Fairfax County is clearing the way for more residential development in land just east of Dulles International Airport.
A proposed airport noise policy would amend the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan to permit new housing in approximately 2,300 acres of the Sully District, primarily around Chantilly, that are exposed to higher levels of airplane noise than currently allowed.
The county will launch the public engagement portion of its effort with two virtual open houses — one at 7 p.m. today (Thursday) and another at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Jan. 29).
Initiated by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 28, 2020, the goal of the amendment is to “enhance the county’s economic development opportunities” and add housing in a part of the county still dominated by older office and industrial buildings, according to a white paper on the proposal.
While the airport noise policy focuses on the Dulles area, putting it in the comprehensive plan would establish general standards for developers to account for aircraft-related noise levels, county staff told the board at a land use committee meeting on July 21, 2020.
“We think it’s important that the board look at this as a countywide policy, get it in the comprehensive plan so that it’s there, it’s available, people understand it,” Department of Planning and Zoning Director Barbara Byron said.
The alternative would be to make noise mitigation a condition for getting individual projects approved through the county’s zoning process, an approach that would be more unpredictable and challenging, according to Byron.
“We can’t stop some of the revitalization and activity from occurring in that area, nor should we,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “We need economic development. We need housing. We know…how many units we are behind demand, which is a direct input into affordability.”
The comprehensive plan currently does not recommend residential development in areas with over 60 weighted decibels of day-night average sound levels (DNL), defined by the Federal Aviation Administration as a metric for a person’s cumulative exposure to sound over a 24-hour period.
The amendment proposes allowing residential uses in areas that experience 60 to 65 decibels. The only part of the county where that standard currently applies is around Dulles, based on airport noise contours developed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in 1993 and adopted by the county in 1997.
The county hasn’t adopted noise contours for the Davison Army Airfield on Fort Belvoir, and it’s not within MWAA’s 60 to 65-decibel contour for Washington National Airport.
As Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith noted to FFXnow, the county already has some residential development within the 60-65 DNL contour.
Despite some vocal community opposition, the Board of Supervisors approved two new neighborhoods in November 2020 after amending the comprehensive plan a year earlier to permit residential development in Westfields, known as Land Unit J of the Dulles Suburban Center.
The approvals came with some noise mitigation requirements related to construction materials and notifying potential homeowners of the airport’s proximity, according to Smith.
The proposed airport noise policy will align the rest of the Dulles area with Land Unit J and create uniformity between the county’s comprehensive plan and its zoning ordinance, which was updated just last year, Smith says.
It would also bring the county in line with other jurisdictions across the country with international airports, including Loudoun County, which permits residential uses in the Dulles 60-65 DNL contours.
“This isn’t anything new or different,” Smith said. “The FAA says that residential is not compatible when you get over 65, but they don’t have any restrictions below that.”
While the county hopes to encourage more residential and mixed-use development in the Dulles area, Smith doesn’t anticipate a huge influx of new housing if the amendment is approved.
“With the exception of Land Unit J of the Dulles Suburban Center, most of the residential uses currently anticipated by the Plan within the Board adopted DNL 60-65 noise contours have been developed and are generally stable with limited opportunities for further residential development,” the county’s white paper says.
Photo via John McArthur/Unsplash
A senior living organization has announced that its upcoming community, Brightview Innovation Center (13700 Magna Way), will offer a preview of its amenities, which include a beauty salon and pub with billiards and shuffleboard.
As previously reported by Reston Now, the project is slated for a February 2023 completion. But the organization is highlighting details on amenities of the McNair facility and announcing how potential tenants can learn more in person starting this spring.
In a press release, the organization noted the following:
The Welcome Center, which will open in April 2022, will showcase Brightview Innovation Center’s amenities, including chef-prepared meals, a library, multiple fitness rooms, pub with billiards and shuffleboard, movie theater, beauty salon, card room, sewing room, a cafe and juice bar, to prospective residents and their families. Private dining spaces are also available. Outdoors, residents will enjoy an outdoor garden area with a covered porch as well as a walking path.
Quinn Collins, a representative for Brightview Senior Living, said in an email that the seven-story facility will have 196 apartment units, from independent living units to assisted living spaces. It’ll include studios as well as one- and two-bedroom spaces.
“This region has experienced some of the largest increases in population in the entire country, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of the community and providing aging seniors a vibrant place to live in Northern Virginia,” Anne Pinter, vice president of operations for Brightview, said in a statement.
More info on the community is available online.
Boston Properties Makes Progress in Reston — The Boston-based real estate firm has signed 11 office leases at Reston Town Center, which signals that the company is picking up business this year. [Washington Business Journal]
Permit Process Begins Early — The county is encouraging residents to beat the rush for outdoor permits from the county. Permitting for summer projects like decks and screened porches tend to be busy, county officials warn. [Fairfax County Government]
Widow of Bob Simon Acquitted from Misdemeanor Charge — Cheryl Terio-Simon, the widow of Reston’s founder Bob Simon, was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery. The incident happened in October outside of Reston Community Center. [Reston Patch]
Possible Winter Weather On the Way — Some snow may be possible this week. Snow could develop on Friday and into Saturday this week. [Ready Fairfax]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Following longstanding and growing complaints over parking issues, Town of Herndon officials adopted an ordinance yesterday (Tuesday) to restrict how close drivers could park to driveways, one of several changes to overhaul parking rules.
“This is the number one issue in the town of Herndon,” Councilmember Pradip Dhakal said of parking problems, referring to commercial vehicles parking in the town as well as vehicles with expired tags.
The changes, approved by Herndon Town Council, go into effect immediately. Among the new rules, the ordinance:
- bans various vehicles — such as those weighing more than 12,000 pounds or being longer than 21 feet — from parking in residential areas for more than two hours at a time
- restricts recreational vehicles from temporarily parking longer than 72 hours on a residential street
- allows the town to impose $50 fines on motorists who block curb ramps; it also allows officials to fine drivers $50 if they park within 5 feet of a driveway
Herndon police had recommended restricting parking within 10 feet of a driveway, but council revised a proposed ordinance following a public hearing. Previously, the town could only fine vehicles $50 if a vehicle blocked access to a driveway.
Police Chief Maggie DeBoard said people recognized how Herndon’s parking was considerably less restrictive than neighboring Fairfax and Loudoun counties. She said one person defiantly challenged the town’s parking enforcement officer regarding how close a vehicle could be to a driveway.
DeBoard said last week during a work session that the town’s first approach is educating drivers before issuing tickets.
During the public hearing, homeowner Pat Voltmer of Missouri Avenue said she and neighbors have been filing weekly complaints since August due to large six- to 10-wheel vehicles taking up overflow parking on streets. The parking problems also made turning around on streets difficult and dangerous for service trucks, she said.
Residents also had voiced a safety issue over limited visibility when leaving driveways due to jam-packed streets, and frustrations also came from parked vehicles interfering with trash pickup.
“It makes me feel that now is the time to act. Probably before was the time to act,” Councilmember Sean Regan said.
Council members suggested further parking issues could be explored, such as adding more stop signs in the town.
A portion of Edmund Halley Drive has officially been transferred over to the state.
At a Tuesday meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to transfer a section of the road to the Secondary System of State Highways, a move made in preparation of the completion of phase two of the Silver Line.
The move — which was stipulated in proffer agreements for the Reston Crossing project — allows the state to have unrestricted right-of-way along the road.
The formerly private street was improved with bike lanes, a trail, and a sidewalk in order to meet requirements in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
The street was also widened to meet requirements set by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The street will connect to the Reston Town Center Metro Station from Sunrise Valley Drive.
New York-based company Tishman Speyer is developing Reston Crossing, a two-million-square development south of the Dulles Toll Road between Edmund Halley Drive and Reston Parkway.
The project was approved in 2019.
Fairfax County supervisors have approved using I-66 toll money for bus projects servicing Reston, one of which involves creating a new bus route.
The commuting programs will create a route from the Reston South Park and Ride to key destinations in Arlington County and reduce fares for the Fairfax Connector Route 599 from $7.50 to $4.25.
Supervisors approved the efforts during a public meeting yesterday (Tuesday), following transit officials’ approvals last year.
Like Route 599, the new service will go to the Pentagon, Pentagon City and Crystal City. It’ll involve 10 morning and 10 evening express routes for a period of two years.
The $5.1 million in funding awarded for that project mostly covers the costs of acquiring six new buses, eyed for purchase in 2023.
A county document suggested that the fare reduction could start in the fall of 2022, with $154,500 in funding lasting through Sept. 30, 2025.
The money for the projects comes through the Commuter Choice program, which seeks to improve transportation in the I-66 corridor, with the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Commonwealth Transportation Board deciding last year to award the money to Fairfax County for the projects.
An event that is a staple for Restonians — the Reston Triathlon — is officially coming to an end.
The Reston Triathlon Association formed in 1983 and organized the event on the second Sunday of each September.
In an online post, the organization’s Board of Directors said that it was not able to find another organization to take over and continue the race.
“Unfortunately, we were just not able to overcome the mounting financial and logistical challenges we experienced these past few years to host a race that the community has come to know and love,” the statement read.
The nonprofit organization, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, canceled last year’s event due to the pandemic.
For years, participants have taken part in a race of Olympic proportions. The event was organized into into a 1500-meter swim, a 25-mile bike ride, and a 6.2-mile run.
Here’s more from the board on the change:
We have had an incredible journey with all of you, our racers, your supporters, our volunteers and all of the leaders in the community. We are very thankful for the memories and many years of racing. We will miss all of you.
The Reston Triathlon is a non-profit organization. Once we close out our expenses, any remaining funds will be donated to local charities.
Thank you for the many years of support. Stay healthy, volunteer and support your community events!
Photo via Reston Triathlon/Facebook
Business Burglarized in Herndon — Local police are looking for a man who may have robbed a business on the 700 block of Elden Street on Jan. 18. Police recently released a video of the subject. [Herndon Police Department]
Bingo Activity Results in Backlash — A high school lesson plan that included an activity called Privilege Bingo has resulted in backlash against the Fairfax County Public Schools system. The activity marked several demographics as privileged. [Local DVM]
Reston Athlete Competes for Olympic Gold — Maame Biney is gearing up for this year’s Olympics in Beijing. The Restonian is the first black woman to compete on a U.S. short track speed skating team. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Photo by Terry Barans
A Reston Association committee is pushing for the renovation of Shadowood Recreation Area, an aging facility with a 20-meter pool that has been closed for more than two years.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is formally recommending that RA reopen the pool after completing renovations that will boost pool usage.
“Top amenities for increased enjoyment especially include lengthening of the pool to provide for standard lap lanes,” committee chair Julie Bitzer wrote in a Jan. 9 memo.
The committee is also suggesting other additions like slides, a play area, bigger bathrooms and a hot tub. Other recommendations include improving the appearance of the pool, maintaining comfortable water temperature in the pool and on the deck side, and renaming the facility from Shadowood to South Lakes.
The committee also cautioned that future investment in all RA pools should be considered in concert with the whole facility, not just the pool, and with a specific eye toward enhancing the “desirability” of RA’s facilities.
RA’s Board of Directors is expected tot discuss the issue at a meeting this Thursday.
Recommendations were made after RA completed a community survey and launched a public feedback period last year.
A proposal to potentially add up to 90 townhomes near Hidden Creek Country Club is up for a planning committee vote tonight, a decision that will serve as a key indicator for how Fairfax County officials handle the project.
The Reston Planning and Zoning Committee, an advisory group to the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, is slated to vote at the 7:30 p.m. virtual meeting on the 28-acre project at 11600 American Dream Way.
The property owner — an affiliate of Connecticut investment firm Wheelock Street Capital — has been making adjustments on the project in response to meeting with the committee and public. It purchased the property from Fannie Mae in 2018 for over $95 million.
Scott Adams, an attorney with McGuireWoods, presented in November before the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee. Changes include 9.28 acres that will be publicly accessible open space and repositioning gates on American Dream Way to only restrict access to the existing office compound.
“[Thoughtful], high quality site design is proposed to create a development that will further the Comprehensive Plan goals of mixed use development, significant park spaces, trail, and public art,” Adams previously wrote in a November 2020 statement seeking to justify the project.
The law firm hosted meetings in December and January with community members, too, but residents are still voicing concerns.
An affiliate of the investment firm, Wheelock Communities, acquired Hidden Creek Country Club in 2017 for $14 million and has sought to convert the golf course into a residential community. Residents have voiced their opposition, with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn backing their views on keeping the course, suggesting that public officials wouldn’t allow that kind of development there.
Even with the Fannie Mae redevelopment changes, the project conflicts with the Reston Comprehensive Plan as well as the character of the community, according to Reston Citizens Association President Lynne Mulston, who noted the association was merely acting as a messenger for nearby residents’ concerns. (The county is still studying the possible comprehensive plan amendment.)
“Ninety townhomes is just too much,” Mulston said, noting how residents have sought to scale back the project. “It’s just way out of whack.”
Earlier, residents raised concerns about how the project could affect northern neighbors’ access to American Plaza Shopping Center, providing access to Whole Foods groceries and other amenities. Fannie Mae previously worked with Reston Association to create a sidewalk in the area, Mulston said.
“As with any rezoning in Reston I encourage the applicant to work with County staff, concerned members of the community, and Reston P&Z to address issues raised before the application goes to public hearing before the County Planning Commission, currently scheduled for March 9,” Alcorn said in a statement.
The project would still keep the option to create two office buildings, a previously approved use, officials have noted. The former Fannie Mae office building is slated to remain.
Updated at 11:50 a.m. — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-1 this morning to support the continued mask requirement in schools and approved a letter directing Virginia to work with local health and school officials on metrics for making masks optional.
Earlier: When students across Fairfax County returned to classrooms today (Tuesday), they came wearing the most contentious, must-have accessory of the school year: face masks.
While the devices have become the subject of fierce political debate, Fairfax County Public Schools officials say that tension has not carried over into school buildings, where they have encountered few issues with getting students and staff to wear masks.
Just 40 out of the division’s nearly 180,000 students have been cited for not wearing a mask since the requirement took effect on Aug. 20, FCPS Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Michelle Boyd said at a virtual town hall meeting last night (Monday).
“Certainly, students have had to be reminded to pull your face mask up and potentially to wear it appropriately, as we all have to have reminders,” Boyd said. “But by and large, we want to celebrate that FCPS students have stepped up and answered the call to keep themselves safe, to keep their friends safe, and to keep their community safe.”
Officials say the mask-wearing requirement, combined with vaccinations, testing, and other mitigation protocols, has proven effective so far at limiting the spread of COVID-19 in schools.
As of today, FCPS students, staff, and visitors have reported 6,362 Covid cases since August, including 2,681 cases this month — double the 1,317 cases seen in December.
Boyd noted that the number of cases still represents just a fraction of the district’s 206,111 students and staff, and while there have been 36 outbreaks reported, consisting of 155 cases, there have not been any since students returned from winter break on Jan. 10.
Unlike some other school systems in the area, FCPS has not reverted any schools to virtual learning due to Covid.
Still, with the school system seeing more cases than ever and community transmission levels high, albeit declining, Superintendent Scott Brabrand says FCPS needs to “stay the course” and maintain its current health and safety practices.
“We all seek a moment when we can go to creating mask-optional conditions, but now is not the time at the greatest surge we’ve ever had in the pandemic,” Brabrand said, stating later that FCPS is working with health officials to establish metrics for when to roll back masking and other requirements.
Whether FCPS will be allowed to continue with universal masking, however, is up to the courts after the county school board joined six other localities in filing a lawsuit yesterday to prevent Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order directing schools to make masks optional from taking effect.
The complaint argues that the governor lacks the authority to issue and enforce the executive order, which it says violates the state Constitution and the state law adopted last year that requires schools to provide in-person instruction in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mitigation strategies.
“We’re not here out of a desire, but rather, out of a need to ensure that we’ve got that separation of powers and we maintain our constitutional authority as locally elected school board members who answer and are ultimately accountable to our constituents,” Fairfax County School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky told FFXnow in an interview.
She declined to speculate on what would happen if the Arlington Circuit Court, where the lawsuit was filed, rules in favor of Youngkin but said the school board is confident it will prevail in the case.
Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said the governor’s office is “disappointed that these school boards are ignoring parents’ rights.”
“The governor and attorney general are in coordination and are committed to aggressively defending parents’ fundamental right to make decisions with regard to their child’s upbringing, education, and care, as the legal process plays out,” she said in a statement.
Virginia’s health and education departments released new guidelines on Friday (Jan. 21) to support Youngkin’s executive order, urging testing and vaccinations while suggesting mask-wearing should be a personal choice.
“There is presently a lack of consensus among health experts regarding the costs and benefits of mask-wearing for children in school,” the guidance says, stating that the N95 and KN95 masks recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are “very tight and uncomfortable.”
However, local health officials disputed the assertion that there’s a lack of consensus on the benefits of masks in preventing COVID-19 transmission at last night’s town hall, noting that universal masking is still recommended by the CDC and the Fairfax County Health Department.
“The FCHD continues to highlight the benefits of masking and encourages masks as an important part of an overall layered prevention strategy,” the county health department said by email. “We are aware of the updated VDH guidance issued this weekend and are in the process of ensuring that our COVID 19 investigations and containment practices are aligned.”
Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, the county’s director of epidemiology and population health, and Dr. Russell Libby, a local pediatrician who founded the Virginia Pediatric Group, agreed that “the vast majority of evidence” suggests masks work and are most effective when worn by everyone.
“There are many variabilities relative to the materials, the fashion with which they are fitted, and the cooperation on a continuing basis in those settings,” Libby said. “…There’s a lot that’s evolving, but the best advice that can be given is that still masks are the way to go, that they help significantly reduce the likelihood of transmission.”
Community members shared a variety of perspectives on FCPS’ mask requirement, with some parents expressing frustration with the lack of choice and others thanking school officials for following federal and local health guidelines.
Brabrand described the mask mandate as part of a balancing act between individual rights and collective responsibility and sacrifice.
“I have the right to do things up until that right infringes on the rights of others,” he said. “The pandemic is really just a primary example of how my decision not to wear a mask or not to get vaccinated has a huge effect on others. I think that’s why it remains an issue that creates so much comment and commentary.”
Photo via FCPS
The county is officially courting feedback on the feasibility of a proposed arts center at Boston Properties’ Reston Next development.
Proffers negotiated by the county and the developer call for a 60,000-square-foot arts center and performing arts venue at the development.
Public meetings are planned from February through April to review the feasibility of the project. Architecture firm Grimm + Parker plans to review feedback and determine an estimate cost for the center.
“Community members, arts organizations and educators should plan to attend a session aligned with their perspective and give input regarding community needs and expectations for the facility space elements and functions,” Reston Community Center wrote in a Jan. 24 announcement about the public engagement period.
A breakdown of the meeting schedule is below:
Monday, February 14, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Kickoff Meeting. RCC Hunters Woods.
Monday, February 28, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Focus Group: Performing Arts. RCC Hunters Woods.
Monday, March 14, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Focus Group: Visual Arts. RCC Hunters Woods.
Monday, March 28, 2022, 6:30 p.m. Focus Group: Arts Education, Schools, Equity/Opportunity Neighborhoods. Zoom platform.
Monday, April 4, 2022, 6:30 p.m. General Wrap-up. Zoom platform.
Participants should RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Reston Next, formerly known as Reston Gateway, is located next to the Reston Town Center Metro Station. The development will be anchored by Volkswagen Group of America and Fannie Mae.
The arts center was part of a proffer agreement approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2018. Block J, which is near the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway, is expected to house the facility.
A feasibility study must be completed by the summer of 2022.
Image via handout/Fairfax County Government
Help Sought in Identifying Person of Interest — The Herndon Police Department is asking the public’s help to identify a person of interest in a robbery that happened on Jan. 18. The individual is seen entering and exiting an elevator in the business. [HPD]
Metro Kicks Off Budget Talks — Metro is seeking comments on its budget for fiscal year 2023. The budget takes into account the launch of six new Silver Line Stations. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
County Districts Could Get New Names — The Lee, Mason, Mount Vernon, Springfield and Sully districts could get new names. The county’s redistricting committee meets today to discuss possible name changes. [Fairfax County Government]
Search for Boat Owner Continues — Reston Association is looking for the owner of a Malibu boat that was found at Lake Anne. The organization has been stepping up efforts to manage abandoned boats in the area in recent months. [RA]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A project to improve access from neighborhoods to the yet-to-open Innovation Center Metro station could begin in the summer of 2024 and be completed a year later.
That’s what Sonia Shahnaj, a project manager for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, told community members last week during an online meeting about the project, which will create a pedestrian path from Farougi Court and Apgar Place to a kiss-and-ride parking lot, wrapping around a green space used for cricket.
“Creating walkable and bikeable access to transit stations is really critical from a transportation standpoint, from a quality of life standpoint and from an environmental standpoint, so this is a big deal,” Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said at the meeting.
The project will create an approximately 2,000-foot-long path that’s 10-feet wide. It’ll be 14-feet wide for two bridges that cross Horsepen Creek, one that’s 367 feet long and another that’s 135 feet long. Lighting will be there, too.
Easements will shave off some of the green space to make way for the trail.
Updates on the project are listed on a county web page, and comments related to the meeting can be submitted to FCDOT by Feb. 4, 2022.
An extension of the Metrorail from Ashburn to Reston, including a connection to the Dulles airport, is delayed but could open this year.
Nearby, a development project called Rivana at Innovation Station would create a residential-office-retail complex on a 103-acre space with up to 2,719 dwelling units.
With a second week of consistently declining cases, Fairfax County’s current, omicron variant-fueled Covid wave has receded closer to the levels seen last winter.
The Fairfax Health District, including the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, reported 607 new cases today (Monday). With 845 cases added yesterday (Sunday), it’s the first time since Dec. 20 and 21 that there have been fewer than 1,000 new cases on consecutive days.
The county is now averaging 1,150 cases per day for the past week — less than half the weekly average of 2,520 cases recorded on Jan. 13, when the pandemic’s latest surge appears to have peaked.
Last winter, the seven-day average peaked at 697 cases on Jan. 17, 2021.
The omicron surge’s decline can also be seen in the district’s testing positivity rate, which has dropped from 34.1% on Jan. 10 to 23.1%, as of last Thursday (Jan. 20). The seven-day average for hospitalizations has gone from 5.7 on Jan. 15 to 3.1 today, when four new hospitalizations were reported.
In total, the Fairfax Health District has recorded 164,209 COVID-19 cases, 4,400 hospitalizations, and 1,272 deaths, five of them in the past week.
According to Fairfax County Health Department data, 840,040 residents overall — or 71% of the population — are fully vaccinated against Covid, including 80% of residents 18 and older.
The 949,105 residents, or 82% of the population, who have gotten at least one vaccine dose include:
- 89.7% of adults
- 94.9% of 16 to 17 year olds
- 90.4% of 12-15 year olds
- 47.6% of 5-11 year olds
In addition, 34.9% of Fairfax County residents, including 43.5% of adults, have gotten a booster shot or third dose, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
