As plans proceed for a newly approved pipeline in Pimmit Hills, a group of residents is continuing to push Washington Gas to reroute the project.
More than 100 Pimmit Hills residents gathered earlier this month to protest the installation of a new natural gas pipeline that Washington Gas plans to place in a neighborhood between Tysons and Falls Church.
The project, which was originally rejected twice by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), finally received the green light in late 2019.
The project includes roughly five miles of pipeline intended to support developmental growth in Tysons, according to documentation from the Pimmit Hills Citizens Association (PHCA).
Roughly five feet underground in the Virginia Department of Transit right of way, the pipeline will sit directly under the road, Washington Gas Spokesperson Brian Edwards said.
Lines will run under Cherri, Fisher and Peabody drives in Pimmit Hills, according to a map sent to Tysons Reporter by a member of the citizens association.
Major Concerns From Residents
PHCA Spokesperson Ashley Nellis told Tysons Reporter she worries that the 24-inch-thick and high-pressure pipeline will pose a risk to the safety of local families and cause “massive” disruptions to the area and the environment on several fronts.
The major concerns brought up by Nellis and other residents throughout Pimmit Hills include disturbances to the neighborhood during construction and long-term safety standards.
“This is a very dangerous proposition that has not gone well in other communities,” she said, citing an explosion that occurred in a town in Pennsylvania in 2018.
“We are the only residential neighborhood impacted by a high-pressure transmission pipeline that also happens to be routed along a known flood plain and next to the beginning of Pimmit Run Stream,” Robert Heilen, the president of the PHCA, said in a letter to VDOT.
Brian Edwards, the Washington Gas spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter that the pipeline will not negatively impact the regional flood plain.
After being pressed about community concerns, Washington Gas remains steadfast in its certainty that the pipeline meets, if not exceeds, safety standards according to Edwards, who added that the pipe is built with strong material so there is little possibility of a rupture.
“It is being designed at a very high standard so if someone were to even hit the line with a backhoe it would withstand the damage,” Edwards said.
Due to the nature of the project, VDOT does not require an environmental impact report for the project, according to Edwards.
The Community Fights Back
Politicians including Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and State Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd) and Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd) are also backing the opposition efforts.
Along with its normal monthly meetings, the citizens association began hosting weekly pipeline committee meetings to discuss changes and efforts to halt the project.
As of today (March 16), more than 570 people have signed a Change.org petition to reroute the pipeline.
Currently, a community member is in the midst of filing a petition of appeal against the VDOT approval, aiming to halt the pipeline progress.
Though independently organized, PHCA set up a GoFundMe page to fund the lawsuit. So far, people have donated over $9,500 in two months. “It shows how adamantly the community is against this issue,” Nellis, the PHCA spokesperson, said.
The private community member is now in search of new representation after the original law firm dropped the case, Heilen added.
Edwards said he was not in a position to give a statement from Washington Gas.
Project Alternatives
Project leaders within the community originally hoped that VDOT and Washington Gas would install the new pipeline along Route 7 — an option that Washington Gas said would be more intrusive and time-consuming.
As it stands, the line construction in the Pimmit Hills neighborhood would affect roughly 7,000 commuters daily over the course of three years, according to Edwards. But, if the pipeline would instead be installed along Route 7, he said it would take six years — double the amount of time — and affect roughly 41,000 commuters daily.
For community members though, perks of moving the line to Route 7 include an increased sense of security for their families and easement of construction noise.
Edwards said that Washington Gas plans to proceed with construction block-by-block in order to lessen the burden on homeowners.
Next Steps
As community members continue to fight pipeline installation, Washington Gas is proceeding with preparation for the project.
Edwards wouldn’t give an estimated project start time but told Tysons Reporter that Washington Gas hopes the project will be completed by 2023.
Heilen said he was told that construction was supposed to begin in early April, but said he hasn’t received any updated information.
“Most of the route is already marked,” Heilen said. “I expect that once they feel the weather is stable, they will start digging.”
Photos courtesy Devin Buries
(Updated 3/17/2020) Across the Tysons area, event organizers are canceling events due to concerns over COVID-19.
Unlike our usual weekly planner, our staff rounded up events around the area that have been delayed or canceled or postponed over health concerns for attendees.
The events listed below have all been canceled:
- March 16: McLean Citizens Association event with FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand
- March 16: paving program meeting at Coates Elementary School
- March 17: Storytime at Mosaic
- March 18: Providence District Paving and Restriping
- March 19: The Bachelor Live on Stage Shopping Party (postponed)
- March 21: Family Fishing Rodeo in Vienna
- March 21-22: Vienna Photo Show
- March 28: Prom Dress Give-Away in Vienna
- April 3: Old-Fashioned Egg Roll and Flashlight Egg Hunt events in Vienna
- April 4-5: Art Blooms at Mosaic (postponed)
- April 4: Town Clean-Up Day in Vienna
- April 6: Cherry Hill Ice Cream Social in Falls Church
- April 7: Storytime at Mosaic
- April 11: East Egg Hunt in City of Falls Church
- April 23: McLean Kitchen and Garden Tour
A meeting on plans to extend the I-495 Express Lanes has been postponed to April.
Did we miss an event? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media accounts, and we will update the list.
Editor’s note: This list will be regularly updated with the newest information on closures.
In efforts to lower the risk of spreading the coronavirus, Fairfax County, the City of Falls Church and the Town of Vienna are canceling meetings and closing places.
All three local governments have updates on their websites with coronavirus information — Fairfax County rolled out its new coronavirus webpage today (March 16).
As of Sunday, March 15, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 10 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fairfax County — a number that officials say is expected to grow.
All Fairfax County public schools are currently closed.
“If FCPS schools cannot reopen as scheduled on April 14, our plan is to begin distance learning either online, or by learning packets at that time,” according to a message from Superintendent Scott Brabrand. “Over the next two weeks, we will begin distance learning training for teachers and give teachers the opportunity to plan and prepare for distance instruction and reconnect with their students.”
Food distribution to students will continue throughout the closures.
Other closures and changes around the county include:
- indoor parks, community facilities and libraries: closed for two weeks starting Monday, March 16;
- senior and adult day health care centers: closed until further notice;
- most Fairfax County courts’ hearings and trials: canceled
- all Fairfax County Park Authority playgrounds, skate parks and restrooms: closed
- Town Hall and other offices/facilities will be open by appointment only through April 12
- Vienna General District Court: closed Monday, March 16
- The Freeman Store and Museum: closed through April 14
- the Bowman House: closed
- all Town of Vienna special events canceled from Monday, March 16, through April 12
https://twitter.com/TownofViennaVA/status/1241052641225998338?s=20
#coronavirus updates 2/2: Register for parks and rec activities online. Email or call staff for help.
Rather than coming to Town Hall during this crisis, the Town strongly encourages residents and others to conduct business with the Town online whenever possible.
— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) March 17, 2020
“Town of Vienna board and commission meetings have been canceled until April 13,” according to the town’s website. “The April 14 On Deck with Mercury event also has been canceled and Mayor’s Volunteer Reception moved to June 9.”
The town added that picnic shelter reservations will not be accepted right now.
- community center: closed from Monday, March 16, through April 12
- Mary Riley Styles Public Library: closed from Monday, March 16, through April 12
“The Community Center (223 Little Falls Street) and library host a large number of visitors every day, and closing the buildings could help reduce opportunities for public gatherings,” the city said in a press release.
People can drop off books at the library’s temporary location near the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School at 601 S. Oak Street.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Falls Church is suspending the weekly Farmers Market for this Saturday, March 21,” the city announced. “The city is awaiting further guidance from the Commonwealth regarding mass gatherings and food sources.”
Other Closures
All Virginia DMV customer service centers are closed from March 18-April 2 and driver and vehicle credentials have been extended 60 days.
McLean Community Center, which is home to the Alden Theatre, galleries for the McLean Project for the Arts, the Susan B. DuVal Art Studio and meeting rooms, is closed through April 12. The Old Firehouse Center is also closed.
“All classes, activities and performances are canceled, as are all scheduled facility rentals, community organization uses and the MCC Governing Board meeting and public hearing, which were scheduled for Wednesday, March 25,” according to MCC’s website.
Wolf Trap is postponing all of its performances, classes and events between March 13-31.
“We are working with the artists to reschedule their performances for future dates and will share that information as it becomes available,” according to Wolf Trap’s website. “All current tickets will be honored for the rescheduled performances.”
Photo by Tim Mossholder/Unsplash
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn is encouraging residents to give back to their communities as growing concerns about the coronavirus prompt event cancellations and working remotely.
Alcorn, who represents Vienna and Reston on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, took to social media last week to let local organizations and nonprofits know that his office wants to connect them to volunteers and needed assistance.
“Whenever we have the opportunity to step up and help, we should,” Alcorn told Tysons Reporter. “There’s a lot of concern in the community.”
Alcorn said that local organizations are expecting higher demands for food and assistance, especially from people who work in the service industries who have limited or no sick leave and for seniors, who are at a higher risk of getting more severely ill from the virus.
“The anxiety level, particularly for seniors, is very high,” he said, noting that there is a “sizable” elderly community in the Hunter Mill District.
As of Sunday, March 15, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 10 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fairfax County — a number that officials say is expected to grow.
“I think we can do a lot as we get through this public health challenge by reaching out to our more vulnerable communities and our neighbors and let them know that we care,” he said.
By Friday (March 13), Alcorn’s office had created a “How to Help Your Neighbors” list on the Hunter Mill District page on the Fairfax County website.
“Locally, specifically in Hunter Mill, we’re focusing on giving folks something to do,” he said.
Several organizations in the Vienna area are asking for financial help instead of volunteers, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Second Story, which assists young people struggling with homelessness, poverty or domestic issues in the Vienna area, is asking for gift cards.
“Gift cards help meet our immediate needs and can also be used for online ordering, for example, if young mothers need diapers but don’t want to risk going in public with their babies,” Christine Bartell, Second Story’s resource management director, told Tysons Reporter.
Bartell noted that Visa gift cards are the best option, but Second Story will also accept grocery store and Amazon gift cards via mail to “Attn: Christine Bartell, PO Box 694, Dunn Loring, VA 22027.”
“Since we’re limiting contact between youth and volunteers, gift cards for food will be especially important,” Bartell said.
Meanwhile, the Committee for Helping Others is urging people to donate online, send a check to “CHO, P.O. Box 233, Vienna, VA 22183” or to select “CHO Inc.” as the charity to support while shopping on Amazon Smile.
Alcorn added that he is frequently discussing the coronavirus with Town of Vienna officials and communicating with them about the needs of organizations in the town.
Alcorn emphasized “one overall need that also we want to make sure gets out there” — blood donations.
“A lot of folks donate blood to Inova,” he said. “We don’t want to get into a situation where [there’s] a low blood supply.”
People interested in the local organizations’ opportunities focused on the coronavirus can also check out Alcorn’s email newsletter and social media accounts.
“You can contact any of the organizations or call [my] office,” he said. “We’re going to continue expanding the list of needs.”
Additionally, Alcorn is urging people to take “normal precautions,” like practicing good hygiene and frequent hand washing.
“My hope and expectation are that our community will rise to the occasion,” he said.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider plans to declare a state of local emergency tomorrow (Tuesday) due to the spread of the coronavirus.
In a statement, Jeff McKay, the board’s chairman, said the board is expected to hold an emergency session tomorrow at 10 a.m as part of its next phase of emergency response.
Declaring a local emergency would activate the county’s Emergency Operations Plan and allow the county to quickly mobilize county resources. The board must vote to pass the declaration.
So far, all county agencies have been directed to shift to core functions. Residents are strongly encouraged to conduct any needed business online. All county parks, libraries and school buildings are closed for two weeks beginning today.
The meeting will be broadcast on Fairfax County Government Channel 16 and streamed online.
As of Sunday, March 15, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 10 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Fairfax County.
This story was also published on our sister site Reston Now.
Vienna police are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins and thefts around the town last week.
Four incidents occurred on Wednesday (March 11), according to the police reports.
One person at the Wolftrap Hotel (430 Maple Avenue W.) reported to the police that someone smashed the rear window of her vehicle and stole her purse between 5 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Another woman reported that the front passenger window of her vehicle was smashed between 7 a.m.-2:40 p.m. in the 100 block of East Street SE. One the same block and in the same time period, a man said that someone smashed the front passenger window of his vehicle and stole a black backpack, police said.
Lastly, a woman told police that someone smashed the front passenger window of her vehicle and stole her purse in the 500 block of Beulah Road NE between 3:30-4:20 p.m.
As of Friday, it was too soon to tell if the cases are related or not, Juan Vazquez, a spokesperson for the Vienna Police Department, told Tysons Reporter.
Photo via Facebook
(Updated 3/19/2020) Fairfax County announced today (Sunday) more closures to prevent the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Starting Monday (March 16), indoor parks, community facilities and libraries will be closed for two weeks.
“The impacted facilities include recreation, nature, community, resource and teen centers, as well as golf courses, historic sites and (permitted use of) athletic fields and picnic shelters,” the county said.
Some of the closures will allow the facilities to be used as meal distribution centers, the county said.
Earlier today, the county said it has closed senior and adult day health care centers until further notice.
Image via Fairfax County
To prevent the risk of spreading the coronavirus, Fairfax County announced today (Sunday) that all of the county’s senior centers and adult day health care centers are now closed.
The centers in the Tysons-area include the Providence Senior Center (3001 Vaden Drive), Lewinsville Senior Center (1613 Great Falls Street) and the Pimmit Hills Senior Center (7510 Lisle Avenue).
The centers are closed until further center, according to the county. “We are continuing to re-evaluate the need for closure and will reopen when it is appropriate to do so,” the announcement said.
Starting tomorrow (Monday), the county will provide meal delivery service to people are who registered.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Virginia Department of Health says there are 45 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth, with 10 in Fairfax County.
The pandemic has prompted schools to close or switch to online learning and companies to ask employees to work from home in the D.C. area.
Fairfax County Public Schools closed Friday for four weeks until April 10. A laptop distribution to students that was supposed to take place tomorrow (Monday), has been postponed, FCPS said.
FCPS announced yesterday (Saturday) the first FCPS-related case, saying that a staff member at Lynbrook Elementary School has tested presumptive positive for coronavirus.
“The Fairfax County Health Department is conducting an investigation to identify individuals who are at risk of exposure and will be contacting those individuals directly to provide further guidance and testing if necessary,” according to the county.
While the schools are closed, FCPS plans to expand its free grab-and-go meals to 18 sites by Monday, including the following in the Tysons area:
- Bailey’s Primary ES (6111 Knollwood Drive)
- Cunningham Park ES (1001 Park Street)
- Graham Road Community Center (3036 Graham Road)
Families can find the food distribution outside the schools from 8-10:30 a.m. for breakfast and from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch.
Additionally, civil jury trials have been suspended for 30 days, starting Friday (March 13).
Capital One says that one of its Tysons employees has tested positive for coronavirus.
“Today, we were notified that a Capital One colleague who works in our office at 8020 Towers Crescent Drive, in Tysons, Virginia, tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and is currently receiving the appropriate medical care,” according to a statement from the banking giant to Tysons Reporter.
The building is behind Tysons Corner Center.
The statement says that after Capital One learned about the diagnosis today (Friday), the “impacted office” was closed.
“[We] are following recommended guidelines from the CDC and other public health authorities to disinfect the space and common areas,” the statement says.
More from the statement:
We are in the process of identifying and notifying those who came into close contact with this associate to provide information on steps to take if they have symptoms of illness and to ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.
As our CEO shared earlier this week, Capital One has proactively taken steps to encourage and enable social distancing, including asking those in roles that can be performed remotely to work from home, temporarily suspending all non-essential business travel and announcing increased paid leave and more flexible attendance policies.
We wish this associate a full and quick recovery, and have offered support and outreach to them and their family. As always, our priority remains focused on the health, safety, and well-being of our associates, customers, and communities.
Bloomberg News first reported on Wednesday that the banking giant was asking people to work from home starting on Thursday (March 12).
The memo said that the company will announce increased paid sick leave and flexible attendance policies.
As of late 2018, Capital One, which has 52,000 employees in total, had moved approximately 2,000 employees to its new headquarters next to the McLean Metro station.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated 3/16/2020) Local nonprofit Second Story is asking people to send gift cards instead of volunteering or donating food and clothing to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Located just south of Tysons, Second Story assists young people struggling with homelessness, poverty or domestic issues. In a message today, CEO Judith Dittman said that all of Second Story’s programs will remain in operation.
However, the nonprofit won’t accept clothing, food or other donated items to “help prevent the potential spread of germs through objects as well as limit the number of people who visit Second Story for Teens in Crisis,” Dittman said.
Second Story is also limiting its visitors, telling its staff to work remotely and suspending its volunteers in the homeless, young mothers and teen crisis programs, along with volunteers who provide meals to the programs.
Meanwhile, people can still volunteer in the community-based programs, Dittman said.
For people who want to help the nonprofit, Dittman said that gift cards are needed to purchase items for the programs.
“Gift cards are extremely valuable right now as we temporarily suspend meal donations and youth in our programs, many with hourly jobs, may have a greater need for immediate support,” Dittman told Tysons Reporter.
Christine Bartell, Second Story’s resource management director, told Tysons Reporter that Visa gift cards are the best option, but Second Story will also accept grocery store and Amazon gift cards via mail to “Attn: Christine Bartell, PO Box 694, Dunn Loring, VA 22027.”
“Since we’re limiting contact between youth and volunteers, gift cards for food will be especially important,” Bartell said.
Dittman also shared how the nonprofit is working to decrease the risk of spreading coronavirus, taking steps like sanitizing surfaces more and communicating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The full message is below the jump:
