Fairfax County is exploring ways to formalize its process for approving street light waivers that are typically required for some developments.
At a land use committee meeting on Jan. 30, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed support for clarifying and elaborating upon the county’s current processes.
Currently, street lights are required for site and subdivision plans, typically along existing and proposed right-of-way and at intersections if they are along Virginia byways or larger lot subdivisions. Developers can request waivers, but the county doesn’t specify when they should be granted.
The formalized policy is intended to create an objective and transparent decision-making process for the director of Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS) to consider waiver requests.
“This is proposing criteria for what the director will consider in evaluating those type of waiver requests,” Jerry Stonefield, an engineer for LDS, said at the meeting.
Specifically, the director would evaluate existing conditions, the design of the intersection and street, pedestrian activity and nearby uses, collision and crime data, and environmental considerations. But at least one street light at each intersection will still be required.
Board members said they were supportive of the change, which encourages transparency.
“I think it’s great to put some standards in,” Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith said.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw encouraged staff to work with the county’s health department on the issue. He said the lack of street lights is one of the key drivers of crashes involving pedestrians.
However, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said he was unclear what problem the county was attempting to solve.
“I’m worried about adding cost and time to a process that’s already expensive,” he said.
Stonefield said in the a small number of cases, the county ran into some problems justifying why street lights should or should not go in based on its current requirements, which provide scant criteria for evaluation.
The county has received between 80 and 90 street light waiver requests over 20 years, according to Stonefield.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay said that number was important because it demonstrates that the policy change covers an “extreme outlier.”
Staff will now consider implementing the changes after a virtual open house and official board consideration at a meeting date that has not yet been determined.
Grammy-Winning Annandale Teacher Returns Home — “On Sunday, [Annie] Ray attended the Grammy Awards Show in Los Angeles. She spoke to Meryl Streep, who told her a music teacher inspired her. She took a picture with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, and Oprah asked her many questions.” Back at Annandale High School yesterday (Tuesday), the orchestra director said the chance to talk about her work at the school “was the highlight.” [WTOP]
FCPD Arrests Man Wanted for Murder — “Fairfax County police arrested a suspect in Annandale Feb. 6 who was wanted for a 2022 murder in Frederick, Md.” The 27-year-old man was identified as one of two suspects in “the first-degree murder of Michael Isaih Olaniyi, the Frederick Police Department reported.” [Annandale Today]
Library to Go Offline for Computer Update — “We’re getting an upgrade! FCPL’s public computers, payment kiosks, printers and copiers will be down all day, Monday, February 12 as we upgrade the software. During this time, library visitors will be unable to use these devices. We apologize for any inconvenience.” [Fairfax County Public Library/Twitter]
County Sells Bonds to Fund Public Facilities — “On Jan. 24, Fairfax County completed a successful bond sale, generating $350 million to fund various project areas, after once again affirming its AAA bond rating with all three major rating agencies.” The funds will support capital projects for the county’s schools, public safety agencies, transportation facilities and park authority. [Fairfax County Government]
Plan to Preserve Historic Oakton Home Approved — “Fairfax County supervisors on Jan. 23 unanimously approved a rezoning proposal to build two new houses on an Oakton property and save a century-old vernacular style home.” The 2.29-acre site on Chain Bridge Road consists of a vacant parcel and the William H. Goldsmith House, which will be preserved and turned into a workforce dwelling unit. [Gazette Leader]
Animal Shelter Competition to Promote Large Dogs for Adoption — “The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) presents the Adoption Bowl, a fee-waived adoption event for dogs 45 pounds and larger, taking place Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 8-11. This one-of-a-kind event pits Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis against Fairfax County Fire Chief John Butler against each other in a chief vs. chief challenge.” [FCAS]
Metro Buses Will Display Student Art for Earth Day — “Metro’s Art in Transit program is inviting K-6 students from Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia to submit artworks that highlight and celebrate the significant role of public transportation in fostering a sustainable environment and healthy communities. The art will be prominently featured on three specially-themed Earth Day Metrobuses that will travel the region.” [WMATA]
Virginia’s Most Popular Baby Names Revealed — “For a second year running, Charlotte was the most popular baby name for girls born in Virginia, while Liam edged out last year’s winner, Noah, to take the title for boys.” The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records released data that also identified July 7 as the date with the most births in the commonwealth last year. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine and a high of 48 degrees accompanied by a gentle 3 to 6 mph north wind. As for Wednesday night, the skies will be mainly clear, and the temperature will dip to around 31 degrees with calm winds. [Weather.gov]
The now-annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge between the Town of Vienna and cities of Fairfax and Falls Church is still more than a month away, but the competitors are already getting warmed up.
Registration is now open for the contest to determine which community is the most fit, a title that has gone to Vienna for two straight years.
The competition began in 2021 as a way of encouraging residents to get active after many people stayed at home during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Falls Church won that initial bout, but it’s still hunting for a second title, and Fairfax City is seeking its first.
The fourth annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge will take place over eight weeks from March 16 to May 11. People who live or work in each of the localities can participate by tracking the time they spend walking, cycling and otherwise engaging in physical exercise. The locality that tallies the most collective minutes wins.
Falls Church started registrations on Feb. 1, per its website, while Vienna launched its portal yesterday (Monday). Fairfax City’s registration page is also now available.
Though registration for the challenge is free, Vienna and Falls Church are selling T-shirts for $16 and $5, respectively, and Fairfax City has hats for $5. The deadline for ordering a T-shirt is April 11 for Vienna and April 13 for Falls Church.
Last year, Vienna emerged victorious with 195 participants recording 466,142 minutes of exercise, almost doubling its winning total from 2022. Fairfax came in second with 409,539 minutes in 2023, and Falls Church finished third with 400,878 minutes.
Consideration of legislation to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino has officially been put on hold until 2025.
The Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted 13-2 this morning (Tuesday) to continue Senate Bill 675 to next year, affirming a recommendation made last Thursday (Feb. 1) by its resources subcommittee.
The vote came after a failed effort by state Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-33) to more forcefully table the bill from Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35), who has advocated for a casino in Tysons specifically as a potential revenue boost for both Fairfax County and the state.
Urging her fellow committee members to pass the bill by indefinitely, Boysko says “hundreds and hundreds” of local community members had voiced opposition to a possible casino at a town hall she and other representatives of the Reston and McLean areas held on Saturday (Feb. 3).
The town hall drew over 400 people, according to Boysko’s office. The senator told FFXnow that she has also received “thousands and thousands of letters and emails and calls from constituents” opposed to a casino.
“We’ve heard [the opposition] all year long,” Boysko said at the committee meeting, recalling a doctor’s appointment she had last summer where the doctor told her that he didn’t want a casino in the area. “…I ask my colleagues to respect the will of the neighbors I have.”
In addition to emphasizing the opposition from area residents, Boysko and Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) warned that Marsden’s bill sets a new precedent for determining where casinos can be built in Virginia.
The five localities currently eligible for a casino — Portsmouth, Danville, Bristol, Norfolk and Richmond — all requested that authority from the General Assembly, as has Petersburg, which is being considered as a replacement for Richmond after the voters in the state capital rejected a referendum twice.
Though they didn’t officially oppose the legislation, Fairfax County leaders have stressed that they didn’t ask for the county to be added to the list of eligible casino hosts and weren’t consulted about the proposed development.
SB 675 also deviates by laying out criteria that limits potential sites for a casino to somewhere in Tysons near a Silver Line Metro station outside the Capital Beltway. Comstock is reportedly eying the abandoned Exclusive Automotive Group lot at 8546 Leesburg Pike, according to Marsden.
“This would set a precedent that is very different from our current framework, and I don’t want to go down that path,” said Favola, who represents Arlington.
However, Marsden argued that a casino would bring in substantial new revenue at a time when offices are struggling and Metro needs more funding from Virginia, D.C. and Maryland to avoid potentially drastic budget cuts.
The envisioned casino development from Comstock would also include a conference center, hotel and concert venue, he noted.
“There’s no reason right now for people to come to Fairfax County,” Marsden said. “…We don’t get visitors, we don’t have tourism.” Read More
A new Korean barbecue eatery is now cooking at Halstead Square near the Dunn Loring Metro station.
Meat Project opened the doors to its new location on the ground floor of The Lofts apartment building at 2727-G Merrilee Drive in mid-January, marking its first expansion beyond its original site in Centreville.
For the soft opening, which was announced on Instagram on Jan. 12, the restaurant is operating from 5-11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Its website suggests the start time will eventually move up to 2:30 p.m.
Meat Project was started at 5825 Trinity Parkway in July 2020 by owner Sam Kim and his mother, Grace, who also own Rainbow Food Catering and Manoa Bakery Cafe in Annandale.
Both locations offer all-you-can-eat meats and seafood for $30 per person, or $20 for kids who are under 4 feet tall. Kids under 3 feet tall can eat for free, per Meat Project’s website. There is also a bar that serves beer, wine, sake and soju.
Kim previously told FFXnow that the Merrifield restaurant would have some additional menu and bar items, including cocktails.
Meat Project joins a rush of recent restaurant openings around the Dunn Loring Metro station. In the past few months, nearby Avenir Place has added The Casual Pint, the taiyaki shop Rice Culture and the American-style barbecue joint Myron Mixon Pitmaster BBQ.
Metro Optimistic Worst Budget Cuts Can Be Avoided — “Metro is likely to escape extreme cuts that would have decimated the region’s public transportation after D.C., Maryland and Virginia leaders vowed to make up nearly half a billion dollars of the transit system’s budget shortfall, Metro officials said Monday. The infusions must still be finalized through votes…over the coming months.” [Washington Post]
Murder Charge Dropped in Hybla Valley Shooting — “D’Mari Norris, a young father, died after he was shot three times outside the Mount Vernon Square Apartment Homes in Fairfax County in late August 2022…In court on Monday, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office dismissed the murder charge against the accused killer,” stating that they lacked the evidence to disprove the defendant’s self-defense argument. [NBC4]
Protestors Camp Outside Secretary of State’s Home Near McLean — “Protesters angry over Israel’s assault on Gaza have become a regular presence outside [Antony] Blinken’s residence in Northern Virginia, with some camping out for days in roadside tents. Palestinian flags and handmade signs express their fury at a diplomat who has become the face of President Biden’s policy toward the conflict.” [New York Times]
County Sees Uptick in Opioid Overdoses — “Opioid overdoses in Fairfax County, Virginia, are rising in part because of the cost and accessibility of counterfeit pills that are often laced with fentanyl, county leaders said during a recent committee meeting…There were 404 non-fatal opioid overdoses in the county in 2023, compared to 304 in 2022, according to county data.” [WTOP]
Valentine’s Day Events Coming to County Parks — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has many activities to usher in the big day of adoration. Whether you are into chocolate, animals, do-it-yourself crafts or good ol’ fashion togetherness, love is all around in our parks! Check out these fun activities to enjoy the holiday that commemorates love.” [FCPA]
Chain Saws Stolen in Fairfax City — “City of Fairfax Police released photos taken by a surveillance camera that show a man they say stole two chainsaws from a city business…On Jan. 17, the man in the photos entered the Lowes department store located at 4080 Germantown Road and took two electric chainsaws without paying.” [Patch]
Springfield Gas Station Could Add Convenience Store — “The owner of a Shell station in the Springfield area of Mason District is proposing to add a convenience store and double the number of fuel pumps…The proposal calls for a new 3,982-square-foot convenience store, possibly operated by 7-Eleven.” [Annandale Today]
Vienna Inn Celebrates 64th Anniversary — “Much has changed in Vienna since 1960, but the Vienna Inn remains a mainstay for chili dogs and neighborly camaraderie. In February, the restaurant will celebrate its 64th anniversary with…special menu offerings, kids nights, community fundraisers with Mayor Linda Colbert and other guests, contests, giveaways and more.” [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 47 degrees, accompanied by a northeast wind at 7 to 9 mph. In the evening, clear conditions will continue, with the temperature dropping to around 29 degrees, and a north wind at approximately 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 10:30 a.m. on 2/7/2024) Chesterbrook Shopping Center is bringing in a pair of beauty services retailers to complement its ongoing exterior makeover.
This summer, the McLean shopping center will welcome the first Virginia location of SkinSpirit, the nation’s “leading provider of Botox and filler,” property owner Federal Realty announced last week.
Also offering facials, body contouring and laser services, SkinSpirit launched in Silicon Valley in 2003 and now has 41 clinics across the U.S., including ones in Georgetown and Gaithersburg. Its McLean location will occupy 2,898 square feet at 6224 Old Dominion Drive.
SkinSpirit will be joined at Chesterbrook in early 2025 by Bluemercury, which sells makeup, skin care, cosmetics, perfume, hair, and bath and body products, Federal Realty says, confirming a merchandising plan that indicated a lease was in the works.
Founded in Georgetown in 1999, Bluemercury has about eight stores in the D.C. area, including ones at the Mosaic District in Merrifield and in Fairfax Corner. Its store at Chesterbrook will be 2,236 square feet in size.
“We are pleased to welcome SkinSpirit and Bluemercury to Chesterbrook Shopping Center,” Federal Senior Vice President of Asset Management Deirdre Johnson said. “These luxury self-care service providers will be outstanding neighborhood additions, further enhancing our patrons’ unique shopping experience.”
Previously confirmed tenants coming to Chesterbrook this year include Small Door Veterinary, which is on track to open this summer, and the restaurant Sorn Thai, which is still projected to launch in late 2024.
The bagel shop Call Your Mother is also expected to relocate soon from the “Lil Deli” truck that arrived last May to a 1,405-square-foot, permanent space next to Le Village Marché.
“The ‘Lil Deli’ will remain in operation until the new space is ready in the spring of 2024,” Federal Realty said.
This summer will also see the completion of Federal Realty’s multi-million-dollar renovation of the shopping center, which was originally built in 1967. Under construction since August 2022, the project is refreshing the storefronts and adding landscaping, decorative lighting, wider sidewalks and outdoor amenity spaces.
Two Virginia lawmakers are proposing sweeping measures to improve the state’s provision of special education services as criticisms from parents and the federal government over Virginia’s compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act continue.
Sponsored by Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, and Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, the proposals would create a statewide system to oversee the development and use of individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with special needs, require more training for educators about how to provide inclusive special education instruction, set up eight regional “special education parent support centers” and provide additional specialists to divisions.
“It’s no secret we are failing our students with disabilities in Virginia,” said Coyner during a Jan. 30 hearing on the legislation.
Federal law requires states to provide all students with disabilities a “free appropriate public education.” Among the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is that schools must offer an IEP and that “every child should have the chance to meet challenging objectives,” according to a 2017 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
“This bill ensures that there is monitoring of this civil rights law at the state level, and it’s very necessary,” said Kandise Lucas, a special education advocate, during a recent House Education subcommittee meeting.
Virginia has almost 181,000 students receiving special education services this school year, an increase of nearly 7,000 students from a year ago. But the state has struggled to meet the demands of students with disabilities.
Virginia has repeatedly been criticized by the federal government for problems with providing special education services. A June 2020 report by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs determined that Virginia “does not have the procedures and practices that are reasonably designed to enable the state to exercise general supervision over all educational programs for children with disabilities.”
The Virginia Department of Education disputed some of the findings, saying the federal office included “factual inaccuracies.”
However, in a Feb. 17, 2023 letter from OSEP, the office identified “significant new or continued areas of concerns” with how the state was complying with supervision, dispute resolution and confidentiality requirements in IDEA. In particular, it concluded Virginia “does not have procedures and practices that are reasonably designed to ensure a timely resolution process” for complaints and said at least five districts were not adhering to IDEA regulations.
Individual school divisions have also been faulted by federal officials. In November 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights found Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia’s largest school district, had failed (link added by FFXnow) to provide thousands of students with disabilities the education they were entitled to receive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State reviews have also echoed many federal criticisms. In 2020, the Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission identified major shortcomings in the state’s provision of special education services, including low-quality IEPs, a lack of knowledge among educators about how to effectively support students with disabilities and shortfalls in the Virginia Department of Education’s oversight of local divisions.
Researchers who reviewed 90 randomly selected IEPs found about half lacked goals for academic progress or improved functioning, which are required by federal law. About 37% of parents believed the services outlined in their child’s IEP were only “somewhat” or “not at all appropriate.”
A third of the special education directors interviewed by JLARC said only half or fewer administrators and general education teachers in their division had the knowledge or skills necessary to support students with disabilities. However, researchers pointed out that state regulations only required “minimal” training in special education for administrators.
Overall, the report observed Virginia students with severe, less common or multiple disabilities graduated at a rate lower than those with more common disabilities. Additionally, it found a persistent shortage of special education teachers, with many school divisions relying on underprepared teachers to fill gaps.
A statewide IEP system, additional training and parent support centers
Coyner and Favola pitched their legislation this week as a way to address many of the problems identified by the federal government and JLARC.
“Most of the things that the federal government has hit us with is about compliance, and while compliance must happen, it doesn’t guarantee great instructional practices and that all students are served the best they can be in the commonwealth,” said Coyner, a former Chesterfield School Board member, at a Tuesday hearing.
“At the end of the day, we want our school systems to serve every child,” Favola told a Senate panel Thursday.
While the bills are identical in many respects, the House version of the legislation includes a formal definition of an IEP and more requirements for school boards to provide teachers with training.
A key proposal of both would create a statewide system to oversee the development and use of IEPs for students with special needs. In addition to providing a model for schools to use in crafting IEPs, the system would provide guidance to school boards on how to use them and include data-tracking capabilities.
Amendments to the legislation would allow schools that already have their own version of an IEP tracking and oversight system to opt out of the state system.
The proposal would also require training for educators about how to provide inclusive special education instruction and would task school boards with providing “high-quality professional development in instructional practices” for special education.
Mike Asip, policy and legislative chair for the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education, said at a Jan. 30 hearing that “professional development for general ed teachers and administrators is critical to making them a fully informed team about the needs of students with disabilities.”
Public colleges and universities would also be required to instruct aspiring teachers in teaching in inclusive settings, or classrooms that meet the individual needs of students.
“This is a very comprehensive, robust bill that can focus on inclusion and focus on quality education for all of our kids,” said Tonya Milling, executive director of the Arc of Virginia, an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, at the Jan. 30 hearing.
To increase resources for parents, the legislation would set up eight regional special education parent support centers, staffed with a special parent ombudsman who would systematically track and report questions and concerns raised by parents of special education students to the state.
Additionally, school boards would have to hire at least one full-time special education parent engagement specialist to help parents navigate the referral, evaluation, eligibility and IEP processes.
Both Favola and Coyner are asking for $14.2 million over the next two years to pay for divisions’ special education parent engagement specialists and $8.1 million for the creation of the Virginia IEP system, professional development, teacher coaching and eight additional state ombudsman positions.
Two speakers Thursday said they wished the bill addressed problems with the special education teacher pipeline given the “extraordinary shortage” of teachers and the state’s reliance on provisionally licensed teachers.
Favola acknowledged the bill does not fix the teacher pipeline issue but said there are ways to address those concerns through the regulatory process or by creating incentives.
Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, who supported the bill, said she too was worried about special education teachers.
“The workload is immense,” Pekarsky said. “The type of issues that they are dealing with are significant. There is significant burnout, people are leaving the profession and we know that our students with IEPs probably need the most highly qualified experienced teachers.”
Agency efforts
Outside of the General Assembly, the Virginia Department of Education this October announced the creation of a workgroup to help develop what it’s calling the “2024 Roadmap for Special Education.” It also is creating a dedicated team that reports directly to the superintendent of public instruction to monitor how school divisions provide special education services and assist them as needed.
Last year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons commissioned Robert Pasternack and Nathan Levenson, two special education experts, to conduct external evaluations of Virginia’s special education programs.
The two experts identified similar issues as the Office of Special Education Programs and offered recommendations, some of which are included in Coyner and Favola’s legislation.
Pasternack’s report concluded the department should “provide much quicker feedback to divisions regarding findings of non-compliance and required corrective action following VDOE monitoring” and should increase its efforts to notify parents of tools available to them, such as mediation and the state’s special education ombudsman
Levenson’s recommendations included setting a higher bar for success for students with disabilities and adopting a “multi-pronged” approach to increasing the role general education plays in serving students with disabilities
Levenson wrote that while VDOE “may feel that they are already working on these recommendations … how they work on them must be refined. Outside third-party support will likely be required to help create a new normal way of helping guide, support, and pressure school systems. These recommendations call for adaptive, large-scale change, not minor tweaks to current practice.”
Photo via Element5 Digital on Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
Older residents will have a new housing option in Tysons next month.
After almost two years of construction, The Mather Tysons will start opening the first of its two high-rise apartment buildings at 7929 Westpark Drive during the first week of March, according to Mather Senior Vice President of Connections and Sales Gale Morgan.
About 90% of the 179 units in the 27-story “north” building are already reserved, Morgan told FFXnow. Opening in phases, they’ll be joined in the fall by the first of 114 apartments in The Mather’s 18-story “south” building, giving the complex a total of 293 residences.
“It is truly going to be a unique community when it comes to life plan communities, and so, we are super excited,” Morgan said.
First, though, The Mather has to train its robots.
Expected to arrive in early February, the robots will be tasked with vacuuming, bringing food and other deliveries to residents’ homes and assisting servers in the community’s restaurants by bussing plates between the kitchen and tables.
“It saves staff, but also, it allows the staff to really focus on the dining experience,” Morgan said of the server robot.
The inclusion of robots exemplifies the combination of technology, “luxury and…hospitality services” that Morgan says will distinguish The Mather from other senior living communities.
The homes range in size from 850 to 3,300 square feet and in price from around $650,000 to $4.2 million, though Morgan notes that residents get 90% of those entrance fees back when they move out. There are also 16 assisted living apartments, 20 memory care suites, and 42 private skilled nursing suites in a Life Centre on the fourth and fifth floors.
Concentrated on the third floor, amenities for residents include a fitness center, an indoor pool, an art studio, a spa called Marzenia and four dining options: Maku, an all-day dining area; Saam, a casual cafe that’s open for lunch and dinner; Tashi, a fine-dining restaurant; and Copas, a bar.
Saam and Tashi will both have outdoor terraces, with the latter’s serving as a patio and event space. All of the eateries will have different menus concocted by The Mather’s in-house dining team, according to Morgan.
Slated to open in March with the first residences, those amenities are all reserved for residents and their guests, but the 14,000 square feet of retail space on The Mather’s ground floor will be open to the general public.
During talks with Fairfax County to obtain approval for its development plan, which was granted in 2019, Mather agreed to give the county some retail space for a community center that will serve adults 55 and older.
“As Tysons grows and develops and as Fairfax County grows and develops, we want to be a part of their efforts to provide services for everyone in the community, you know, the parks and the soccer fields for the youth, the bike trails, but also for those adults over 55,” Morgan said. “And so, this partnership seems like a great way to allow us to do that with our expertise.”
The senior living developer has contracted with a broker to identify tenants for the remaining retail space, though none of it will be available until the south building is completed in 2025.
The latest addition to the 19.5-acre Arbor Row development behind Tysons Galleria, The Mather continues a shift toward housing in central Tysons, an area once dominated by offices. It was preceded by the Nouvelle apartments and Monarch, a 20-story condominium building that opened last summer.
Another residential high-rise could be on the way to Arbor Row, if Fairfax County approves a proposal to replace a planned office building. The application is currently scheduled for a public hearing before the county’s planning commission on Feb. 28.
Originally approved in 2012, the master plan for Arbor Row from developer Cityline Partners envisions close to 2.6 million square feet of residential, retail, hotel and office construction across eight blocks along Westpark Drive.
One Dead, Six Hospitalized After Annandale Crash — “Fairfax County Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash in Annandale, Virginia that sent seven people to the hospital Sunday morning, including one man who died en route…People who live in the area tell WUSA9 they’re shocked to see this happen but they said there’s been a long history of drivers speeding” on Braddock Road, where the crash occurred. [WUSA9]
Alleged Brothel Operators Indicted — “Three people arrested and charged in November 2023 in connection to brothels operating in Boston and Northern Virginia have been indicted by a federal grand jury…According to charging documents, the defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as in Fairfax and Tysons.” [WTOP]
Virginia Poised to Allow To-Go Cocktails — “Virginia lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of making cocktails to-go a permanent part of the restaurant industry across the state…The legislation, which was passed by both the House of Delegates and the Senate, would remove” the July “sunset” for a measure that allowed cocktail deliveries during the pandemic. [WTOP]
Park Authority Lines Up Black History Month Events — “Embark on a journey of cultural richness and historical significance this Black History Month with several programs in Fairfax County parks. Join us in honoring and exploring the vibrant tapestry of Black heritage though interactive events, programs, exhibits and offerings for all ages.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
FCPS Awarded Funding for New Teachers — “The Virginia Department of Education has announced funding for the current fiscal year for the Mentor Teacher Program, which provides resources for educators with zero previous experience entering the teaching ranks. Fairfax County will receive $137,782 under the program (highest statewide), with Arlington garnering $14,874.” [Gazette Leader]
Arts Advisory Committee Formed for Mason District — “Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez established a Mason Arts Advisory Committee to review Fairfax County’s Master Arts Plan and propose art-related activities in Mason District that align with that plan…The Mason Arts Advisory Committee, chaired by local artist James Albright, will hold four initial meetings to bring artists and groups in Mason District together to review the Master Arts Plan.” [Annandale Today]
Mount Vernon HS Dedicates Wing to Marine Training Program Alumni — “Dozens of Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) students and alumni, family members and community members converged on the school Jan. 31 for a special ceremony honoring the men who founded and led the school’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) program for many years.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Police Get First Female Motor Officer in Decades — “Officer Keyser just made history by becoming the first female motor officer in the Town of Vienna Police Department in a whopping 75 years! After acing the Fairfax County Motor Officer traffic school, she’s now out in the streets of Vienna, making sure that everyone follows the traffic laws and stays safe.” [Vienna Police/Facebook]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies with temperatures reaching a high of around 50 degrees and a gentle northeast wind at approximately 6 mph. As night falls, the sky will remain mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a chilly low of around 28 degrees. The north wind will continue at a speed of 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
