Reopening Date Set for Metro Yellow Line — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced [Tuesday] that the Yellow Line will open again on Sunday, May 7, at the start of rail service. The line has been out of service since September to allow work on the Potomac River tunnel and bridge.” [ALXnow]
Omicron Booster Vaccine Eligibility Expands — “The updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available as a booster dose for children 6 months-4 years old who completed their primary series of three doses.” Just 13% of Fairfax Health District residents under 5 have completed an initial series of Covid vaccinations. [Fairfax County Health Department]
McKay’s Use of County Car Draws Scrutiny — TV news station WJLA claims that Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay has gotten two complaints about his use of a county-owned vehicle. In one, a “concerned woman” saw the car at a community pool on a Sunday, and the other alleged McKay was “speeding and driving recklessly” on Oct. 2, 2021 after a political fundraiser. [ABC7]
McLean Community Center Sets Rules for Facility Visitors — “The new MCC Code of Conduct, adopted by the governing board on March 22, outlines unacceptable behavior and makes sure the public knows that community center staff can take action at their sole discretion against people who violate the Code of Conduct.” [Patch]
Vienna Pushes to Expand Availability of Public Art — “The Vienna Town Council on March 20 unanimously approved the group’s 38-page ‘Vision for Public Art Master Plan,’ which outlined dozens of ways of making the town more aesthetically pleasing and suggested where the improvements could be implemented.” [Gazette Leader]
Graduates of County Innovation Hub Hired by Inova — “Six months after the grand opening of the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) at the Hybla Valley Community Center, several local participants in a training program conducted with Inova Health System have secured jobs with the nonprofit healthcare provider.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — Cloudy. Warm. High of 86 and low of 59. Sunrise at 6:47 am and sunset at 7:35 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County wants your food scraps and yard waste.
The county will officially launch its new compost outpost at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Part of a two-year-long pilot program, the facility consists of two 20-foot-long shipping containers modified so that visitors can drop off organic waste in the dirt-filled receptacles.
“It is designed to create optimal conditions for composting and is a test facility to demonstrate small-scale, decentralized, organics processing,” the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) said in a media advisory.
The pilot will expand the county’s efforts to promote composting, which makes soil healthier by returning nutrients to the earth, reducing erosion and improving its ability to hold water, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
The county has also been accepting food scraps for composting at the I-95 Landfill Complex (9850 Furnace Road) in Lorton and at some farmers markets, though the 2023 season isn’t set to begin until later this month.
The I-66 outpost will process food scraps and yard waste from residents and county facilities, though residents must drop off their collections directly.
“We will not be picking them up for this program,” DPWES spokesperson Sharon North said.
The resulting compost is expected to be initially used at county parks, according to North.
The pilot will help the county determine the facility’s effectiveness and provide a visible demonstration of “the ability…to take a waste product and turn it into a locally sourced and readily available resource that can be used to enhance the community,” said Matt Adams, director of the Solid Waste Management Program in the DPWES Engineering and Environmental Compliance Division.
“The Compost Outpost pilot demonstrates this by utilizing sustainable materials, such as plant material and food scraps that are currently treated as a waste products to be removed from the community, and transforming them into compost that can be used locally,” Adams said in a statement to FFXnow. “This greatly benefits the environment and the county’s overall sustainability goals by lowering emissions through the reduction [of] transportation/processing practices and adds to the resources available within a community.”
Here’s more on the pilot from DPWES:
The two-year pilot was approved by the Department of Environmental Quality and aligns with the county’s Zero Waste Policy by diverting food waste and other organics from municipal waste streams.
Over the course, the operational impacts, as well as the production of the finished compost will be assessed to determine the project’s feasibility and efficacy.
The Compost Outpost pilot will cost approximately $100,000. It is funded by the county’s Zero Waste Team and hosted by the Solid Waste Management Program and its partner, Compost Crew.
More information on the materials accepted for composting can be found on the DPWES website.
As part of Building C, the developer says it will construct part of a new private street called Yard Street from Cornerside Blvd to the entrance of a two-level parking garage at the bottom of the building. The garage will have 269 spaces total, according to the plan.
Yard Street will eventually provide a “right-out only” exit onto Route 7.
Other amenities include a 2,700-square-foot “pocket” park on the opposite corner of Cornerside and Ashgrove, and a 7,000-square-foot urban plaza on the site’s southwest corner. The 0.2 acres provided fall short of the 0.7 acres of park space recommended based on the county’s standards.
At full build-out, Tysons West will have 2.5 acres of park space, including a publicly accessible, recreational park proposed next to the Westwood Village condominiums as part of the Sheraton conversion.
A private courtyard for residents will also be provided inside Building C, according to the application.
In addition, the developer has offered to make streetscape improvements on the north side of Ashgrove Lane — including 6-foot-wide sidewalks and 8.5-foot-wide landscape panels — and construct a 10-foot-wide trail along the building by Leesburg Pike.
“Approval of this FDPA will continue to implement the County’s vision for Tysons by expanding upon the supply of residential housing and advancing its transformation into a transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhood,” Brant wrote.
Updated at 12:55 p.m. on 4/14/2023 — The National Park Service has delayed the GW Parkway changes due to forecasts calling for inclement weather over the weekend. The lane shift is now expected to begin around April 21-24.
Earlier: Drivers will soon have to get accustomed to a brand-new traffic pattern on the McLean section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Starting Saturday, April 15, the existing southbound lanes will close between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd and Chain Bridge Road) so crews can begin rehabilitating that portion of the roadway.
All traffic will shift to the northbound lanes, which have been expanded with the addition of a third, temporary lane in the median. The new lane will change directions based on where rush-hour traffic is headed.
“This temporary lane will serve as a reversible lane, which provides flexibility to change direction for morning and evening rush hours,” the National Park Service said in a news release yesterday (Monday). “This traffic pattern allows the project contractor greater access to the roadway, which will reduce the time needed to complete the project.”
If there’s inclement weather on April 15, the new traffic pattern will commence on Saturday, April 22 instead.
On April 15, the NPS will implement a new, temporary traffic pattern on George Washington Memorial Parkway between I-495 and Route 123 for the next phase of the North Parkway Rehabilitation Project: https://t.co/3yjIWOU0hL pic.twitter.com/PFFBTyoNQ0
— National Parks of Greater Washington, DC (@NPSNewsDC) April 3, 2023
According to the NPS, here is the daily schedule for the reversible lane:
Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.)
- Two lanes southbound (toward Washington, DC).
- Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
- One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)
- Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
- Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
- One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
Weekdays (9:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.) and weekends
- One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
- One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
The park service advises drivers to pay attention to traffic signs, adhere to the roadway’s 40 mph speed limit, and prepare for potential delays.
“To increase safety, small physical barriers will divide the narrow, 10-foot-wide lanes,” the NPS said, noting that vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds will still be barred from the parkway.
Federal officials broke ground on the north GW Parkway rehabilitation in July 2022. The approximately $161 million project will update the parkway’s northern section — from the Beltway to Sprout Run in Arlington — for the first time since it was originally completed in 1962.
Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, which was passed in 2020 to support infrastructure and recreational improvements on public lands, the project will install new pavement, redesign the Route 123 interchange, repair stormwater facilities, lengthen some entrance and exit lanes, and more.
The NPS anticipates the three-lane pattern remaining in place throughout the rest of construction, which is projected to finish in December 2025.
Inova Ends Mask Requirement — “Effective April 3, masking will be optional at Inova care sites. Exceptions will include high-risk clinical spaces and for anyone interacting with patients identified by their provider as immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19” [Inova Health/Twitter]
Rose Hill Redevelopment Proposal Recommended for Deferral — “The inclusion of the Rose Hill Plaza development plan in the work program, approved on March 29 by the planning commission, came with a condition: the proposal will remain a ‘deferred item’ until the owner of the shopping center, Combined Properties Inc., conducts ‘further community outreach.'” [Patch]
Fairfax Man Arrested for Allegedly Choking Woman — City of Fairfax Police arrested a 48-year-old man for allegedly choking the passenger of another car during a “traffic altercation” on Sunday (April 2) near Fairfax Blvd and Pickett Road. According to police, the man “left his vehicle, put his hands around the neck of a passenger sitting in the second vehicle, and began to choke her.” He also threw a ginger ale can. [Patch]
PNC Bank Set to Close Several Local Branches — PNC Financial Services Group Inc will shutter 11 Northern Virginia branches as part of a nationwide reduction in its footprint, particularly in grocery stores. The Oakton branch at 2964 Chain Bridge Road is the only standalone location targeted, but this round also includes Giant Food store branches in Oakton, Fairfax, Centreville, Herndon, Clifton and the Falls Church area. [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Gets New Ethiopian Restaurant — “JD Bar & Restaurant is located at 6669 Little River Turnpike in the same building that housed two previous Ethiopian places, Monarch, and before that, Damas. JD features traditional Ethiopian cuisine with injera, including geba weta, doro wat, lamb wot, kifto, tibs, and fish dulet.” [Annandale Today]
Republican Enters Virginia Senate Race — “An ex-adviser to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Monday he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in 2024, the first contender to emerge after Kaine committed in January to seeking a third term.” [The Washington Post]
GMU Works to Preserve Civil War-Era Graffiti — “While many see graffiti as an eyesore, students and staff at George Mason University are trying to digitally preserve 160-year-old wall art…[Mills] Kelly told WTOP that the graffiti left on the plaster walls at the Graffiti House in Brandywine Station and Historic Blenheim show a different side of history than what most usually see.” [WTOP]
Region Sees Increase in Older Population — “A new report found that Northern Virginia is one of the country’s fastest-growing populations of older adults, but more must be done to accommodate that age group. The number of adults 65 and older living in Northern Virginia increased by 61 percent since 2010, with approximately 310,000 living in the region as of 2020.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy. Warm. High of 77 and low of 55. Sunrise at 6:48 am and sunset at 7:34 pm. [Weather.gov]
Easter will be a decidedly secular affair at Capital One Center this year.
The Tysons development will host an Easter at The Perch celebration in the skypark atop Capital One Hall (1805 Capital One Drive) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (April 8), a day before the religious holiday is observed.
The highlight of the event is an egg hunt, which will begin at 10 a.m. with a 9:30 a.m. check-in time. Kids are required to have tickets to participate. The $20 price tag covers admission and a goodie bag, though it doesn’t include a $3.18 processing fee or the sales tax.
The rest of the festivities are open to the general public, according to a media advisory.
Post-egg hunt activities will include:
- Live entertainment featuring Captain Seawalker and his Yacht Rock EGGS’travaganza
- A petting zoo with alpacas, bunnies, and other animals from My Pet Alpaca
- Easter k’EGG Roll
- Easter-themed arts and crafts station
- Easter-themed sack races
- Temporary tattoo stations
- An Instagram photo booth station
- Meet and Greet with the Easter Bunny
Capital One Center also recently reopened its Perch Putt mini golf course after a winter hiatus. Players during Easter at The Perch will get music, giveaways and prizes from the hosts of the radio show Toby and Chilli in the Morning on WASH FM 97.1.
Raffle prizes will also be offered from Capital One Hall and The Watermark Hotel.
For those looking to celebrate spring without the Easter tie-in, Capital One Center’s now-biannual Perchfest is scheduled to return the weekend of May 19-21, per the media advisory.
The plan to redevelop Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center has evolved since property owner Federal Realty submitted an initial proposal to Fairfax County last spring.
Perhaps the biggest change is the removal of up to 34 four-story townhomes previously shown on the southwest corner of the 25-acre strip mall at 3089 Nutley Street SW. The attached houses had accompanied three apartment buildings totaling 516 units.
After talking with county staff, Federal Realty agreed to eliminate the townhouses in favor of providing more park space, Director of Development Mark Hendrickson said at a community meeting on the project in the former Pet Valu store on Thursday (March 30).
In an illustrative plan presented at the meeting, the park space appeared as a green patch with trees and a path connecting the shopping center’s parking lot to the neighboring Providence Hall Apartments.
That corner will also be occupied by one of the three multifamily buildings, which will collectively have 585 units — all rental apartments.
“Townhomes are very land-consumptive,” county planner Aaron Klibaner said. “…It made more sense to do a smaller apartment building on that corner.”
Conversations between the county and Federal Realty have also reduced the residential buildings from seven to five stories, making them “more compatible” with Providence Hall, Klibaner said. They could still be up to 90 feet tall, but will “taper down” in height closer to the existing apartments.
The plan for rental units came as a surprise to Troy and Jackie Sponaugle, who have lived less than a mile away on Route 29 for almost 42 years. The couple said they had been told before that the units would be condominiums, though Hendrickson said condos were never considered for this project.
“Rental units are not as stable as owner units. We’re concerned that might impact the stability of the neighborhood,” Troy said.
Housing would support retail, developer says
The county’s Department of Planning and Development organized last week’s meeting to get feedback on whether its comprehensive plan should be amended to allow mixed-use development on the currently all-retail site.
Authorized by the Board of Supervisors in December 2021, the plan amendment study represents “the very, very beginning of the development process,” county staff stressed.
However, the question-and-answer portion of the meeting suggested some residents are already anxious about what the redevelopment could mean for Pan Am and the overall community.
At the forefront of many minds was the future of the current retailers, especially Michaels and Micro Center. One resident’s impassioned plea for the necessity of retaining the computer store drew claps from her fellow attendees, who easily exceeded 50 people.
While Federal Realty has confirmed that Safeway will stay as the main anchor, it’s still “trying to figure out” where the other retailers will go, Hendrickson said. The illustrative plan shows an expanded retail space.
Noting that the retail market has been moving away from big box stores, Hendrickson explained that the housing and other amenities, like parks and pedestrian paths, would support the shopping center’s businesses by creating a sense of community.
While there is “plenty of community” in the area, the developer heard during Zoom calls with local homeowners’ associations that there “was nowhere in Pan Am” that makes residents want to stay for extended periods of time.
“The focus has been on connectivity. This is not trying to be Mosaic [District],” he said, calling Fairfax Corner a closer analogue to Federal Realty’s vision.
Community fears public infrastructure insufficient
Connectivity is also a priority for Meg Gisonda, who doesn’t drive, though her husband does. She welcomes the prospect of Pan Am’s large, “sad” parking lot getting partially replaced by housing — with the hope that Federal Realty goes beyond the county’s 8% requirement for workforce units.
However, she’s not convinced the on-site paths and Nutley Street bicycle lanes that the developer has offered to provide will address the actual challenges faced by pedestrians, bicyclists and anyone else traveling outside a car.
For instance, Fairfax Connector has a bus stop right in front of Gisonda’s house on Route 29, but buses only come once an hour, and there isn’t a direct route to destinations like the Mosaic District. The timing also isn’t synced with Metro’s trains, so she typically has to walk back home from the Vienna station.
“So much of this is reliant on the county because it’s public infrastructure,” Gisonda said. “There’s not terribly much that this development company can really do about things that the community really needs, like more crosswalks or more buses with varied routes that come quickly, that go places where people need to go.”
With new housing approved at MetroWest near the Vienna Metro station and increased density proposed on nearby Swanee Lane, many community members raised concerns about the influx of new residents taxing the area’s roads and schools.
One resident observed that it already takes three signal cycles for drivers to get through the Nutley Street and Route 29 intersection, while another opined that the roundabout configuration at I-66 made an “already horrible” situation “worse.”
In addition to foreseeing traffic problems at Nutley/Route 29, Troy Sponaugle says Fairhill Elementary School, which his granddaughter attends, doesn’t have room for another 100 students.
“The land owner’s only concerned about Pan Am, but we have to be concerned about more than that, or else the quality of life in our area here will go down,” Troy said.
A county staff report on the proposed plan amendment is expected to be finalized in the month or two, according to Klibaner. A public hearing before the Fairfax County Planning Commission will likely come 30 days after the report’s release.
Plan via Dalia Palchik/Twitter
A plan to convert Fairfax County’s streetlights into LED lights is well underway.
At a Board of Supervisors’ safety and security committee meeting on March 22, Aileen Santiago of the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) said the program is expected to generate roughly $1.4 million in yearly savings when completed.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay lauded the conversion program’s work, which he called an investment with a significant return.
“It’s a really good news story in term of the environmental savings standpoint, and it shows the investment we made on the environmental front is paying itself back in a massive way,” McKay said.
The program kicked off in 2018 after the county reached a regional agreement with Dominion Energy to transition into more energy-efficient bulbs.
In Dominion Energy‘s service area — which accounts for 96% of the county’s 60,000 existing streetlights — the conversion process will be completed in fiscal year 2024 using roughly $9 million allocated for five years.
But Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative (NOVEC) — which is responsible for the remaining 4% of the county’s lights — is largely not accelerating the conversion process for customers in its area, Santiago said.
“Currently, they’re not invested in accelerating and providing reduced rates similar to Dominion,” Santiago told the committee. So far, NOVEC has largely been converting street-facing lights into LEDs, and that inventory is overall limited.
Supervisors expressed disappointment on NOVEC’s progress thus far. Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith noted that the organization’s service area impacts her constituents significantly.
“It’s not right that NOVEC is not doing the conversions there,” she said.
The conversion program went into effect after the board made amendments to require new and existing streetlights be converted into LEDs with specific color temperatures.
Other board members focused on the need to conduct a more holistic study of lighting needs throughout the county. Currently, the supervisors push streetlight petition requests to county staff.
Referencing a similar board matter passed years ago, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk stated that the county needs to develop long-term strategies to fund streetlights that are being requested by individuals.
“My concern is that we really don’t have enough focus on what we’re gonna do with regard to the new streetlight requests,” Lusk said.
A programmatic process would require additional funding beyond the county’s current petition program, DPWES Director Chris Herrington said.
Man Pulled From Mud in Mount Vernon — “Units on scene of a rescue in the 5200 block of Burke Drive in the Woodlawn area. One adult male in the water 30 feet from the shore stuck in mud. Firefighters have successfully extricated the person. No reported injuries at this time.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Nearby: Suspect ID’d in Dulles Town Center Shooting — “Loudoun County police have identified the suspect in Sunday morning’s shooting inside the Dulles Town Center shopping mall that left one person in serious condition…The mall has been closed for the remainder of the day.” [WTOP]
Shooting Threat Found in John Lewis HS Restroom — “In response to the threatening graffiti found at John R. Lewis High School, a letter from Fairfax County Public Schools was sent home to parents and guardians. Officials say out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased security and police presence beginning Monday, April 10 and throughout the week.” [WUSA9]
Driver Crashes Into Annandale ESL School — “An elderly driver rammed into a Fairfax County school Friday afternoon, according to Fairfax County Police Department. The incident happened just before 4 p.m. at what appears to be the Evergreen Academy — a language school in Annandale.” At least one person in the building was injured. [ABC7]
Trader Joe’s Taking Over West Springfield Whole Foods — “Trader Joe’s, a longtime tenant of…Springfield Plaza on Old Keene Mill Road, has executed a lease to replace Whole Foods Market at Federal Realty Investment Trust’s Old Keene Mill Center three miles to the west.” Whole Foods will move “toward the end of 2023 for a much larger space at Springfield Plaza.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax County Lost Residents in 2022 — “While some counties in Northern Virginia regained some of the population they lost during the first years of the pandemic, a Census Bureau report released Thursday shows Fairfax County’s population continued to drop.” [Patch]
Summer Camps Offered for Lower-Income Families — “NCS is partnering with the Fairfax County Park Authority to offer affordable summer camps to families with a household income of less than $132,500. Eligible families will pay reduced rates for children to participate in popular Park Authority summer camps offered at Sully Community Center.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Sidewalk Construction Begins in Vienna — “Beginning…Monday, April 3 and lasting through the week, sidewalk, curb and gutter construction will occur at the corner of Courthouse Rd and Locust St, SW, from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Flaggers will be present. To avoid delays, consider an alternate route.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
It’s Monday — Broken clouds. Mild. High of 69 and low of 39. Sunrise at 6:50 am and sunset at 7:33 pm. [Weather.gov]
The time to get any patio furniture and other loose, outdoor objects inside is now.
At 2:29 p.m. today (Friday), the National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, in anticipation of an encroaching storm.
Set to take effect from noon tomorrow (Saturday) until midnight, the alert warns of wind gusts that could reach up to 60 mph, raising the potential for power outages and travel difficulties.
…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT SATURDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph Saturday afternoon, becoming northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph Saturday evening.
* WHERE…Portions of central and northern Maryland, The District of Columbia, and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From noon Saturday to midnight EDT Saturday night. The strongest winds are expected Saturday evening.
* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
“People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches,” the NWS said. “If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.”
The storm has been moving east after slamming California with heavy winds, rain and snow earlier this week. Nearly 90 million people across 21 states are under a hazardous weather alert, as the Midwest and some Southern states face the risk of tornadoes just a week after one killed at least 26 people in Mississippi and Alabama.
[3/31 at 2:55 PM] The @NWS_BaltWash has upgraded the High Wind Watch to a Warning tomorrow (April 1). Sustained 20-30 mph winds can be expected, w/ gusts up to 50 mph Saturday afternoon. By the evening, sustained winds are expected to be 25-35 mph w/ gusts up to 60 mph. #VaWx pic.twitter.com/QKAzOkXvXU
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) March 31, 2023
