The Fairfax County Planning Commission is still tackling a proposal to reduce parking requirements for the county’s largest malls after a contentious public hearing last night (Wednesday).
The proposal would affect the four largest malls in Fairfax County — the two in Tysons, Fair Oaks Mall and Springfield Town Center — and was based on a review of the parking rates and demand at large regional malls by consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard.
County documents indicate that the proposal is meant to help Fair Oaks Mall.
“Fair Oaks Mall is also currently looking at redevelopment opportunities and an evaluation of the parking rates is viewed as critical to ensure the long-term vitality of the mall,” according to a county staff report.
Yet most of the discussion about the proposal last night focused on the inclusion of the two malls in Tysons — Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center.
Dwight Fuller, a managing partner with Great American Restaurants, told the Planning Commission that parking is a problem for staff and diners in the Tysons area.
“Taking away parking — or even insinuating taking away parking from Tysons — I think is a bad way to go,” he said.
“It’s hard to do this one size fits all,” Vice-Chairman James Hart said, asking if there could be a way to eliminate the other malls from the proposal. “Is there a way to do this for the mall that seems to need this?”
Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson told Hart that the staff could have tried to define the proposal in a way that would only make it applicable to Fair Oaks Mall.
Tysons Malls Have Flexibility With Parking
Despite concern about parking at the Tysons malls, county staff told the Planning Commission multiple times throughout the evening that the Tysons malls “have additional flexibility” already when it comes to parking.
During the discussion between the staff and commissioners, it was unclear how much of the conversation revolved around both Tysons malls or just Tysons Corner Center. Yet the feedback from staff suggested that both Tysons malls already have the opportunities to pursue reducing their parking limits if so desired.
“[The proposal] does not have a lot of relevance to the Tysons malls because they can go to zero [parking spaces,]” staff said. Yet, for economic business decisions, the malls are unlikely to drastically cut or eliminate parking, staff said.
Tysons Corner Center is a part of the Planned Tysons Corner Urban District’s (PTC) parking rates, according to the staff. Tysons Galleria is not a part of the PTC District, but could opt-in, staff said.
Tysons Corner Center also proffered to pursue parking reductions with the redevelopment of part of the site, staff said.
The staff presentation noted that declines in retail parking demand are expected to continue because of mall locations near other transit options and the prevalence of online shopping. The presentation noted that lower parking rates could lead to better utilization of surface parking.
When asked by the commissioners if the proposal would serve as a catalyst for the Tysons malls to cut their parking, the staff said, “No, it would not.”
A Call For More Data
The proposal is based on a Nelson/Nygaard study that evaluated parking data for Fair Oaks Mall collected by the property owner in December 2017 and December 2018, along with data about the Springfield Town Center that the firm collected in June.
The firm found that less than 65% of the available spaces were occupied during peak times from a parking count for the Springfield mall and analyzing data from the Fair Oaks Mall. The study did not evaluate the two malls in Tysons.
County staff insisted that the study looked at the peak shopping month — December.
Commissioner Ellen Hurley, who represents the Braddock District, criticized the limited range of the Nelson/Nygaard study and that there isn’t any data about the parking demand for the day after Thanksgiving.
“I think it’s disingenuous to say the ‘peak day of the peak month’ when most shoppers realize the peak day is the day after Thanksgiving,” she said.
Hurley called for a survey of mall shoppers to provide more data about the parking demand. She also noted that not everyone has access to the Metro.
“It’s kind of feeling like you’re saying that Tysons could eliminate all parking,” she said. “From the lens of equity that doesn’t seem like a really smart way to go.”
Commissioner John Carter, who represents the Hunter Mill District, also called for more data about malls’ parking rates.
Carter suggested a table with the parking rates for 10 or so malls in Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions.
“I don’t question that malls are evolving tremendously,” he said.
“Relatively Simple and Straightforward”
Tony Calabrese, a DLA Piper attorney representing Fair Oaks Mall, said that the proposal was “intended to be relatively simple and straightforward.”
Addressing Hart’s comments, Calabrese said that trying to make changes to the proposed amendment might lead to more confusion.
Calabrese said that Fair Oaks Mall does survey its shoppers and claimed that the day after Thanksgiving is not nearly as the holiday peak in December.
Calabrese noted that the amendment would not affect the Tysons malls from being able to reduce their parking if they wanted to — the Tysons Galleria, while not a part of the PTC currently, could opt-in with the zoning administrator’s approval, staff said.
“The parking requirements have to be dropped,” Calabrese said.
“Supportive But With Reluct-ness”
The Planning Commission voted to defer the decision to next Wednesday, Nov. 20.
At-Large Commissioner Timothy Sargeant said that deferral will give the commissioners time to consider the comments from the public hearing.
Commissioner Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, who represents the Providence District, asked the staff if they could exclude the Tysons malls. Staff replied that the proposal would barely impact the malls, which already could find ways to reduce their parking requirements.
While Niedzielski-Eichner said he would prefer to see the Tysons malls kept out of the proposal, he said he is “supportive but with reluct-ness.”
Ultimately, he said that he wants to help Fair Oaks Mall and doesn’t want to risk having to over through the process again if this proposal is rejected.
The proposal is slated to head to the Board of Supervisors for a hearing on Dec. 3.
Have you checked out Tysons Reporter’s Instagram?
Check out our professional photographer Jay Westcott’s photography on our ‘gram (@tysonsreporter).
The City of Falls Church is looking for volunteers to help with habitat restoration at Crossman Park.
The city needs people to help install native plants between 10 a.m.-noon next Saturday (Nov. 23). People are encouraged to enter the park adjacent to 501 Van Buren Street and follow the gravel path into the park.
“Tools, gloves, water and snacks will be provided,” according to the city. “No need to register unless your group is five or more people… This is appropriate for children, but direct parental supervision is required.”
Located at 535 N. Van Buren Street, the park is heavily wooded and has a stream running through it.
People interested in helping out can contact Green Space Manager Jeremy Edwards at [email protected] and can register for the event by calling 571-238-5178.
Image via Google Maps
The City of Falls Church is moving ahead on several efforts to address flooding issues.
City Manager Wyatt Shields told the City Council on Tuesday (Nov. 12) that 16 people have applied for the stormwater task force that the council approved back in October.
“We have had a very strong response to that,” Shields said about the advertisement for the task force, which can have up to seven members.
The deadline to apply is this Friday (Nov. 15), Shields said.
“We are looking for geographical diversity on this panel and the ability to have a city-wide perspective,” Shields said.
In response to residents’ comments that the task force should include sanitary sewer, Shields said that the rationale for not including that is because it is a different engineering problem, skillset and solution.
“To keep this work focused on stormwater was by decision,” Shields said.
When the task force is ready, Shields said that there will be an organizational meeting about the scope of the group.
Shields also pointed out some “big improvements” recently with stormwater management, including work on the washed-out flood wall at Tripps Run.
He added that work is underway to add water-tight man-hole covers in areas where water pools in the streets.
The city may also implement a program — similar to the one in Alexandria — to help homeowners considering a backflow device in their homes, Shields said.
“That would be a targetted program for areas where we have documented backflow where we can provide that assistance,” Shields said.
The program would need approval from the City Council, Shields said.
“That’s not the solution, but it does provide some additional resilience for homeowners,” Shields said, adding that he hopes the program will be available by the end of the calendar
Families may have noticed that the playground at Tysons Pimmit Park isn’t open.
Located in Pimmit Hills just off of Leesburg Pike, the temporary closure at 7584 Leesburg Pike will allow for the replacement of the existing picnic shelter, according to Fairfax County.
“Work on the installation of a picnic shelter with new metal roofing is scheduled to begin Nov. 7 and continue through Feb. 28, 2020,” according to the county.
The project costs $120,000 and is being funded by the 2019 Park Bond, according to the county.
Drivers heading on Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) could face significant delays in the Vienna area due to a crash.
Chain Bridge Road by Flint Hill Road just outside of the Town of Vienna is currently closed.
Fairfax County police tweeted about the closure at 4:43 p.m. “Crews will be on scene repairing a utility pole for an extended period,” the tweet said. “Please avoid the area and use an alternate route.”
“The north left lane, center lane, and right lane are closed,” according to Virginia 511. “The south left lane, center lane, and right lane are closed.”
Google Maps shows traffic severely backed up along Chain Bridge Road and surrounding roads.
Map via Google Maps
After several weeks of being closed, the new Burlington store along Leesburg Pike is preparing to reopen.
A sign on the door says that the store is reopening on Friday (Nov. 15).
“Our team is working hard to present the best shopping experience for our customers,” the sign says. “Thank you for your patience.”
The store opened at 8355 Leesburg Pike in September and then closed after smoke entered the store from a trash compactor fire on Oct. 4.
Jay Westcott contributed to this story.
Chick-fil-A is preparing to open along Maple Avenue.
The chicken chain announced on Facebook that the new location is set to hold a grand opening next Thursday (Nov. 21).
Franchise owner Jeff Hubley previously said that he is looking to hire up to 100 people for full- and part-time positions, including leadership development, hospitality and training, according to a press release. Employees can expect to have Sundays off and scholarship opportunities for continuing education.
“We still have several positions available for our Daytime Front of House team (breakfast and lunch hours), which has a full-time offering of $15/hour,” according to the Facebook post.
The restaurant will be on the ground floor of a building that will also house a Flagship Carwash on the second floor at 540 W. Maple Avenue.
Image via Town of Vienna
A house for sale near Wolf Trap is tied to the story of neighbors who teamed up to keep kids safe during their football practice from the D.C. sniper.
In 2002, a shooting spree in the D.C.-area killed 10 people. and wounded three other people over a three-week period.
“The Vienna Steelers banned together in the Coral Ridge cul-de-sac of one of the players’ homes,” Morgan Samson with The Casey Samson Team said in a blog post. “Parents stood guard at the entrances of the neighborhood so the boys could continue to practice.”
The team included Head Coach Casey Samson, Quarterback Billy Samson and “supporting dad” Pat Samson — “all of whom are now members of The Casey Samson Team,” according to the post.
The Casey Samson Team has the house at 9464 Coral Crest Lane listed for $1,550,000.
The 8,200-square-foot house has five bedrooms, a three-car-garage and includes a renovated kitchen, walk-in closets and two fireplaces. The lower level features a recreation room, playroom, hobby room and exercise room.
The house will be open from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 17), Morgan Samson said.
Photo via Casey Samson Team, map via Google Maps
Fairfax County police are investigating a burglary at the Stohlman Automotive Subaru in Tysons.
The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Sunday (Nov. 11) at the 8433 Leesburg Pike.
“Someone broke into the dealership and stole a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta,” police said.
Image via Google Maps
