A dentist is seeking to fill a hole in the area with a specialty practice slated to open Nov. 8.
Wonhee (Alan) Lee is launching the endodontics practice, a form of dentistry dealing with root canal issues, at at 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive.
“We have noted limited access to an endodontic specialist in [the] Reston-Herndon area, and our goal is to become a trusted partner to the local dental community and support them [by providing] comprehensive and emergency dental care to the people of Reston,” Lee wrote in a message.
The firm is providing the full range of endontonic services, such as laser-assisted root canal treatment and retreatment, endodontic microsurgery, regenerative endodontics and laser photobiomodulation therapy.
A permit for the business identifies it as Endodontic Excellence. The permit, which the county issued Sept. 29, was for a sprinkler system given the new commercial layout.
Lee has served as a dentist at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Root Canal Specialists. The firm said in an email that he’s no longer with the practice.
Nearby at 11864 Sunrise Valley Drive, a dental practice converted space earlier this year at the former Pica Deli.
While the pandemic has led to a surge in small business, Endodontic Excellence formed in July 2019, according to the State Corporation Commission.
Lee’s business has already hired four full-time employees and plans to expand.
“Our primary focus is to provide an optimal patience experience with the highest quality of treatment and care through seamless teamwork and leading-edge technology,” he wrote.
Photo via Google Maps
The county is still mulling ways on how to minimize the impact of the Soapstone Connector on historic areas surrounding the proposed one-mile extension between Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road.
The $235 million project has been on the county’s drawing board for years. Earlier this month, the county officially approved plans to seek $75 million in Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding for its FY2022-2027 funding program.
The Soapstone Connector is located west of the Wiehe-Reston East Metro Station and would include a new bridge across the Dulles Toll Road. Pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations are also planned as part of the massive project.
But construction isn’t expected to begin until fiscal year 2027, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation tells Reston Now. County transportation officials anticipate the project will be funded from federal dollars — which requires the county to determine how the project would impact historic resources.
An initial analysis found that the proposed project does not significantly impact historical resources in the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad and yhe Wiehle Historic District. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has officially agreed with this conclusion.
But the project would have an adverse effect on properties in the Association Drive Historic District (ADHD).
“Once it was concluded that there were no prudent and feasible alternative to impacting the ADHD, a determination was made that the Soapstone Connector would have an Adverse Effect to the ADHD. Once this determination of Adverse Effect is made, the next step is to develop a strategy to mitigate the Adverse Effect,” Robin Geiger of FCDOT told Reston Now.
The county is working with state and federal partners to develop a mitigation strategy. But details on plans have not yet been made public. Discussions on proposed alternatives have been underway since at least 2018.
Fairfax County officials are seeking $66.4 million in state funds for the Soapstone Connector.
The project, which would create a new one-mile roadway between Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road, recently received $15 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
A bridge would be built over the Dulles Corridor, providing an additional crossing that is critical to reducing congested areas along Wiehle Avenue
At a July 28 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to seek the funds through the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s FY2022-FY2027 Smart Scale Program.
The program considers projects for funding based on factors like congestion mitigation, economic development, safety, land use and environmental safety. In Northern Virginia, the factor of congestion mitigation has the most weight.
The county worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation to flag nine other projects for consideration, including the widening of Route 7 for bus rapid transit and the widening of Fairfax County Parkway from Route 123 to Nomes Court.
Motorists may see some congestion relief at a busy intersection in Herndon.
The Virginia Department of Transportation added a new left-turn lane at the intersection of Frying Pan Road and Sunrise Valley Drive in Herndon.
The improvement, which cost roughly $24,000, makes it easier for drivers coming from Route 28 to turn onto Sunrise Valley Drive. Previously, the road had two left-turn lanes.
Roughly 41,000 vehicles travel through this intersection daily, according to VDOT.
Photo via VDOT
Town of Herndon Looks to Simply Cash Donation Process — At a meeting tomorrow, the Herndon Town Council will consider a plan to simplify the way community non-profit organizations receive cash donations. [Town of Herndon]
Zainy’s Flying Grill Swings By Sunrise Valley Drive — The new food truck, which specializes in puffy tacos, will be at Reston Campus (12525 Sunrise Valley Drive) today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Sprint B2B]
Photo via Dario Piparo/Flickr
A major mixed-use development near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station is barrelling its way towards the county’s approval.
In a unanimous vote last night (Thursday), the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved TF Cornerstone’s Campus Commons project, which would redevelop 12 acres of land into two residential towers with 656 units, an office buildings, and several parks. The plan preserves two office buildings currently on the site.
The proposal — which is the last major block of developable land near the Metro station that is in the books — has attracted community concerns for its scale, impacts on traffic, compatibility with adjacent neighborhoods, and pedestrian connectivity.
In response to feedback from the commission at a previous meeting and community criticism, TF Cornerstone removed roughly 86,550 square feet from an office building fronting Sunrise Valley Drive, reducing the massing of the building from 12 to seven stories. The developer shuffled most of the removed square footage to the residential towers, which sit deeper within the site. The setback along the curb of Sunrise Valley Drive was also increased to a minimum of 50 feet.
Preliminarily, TF Cornerstones is proposing to add an at-grade crosswalk at Wiehle Avenue near the off-ramps to the Dulles Toll Road — a component of the plan that residents warned poses safety concerns for pedestrians.
The developer also agreed to embark on an up-to-three-year study to explore options with the county and the Virginia Department of Transportation for a tunnel or a pedestrian bridge.
“This is the first applicant to take this on,” said Hunter Mill District Planning Commission John Carter.
Carter said the developer did a good job of amending its plans in response to feedback from the county and residents.
The plan heads to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for a vote on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Image via Fairfax County Government/handout
New York-based TF Cornerstone will return to receive the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee’s blessing for its plan to redevelop nearly 12 acres of land near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station with two residential buildings and a new office building.
The proposal, Campus Commons, has attracted criticism from nearby residents and led to the formation of a citizen-led advocacy group called Rescue Sunrise Valley.
Although the developer addressed several concerns, a representative of Rescue Sunrise Valley, said residents are not satisfied with the developer’s attempts to scale back the development and improve the safety of a planned crosswalk on Wiehle Avenue. The committee did not recommend the project for approval Monday night.
“They have not adequately engaged the community not have they adequately addressed the community’s concerns,” the representative told Reston Now. “We sincerely hope TF Cornerstone will defer further requests for approval and commit to working with the community properly.”
If approved, the proposal would redevelop two 1980s office buildings with two multi-family buildings with 629 units. A new 14-story office building with more than 26,000 square feet of retail is also planned on the site, which is located east of Wiehle Avenue, between Sunrise Valley Drive and the Dulles Toll Road.
Ken Houle, vice president of TF Cornerstone, said the company has made several changes in response to community feedback:
A specific proffer to construct a grade separated crossing of Wiehle Ave
A commitment to engage all stakeholders in a study to determine the preferred grade separated solution, coupled with a financial commitment of $1.5MM to implement that solution if it differed from our proposed solution
Significant modifications to the building heights, lowering both the residential tower on the Toll Road by 44′ and the office building at the corner of Wiehle and Sunrise Valley by 48′
Modified the building façade on Sunrise Valley Drive to respond to architectural preferences raised by the Upper Lakes residentsÂ
Increased the size of the community playground by 22% with a commitment to include accessible play equipment
Modified the design to incorporate a community amphitheater space in the 1 acre corner park
Committed to work with an independent arborist and Fairfax County to study trees for potential preservation, coupled with an existing commitment to provide 150% of the required tree canopy in the new development featuring native species trees.
Committed to work with the Upper Lakes residents to accelerate signal timings of existing traffic lights, install a new traffic light at Upper Lake, support Upper Lakes residents in the application of resident only street parking district, and to fund and implement a future traffic calming program for Upper Lakes
Given the fact that many residents remain concerned about the scale of the project, Houle said TF Cornerstone will continue a dialogue with stakeholders to “ensure this project delivers the future that Reston envisioned with the adoption of the Reston Comprehensive Plan.”
“The plan that is proposed is in conformance with the comprehensive plan and has been recommended for approval by the Fairfax County Planning staff.”
Houle added Campus Commons creates a “premium park” that breaks the “mold of development surrounding the metro station of high-rise towers on the prominent corners.”
In a Sept. 11 staff report, the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning staff recommended approval of the proposal. The Fairfax County Planning Commission is set to take up the plan on Sept. 25, followed by a vote by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 15.
Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government, photo via Rescue Sunrise Valley
Sunrise Valley Drive was closed yesterday (Tuesday) near the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride garage, causing major back-ups in both directions.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says a construction excavator hit a gas line and caused major back-ups in the area. The incident happened yesterday afternoon.
Crews worked last night to install a temporary fix to reopen the eastbound lanes. The accident also caused delays on the Fairfax Connector.
All service has resumed to normal.
A portion of Sunrise Valley Drive is closed due to emergency road repairs required by a gas leak.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, commuters are encouraged to use an alternate route between Colts Brook Drive and Thunder Chase Drive.
The service road accessing the Herndon Monroe Bus Loop is shut down. Commuters can access the Herndon Monroe Bus Loop via the Dulles Toll Road.
Delays are expected to all Fairfax Connector routes servicing the loop.
It is unclear when the road will reopen.
This story will be updated.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Sunrise Valley Dr is closed between Colts Brook Dr and Thunder Chase Dr due to emergency road repair. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/ouzfGtZU8g
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 17, 2019
A new barbecue restaurant chain is coming to a shopping center along Sunrise Valley Drive in the Herndon area.
Mission BBQ has a license pending to serve beer at 2445 Centreville Road, Suite 34B at the Village Center at Dulles.
Currently, Mission BBQ has locations in 16 states — with 16 spots in Virginia. The closest spots right now are in Chantilly and Sterling.
Photo via Mission BBQ/Facebook
South Lakes High School to Begin Distributing Laptops — Distribution of laptops provided by the school system begins this Wednesday (August 7). Students must be present to receive the laptop, which is part of a recent initiative by the school system to give laptops to students across the county. [South Lakes High School]
Police Search for Missing Great Falls Man — Local police are looking for William “Billy Brener, an 83-year-old Great Falls Man who went missing over the weekend. Brener is roughly 150 pounds and has gray hair and brown eyes. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Silver Line Construction Prompts Closures — Access to several lanes and ramps will be limited this week due to ongoing construction, including Sunrise Valley Drive, Sunset Hills Road, and Herndon Parkway. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]
Photo by Caroline Causey/Flickr
Unwieldy grass along medians and roads maintained by VDOT could become more of an eyesore until mid-June.
A spokeswoman for VDOT told Reston Now that the department delayed awarding a mowing contract after a potential bidder asked for clarification on a section of the call for bids.
“When this happens, state regulations require at least 10 days before closing so the bid was extended,” said VDOT spokeswoman Jenni McCord.
Bids are expected to close on June 11, after which VDOT will make a decision on the contract.
In the meantime, McCord said VDOT is working to schedule crews to mow areas in Reston.
Historically, VDOT has contracted with RA to mow medians. Without a contract with VDOT, RA cannot mow areas maintained by VDOT.
It’s unclear if the association will get the contract this year.
Hank Lynch, RA’s CEO, said he shares members’ concerns about the lack of maintenance on the roadways.
“Routine mowing of the medians not only provides better aesthetics, but it also makes traveling along roadways safer. We will continue to work with VDOT and are poised to perform the mowing quickly and to RA standards if and when the state legally permits us to do so,” Lynch wrote in a statement.
Others pointed to longterm maintenance issues with VDOT’s repaving of roads in Reston.
A resident of the Polo Fields neighborhood near the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride said roads have not been paved and potholes have not been filled for years.
A community representative has been in touch with VDOT about the issue for at least two years.
The neighborhood hasn’t heard back about maintenance concerns.
Photos via K. Malaika Walton
Two federally funded projects are in the works to improve the walkability of Sunrise Valley Drive.
The county plans to widen an asphalt trail on the north side of the road to 10 feet and install a new asphalt trail that will later be incorporated into a planned cycle track for the Sunrise Valley Drive corridor. That track will separate bikes from the pedestrian walkway, according to county spokeswoman.
On the south side of Sunrise Valley Drive, the county plans to install a five-foot concrete sidewalk. Currently, no walkway exists for pedestrians.
“There’s currently very narrow trails in that area or nothing at all,” Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said. “It’s not in great shape.”
Construction for both projects is expected to cost $1.5 million. The county anticipates receiving a contract award in July and construction is expected to begin later this year.
The projects are intended to improve access to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station from surrounding communities.
Map (for reference only) via FCDOT
A 17-year-old from Maryland was arrested in connection with a carjacking on Sunrise Valley Drive last week.
On Monday, May 13, police say that a masked suspect pointed a shotgun at a man who was putting air into his car’s tires and demanded the keys.
The suspect drove away in the stolen car, but police caught up with him a short while later.
The teen was caught with the help of the police’s K9 team, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. He was charged with carjacking and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
In a separate incident, a man entered a home on the 2600 block of New Concorde Court on Wednesday, May 15 at around 3:50 a.m.
Residents discovered the man in their garage after they heard the garage door open. The man ran away when one resident confronted him.
Nothing was reported missing, police said.
FCPD also reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
11300 block of Chestnut Grove Square, documents from vehicle
2200 block of Quartermaster Lane, bicycle from residence
2600 block of William Short Circle, bicycle from residence
11600 block of Windbluff Court, license plates from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
2500 block of Brenton Point Drive, 2015 Vespa motorcycle
File photo
Plans for a 75-unit assisted living facility are coming closer to reality on 11501 Sunrise Valley Drive next month.
The demolition of the building is scheduled for May 1, according to Dan Gorham, founding partner of Kensington Senior Living. Construction is expected to begin soon after and could take between 16 and 18 months, followed by several weeks for licensing and permitting, Gorham told Reston Now.
The project could be completed as early as the end of next year, Gorham estimated. It will consist of a 66,200 square foot building. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the project in February last year.
The site is home to the Ivy Preparatory School. County permits processed on April 5 indicated the school could locate to 1441 Wiehle Avenue. The owners of the school did not immediately respond to a request for comment and an office person declined to release details on when or where the school will relocate.
Photo via Fairfax County Government/handout
