In the future, Fairfax County property owners planning to redevelop rental properties may be able to replace affordable housing units on-site with units in nearby locations.
Under drafted administrative guidelines, the county would only provide the option if it’s not “financially feasible” for the property owner to maintain the affordable units on the existing site.
The off-site housing “must be within a one-mile radius of the original property location to the extent practicable,” according to the draft guidelines.
County staff would also evaluate whether the new units are in a comparable location, including whether tenants would have similar access to major roads and transit, county facilities such as schools, and commercial areas.
The county is now aiming for one-for-one replacement of affordable housing units when there is redevelopment, per a March amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
Specifically, the policy intends to preserve rental multifamily housing units that are either committed affordable — meaning rents are restricted to certain income levels — or market affordable — meaning they’re accessible for households that earn up to 60% of the area median income, even without rent or income restrictions.
The county’s Department of Housing and Community Development is developing draft administrative guidelines for the policy. The ability to move preserved affordable units off-site is outlined in the latest draft, presented to the Board of Supervisors housing committee Tuesday (Aug. 1).
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw expressed reservations about the feasibility of the 1-mile radius.
“I find it hard to believe that there would be many property owners that would be able to make that work,” he said.
Meghan Van Dam, director of the HCD’s affordable housing development division, acknowledged that in certain circumstances, the 1-mile radius could be a challenge.
“In general, we looked at the 1-mile radius thinking about what might be walkable, what might be reasonable in terms of if you do have support networks in place in your community, how could you access those, where would they be located,” Van Dam said.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who cast the only vote against the comprehensive plan amendment in March, remained skeptical of the policy.
“It increases housing costs, period,” he said.
A final version of the guidelines could be adopted as soon as September. The guidelines will be discussed for a potential vote at a board public hearing on Sept. 26.
County staff also plan to update the county’s Relocation Guidelines, which provide information about how developers of rental and mobile home properties can assist tenants displaced by development. Those guidelines were last updated in 2012.
Fairfax County will bolster its capabilities to respond to and resolve emergency calls related to mental health this fall.
The Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board presented plans to roll out a fourth co-responder team and a telehealth pilot program at a Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 1).
Active since its pilot in March 2021 and made permanent in 2022, the co-responder program pairs a Crisis Intervention Team-trained law enforcement officer with a CSB crisis intervention specialist to respond to behavioral health calls. The duo rides together in the same patrol cruiser and either self-dispatch proactively to behavioral health calls or are dispatched by emergency services, FCPD Lieutenant Joanna Culkin explained during the meeting.
Co-responder teams aim to de-escalate situations involving an individual with a mental health crisis without use of force, incarceration or hospitalization to decrease instances of individuals being harmed by law enforcement.
Currently, three co-responder teams operate in the county, according to CSB Division Director of Emergency and Crisis Care Services Laura Maddock.
Two of the teams are active from noon to midnight seven days a week. The third team currently works from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. three days a week but will expand its coverage to match the other two teams on Aug. 15.
The fourth co-responder team that Maddock expects to join in late September or early October will follow a similar trajectory, starting with three-day coverage before transitioning to operating for a full week.
The continuing expansion of these mental health crisis services comes after the program showed measurable success in a June 30 data pull, Culkin says. She noted that the co-responder program has successfully increased timely on-scene assessment, with the presence of a clinician often de-escalating situations.
“Sometimes just having the clinician show up paired with our law enforcement counterpart puts people at ease and lets them know that, really, behavioral health is the main focus of our response,” Culkin said.
Culkin cited increased linkages to behavioral health services and higher levels of care, decreased rates of incarceration and arrest, and decreased visits to emergency services as benefits of the program. She said the program helps address “the [psychiatric] bed capacity issue across the state of Virginia” by resolving many cases in the field so fewer individuals need further care.
Of the 1,300 calls that got a co-responder response since the program began, 50% were resolved in the field, 30% were diverted from arrest or hospitalization, 26% resulted in higher level of care and 17% resulted in an Emergency Custody Order and/or Temporary Detention Order, Culkin said.
“That 17% is a really good number for us,” Culkin said. “When we’re looking at if a regular patrol officer had responded…without the ability to do those timely on scene assessments or come up with a safety or care plan, we’re looking at a significantly higher number of ECOs and TDOS.”
To further illustrate the co-responder program’s impact, Culkin recounted an instance where a clinician successfully worked with officers to “talk down” a “distraught subject” who was standing atop a ledge on a parking garage in Dunn Loring and “get him the help he needed.”
On another occasion, a co-responder team responded to a behavioral health call from a man “in emotional distress who indicated that nobody had ever celebrated his birthday.” After helping the man, the pair came back the next day with a birthday cake and enjoyed a belated celebration with him.
“These are good examples of both of the ways the co-responder program has had a positive impact with our community,” Culkin said.
The FCPD and CSB will additionally pilot a new telehealth program following the same fall timeline as the fourth co-responder team. Two police stations in Reston and McLean will receive iPads that officers can use to remotely contact a trained clinician at the Merrifield Crisis Response Center around the clock to fill gaps in coverage, since the co-responder teams don’t operate 24/7.
Maddock hinted that the county is working on implementing a follow-up team, which would consist of a peer and clinician going out to subjects of co-responder cases for check ins and referrals.
FCPD is also striving to increase the number of police officers who have undergone CIT training from 40% to 42% by the end of the year, Culkin said. The number has been slowly increasing over the last couple of years after less than a third of officers had received CIT training in 2021.
A consultant is beginning a three-month-long process to determine the feasibility and buy-in required to implement a comprehensive revitalization of the Lake Anne area of Reston.
Consultant Street Sense has begun phase two of its economic visioning study of the Lake Anne Commercial Revitalization Area, which kicked off last year. The consultant will conduct a series of one-on-one meetings with individual property owners soon, according to Fairfax County.
“The findings of Phase Two will shape the scope of work for a potential third phase of the Economic Visioning Study, which would investigate the feasibility of implementing the various components contained in the vision plan,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said in his weekly newsletter yesterday (Wednesday).
The first phase of the study concluded this summer after a series of public engagement efforts with the community.
So far, the vision suggests a concentration of new apartment units on the Crescent property at 1527 Cameron Crescent Drive, added cultural attractions, a parking structure, a centralized green space, connections from the Crescent site to Lake Anne Plaza via a new park, and the restoration of a tunnel to the east side of the area.
The third phase of the study is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year. It could be funded via a carryover adjustment from the fiscal year 2023 budget. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on that carryover package on Sept. 26.
The work comes as the county begins working with stakeholders over the next year to redevelop the Crescent Apartments property at the plaza.
Another person in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center has died.
Latasha Dove, a 53-year-old woman, was found unresponsive in her cell at the jail on Tuesday (Aug. 1) afternoon, the Fairfax County Police Department reported yesterday (Wednesday).
According to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, the post deputy called in a medical emergency at 2:27 p.m. Scanner traffic on Open MHz indicates that an Emergency Medical Services team from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was dispatched for a cardiac arrest around 2:31 p.m.
“The deputy immediately rendered aid until relieved by ADC medical personnel. Rescue arrived and transported the inmate to the hospital,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Dove was declared dead at the hospital at 3:13 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
Dove’s death is now being investigated by the FCPD, as required by county policy.
According to the police and court records, Dove was arrested on July 26 and faced charges of simple assault and property destruction. The assault charge was a misdemeanor, while the destruction of property charge was a class 6 felony, meaning the value of the destroyed property was over $1,000.
Dove remained in custody at the jail after Fairfax County General District Court Judge Mark Simmons set a cash bond for her at a bond hearing on Monday (July 31).
“The judge decided that she was an appropriate candidate for bail yet set a cash bond knowing that she was indigent,” said Fairfax County Public Defender Dawn Butorac, whose office represented Dove. “That means that Judge Simmons found that she was neither a danger to the community nor a risk of flight. It was simply Ms. Dove’s poverty that kept her in jail instead of being in the community. This is a clear demonstration of the perversity of a cash bail system.”
Though Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano has had a policy against seeking cash bail since March 2020, prosecutors objected to the possibility that Dove could be released at the bond hearing, Butorac told FFXnow.
The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney didn’t immediately return a request for comment. The office recommends defendants be released in 59% of non-violent felony cases, as of March, according to a bond data dashboard launched last fall.
According to the FCPD, foul play isn’t suspected in Dove’s death, but the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine an official cause.
Listed in court records as a Los Angeles, California, resident, Dove is the second person to die while in custody at the Adult Detention Center this summer, following 51-year-old Todd Matthew Gleason’s death on July 4. The jail had three in-custody deaths in 2022.
Before the police department announced its investigation, the sheriff’s office published a news release yesterday about a deputy and nurse’s successful efforts to save an inmate who had overdosed on opioids on July 29.
Vienna Little Leaguers Compete for World Series Today — “The Big Red Machine’s ‘Summer of Swat’ continues! They won the highest championship for their age group last year and are now vying for a chance to play in the Little League World Series! The quest starts at 1 p.m…with the SE Region Tournament in GA.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
Map to Locate County Park Amenities Launches — “The Park Amenity Locator is a web-based application, which allows park-goers to search for parks by geographic location and through more than 30 amenity filters that help target a variety of park features, such as dog parks, playgrounds, mini golf, boating, amusements, skate parks, campgrounds, athletic fields, pickleball courts and many more.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Covid Relief Funds Go to Merrifield Office Conversion — Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) to utilize up to $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to acquire 2990 Telestar Court. The vacant office building will be converted into 80 multifamily affordable housing units. [FCRHA]
New Spa Coming to Belle View this Summer — “A nationwide [floatation] therapy center known as True Rest Float Spa is targeting the end of August to open a franchise at Belle View Shopping Center…The spa is currently offering a pre-opening special on gift cards.” [On the MoVe]
Reston Teacher Retires After Six Decades — “After 60 years in education, Pompeii Ferrer, known as ‘Miss Pompeii’ by her class of 4-year-olds at Robert E. Simon Jr. Children’s Center, plans to retire. Leila Kaszubunski, the preschool’s director, told Patch that Ferrer is a very creative teacher, who loves music and has fun dancing with her students and helping them learn how to write the letters of their names.” [Patch]
PSAT Tests Will Be Paper-Free This Fall — “This October, the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) will be administered in Fairfax County in a digital format…Exams will be held at each high school on Wednesday, October 11.” Students who need testing accommodations must turn in a request form to their high school by Tuesday, Aug. 8. [FCPS]
Singer Regina Spektor Readies for Wolf Trap Performance — “She was a Russian-born immigrant who became a Grammy-caliber singer-songwriter in America. This Thursday night, Regina Spektor plays Wolf Trap in Virginia with a heavy heart for back home. ‘This horrendous War in Ukraine has been breaking all our hearts,’ Spektor told WTOP.” [WTOP]
Fees Waived at Great Falls Park Tomorrow — “Get the hiking gear ready. Friday, August 4 is Great American Outdoors Day, which means that entrance to all national parks will be free. The holiday is the third of four fee-free days from the National Park Service at all 423 national parks.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — There is a slight chance of showers after 2pm, but it will be mostly sunny with a high near 86°F. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 8pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 70°F. [Weather.gov]
Several environmental groups, including one based in Fairfax County, have joined forces to challenge Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to pull Virginia out of a cross-state initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
The Southern Environmental Law Center announced on Monday (July 31) that it will appeal Virginia’s planned withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a market of 12 states on the East Coast that regulates carbon emissions from power generators.
The appeal will be filed in Fairfax County Circuit Court on behalf of Appalachian Voices, the Association of Energy Conservation Professionals, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light and the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (FACS), a Fairfax County-focused coalition of religious communities pushing for action to address climate change.
The notice of appeal was served on the same day that the proposal to drop out of the RGGI was published in the Virginia Register, opening a period of public comments until the regulation takes effect on Aug. 30.
“The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative…has cut a huge amount of pollution from power plants, while protecting Virginians from the increasing impacts of climate change,” FACS Executive Director Andrea McGimsey said. “RGGI helps us leave a better world to our children and grandchildren, and we will continue to vigorously defend Virginia’s participation in this successful, bipartisan program.”
Established in 2005, the RGGI imposes a cap on carbon emissions from power plants in all participating states, requiring generators to buy “allowances” at quarterly auctions for every short ton of carbon they produce.
On Jan. 1, 2021, Virginia became the first southern state to join the initiative under then-governor Ralph Northam, who also signed legislation mandating an end to the use of coal-fired power plants after 2024 and requiring Dominion Energy to go carbon-free by 2045.
However, Youngkin issued an executive order on Jan. 15, 2022 calling for a reevaluation of Virginia’s participation and signaling his plans to withdraw. He argued that utilities have passed on the costs of purchasing allowances to customers, noting that residents served by Dominion Energy saw an average increase in their electricity bills of $2.39 per month.
Dominion suspended the surcharge after Youngkin announced his withdrawal plan, but last month, the State Corporation Commission approved its return. The fee of $4.44 for a “standard” customer will take effect on Sept. 1, even though the State Air Pollution Control Board voted 4-3 on June 7 to take Virginia out of the RGGI.
“RGGI remains a regressive tax which does not do anything to incentivize the reduction of emissions in Virginia,” Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles said in a statement shared by Youngkin’s office. “…Virginians will see a lower energy bill in due time because we are withdrawing from RGGI through a regulatory process.”
Environmental advocates dispute the assertion that the RGGI hasn’t resulted in any benefits. In fact, Virginia saw an over 16% drop in power plant emissions after two years in the initiative based on Environmental Protection Agency data, according to FACS Vice Chair Scott Peterson.
The state also devotes half of its proceeds from the allowance auctions — totaling $250 million over the first two years — to energy efficiency programs for affordable housing and low-income households. Other funds have been used to support resiliency projects, most of them focused on reducing floodig impacts.
“There is a huge need for this funding not just in coastal areas, but also inland communities that are dealing with increasingly frequent intense storms,” Peterson said. “Almost $100 million has already been awarded to 98 different projects, but this work is long term and only getting started.”
The groups challenging the RGGI withdrawal argue that Youngkin’s administration lacks the authority to reverse a law adopted by the General Assembly. Their appeal must be filed in court within 30 days of the notice going to Air Pollution Control Board and Department of Environmental Quality officials.
“The administration cannot brush aside the laws it disagrees with,” Southern Environmental Law Center senior attorney Nate Benfornado said. “Moreover, Virginians deserve to see the continued benefits of this successful program. This program is vital to Virginia meeting climate goals, while reducing air pollution and improving public health.”
Voyles said Attorney General Jason Miyares’s office confirmed that the control board “has the legal authority to take action on the regulatory proposal using the full regulatory process — and the Board voted to do just that.”
Pending the legal action, Virginia will leave the RGGI when its three-year contract ends Dec. 31.
Photo via Ella Ivanescu/Unsplash
Reston Association is asking Fairfax County to find ways to ensure that future development in Reston’s Transit Station Areas (TSAs) commit to joining the association.
In a statement to FFXnow, RA says more than 3,000 units in the TSA areas have been approved without a commitment to join RA.
The Reston Master Plan — the latest version of which is under review — states that development within the area can be better integrated into the fabric of the community with access to existing many amenities — an end “best achieved” by incorporation into RA or the Reston Town Center Association.
“Each of these entities has indicated a willingness to include these new developments in their associations,” the plan states.
But over the last few years, some developers have declined to join RA, despite using amenities managed and owned by RA in marketing materials. RA maintains 55 miles of trails, 15 pools, 54 tennis courts, ballfields, pavilions and four community buildings.
“Unfortunately, over the years several developers have not yet joined RA while using RA facilities in their advertising to entice tenants to rent their apartments,” RA said. “Among them are Comstock, EYA and the Apeture.”
“We have not heard an explanation for these decisions,” RA wrote in a statement.
That issue came to light at a July 28 Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting. During a public hearing on proposed changes to Reston Row, RA president John Farrell expressed the association’s concerns about Comstock, the neighborhood’s developer, not planning to join RA.
“A wise man said the proof of insanity is to make the same mistake over and over,” Farrell said, urging the commission to deny the application. “Let us not continue the insanity of allowing the people of Reston and the taxpayers of the county to subsidize some TSA residential developers.”
Developers that have joined RA include Sekas, Pulte and Toll Brothers.
RA argues that if the nearly 3,000 units authorized in the TSA area were built and subject to RA’s deed, the association would reel in nearly $2.4 million in revenue — enough to reduce the yearly member assessment by $100 each for the 24,000 homeowners in Reston.
“Over the next several years, many of those developers will be coming to the County to reposition their projects and RA will ask that the Hunter Mill Supervisor condition any future approvals on those projects joining RA so that the developer support[s] the maintenance of the RA facilities upon which the developers’ marketing efforts are based,” RA wrote.
The county says that, while the master plan encourages developers to join RA, the plan is intended as a land use document and can’t compel developers to join a local organization.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said he appreciates Reston Association “raising the financial burden associated with managing their extensive network of community recreation and park facilities.”
“We have a rather balkanized system of community facilities across Reston Association, Reston Town Center Association, Reston Community Center, and the Fairfax County Park Authority – in addition to all the cluster associations and NOVA Park’s W&OD trail,” Alcorn said. “I welcome the discussion on how Reston’s community infrastructure could be maintained and updated fairly and sustainably during the coming years and decades.”
The vision for developing 25 parcels with 22 owners near the Herndon Metro Station is officially coalescing.
Consultant Skidmore, Owings, Merrill laid out a vision for the Transit Related Growth (TRG) area at a joint Herndon Town Council and planning commission meeting on June 20.
The current draft proposal decreases commercial square footage from what’s currently allowed to a range of 600,000 to 900,000 square feet for the nearly 94-acre area. Between 2,578 and 3,350 residential units are proposed.
Planning is still underway, but the consultant is exploring three models.
The first proposes neighborhood clusters with density sprinkled throughout the TRG and connected by a “walkable corridor” and open spaces. The scenario would largely focus on residential development.
The second option considers two centers of density at the Metro station and Sunset Business Park with a balance of residential and office development. Herndon Parkway would be the primary transportation conduit, and the scenario would have the lowest level of road connectivity.
The final scenario pitches density centered at the Metro station and the highest office-to-residential development ratio. The highest road connectivity is also proposed in this scenario.
In a memo, Ahmed Zaki, a lead planner with the town, said staff is concerned that a reduction in non-residential development would be “detrimental to a balanced real estate tax base” and may not provide enough options for residents of the TRG, the Herndon Transit Oriented Core (HTOC) and nearby neighborhoods.
Staff also expressed concern that there may not be enough business opportunities, including for retail that serves neighborhood.
The project kicked off in April 2022 with a fact-finding and feedback phase. Since then, the consultant has held several community engagement meetings to develop a conceptual plan that will guide future redevelopment.
Since the work session, the team has been developing a formal conceptual plan for the future TRG. It will include buffers for abutting neighborhoods and take into consideration disparate development timelines due to different owners in the area.
At the June meeting, council members emphasized the need to differentiate the TRG from the HTOC.
Council member Pradip Dhakal said there should be more retail space allotted to truly create a neighborhood and community instead of focusing on residential development.
“The retail space is relatively lower,” he said.
Others called for guidance on ways to incorporate more affordable housing into the mix.
The consultant is currently incorporating feedback and comments to form a preferred framework that is ready for review, according to a statement from the town.
“Staff has been tracking their progress, and once they have the draft concept completed, it will go back to the council and commission for review and comment,” the statement to FFXnow reads.
The Fairfax County Police Department is turning up the heat on vehicle thefts and break-ins, as summer enters its final month.
The department announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it will focus on auto thefts this August as part of its 2023 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative, which previously boosted enforcement around retail theft and driving under the influence.
“The Summer Crime Prevention team will intensify its efforts to prevent theft from vehicles and vehicle parts by implementing strategic and focused enforcement measures,” the FCPD said. “Officers will be stepping up their patrol efforts and focusing on areas of Fairfax County that have been historically targeted.”
Earlier this summer, the department was investigating a slew of thefts from cars in Reston that it said took place throughout May and June. More than 30 unlocked vehicles were targeted, with the suspects taking cash, purses, credit cards and other valuables.
As of June 27, police had recorded more than 1,000 incidents of people breaking into vehicles or entering unlocked vehicles so far in 2023. There had been over 580 stolen cars and motorcycles, exceeding the 440 thefts reported at that time in 2022.
The FCPD reported a total of 1,362 vehicle thefts in 2022 and 1,207 in 2021, according to an annual report published in May.
For this month’s crime prevention campaign, the FCPD says its officers “will migrate throughout the county to help deter and educate community members on ways to combat vehicle-related theft.”
“Airbags, laptops, cell phones, and other high-value property can all be easy targets if someone gains access to your vehicle,” the department said.
The department noted that community members can take some precautions to avoid being targeted:
- Lock your car and avoid leaving your keys in the car.
- Park in public places with lots of streetlights.
- Keep the windows rolled up when you park.
- Install car alarm systems and/or GPS systems.
- Do not leave any personal or valuable belongings inside your car.
- Do not leave your car turned on and unattended.
- Do not leave a spare key where it can be found.
- Utilize Security Cameras and floodlights.
- Know where you’re going.
- Practice proper automotive maintenance.
- Always stay aware of your surroundings.
- Do not store important personal documents in your vehicle.
Special Education Lawsuit Against FCPS Tossed — “Families who sued the Fairfax County School Board and Virginia Department of Education over services for students with disabilities have asked the state attorney general to investigate the two entities after a judge dismissed their class-action case last week.” [Washington Post]
Historic Marker Unveiled for Gum Springs Voting Rights Figure — “Dozens of top county officials, community leaders, ministers, neighbors and family members gathered July 22 to recognize the major civil rights era contribution of a humble, devout Gum Springs woman, whose name was almost lost to history. The event was the unveiling of a historic marker honoring Annie E. Harper (1885-1983) at her former residence, 7735 Fordson Road.” [On the MoVe]
D.C. Region Officials Say to Drive Less This August — “Officials are asking residents to help limit air pollution by driving less this month. This summer there have already been 17 code orange days, when the air is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and there have been 3 code red days, when the air is unhealthy for everyone.” [DCist]
Inova Fairfax Ranked as Virginia’s Best Hospital — “Inova Fairfax Hospital is the No. 1 hospital in Greater Washington as well as in all of Virginia, according to U.S. News & World Report’s new rankings…Inova Fairfax [also] ranked No. 18 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology and No. 46 in the nation for neonatology.” [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Man Killed in Bethesda Crash — “A 22-year-old Annandale man died after the vehicle he was driving crashed into a guardrail early Saturday morning in North Bethesda, Maryland, according to Montgomery County Police…Two passengers in the vehicle were also taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.” [Patch]
Tysons Banking Company to Close Branches — Primis Financial Corp plans to close a quarter of its branches and “cut dozens of positions” after posting a $200,000 loss for the second quarter of 2023, its first quarterly loss since 2017. The affected branches in Leesburg, Warrenton, the Charlottesville and Richmond areas and “more rural parts of the state…are expected to be closed by Oct. 31.” [WBJ]
County Shares Plan for Spending Leftover Funds — “Hundreds of millions of dollars are being carried over from the fiscal 2023 budget, and Fairfax County officials are proposing a bevy of ways to spend them. The Board of Supervisors on July 25 set a public hearing for Sept. 26 to discuss the proposed budget-carryover package.” [Gazette Leader]
Child Care Facility Approved in Lincolnia — “The Board of Supervisors approved a zoning special exception last week for a childcare facility with up to 36 children in Lincolnia. The Kingdom of Children Bilingual Preschool would be located in a former single-family house built in 1948 at 6481 Little River Turnpike” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — The weather forecast shows a sunny day with a high temperature of about 85°F. By Wednesday night, the skies will become partly cloudy, and temperatures will drop to around 65°F. [Weather.gov]
A new family-owned sandwich spot has officially opened in Reston.
Veloce Deli celebrated its soft opening at 1900 Campus Commons Drive in Suite 120 yesterday (Monday).
Currently, opening hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 am to 7 p.m. Thursday through Friday, and 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Veloce Deli’s creative director, Neha Kapoor, co-owns the business with her parents, who have been in the deli business since the 1990s, she said.
“We chose this location as it was in a great area where we could connect with our local community,” Kapoor said. “We are a family run business and needed that connection factor. And we wanted to create a new hotspot in an up and coming area.”
The deli previously operated out of an office building at 205 Van Buren Street in Herndon before relocating to Reston.
Items on the menu include turkey club sandwiches, spicy Sicilican subs, coffee, and egg salad subs.
Veloce Deli is in the Campus Commons office park near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan in 2019 to redevelop the site with 1.3 million square feet of new residential and office space, though the two existing buildings will remain.
A planned renovation at Reston’s Glade tennis courts has been rescheduled for next year.
The project, which was originally scheduled to begin this year, has been pushed to next year, Reston Association announced yesterday (Monday).
The courts reopened this week after the court surface was reconditioned and new court lines were installed. The old layer of the clay was removed, replaced and reconditioned.
The change was prompted by limited contractor availability, according to RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk.
“The pool of contractors that can complete this work is small and are booked through the end of this calendar year,” Lusk said. “RA contemplated starting the project in late 2023, through 2024, but pausing the project for cold weather is not considered best practice.”
Staff are working with the contractor to determine dates for next year. Once it begins, the project would take between three and five months.
The Glade tennis facility has been reopened, with the planned renovation rescheduled to next year due to contractor availability and permitting requirements.
The anticipated start is now late Spring or early Summer 2024. pic.twitter.com/tbn9adZp5W— Reston Association (@RestonOnline) July 31, 2023
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County’s government is the place to beat when it comes to utilizing digital technology, according to a recent survey of the top digital counties in the U.S.
Fairfax County was ranked no. 1 among counties with populations of 1 million or more people by the Center for Digital Government for its 2023 Digital Counties Survey, knocking off King County in Washington after the original home of Amazon nabbed the top spot two years in a row.
The top ranking marks the culmination of a steady rise for Fairfax County, which came in fifth place for its category in 2021 and second last year. King County, which includes Seattle, took second place this time around.
“We are constantly coming up with new ways to make things easier for our residents and employees through technology,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Jeff McKay said in a July 25 newsletter highlighting the achievement. “We would like to thank and congratulate our Department of Information Technology and agency partners for all of the excellent work they have done, and we look forward to seeing the great work continue!”
A division of the data and media company eRepublic, the Center for Digital Government describes itself as a national research and advisory institute focused on information technology policies and how they’re used by local and state governments.
The annual digital surveys, which include separate ones for states and cities, evaluate how different jurisdictions “are applying technologies to better serve their constituents,” the organization says.
After previously lauding Fairfax County for its cybersecurity efforts, the center says it managed to rise to the top this year thanks in part to an emphasis on data management and incorporation of data-based metrics into the Countywide Strategic Plan originally adopted in October 2021.
“Fairfax provided staff with training and policies about proper data collection and use, and conducted a data asset inventorying project so employees could more easily locate answers to internal questions,” the survey said. “Use of end-to-end encryption also preserves data privacy.”
Other accomplishments include a newly centralized “data lake” to support the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which provides treatment and other resources for individuals with mental health, substance use and developmental disability needs.
The survey also singles out the county’s new Planning and Land Use System, which consolidated zoning, permitting and other land use applications into one central database. The system fully launched last October after starting to roll out in 2020, though it encountered some initial technical challenges.
“The platform gives constituents a single spot for handling activities like submitting and tracking applications related to zoning, building, permitting and other land development areas, as well as paying fees or submitting complaints,” the survey said.
In addition, the Center for Digital Government was impressed by the county’s expanding use of geographic information systems (GIS) data. Over the past couple of years, it has used mapping technology to track everything from heat and flooding to development in Tysons and Reston.
In general, the D.C. region performed well in this year’s Digital Counties Survey, securing first place in all five population-based categories.
The leaders — including Arlington for the 150,000-249,999 people category and Prince William for 250,000-499,999 people — were united by their prioritization of collaboration and inclusion, Government Technology said when announcing the results.
“Collaboration and inclusion were critical factors to their success,” GovTech said. “Their commitment to equity ensured that the benefits of technological advancements were accessible to all residents, ensuring widespread access to resources and creating a more inclusive digital landscape.”
Photo via Adi Goldstein/Unsplash
Man Sentenced in Shots Fired Case at Herndon Bar — The man who fired a gun inside Sully’s Pour House in 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday (July 28) but will only have to serve eight months, a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge determined. The bar owner said she was “disappointed by what she calls a weak punishment.” [NBC4]
Braddock Road Project Will Affect Fewer Trees — “The Virginia Department of Transportation has reduced the amount of tree loss in the Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project, agency officials announced at a recent community meeting. The project would create 10-foot-wide shared-use paths along both sides Braddock Road, as well as intersection improvements” [Annandale Today]
Astronaut Barbies on Display in Chantilly — “As Barbie-mania sweeps the nation and people cool down in theaters to see the movie, two Barbies that flew to the International Space Station are on display at the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Tipping Anecdote at Tysons Restaurant Stirs Debate — A Reddit user claimed that their waiter called their $52 tip on a $291.40 bill for three people “unsatisfactory” during a recent visit to Chima Steakhouse in Tysons. The story prompted a discussion about tipping culture with more than 600 comments, though most agreed the server was out of line. [Reddit]
Rocket Launch May Be Visible Tonight — “The D.C. region, if weather allows it, has a chance to see a rocket launch that will soar into the sky and be visible to many in the Mid-Atlantic and up the East Coast. Scheduled for launch at 8:31 p.m. Tuesday from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, this will be Northrop Grumman’s 19th commercial resupply services mission for NASA.” [WTOP]
Town Hall Held on Reston Comprehensive Plan — “Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn hosted a town hall meeting Thursday night at the North County Governmental Center to solicit public input and answer questions about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Amendment… ‘This has been a really a long, long slog to get to this point,’ Alcorn said, to the approximately 20 people who showed up for the meeting.” [Patch]
County Gets Top Spot for Building Permitting Process — “Fairfax County ranked number one for best building permitting process in the United States by the NAIOP Research Foundation…This ranking was decided after comparing the site plan and building permit review process of 100 communities across the U.S. and Canada.” [Fairfax County]
What to Know About Hurricane Season 2023 — “With hurricane season underway, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared. Our Department of Emergency Management and Security recently hosted Kevin Rodriguez, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service, who provided a ‘2023 Hurricane Season Outlook’ presentation.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
It’s Tuesday — The weather forecast predicts sunny skies and a high temperature of around 84°F. For Tuesday night, expect mostly clear conditions with a low temperature of around 64°F and a gentle northeastern breeze between 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
In its first public hearing last Wednesday (July 26), the Fairfax County Planning Commission heard from the community on its proposed overhaul of parking requirements.
The initiative known as Parking Reimagined puts forth changes to off-street parking, bicycle parking, and loading. Overall rates and regulations have not been comprehensively reviewed since 1988.
The county says the goal is “an evaluation of existing parking rates to determine if adjustments of requirements to meet current parking demand is appropriate, while also examining County administration of parking regulations.”
One of the most notable changes is a tiered system for off-street parking, where rates are based on a development’s gross square footage instead of the number of people served.
In a report released July 12, county staff called the system the “most critical new component” of Parking Reimagined. The proposal also allows the county to approve shared parking reductions and transit-based reductions of up to 30%.
Susan Jollie, president of the Hummer Woods Civic Association in Annandale, called the reduction in the minimum parking requirements “radical.”
“The proposed radical reductions in the minimum parking requirements will create numerous new problems while failing to secure the alleged public benefits,” Jollie said. She added that the proposal is controversial because of a failure to perform relevant research.
Dennis Hays, a representative for the Reston Citizen Association, points to the high number of residents who own a car within the county as a reason for opposition.
“The county’s website says that only 4% of U.S. households do not own a car,” Hays said. “That means 96% of household in Fairfax County have a car — 30% have more than one car possibly subject to that. So it’s not possible to simply say that everybody in this county is going to be able to ride their bike to Whole Foods, or hike out to the Blue Ridge Mountains on any given day.”
Earlier this month, the Reston Citizen Association wrote a letter of opposition to the county, saying proposal doesn’t fully consider the impact on Reston and the county.
The proposal saw some support from people who said it’s good for the county’s future.
Aaron Wilkowitz, vice president of Fairfax County’s chapter of YIMBYs of Northern Virginia, called the proposal a step in the right direction for the county.
“Parking minimums contribute to environmental destruction because parking lots themselves create heat islands retaining warmth from the sun,” Wilkowitz said. “Parking spaces increased car dependency, which leads to more smog and carbon emissions and parking spaces worsen housing scarcity.”
Sonya Breehey, Northern Virginia advocacy manager for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, said the proposal will benefit housing and climate.
“The proposed zoning amendment offers to better balance future parking demand with other communities like equity, affordability, environmental sustainability and effective land use,” she said.
Though the public hearing lasted more than four hours, the planning commission scheduled a second one for Sept. 13. After that, the matter is set to go before the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 26. If approved, the changes would go into effect on Jan 1.
