An effort to prohibit Vienna Town Council members from taking private meetings with developers was brought to a screeching halt this week.
Town Attorney Steven Briglia said such an ordinance would likely violate a number of laws, from First Amendment rights protecting free speech, including that of developers, to the Citizens United case and Virginia’s Dillon Rule, which only allows localities to pass ordinances where granted clear authority from the General Assembly.
According to Briglia at a Vienna Town Council and Planning Commission work session on March 4:
“The question came up about a month ago about possibly limiting discussion with developers and passing an ordinance requiring any meetings by members of a public body be public. I started with that mandate to see if there was any authority that could restrict a local ordinance… To get right to the end, not only could I not find any authority in Virginia that would enable the town or any locality to pass an ordinance restricting individual contact by representatives of a developer with a member of the council, but… under Virginia law the general assembly says you can do what we say you can do and no more.”
Briglia also said the proposed ordinance could be seen as a violation of free speech.
“I think there would be First Amendment [issues] and I ran it by other attorneys and they had the same concerns I did,” said Briglia. “Citizens United was an expansion of basically corporate rights under First Amendment. Years ago, the Supreme Court said corporations are people for purposes of certain activity under government [so] corporations have the same rights as an individual.”
The effort had been spearheaded by Councilmembers Pasha Majdi and Howard Springsteen, two of the leading opponents to the controversial Maple Avenue Commercial (MAC) developments last year. Majdi asked if the proposal could be pursued as a town policy and a resolution rather than codified law, but ultimately the Council agreed not move forward with any plans for limiting developer-council member discussions.
The discussion also opened old wounds about developer pressures on Town Council members, with Springsteen saying developers frequently used overbearing or even threatening tactics to try to intimidate the town into getting their way. But during a heated exchange, one Planning Commission member said the proposal was but another attempt to stall new development.
“This is another effort to make the MAC even more difficult,” said Planning Commission member Sarah Couchman. “I don’t think this is a widespread problem. It’s like electoral fraud. People hype it up. To use a policy of fear that Council members and Commissioners are going behind people’s backs and having meetings with developers is not right. I’m sorry you feel you need a policy to cite, but the fact of the matter is you can always say ‘I am not comfortable with this.'”
File photo
California-based Morphe Cosmetics is coming to Tysons Corner Center as part of a large-scale expansion.
The chain — known for its make-up palettes and brushes — is planned to open sometime in the spring. More specific dates have not been announced yet.
The store will be located on the mall’s second floor, between Lush — another cosmetics store — and women’s apparel store Francesca’s.
There are four open positions at the new location:
Cvent is expanding in Tysons, adding 72,000 square feet of office space to their headquarters and opening up 67 new jobs at a company that offers some unusual perks.
Cvent creates software for businesses to organize meetings and events. The company will occupy three additional floors of Boro Station at 1765 Greensboro Station Place.
Erica Stoltenberg, a Cvent spokeswoman, said the company includes a few travel opportunities for high-performing employees. Notably, an exchange program offers an employee at the Tysons office and one at the company’s office in India a chance to “switch positions” for a few weeks.
Top-performing sales reps are also given a free, all-inclusive trip to Mexico each year.
This seems to fit with reviews on Glassdoor.com that call the office highly competitive, with a good group of driven coworkers, and one that offers jobs to young people fresh out of college. For those applying to the company, Stoltenberg said the company is looking for employees with an “entrepreneurial mindset” who are “natural go-getters who embody that start-up mentality.”
Stoltenberg also bragged about the company’s all-out Halloween party, which includes divisions competing for best costumes and best overall decorations.
Other perks at the company range from the standard “free office coffee” to onsite massages and other wellness activities.
The company recently expanded into the fifth floor of their headquarters at 1765 Greensboro Station, just south of The Boro development. Stoltenberg said part of that move included discussions with employees to figure out what enhancements or additions were most needed.
“As we expand, it’s important the new floors are constructed in a way that means we have the best environment for our growing team,” said Stoltenberg.
As is the eventual fate of all pop-ups, locally owned boutique Park Story could be relocating from its Mosaic District home.
Owner Meghan Evans launched her own clothing line in August 2017 and opened the store in the Mosaic District in October 2018.
“I am hoping for a more permanent home that caters to local designers and independent caterers,” said Evans. “Something permanent than a pop-up. I’m expecting to be here through July.”
Evans said she’s currently in discussions with the Mosaic District about trying to stay in that area, but either way, she hopes to remain somewhere in Northern Virginia.
Evans started her clothing line after being frustrated with the lack of selection for tall women. The Park Story boutique was designed to not only showcase her collection, but work from other local and independent creators. Evans said the store hosts everything from local lipstick to jewelry and art.
“People are surprised there’s such quality on the local market,” Evans said. “People don’t expect to find us here. We’re surrounded by bigger box stores, but we’re local and independent.”
Evans’ clothing line is manufactured in D.C. She knows most of the other vendors at her store following years of building connections and seeking out brands that she believes are complementary to the shop aesthetic.
“We are clean and modern with a feminine touch,” Evans said. “The shop has more of a minimalist feel: light, bright and airy.”
Evans said she hopes to know by April whether or not the store will be moving so she can begin to let her customers know her plans.
Photo via Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxcountyPD/videos/813842735632372/?v=813842735632372
A helicopter, an ATV and a team of firefighters and police officers came together to rescue a man who was injured in the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve on Tuesday evening (March 5).
According to a Facebook post by the police department, when the man didn’t return home after a hike, his sister became worried as temperatures dropped.
Police said the man had broken his leg and was stuck on the hiking trail for several hours. Officers were able to keep him stable and comfortable until firefighters used an ATV to reach him and carry him out.
“Our Fairfax One team began searching and was able to quickly locate the man,” police said in the post. “They then directed our officers and the Fire and Rescue team through the rough and dark terrain to reach him.”
“We’re happy to report that, thanks to this great collaboration and quick work, his is now safe!” police said in the post.
As part of a countywide “Maker Day” celebration, honoring inventors and encouraging teens to pursue technology goals, the Tysons-Pimmit Library will host a pair of free lessons for teens on 3-D printing and building a gaming-focused PC on March 9.
The 3-D printing class will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and will help run teens through the basics of TinkerCAD, a free utility that allows users to craft 3-D objects. Guests are encouraged to bring a charged laptop if possible, though some laptops will be available at the library.
The class is followed by one from 2-4 p.m. that will walk teens through the basics of building a gaming PC. The class covers every part of the process, including the fundamentals of which parts to get and what to consider when buying parts.
Photo via Facebook
(Updated March 21) — Today, the area south of the West Falls Church Metro station is split between an aging high school and a parking deck, but a series of developments could completely transform the area into a new commercial center.
At least one of the developments hinge on a new George Mason High School being rebuilt just to the northwest of its current location, facing the former school site which is planned to be demolished and turned into a new commercial area like the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
Just months before construction is scheduled to break ground on June 14, details of the school are still being adjusted. At a town hall on Feb. 24, staff working on the project ran through some of the changes and outlined the timeline for the site.
“Where we were is not where we are now,” said Derk Jeffrey, principal architect for the project. “We’re in a much stronger place to meet the needs of the school.”
Staff at the meeting said the rooms and walls are all set for the project’s design, and at this point, most of the tinkering includes just minor adjustments.
The project was reviewed at an architectural advisory board meeting last night (Wednesday) and is scheduled to be reviewed by the Planning Commission in April/May with approval from the city planned for June. Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Peter Noonan said construction is planned to start as soon as school is out.
If approved, the construction on the project is scheduled to begin immediately with the new school projected to open in January 2021. Once the new school is completed, work is planned to start on a sprawling new West Falls Church Economic Development Project led by developers EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency Centers.
The project is described as a gateway to the city with a focus on pedestrian-oriented streets.
Plans for the site include:
- 390,000 square feet of office space
- 126,400 square feet of retail
- 288 units of multi-family apartments
- 245 condominium units
- 150-200 senior housing units
- 40 affordable housing units
The plans also call for nearly an acre of open space in an area called Little City Commons, a gathering place and venue for community events.
A hotel with conference space is also planned for the site.
On Feb. 28, the project received preliminary approval from the Falls Church City Council but will come back for a final vote in May.
Meanwhile, details are still scarce on the plans to redevelop the parking lots at the West Falls Church station with potentially 700 residential units, 150,000 square feet of office space and 50,000 square feet of retail.
A Virginia Tech academic facility at the site is also in the early stages of redevelopment into 205,000 square feet of academic space, along with a 100,000-square-foot lab and 300,000 square feet of residential space.
One week after Republik Coffee (7915 Jones Branch Drive) was scheduled for eviction, the local coffee shop is still serving coffee.
A manager at the location confirmed that the location plans to remain open but could add no details about how the coffee bar evaded the eviction.
Owner Talha Sarac had previously told Tysons Reporter that the eviction notice was part of a misunderstanding with Kettler, which owns the Highgate at the Mile building, and that he would meet with Kettler representatives to sort things out.
Kettler declined to comment, but whatever Sarac and Kettler discussed, it was enough to keep the location open for the time being.
Fairfax County police have issued an arrest warrant for Gervonta Davis, World Boxing Association champion in the 130-pound category, after police say Davis assaulted a man near a Tysons Galleria ATM on Feb. 17.
Police said an unidentified victim reported Davis as his attacker. Davis allegedly became belligerent. After the victim testified to the magistrate, a warrant was issued for Davis’ arrest.
Davis faces a misdemeanor assault and battery charge but the Washington Post reported that Davis has not responded to the warrant.
This is not the first or even second time Davis has been arrested following a physical altercation.
After the initial story broke, Davis tweeted vague disapproval of the news coverage.
Lies lies lies
— Gervonta Davis (@Gervontaa) March 5, 2019
As the national women’s clothing chain files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Charlotte Russe in Tysons Corner Center is closing up shop with some heavy sales.
Nearly half the store is now empty, but there are discounts of anywhere from 30-50 percent on items remaining in the store. Store merchandise ranges from jumpsuits and dresses to smaller items, like makeup kits.
Store fixtures, furniture and mannequins are also on sale — in case you’re a local business looking for cheap equipment or just a normal person who collects mannequins.
Staff at the store said they were not told specifically when the store would be closing, but that it would be gone by the end of the month.
The Charlotte Russe stores in Dulles and Springfield are also scheduled to close.
