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
(Updated at 7 p.m.) The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its full support last week to a proposal to allow housing at Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center, a key step toward transforming the strip mall into a mixed-use neighborhood.
The commission voted unanimously on July 27 to recommend that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors amend the county’s comprehensive plan for the approximately 25-acre property southeast of Route 29 and Nutley Street, opening the door for up to 585 multifamily residential units and additional retail space.
Before the vote, county staff shared that they had revised the proposed amendment in response to concerns raised by community members, including at a nearly two-hour public hearing on June 28 that was continued to July 27.
“One of the key outcomes of this process is the recognition that this retail center is a vital and valued community asset that is integral to the lives not just of the adjoining residents, but those of the area and region as well,” Providence District Planning Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner said. “…In my view, the draft plan language before us this evening effectively represents or reflects the community input we received.”
Under the draft amendment, the shopping center could be redeveloped with up to 609,000 square feet of multifamily residential uses, at least 140,000 square feet of existing retail, and 47,000 square feet of new retail on the ground floor of the residential buildings and standalone commercial buildings.
Based on a rezoning application already filed by property owner Federal Realty, the square footage amounts were mentioned in a staff report released on June 7, but they weren’t initially included in the plan amendment itself, which previously only specified 585 units and a total of 187,000 square feet of retail as the parameters for development.
The amendment also now states that the number of dwelling units includes affordable and workforce units. Residential buildings will be limited to 80 feet in height along Nutley Street and 70 feet along the eastern property line.
Other changes stress the importance of gateway architecture and wayfinding signage as well as safety and connectivity for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
To integrate the existing and new uses, the development must feature publicly accessible urban parks, including at least one “consolidated, common green that can…accommodate a broad spectrum of active recreation and leisure activities,” per the staff report modification.
The amendment recommends maintaining and enhancing an existing link to the Providence Hall Apartments, adding an off-road bicycle and pedestrian facility on the east side of Nutley Street, and evaluating the Nutley and Route 50 intersection, along with Nutley and Route 29. Read More
The George Washington Memorial Parkway near I-495 with a temporary reversible lane (via Google Maps)
It took four days of work, but all trees have finally been cleared from the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
The parkway’s northern section between the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean and Spout Run Parkway in Arlington reopened at 9:45 a.m. today after hundreds of trees downed by a storm on Saturday (July 29) necessitated an extended closure.
The northbound lane reopened at 1 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday), but the southbound lane weren’t cleared until this morning, according to the National Park Service.
The GW Parkway will be fully operational for the afternoon rush-hour.
Drivers should use caution as the 3-lane traffic configuration is still in effect for the north parkway rehabilitation project.
— National Parks of Greater Washington, DC (@NPSNewsDC) August 2, 2023
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the public for their patience and understanding during this closure period,” GW Parkway Superintendent Charles Cuvelier said. “The safety of our visitors and commuters remains our top priority. We are dedicated to ensuring their well-being and convenience throughout their journey on the George Washington Memorial Parkway.”
As of yesterday, clean-up crews had removed up to 325 trees from the roadway, creating more than 500 tons of wood and debris that filled up 100 dump trucks and 15 chipper trucks, the NPS previously said.
The NPS noted that drivers should still be cautious around ongoing construction to rehabilitate the parkway. The project required the addition of a third, reversible lane in the median that has been in effect since April.
Image via Google Maps
Sick of running into the same pothole whenever you leave the house? The Town of Vienna now has an app to help take care of that — as long as it’s within the town’s limits.
The town recently released a new Vienna Connect app that will serve as its new non-emergency service request platform.
The app aims to serve as a “more intuitive” platform to report issues with roads, trash, animals, construction sites and more, Vienna Information Technology Director Tony Mull said in the August issue of the town’s Vienna Voice newsletter.
In addition to being less intuitive, the previous platform encountered technical challenges when related software was upgraded, frustrating residents, elected officials and town employees alike, according to Town of Vienna spokesperson Karen Thayer.
“The Vienna Connect app provides seamless flexibility in reporting options (it works well via mobile devices and desktop computers), provides greater communication functionality than the old platform (internal and external communication features are included in the app) and it gives users the option of checking the status of their report/request online,” Thayer said by email.
It cost $12,000 to establish Vienna Connect. Since the app launched in mid-July, the town says it has already received 51 reports through it.
Reports will be monitored from 8 a.m.-4:40 p.m. on weekdays and responded to within a business day.
Vienna Connect also allows users to upload photos to accompany complaints. The app is available for download on Apple and Android devices. Service requests can also be filed online.
The town emphasizes that Vienna Connect is intended for service requests that are not urgent. Residents requiring police assistance should call 911 or the Vienna Police Department’s non-emergency police number at 703-255-6366.
Water and sewer-related emergencies can be reported to the town at 703-255-6366.
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]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has agreed to let a planned office building near the Spring Hill Metro station become an apartment high-rise instead.
At a public hearing on July 25, the board unanimously approved American Real Estate Partners’ City House proposal, a move that both the county and developer hope will catalyze change in a largely dormant part of Tysons.
“I think we’re optimistic that these improvements will ensure a revitalization of this area,” Walsh Colucci land use lawyer Lynne Strobel said, representing the developer. “It’s an area that has been rather slow to redevelop under the Tysons plan. Even though there have been approvals, not much has been built, so we’re hopeful this will activate this part of Tysons.”
Part of the 31.5-acre Spring Hill Station demonstration project approved in 2011, City House will bring a 410,000-square-foot high-rise residential building with up to 410 multifamily units to the Highline at Greensboro District office complex (8401 Greensboro Drive).
Dubbed Building E3 in the demonstration project plan, which called for 7.5 million square feet of mixed-use development, the site was approved for a 20-story office building in 2013, but that’s no longer viable, given the current state of the office market, Strobel told the board.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority shared last month that the county’s office vacancy rate of 16.7% is its highest in 10 years. In Tysons, residential development has surged past office development over the past decade, raising some concerns among county officials about maintaining the balance between housing and jobs sought by the comprehensive plan.
The two office buildings currently standing in the Highline at Greensboro District will remain. Two other residential buildings planned for the future neighborhood could also become a hotel or retail and service space.
While no commercial space is proposed in City House, the building will come with a Highline Plaza outside the main entrance, a pocket park called Highline Square, and an urban park with recreational amenities and a performance stage on top of the existing, 1,500-space parking garage. The three publicly accessible parks will total approximately 1 acre in size.
Other improvements promised by American Real Estate Partners include new sidewalks, a designated left-turn lane into the Spring Hill Business Center on Spring Hill Road, a 5-foot-wide bicycle lane, and a two-lane extension of Broad Street from Spring Hill Road to a future Logan Street.
Though they support the City House project overall, the nearby Rotunda Condominiums residents remain disappointed that the Broad Street segment won’t be in its final four-lane configuration, according to William Lawson Jr., an attorney representing the condo association’s board of directors.
“We understand after meeting with the applicant on site why that is not possible,” Lawson said, reiterating concerns about the county’s reliance on developers to build out the Tysons street grid that he also shared at a planning commission hearing on July 12. “…The completion of Broad Street, we believe, would relieve a lot of traffic on Greensboro [Drive].”
County planner Sunny Yang confirmed that the full construction of Broad Street “will depend on the redevelopment of adjacent properties,” including the former Container Store that the county turned into The PARC at Tysons.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said she sees City House as an opportunity to “turn existing, less useful space” into urban space with housing and amenities for both residents and the wider community.
“They’re bringing more opportunities for people to be able to stay and enjoy, live or work in Tysons,” she said. “I think it’s important that we be flexible, knowing that there’s a need for housing and a little less in office space now, so I think this is a creative solution.”
Grand Cata recently made a grand entrance at the Mosaic District.
The D.C.-based Latin American wine bar and store opened the doors of its first Virginia location on July 18, according to an Instagram post.
The modest, 910-square-foot space is located next to B-Side in the former Poke Bar at 8298 Glass Alley, Suite 100. It includes a counter bar and table where visitors can drink wine and eat food, along with shelves of wine for retail sale and a market with sauces and other pantry items.
“We are so happy to be part of the @mosaicdistrict community and we are ready for you,” the business said in a social media post last week.
Started as a retail shop in downtown D.C. in 2016, Grand Cata was founded to fill what founders Pedro Rodríguez and Julio Robledo saw as a gap in the region’s wine market for options from Latin America.
The business expanded in 2019 with its first bar at La Cosecha in Union Market.
The Mosaic District store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It’s closed on Monday.
Tenants still to come to the Merrifield neighborhood are Pottery Barn, the beach-inspired clothing store Faherty and the ice cream shop Mimi’s Homemade. In addition, farmers market operator FreshMarket announced last week that it will expand onto Strawberry Lane starting this Sunday (Aug. 6).
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]
