Fairfax County is looking into adjusting its signage rules to allow for brighter and bigger electronic signs.
Casey Judge with the county’s Zoning Administration Division presented the proposed changes during a Board of Supervisors land use policy committee meeting on May 16.
The changes include increasing the maximum brightness for nonresidential districts to 300 nits (a unit that measures the brightness a sign is emitting) at sunset. Current regulations require electronic signs to automatically dim to 40-100 nits at sunset.
The changes also includes requiring sign permit applicants to submit sign specifications.
In addition, the three existing application processes that the county currently has for nonresidential areas could be consolidated into one process.
“This does mean that all sign applications would go to the board for approval rather than the current [comprehensive sign plans],” which only need to be approved by the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Judge said.
Proposed modifications for electronic display signs with special exceptions include increasing the number, height, and size of freestanding signs, allowing building-mounted electronic display signs, and increasing the brightness to 600 nits.
Last May, while discussing the matter, county staff told the committee that the existing rules are old and that businesses wanted to be more competitive. Judge also suggested that easing the application process could be helpful to businesses.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, the committee’s vice chair, questioned how the county is handling the convergence of “what’s a sign and what’s a display.”
“These things that we have traditionally dealt with as signs are being used in other means, or for other purposes,” Alcorn said.
Judge said a standard has been added that focuses on traffic safety and overall placemaking effects as part of the electronic display signs.
“I do hope that that standard can help guide our staff when they’re making that analysis to ensure that we’re looking at size and location, more so than the content in making our recommendations,” Judge said.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw questioned the proposed increase from 100 to 300 nits, which he called pretty significant.
“That’s really in response to research looking at other jurisdictions that have much higher nit level limitations and it allows for those higher definition screens that we’re seeing,” Judge answered.
Judge said the county is seeking authorization and public hearings later this year.
Fair Lakes Sidewalk Closed for Construction — “The sidewalk along eastbound Fair Lakes Circle (on the south side of the roadway) between the Fair Lakes Shopping Center entrance and the end of the sidewalk just before Roger Stover Drive will be closed beginning Wednesday, May 31, through approximately August 31 for construction of a new shared-use path as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.” [VDOT]
Navy Veteran Convicted for Shooting — “The gunman, Navy veteran Jaeyoung Lee, was convicted this month by a jury in Fairfax County…It’s a crime and story of extreme stalking turned violent that’s stayed under the radar until now. For [Jeremy] Tammone and his loved ones, it’s been more than five long years waiting for justice and coping with profound injuries.” [NBC4]
Commonwealth’s Attorneys Races Raise Questions About Reform — “Incumbent commonwealth’s attorneys in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties are all facing Democratic primary challenges this June. The contests, which will conclude on primary election day on June 20, have become arguments over what criminal justice reform in Northern Virginia should look like, and who is best placed to lead it.” [DCist]
Community Park in Glencarlyn Now Complete — “There is a new Park in town!! Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church is officially open!! The ADA-accessible park includes a picnic pavilion, an open play area, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, a playground, community gardens, trails and parking.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook]
Annandale Residents Vote for Favorite Restaurants — “According to a survey handed out at the Taste of Annandale, Popeye’s and Bon Chon are local residents’ favorite chicken places in Annandale. Bon Chon, unfortunately, has been closed since a fire destroyed the building in March.” [Annandale Today]
Memorial Day Recognized in Fairfax — “On Monday, the American Legion Fairfax Post 177 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469 held a Memorial Day ceremony to honor Fairfax, Virginia residents who died while serving the United States of America in the U.S. Armed Forces. Around 100 people gathered to hear the names of each Fairfax resident who lost their lives serving their country since World War I.” [ABC7]
McLean Summer Concert Series Announced — “The Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center has announced the schedule for its 2023 Summer Sunday in the Park concert series, with free concerts being held at McLean Central Park, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd. Concerts are slated to begin at 3 p.m.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Law Firm Relocates Offices — “Venable LLP is on the move in Tysons, but not far, inking a lease for 24,000 square feet on the fourth floor of 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza — its existing Tysons office is at 1810 Towers Crescent Drive…In a statement, it described the new space as ‘open and airy, with clear glass walls, yet warm and welcoming'” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Tuesday — Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. At night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. [Weather.gov]
The Faraday Park neighborhood has officially welcomed another tenant: Eve’s Garden Lounge and Bar.
The Asian fusion restaurant celebrated its soft opening on Friday, May 12 at 11207 Reston Station Blvd at Faraday Park. It has now added lunch hours from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting today (Friday), according to its website.
Here’s a taste of what the restaurant hopes to offer to community, per its social media pages:
Journeying back to an era of refined taste and sophistication, where old fashioned drinks reign supreme. Indulge in the art of mixology as we unlock the secrets of vintage flavors, crafted with precision and passion. From the rich warmth of bourbon to the gentle kiss of bitters, every sip tells a tale of tradition and elegance.
Items on the menu include pho stone pot adventure — a Vietnamese broth served with rice noodles and fresh herbs — and blazing harmony, a hot stone bowl filled with rice and topped with meat and veggies.
The business did not return a request for comment from FFXnow by press time.
Photo via Eve’s Garden/Facebook
“American Idol” winner David Cook will headline this year’s Herndon Festival, set to take place from June 1-4 at Northwester Federal Credit Union (200 Spring Street).
Cook, who won the seventh season of the popular singing show, has since broken several Billboard chart records. The D.C.-based rock band Broke Royals will open his performance.
The Town of Herndon recently announced the line-up for the long-anticipated event in June.
Herndon’s own Pool Boys — a rock band that specializes in a mix of pop, rock and hip-hop — will kick off the festival on Thursday, June 1. Uncle Jesse will headline the event at night.
On Friday, June 2, Pablo Perez El Alcalde de la Salsa will perform, with an opening by The Chuck Brown Band.
On Saturday, June 3, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & the Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band will bring zydeco, the Creole cousin of jazz, to the festival.
Cook will close out the weekend with a show on Sunday, June 4, from 4:30-6 p.m.
“We are incredibly excited to present such a diverse and talented lineup for the Main Stage at this year’s Herndon Festival,” Cindy Roeder, one of the festival’s organizers, said. “We have carefully curated a mix of nationally recognized acts and regional talent to ensure that festival-goers have an unforgettable musical experience. Get ready to sing, dance, and create lasting memories with us!”
The complete schedule is available online.
The Water Mine and Other Parks Open for Summer — “Get ready to have fun in the sun with Fairfax County Park Authority this summer! May 27 is opening day for a wide variety of entertaining activities for families, friends and entire communities to enjoy at our local parks. From award-winning water features and waterfront parks to mini golf and amusements, there is something for everyone.” [FCPA]
FCPD Chief Says Force “Appropriate” in Fatal Penn Daw Shooting — “Officials released body-camera footage and other video Thursday showing a chaotic confrontation in which Fairfax County police fatally shot a man who tried to grab an officer’s gun…Chief Kevin Davis described the use of force as ‘more than appropriate.’ He said it was unclear which officer fired the fatal shot.” [The Washington Post]
Silver Line Phase 2 Hits New Ridership Milestone — “Good news: [On Wednesday] @wmata had its 500k customer trip at @Dulles_Airport Silver Line Station and we have now served 1.5m customers on the extension since opening in Nov! #yourmetro is the best way to [fly] on Memorial Day weekend.” [WMATA GM/Twitter]
Health Department Moves to Support Young Parents — “The Fairfax County Health Department is launching a new program to improve the health, educational, and socioeconomic outcomes for local expectant teen and young adult parents.” Open to soon-to-be parents aged 14-25, “Stable Families, Thriving Futures” will assist with financial planning, employment, health literacy and other services. [FCHD]
Modest Clothing Store Plans Tysons Expansion — Ayna Modest Boutique, a boutique that offers modest clothing with a specialty in hijabs and abayas for Muslim women, is expanding from Potomac Mills in Woodbridge with “a second, larger store in Tysons Corner Center, perhaps by mid-July.” Founder Fariba Sharifi says as much as 40% of her clientele come from Tysons. [Washington Business Journal]
FCPS Tests Salad Bars at Middle and High Schools — Fairfax County Public Schools has been piloting salad bars at South County High School in Lorton, Mark Twain Middle School in Rose Hill and John R. Lewis High School in Springfield this week. After adding salad bars at all 141 elementary schools, FCPS “wants to determine what the best arrangement will be for salad bars in middle and high schools.” [On the MoVe]
Lincolnia Ice Cream Shop Owner Honored — “When you go to Jake’s Ice Cream in Barcroft Plaza, many of the employees making the ice cream in house and serving customers will be people with disabilities…On Wednesday, [owner Robin] Rinearson received the Eleanor Sue Finkelstein Inclusion & Disabilities Award from the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.” [Patch]
Bee Hive Creates Buzz on The Boro Rooftop — “Saturday is World Bee Day. Many may not know there is something buzzworthy happening on DMV rooftops where thousands of honeybees live. At the Boro, a rooftop in Tysons, there are 40,000 bees being managed by Alveole. ‘These are pretty chill bees,’ said Jordan Freeman.” [ABC7]
It’s Friday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County’s parking lots and streetscapes could look a little greener.
At a land use policy committee meeting on May 16, planning staff proposed a new update to the county’s landscaping and screening ordinance — the first major change in 40 years — that would make developers add more green landscaping to more parking lots and street frontages.
For parking lots, the current ordinance requires trees to be installed at any surface parking lot with 20 spaces or more. The new ordinance could expand that requirement to any lot with 10 parking spaces and increase the amount of tree coverage from 5% to 10%.
New parking garages, meanwhile, would be required to have 10% of their top decks covered with shade, although utilizing solar canopies could lead to a reduction in that percentage.
The ordinance also introduces “street frontage landscaping” — requiring developers to provide trees on private property provided they’re along private or public streets, not internal drive aisles. Single-family dwellings would be exempted.
One small but meaningful change would also adjust the types of trees seen in these green spaces, as it turns out Fairfax County’s previous specifications weren’t evergreen.
“When it comes to transitional screening a lot of waivers are applied for to use existing vegetation because they have to have 70% evergreens and that’s not common in Fairfax County,” Sara Morgan, a planner with the Department of Planning and Zoning, said. “This allows us to review [developments] on a case by case basis as we want to further encourage the use of existing vegetation, allowing you to have a mix that is different than [the ordinance] today if you retain existing vegetation.”
Similar to the zMOD update approved in 2021 — then reversed and reinstated earlier this year — county leadership said the landscaping and screening ordinance update is a good step forward on fixing some outdated code.
“It’s been 40 years since we updated these,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “I think this is overall very, very good.”
The board approved new tree canopy standards earlier this year with the hope of encouraging private developers to plant more street trees in the public right-of-way.
Reston Town Square Park (11900 Market Street) and Reston Station (1901 Reston Metro Plaza) will soon come to life with summer entertainment organized by the Reston Community Center.
RCC has organized six series this year, varying from jazz ensembles to family picnics. Some events will feature pop-up treats in other neighborhoods.
“Reston knows it’s summer when the sounds of great music can be heard in our beautiful plazas,” RCC Board Chair Beverly Cosham said. “RCC brings people together to dance, socialize, visit an outdoor restaurant, or share a picnic basket. It’s a Reston tradition we keep expanding and look forward to every year.”
The first concert — a jazz show from singer Darden Purcell — will usher in Memorial Day weekend at Reston Town Square Park tomorrow (Friday).
A complete breakdown of the events is available below:
Take a Break
Thursdays, June 1 – August 31
7-8:30 p.m.
Reston StationBeginning with Don’t Back Down, a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers tribute band, the Take a Break concerts fill the plaza atop the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. Other performers include Texas Chainsaw Horns, Loudoun Jazz Ensemble, Scott Kurt and Memphis 59. For the full schedule click here: Take a Break Concerts at Reston Community Center. Concerts are presented by RCC in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc., and are hosted by Reston Station.
Darden Purcell and Friends
Fridays, May 26 – October 13
5:30-6:45 p.m.
Reston Town Square ParkJazz vocalist and series curator Darden Purcell brings her group to open the summer series of “Darden & Friends” in Reston Town Square Park. This concert will feature exciting new arrangements of Great American Songbook repertoire and jazz standards.
Fab Fridays
June 2 – September 1
7-8:30 p.m.
Reston StationKick off the weekend with Fab Fridays featuring the U.S. Army Blues Big Band, festive rhythms from Dogo from Togo, merengue with Latin pop band Ocho de Bastos and many more. See the full concert schedule here: RCC Fab Friday Concerts. Three hours of free parking are available in the ParkX garage with validation. Concerts are presented by RCC in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc., and are hosted by Reston Station.
Family Fun Entertainment
Saturdays, June 17 – August 5
10-10:45 a.m.
Reston Town Square ParkBring the kids for magic, comedy, puppets, music and lots of laughs. Family Fun begins on June 17 with Guava Jelly. Other shows include Rocknoceros, Lohr Family Antics, The Uncle Devin Show and Turley the Magician. Family Fun Entertainment is presented by RCC and Reston Town Center Association in cooperation with MSE Productions, Inc. Reston Town Center garages offer free parking on Saturdays.
Sunday Art in the Park with the Shenandoah Conservatory
Sundays, June 11 – August 27
7-8 p.m.
Reston Town Square ParkWind down your weekend with classical, jazz and cabaret-style music provided by faculty and students from Shenandoah University’s acclaimed music conservatory. The series starts June 11 with Ellington Caravan paying tribute to Duke Ellington. This series will run through August 27. Visit Sunday Art in the Park for the complete schedule. Reston Town Center garage parking is free on Sundays. Sunday Art in the Park is presented by RCC and Reston Town Center Association in cooperation with Shenandoah University.
Family Picnic Days
Saturday August 5 – Temporary Road Pavilion
Saturday, August 12 – Pony Barn Picnic Pavilion
Saturday, August 19 – North Hills Picnic Pavilion
4-6 p.m.Bring a picnic, your family and friends to Family Picnic Day. Play family-friendly lawn games, enjoy local performers and have some fun! Family Picnic Days are presented by Reston Community Center and Reston Association.
Fairfax County staff have released their final word on a draft version of the Reston Comprehensive Plan, a guiding document for holistic community planning that was last updated in 2015.
Released yesterday (Wednesday), the staff report shortens and tweaks the first version of the plan, which was developed by a Reston Comprehensive Plan task force, a 31-member group convened by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn in 2020.
In response to concerns raised by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, staff’s recommendations for the plan tighten prescriptive policy language in the first proposal and condense several separate sections into one chapter on planning for the new town of Reston.
“This chapter of the proposed plan does not break new policy ground, nor is it prescriptive,” the report states.
In the report, staff noted that their version of the plan aims to maintain the existing residential densities in Reston’s village centers, removing the option of housing in non-residential portions. Any changes would require another amendment to the plan.
The proposal also aims to preserve existing market and affordable housing in Reston — although that language is an encouragement, rather than a mandate.
The idea of biophilia — a designation given to communities that protect and cultivate nature while creating deep connections with the natural world — is also emphasized in future planning and development in Reston.
As alluded to during previous discussions in April, the latest plan includes a chapter called “Planning a New Town” that combines the principles of equity, community health and economic development under an umbrella chapter instead of separate ones.
“I am looking forward to reviewing the staff report to ensure that it includes the essence of goals from that Board Matter three years ago. Last updated in 2015, the Reston Comprehensive Plan is the guiding document for land use and development decisions in Reston,” Alcorn wrote in his weekly newsletter to constituents.
The task force’s initial version drew consternation from the board, which saw it as overtly prescriptive and an overstep of what the county can require by law. The board also worried it would set a precedent of establishing separate principles of community health and equity for one community within the county.
The staff’s version of the report also departs from the task force’s version on several key points.
The task force sought to remove an exemption in the plan that removed ground-level retail located in office, hotel and residential buildings from calculations when determining how much a developer should pay into the county’s housing trust fund.
Staff recommended keeping the exemption, which covers Reston’s Transit Station Areas (TSAs), because ground-floor retail provides “substantial contributions to the mix of uses and vital public facilities envisioned in the TSAs.”
Staff also suggested removing language that requires at least 12 full-size athletic fields, including one in or nearby each of the three TSAs. Staff said the need for athletic fields could also be met by increasing capacity at existing fields located near the TSAs.
“Full size athletic fields are typically destination facilities that require approximately 2.5-5 acres for the field alone,” the staff report states.
The chapter on environmental stewardship was also heavily edited in response to concerns about its length and complexity, redundancy with policy plan guidance, and possible difficulties in interpretation and implementation.
Staff also disagreed with the task force’s suggestion to realign the overpass at South Lakes Drive due to grading and geometric concerns, along with possible conflicts with the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
County staff did agree with the task force’s recommendation of a road between American Dream Way and North Shore Drive to “increase overall connectivity.”
The plan will go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. If the commission recommends approval, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on July 25. Typically, the board votes following public hearings.
Planning Commissioner John Carter, who represents the Hunter Mill District, is hosting a public hearing on June 6 at South Lakes High School. The meeting will begin at 7:30 pm and will include a presentation followed by a discussion.
One Injured in Fair Oaks Kitchen Fire — “Units are on the scene of a small kitchen fire in the 12000 blk of Ridge Knoll Drive in the Fair Oaks area. The fire is out. All occupants are accounted for. One civilian suffered minor injuries. No reported firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Tire Thefts at Tysons Dealership Under Investigation — “Fairfax County Police are investigating after the tires and rims were stolen off of four vehicles that were parked at a car dealership in Tysons Corner. It happened around 7 a.m. on May 10, at the Ourisman Honda of Tysons Corner dealership.” [WUSA9]
Metro Seeks Feedback on Future Train Design — “Metro is holding a series of pop-up events through the end of the month so riders can weigh in on the design of the forthcoming 8000-series trains…The trains will have new features like open gangways that allow you to walk the length of two cars. They will also have more space for bikes, luggage, and strollers.” [DCist]
Ribbon Cut on James Madison HS Expansion — “Madison was honored to have Dr. Reid, members of the school board, our own Principal Calvert, and other distinguished guests in attendance at the official ribbon cutting to mark the end of our construction! #ONEKindactVienna #OurFCPS” [Madison HS/Twitter]
Applicants Wanted for Schools Audit Committee — “Fairfax County Public Schools invites applications from community members interested in serving on the School Board Audit Committee…Applicants must reside within the boundaries of Fairfax County or Fairfax City. The Board will be appointing two committee members for a term ending June 30, 2025.” [Elaine Tholen]
Burke Student Orchestra Honored by State Legislators — “The Lake Braddock Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Clayton Allen received a Virginia House Resolution on Tuesday, May 16, commemorating the Chamber Orchestra’s performance at the National Association for Music Education conference.” The award is the highest bestowed on the orchestra program in its 49-year history, Allen said. [FCPS]
Wolf Trap Kicks Off Summer Season — “Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a popular destination for summer concerts at its Filene Center, an outdoor amphitheater. Summer concerts kick off Thursday as The Avett Brothers perform on three nights. Families can then enjoy a free concert with fireworks.” [Patch]
No Lane Closures Over Memorial Day Weekend — “The Virginia Department of Transportation is suspending most work zones and lifting lane closures for the busy Memorial Day weekend. VDOT predicts the heaviest congestion on Interstate 95 from Fredericksburg to D.C. both directions through Monday…Tolls on the Interstate 66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway will also be suspended on Monday” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Thursday — Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
Changes to Reston Station and Reston Row — mixed-use developments near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station — are barreling towards approval.
At a meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to set a July 25 public hearing date for the joint proposals, which would shift approved but unbuilt residential density from one block of Reston Station to Reston Row.
Reston Row is an extension of Reston Station, a nearly 10-acre development at the Metro station. Reston Row includes two office buildings that will be anchored by Puttshack, an indoor mini-golf destination, and VIDA Fitness.
A third building includes 93 condos over a JW Marriott, while an apartment building labeled Building D will be anchored by the restaurant Ebbitt House.
Comstock wants to shift roughly 165 units or 264,000 square feet of space that was not used in Reston Station to the Ebbitt House apartment building. Nearly 10,000 square feet of space would be dedicated for a roof deck on top of another building for Founding Farmers and a future building in a different block on the property.
“Critically, the Applicant is not requesting one single square foot of additional density over and above what was approved and is entitled to be developed when Reston Station and Reston Row are aggregated,” the application said.
The developer argues that shifting the residential density would allow it to deliver workforce dwelling units sooner “than it otherwise would have” and in a better location for the county’s residents, according to the application.
The Puttshack building is set to delivered December of next year, while Building D is expected to deliver in November 2026, according to a board matter introduced yesterday by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
In the matter, Alcorn states that the changes shift density to a “more logical, Metro-proximate, and resident-friendly location at Reston Row.”
From a logistical standpoint, the two separate applications for the project can be voted on concurrently. The July hearing before the Board of Supervisors will be preceded by a June 28 public hearing by the Fairfax County Planning Commission.
More local legislators are pushing back against a federal proposal to allow more long-distance flights at National Airport (DCA).
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to oppose the push to increase the number of flights that travel beyond 1,250 miles from the airport in Arlington.
In a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, the board argued that the effort would undermine Dulles International Airport (IAD), resulting in “detrimental” impacts on the local economy.
The legislation pushed by the Capital Access Alliance, a coalition of business groups, continues a long-running battle over slot and perimeter rules originally enacted in the 1960s.
The board argues that changes would disrupt the balance between the region’s two major airports and compromise the operating environment for air traffic. The letter also says flight paths for arrivals and departures to the south of DCA have caused major noise issues over residential areas in the county following the implementation of a federal Next Generation Air Transportation System, also known as NextGen.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay emphasized that the issue resolves around public safety. He said that many airline pilots that fly out of DCA say that is one of the “most dangerous” airports to fly in and out of because its designed for specifically-sized airports in the landing area.
“This is not just wrong to impose these changes without a lot of public input, it’s not just wrong for parochial reasons, but it’s wrong to do it in the name of public safety as well, and I think that’s one of the things that’s important for us to emphasize,” McKay said.
Proposing to allow 28 more long-distance flights out of DCA, the bill was introduced on May 10 by Reps. Burgess Owens and Hank Johnson, who represent Utah and Georgia, respectively. It has already faced opposition from Virginia’s senators, a community group looking at the airport’s noise issues, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which manages both DCA and IAD.
Congress is expected to consider the proposal this fall.
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross said the issue of airport noise is particularly problematic.
“Mason District is not on a direct path of the airplanes for National, but we are getting increasing numbers of complaints about airplane noise and helicopter noise. So, I’m glad that we’re stepping up and doing this,” Gross said.
Storck said he hopes other efforts can be undertaken to tackle airplane noise, especially in his district. He noted that County Executive Bryan Hill is working with Alexandria and Arlington officials to enlist a consultant that will study ways to mitigate noise impacts.
The county says that maintaining existing perimeter and slot rules is necessary in order to spur growth at Dulles, which is supported by the arrival of Metro’s $6 billion Silver Line extension.
“The interconnectedness of Virgnia’s and the mid-Atlantic’s aviation system makes the continued success of both airports vital to both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Washington Metropolitan Region,” the letter states. “As such, we request your support in preventing further efforts to modify the perimeter and slot rules to protect the balance between the capacities of our region’s airports.”
Belle View Pet Store to Expand With Dog Spa — “Pampered Pet and Boutique Barkery, a pet boutique that opened in October 2021 at Belle View Shopping Center, is expanding its presence there with the summer 2023 opening of a dog spa. Pampered Pet Bark Bath will open in mid-to-late July in a space two doors down from the pet shop, said Karencita Echeverri, owner of both businesses.” [On the MoVe]
Chantilly Man Raises Concerns About Liquor Lottery — “A state-run lottery to give Virginians first dibs on pricey whiskeys suffered from what was likely a human-induced flaw that wildly skewed the results, allowing several lucky participants to win multiple times…Something seemed awry as the winners posted about their good fortune online or discussed it in online chats, said Gus Guimond, 30, a Chantilly resident who belongs to the ‘DMV Bourbon Drinkers’ club on Facebook.” [The Washington Post]
Reston Couple Make Big Donation to Inova — “Inova has received ‘a transformational gift’ of $75 million from long-time supporters Dwight and Martha Schar to support the hospital system’s heart and vascular programs. The gift is one of the largest to advance heart health in the country,” Inova Health System said, announcing that its expanding heart and vascular institute will be renamed after the Schars. [Inside NoVA]
Merging Architecture Firms Plan Tysons Move — Little Diversified Architectural Consulting “has acquired Hughes Group Architects Inc., a Sterling firm that specializes in designing things like fire stations, schools and recreation centers…The two firms will also soon vacate their respective spaces in Arlington and Sterling and take up recently leased space at 1753 Pinnacle Drive in Tysons.” [Washington Business Journal]
Springfield Offices Demolished for Amazon Data Center — “AWS recently launched the demolition of the Belvoir Corporate Campus. Amazon acquired 7951 and 7961 Loisdale Road for $28 million in February 2021…The buildings, which delivered in 2013 but were never occupied, will be replaced with a 100-foot-tall data center and adjacent 55,500-square-foot generator yard.” [WBJ]
Motorcycle Ride Returns to Fairfax for Memorial Day — “Fairfax City’s 23rd Annual Ride of the Patriots ‘Rolling To Remember’ event on Memorial Day weekend is part of a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.” The weekend-long event will kick off Friday (May 26) with a candlelight vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 5 p.m. [Patch]
Great Falls Citizen Group Leader Steps Down — “After seven years as president of the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA), William Canis has decided it’s time for someone else to head the organization. But he’s happy with what the group has accomplished and hopeful it will stay vigilant in its central objective of preserving the community’s semi-rural character.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Rotary Club to Tackle Human Trafficking — The Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club “has joined the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery, an initiative calling for Rotarians to engage stakeholders in combatting trafficking, increase community awareness on the issue, and work with schools to prevent students from becoming victims.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind around 5 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. [Weather.gov]
The Lake Thoreau pool is under renovation (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Reston Association’s pool season has officially kicked off, although the opening date of Lake Thoreau pool is not yet known for this season.
The complete pool schedule — which is divided into five seasons — is available online.
RA says it has hired 85% of its lifeguard staff, overcoming labor shortages that often plague these positions. Last year, two pools were temporarily closed when staff members contracted COVID-19, but staffing was generally not an issue.
“Seasons four and five toward the end of the summer continue to be the most challenging for aquatics staff recruitment and retention as students return to school and start fall activities,” RA spokesperson Mike Leone said. “We continue to recruit lifeguards.”
North Shore’s heated pool and spa and Ridge Heights heated pool opened first on May 13. RA is actively hiring for more lifeguards online.
It’s still unclear if and when Lake Thoreau Pool, which is undergoing major renovations, will open this year.
Leone said the decision will depend on the timing of the project’s completion and approval from RA’s Board of Directors.
“At this point, the pool is close to 70% completed and we anticipate an early September completion,” he said.
(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) The current admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) does not discriminate against Asian American students, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has ruled.
A majority of the three-judge panel backed the Fairfax County School Board’s argument in support of admissions policy changes intended to increase diversity at the prestigious magnet school, reversing a lower court’s ruling that sided with the Coalition for TJ.
The advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the school board in March 2021, arguing that the changes adopted in 2020 were intended to reduce the number of Asian students at TJ in violation of the Constitution.
In an opinion published today (Tuesday), Circuit Judge Robert King says the Coalition failed to prove that the school board intended to discriminate against Asian students, who have, in fact, seen “greater success in securing admission to TJ under the policy than students from any other racial or ethnic group.”
“After thorough consideration of the record and the appellate contentions, we are satisfied that the challenged admissions policy does not disparately impact Asian American students and that the Coalition cannot establish that the Board adopted its race-neutral policy with any discriminatory intent,” King wrote.
Since taking effect with the Class of 2025, the admissions changes — which included dropping a required test and application fee and taking into account a student’s economic, special education or English-learner status — have resulted in offers going to a broader range of students in terms of race, geography and income.
The Class of 2025 was the first in a decade to accept students from all middle schools. It also saw an uptick in Black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, Fairfax County Public Schools reported. Both that year and last year, Asian students still received a majority of offers.
“The court reached the correct decision, and we firmly believe this admission plan is fair and gives qualified applicants at every middle school a fair chance of a seat at TJ,” John Foster, the school board’s division counsel, said in a statement. “We look forward to offering seats to a new group of remarkable and incredibly well-qualified young scholars in the years to come.”
U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton had ruled in February 2022 that Asian students were “disproportionately harmed” by the admissions changes, which he said were implemented in a “remarkably rushed and shoddy” process.
Hilton ordered that FCPS stop using the new policy, but the appeals court agreed to let it stay in place while the lawsuit continued.
While King said that Hilton’s judgment “went fatally awry” in not addressing how racial and ethnic groups other than Asians fared under the new policy, Circuit Judge Allison Rushing argued a dissenting opinion that the changes were “passed with discriminatory intent and disproportionately impact a particular racial group,” even if they appear race-neutral on paper.
“The twelve-member Board plainly stated its intention to craft an admissions policy for TJ that would reform the racial composition of the student body to reflect the racial demographics of the district,” she wrote.
The Coalition for TJ says it wasn’t surprised by the ruling and intends to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We are disappointed by today’s ruling, but we are not discouraged,” Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Erin Wilcox, who has been representing the coalition, said. “Discrimination against students based on their race is wrong and violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. We look forward to asking the Supreme Court to end this illegal practice once and for all.”
The Supreme Court is already considering a case on affirmative action in college admissions. Some universities have started to review their practices, with the mostly conservative justices expected to defy precedent by declaring race-conscious admissions unlawful.
The Herndon Town Council is poised to approve its capital projects plan.
Known as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the six-year schedule sets funding plans for the town’s infrastructure projects and is incorporated as part of the operating budget.
This year’s $25.4 million plan includes new projects like sidewalk improvements along Spring Street and Locus Street. In recent years, residents have called on the town to improve safety and security for pedestrians in those specific areas.
The town is proposing nearly $1.4 million in funding to construct ADA-compliant 5-foot-wide sidewalks and curb-and-gutter along both sides of old Spring Street. The project would also include curb-cuts and crosswalks, extending from Locust Street to the new Spring Street.
The Locust Street project — which would also cost nearly $1.4 million — also includes sidewalks and curb-and-gutter along both sides of Locust Street. It would extend from old Spring Street to Elden Street.
Both projects may need to be constructed in phases, according to the proposal.
The Herndon Town Council is expected to discuss the proposed CIP for 2025-2029 at a work session tonight (Tuesday).
This year’s program continues to benefit from federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act.
In a presentation, staff noted that many of the projects included in the plan are “addressing aging and deteriorating infrastructure.” The presentation described the plan as “reasonable,” given the current financial climate faced by the town and throughout the country.
A new project to implement life cycle updates at Herndon Community Center is also on the books.
The life-cycle projects, which would cost roughly $1.4 million, are not yet set in stone. The town plans to complete an analysis of the project’s scope by fiscal year 2029 in order to determine what areas need upgrades and replacement. The proposal notes that the roof needs to be replaced.
According to the proposal:
The racquetball court, fitness room, locker rooms, and gym HVAC units were last replaced in 2005 with a useful lifespan of 20 years. An analysis should be completed in FY28 to determine the project scope, estimated replacement schedule and construction costs. This project will replace and upgrade the units and address any duct and related infrastructure work needed to facilitate the new units.
The town also anticipates replacing the floor of three racquetball courts, which was last installed in 1989, and additional work on the sidewalls.
