce planning challenges. But redevelopment is possible since half of the parcels within a five to 10-minute walk of the Metro station are owned by four owners, compared to the multiple owners throughout the rest of the site.
According to the report, the area is likely not well-positioned to attract corporate users, and additional retail would have to be planned to complement, not compete, with other retail destinations like Reston Town Center and downtown Herndon.
Sunset Business Park could be enhanced because it currently doesn’t have a “holistic sense of place,” the report says. Additionally, most on-site utilities would have to be replaced to accommodate future development. The area currently also has no circulation network or mobility-connecting parcels.
Any future project would require working with Dominion Energy on an easement that bisects the Metro walk zone in the TRG area.
“Potential for cross-site connectivity and integration within a neighborhood setting should be explored, and precedents for open spaces should be researched,” the report says.
After public outreach and comments from the town council and planning commission, one scenario will be presented at future public hearings for official approval by the town council.
(Updated at 2:25 p.m. on 2/21/2023) Great Falls will soon have its own Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) store.
The wine and liquor business plans to open at Great Falls Center (9843 Georgetown Pike).
Patrick Kane, a spokesperson for the ABC, told FFXnow now that a firm opening date has not yet been determined.
The store is a little over 2,000 square feet in size, Kane said.
Virginia ABC determines new locations of stores based on the location’s demographics, traffic patterns, rental rate and population density.
“It also considers the distance of a location to existing stores, sales at those stores, tenant mix at the shopping center, and the accessibility and deliverability to the location,” the authority says on its website.
The center includes tenants like Bollywood Bistro, Starbucks, Subway, Great Falls Barbershop and Long & Foster Realtors. An animal hospital and pho bar are also slated to open soon at the center.
Virginia ABC has more than 390 stores throughout the state, according to the website. This will be the only location in Great Falls, whose residents currently have to travel to Reston or the Tysons area to find a store.
FCPD Focuses on Stopping Teen Distracted Driving — “Police in Fairfax County…are ramping up traffic enforcement during distracted-driving month, partnering with schools to educate the most distracted drivers — teenagers…Officers have written 5,000 more citations and warnings to speeding and distracted drivers than this same time last year.” [WTOP]
Fire Department Adds Data Dashboard — “Our Fire and Rescue Department is constantly updating the ways it provides service to meet the needs of residents…The department launched RescueVision to provide real-time situational awareness and decision support at the 911 dispatch center.” It offers a look at service availability, transport locations and how coverage compares to other departments. [Fairfax County Government]
Fairfax Approves Funding for Supportive Housing — “Fairfax City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $700,000 appropriation to help fund the redevelopment of the Hy-Way Motel property on Fairfax Boulevard for permanent, supportive, low-income housing.” [Patch]
McLean Company Prepares to Go Public — “Cycurion Inc., a McLean cybersecurity solutions firm set to go public via a SPAC merger this year, has appointed a new CEO to guide it through its next phase of growth. Kevin Kelly, the former CEO of cybersecurity company Halo Privacy…has taken over the CEO role from Cycurion founder Emmit McHenry, who will remain chairman.” [DC Inno]
County Celebrates Black History Month Tonight — “To celebrate Black History Month, the Fairfax County Black History Program Committee, in partnership with Cox Communications, presents an evening celebration of Black history in Fairfax County. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Refreshments and resources tables will be available at 5:30 p.m.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Where to Celebrate George Washington’s B-Day — “It might be Presidents Day for the rest of the country, but in Virginia, the third Monday of February is George Washington Day, and there are plenty of celebrations around Northern Virginia to celebrate what would have been the first president’s 291st birthday.” [Inside NoVA]
Herndon Company Makes Forbes List — “For the second-year in a row, Deltek, which has its headquarters in Herndon, was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best Mid-Sized Employers…Deltek, a global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, is listed #229 among the 500 mid-sized businesses.” [Patch]
Fun Run Fundraiser Coming to Kingstowne — “The inaugural ConnerStrong Foundation You’re Not Alone 5k Fun Run will take place Saturday, March 25, starting at 7:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Shopping Center…The goal of the event is to raise awareness of the resources available in our community to support the lack of food and clothing that impacts many families and individuals in Fairfax County.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Friday — Rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 68 and low of 36. Sunrise at 6:58 am and sunset at 5:49 pm. [Weather.gov]
A community art exchange confined to a box is now open at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate (12125 Pinecrest Road) in Reston.
The project, called a Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG), operates like the more typical Free Little Library model.
Residents can deposit and take art that is displayed on miniature cabinets. The FLAG was installed in December, but Public Art Reston and Reston Association held an official unveiling at the community center on Tuesday (Feb. 14).
The concept was created by artist Stacy Milrany, who installed the first FLAG in December 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Since then, the concept has popped up across the country.
All kinds of art — including books — can be deposited in the box.
Christine Hodgson, director of the community center, said the FLAG will help the center provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
“We believe in empowering our community and our hope is that this FLAG will provide an opportunity for our community members to connect and engage with their inner artist, the center, and the community.” Hodgson wrote in a statement.
The first FLAG in Reston was installed in the Waterview Cluster by resident Sue Johnston in December 2021. The model was borrowed by Public Art Reston at activity tables in community events.
The FLAG at the center is the first in Reston that is installed on public property. It’s supported by funding from a civic organization called Random Acts.
Public Art Reston board member Amanda Scarangella helped push the project forward, building the box with her partner, John Dean.
“Having designed the FLAG, it’s been my honor to work toward fostering a place for future artistic expression,” Scarangella remarked. “The FLAG will serve as a beacon of public art inspiring artists of all ages and skill levels to engage with their fellow community members in a positive manner. The FLAG will create a safe, accessible, and equitable space for all to enjoy the benefits — educational, social, developmental, community-building, and more — of public art.”
A California-based hair salon that specializes in blowouts is opening this Friday (Feb. 17) in Reston Town Center.
Dryer will open a nearly 1,500-square-foot location at 11985 Market Street, a company spokesperson tells FFXnow.
The business exclusively offers blowouts. Customers can choose from a selection of styles like the Manhattan, the straight up and the cosmo. Drybar also sells a number of hair-related products.
Shop owner and manager Brittany Brom comes to Drybar after a 15-year career in real estate portfolio management in the telecommunications industry. Although that career couldn’t be more different than blowouts, the company has been a part of her life since 2012.
“For me, Drybar was always a second office, therapist’s couch, and a place to energize and unwind all at once,” Brom said by email. “It’s no surprise that after moving from Atlanta, GA to Northern VA in 2020, I wanted to bring Drybar to my new surroundings. For me, Reston Town Center is a location that meets women where they live, work, and play! The warm welcome we have received so far by the Reston community has been so moving, and we can’t wait to officially open our doors.”
The company has locations in Tysons, Arlington, D.C. and across the country.
The salon takes the place of Dawn Price Baby, a baby store that previously closed all of its locations.
Turkey Earthquake Rescue Worker Shares Experience — “Dr. Murteza Shahkolahi has helped to pull survivors from the rubble several days after the quake first hit…Shahkolahi is with Virginia Task Force 1, the team from Fairfax County, Virginia, which gets deployed around the world to respond to natural disasters.” [WTOP]
Politicians Pitch Springfield for FBI HQ — “A bipartisan group of Virginia’s federal, state and local leaders met in Springfield Wednesday, calling on the General Services Administration to choose the 58 acres of federally-owned land at the GSA Franconia Warehouse Complex for the new FBI headquarters.” [Inside NoVA]
A Look Inside NOVA Wild, the New Reston Zoo — “The safari park reopened for the season last week. This Friday, visitors can enjoy a lights show called the Great Migration. There are other plans to revamp and upgrade parts of this place in the coming years.” [FOX5]
Tandoori Restaurant Arrives in Woodlawn — “The long-awaited Tandoori Kabob & Grill restaurant, located at Sacramento Center in the Woodlawn section of Alexandria, opened Feb. 3. The family-owned restaurant offers a variety of fresh, made-to-order meals, including Tandoor and grill specials, combination meat platters, curry, rice, vegetables, gyros, and bread, as well as appetizers, desserts and beverages.” [On the MoVe]
Franconia Park Gets Playground Upgrade — Manchester Lakes Park is getting a new playground, an approximately $150,000 project expected to finish construction by the end of March. With the existing playground at the end of its lifecycle, the Fairfax County Park Authority will install new equipment, do drainage work and update the park’s trails to meet accessibility standards. [FCPA]
Herndon Native Scores in Capitals Return — “A series of unexpected events led to Joe Snively skating on the Capitals’ third line for Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes and he responded by recording points on both their goals in a 3-2 loss. The 27-year-old…hadn’t appeared in an NHL game in nearly two months, but he proved to be a bright spot for a team tapping deep into its depth.” [WTOP]
Artwork Decorates Richmond Highway Shopping Centers — “In recent weeks, new artwork has been popping up along the Richmond Highway Corridor. At Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley, paintings of birds and plant life have begun adorning the facades of several buildings housing retail tenants.” [On the MoVe]
Hope for Marijuana Sales in Virginia Fizzles Again — “Partisan gridlock thwarted any movement on the issue last year, and 2023 looks unlikely to be any different. A Republican-led House panel defeated on Tuesday the Democrat-controlled Senate’s main surviving retail bill, which would have allowed sales to begin next year” [Associated Press]
Herndon Gym to Host Blood Drive — “Following last year’s nationwide drop in blood supplies, area blood banks are still working to replenish their supplies. Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa in Herndon wants to help…Worldgate is partnering with the INOVA Blood Donor Services to host a blood drive on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 12:30-4:30 p.m.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Light rain starting in the afternoon. High of 68 and low of 50. Sunrise at 7:00 am and sunset at 5:48 pm. [Weather.gov]
