The McLean Citizens Association meeting tonight (Wednesday) is scheduled to feature an illuminating discussion on replacing the local streetlights with LEDs.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Rd).

Over the next few years, Fairfax County plans to work with Dominion Energy to replace its streetlights with LEDs.

A resolution under consideration at tonight’s meeting would endorse the County’s plans and recommend lower levels of blue light emissions. The aim of the resolution would be to improve the light’s impact on humans as well as local animals.

In 2016, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted recommendations for LED color temperatures of 3,000 Kelvin or lower, based on studies indicating that blue light emissions from LEDs at higher color temperatures can create glare, impact human sleep patterns, and disorient animal species. […]

Now, therefore be it resolved that the MCA supports Fairfax County streetlight conversions to LEDs with lower blue light emissions, at approximately 2,700 Kelvin.

The resolution recommends updating the lighting ordinance to encourage warmer color temperatures as well as shielded fixtures to prevent upward light, adaptive controls such as dimmers, timers and motion sensors.

Vienna Mulling Economic Development Push — “Vienna is the only Northern Virginia locality without personnel expressly devoted to economic development, but that may change soon. Vienna Town Council members, in a joint work session Dec. 3 with their Planning Commission counterparts, supported town staff’s proposal to hire a consultant (for about $100,000) who would develop an economic-development strategy and conduct a market study.” [InsideNova]

NBC4 Covers Vienna Bike Corral — The Vienna Town Council’s concern about a bike corral potentially taking up a single parking space on Church Street was the subject of an Adam Tuss story on NBC4 yesterday. Via Twitter, the bikes@vienna store said in response: “Needless to say, we at bikes@vienna support the move. Will the Town get on board with providing much needed bike infrastructure, or will cars still rule?” [Twitter, Twitter]

Photos: Reindogs in McLean — “The 2018 Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce Reindog celebration, which took place Dec. 1… brought out the creativity of local residents and the understanding of canines who found themselves dressed up in holiday-themed costumes.” [InsideNova]

Fairfax Approves Funds for Tech Firm’s Tysons Move — “Cloud computing company Appian Corporation will receive $4 million from Fairfax County for the company’s expansion and new headquarters in Tysons… The Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors approved the Development Opportunity Fund grant from the Commonwealth at its meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 4).” [Reston Now]

Fairfax Supervisor Linda Smyth, whose Providence district includes Tysons, announced at a Board of Supervisors meeting earlier today (Tuesday) that she will not be running for reelection.

At the meeting, Smyth said she will be retiring next year.

“It’s truly been a pleasure to work with all of you, but this will be my last term in office. I will retire at the end of next year. But, I suspect this will be a busy year in Providence. We may have a lot of land use to finish up, so I am apologizing in advance for everything that may need to get done next year and asking for your patience with all of it.”

Fellow local officials were quick to share their thanks and congratulations to Smyth.

Congratulations to Supervisor Linda Smyth (Providence District) on announcing her retirement at today’s Board meeting. Thank you for your years of dedication and service to Fairfax County.

— Supervisor Pat Herrity (@PatHerrity) December 4, 2018

Supervisor Smyth has been a valued colleague on the Board of Supervisors. Her meticulous work on land use and transportation issues have resulted in tremendous progress to revitalization & redevelopment areas of the county such as Tysons and Merrifield. https://t.co/fDR1LLrzGQ

— Sharon Bulova (@SharonBulova) December 4, 2018

Smyth was elected in 2003, then reelected in 2007 and 2011. Smyth’s district includes Tysons and Merrifield, both of which have seen substantial development since she was first elected.

Smyth’s announcement is part of a shakeup on the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor John Cook (R) from the Braddock District announced that he would not be running for election again.

The Washington Post reports that Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova (D) and Hunter Mill’s Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (D) are also deciding whether or not to run again. The Hunter Mill district includes Vienna and Reston.

It’s been a long time coming, but plans are being finalized for the Tysons Biergarten’s move to a new interim location at the McLean Metro station.

Cityline Partners LLC is scheduled to present its plans for the next stage of the Scotts Run development at a Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting on Thursday. The plans include two office towers and one residential building.

Before those buildings are developed, however, Cityline is asking that the site be used as a beer garden and an open lawn.

“One of the uses that the applicant is considering is a biergarten, which would be relocated from its current location at Tysons Central (adjacent to the Greensboro Metro Station) to the proposed [area],” wrote Cityline in the application. “Tents and shipping containers converted into food vendor establishments will serve the potential biergarten use.”

Tysons Biergarten is currently located near the Greensboro Metro station with a month-to-month lease. The location has always been a temporary fill for the planned Tysons Central development at the site — part of the broader Boro complex — but has become a local nightlife destination.

In addition to the Biergarten, a small plaza with a kiosk is proposed outside of the biergarten entrance manned by a person to help oversee parking.  The application specifies that the structures and interim uses are not permanent.

In 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved Cityline’s plans for a mixed-use redevelopment with hotel, office, retail and residential uses across 5 million square feet. How long the Tysons Biergarten would be located in this space before development begins is currently unknown.

After review by the Planning Commission, Cityline’s proposal will move forward for approval by the Board of Supervisors.

Top photo via Facebook. Development map via Cityline Partners LLC

(Updated 3:30 p.m.) Ribbon-cuttings usually mark the grand opening of a new facility, but that’s not quite the case for McLean Community Center’s Ingleside Avenue Facility.

The project, which first broke ground in March 2017, is not fully completed yet but an invitation-only ribbon cutting ceremony will still be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at the McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

Sabrina Anwah, director of communications for the McLean Community Center, said the renovations are mostly complete and the facility is scheduled to open Jan. 2.

The $8 million project is a complete overhaul of the facility. Administrative offices are consolidated, ADA and fire compliance issues are addressed, and the facility’s lights, walls, and flooring are all updated or replaced. The renovations include two new multipurpose rooms and an enclosed courtyard.

Photo via McLean Community Center

Fairfax County Police are investigating an overnight burglary at a gas station in McLean.

Police say a man broke into the Chesterbrook Excel station just before 2 a.m. Friday and stole cigarettes. The burglary was discovered when employees found a garage bay window shattered.

More from FCPD:

6268 Old Dominion Drive (Chesterbrook Excel Gas Station), 11/30/18, 1:50a.m. Employees of the gas station arrived at work to find the shop had been broken into through a garage bay window. Video surveillance showed that a male of unknown race wearing jeans, a puffy winter jacket, and a mask, broke into the store and stole cigarettes.

Photo via Google Maps

Friday Night Fire in Merrifield — “On Friday, November 30 at approximately 11:59 p.m., units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the City of Fairfax Fire Department were dispatched for a reported kitchen fire in the 9400 block of Lee Highway in the Merrifield section of Fairfax County.” [FCFR]

More on Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop — “Bluestone Lane plans to break into the Northern Virginia market next year at the Boro development in Tysons Corner in mid-to-late 2019… The global brand from Australia is known for its ‘avocado smash’ toast, cold-pressed juices, custom teas, and other healthy fare.” [Eater]

PSA: Don’t Illegally Park in Accessible Parking Spaces — “With the holiday shopping season underway, finding parking at shopping centers can be harder than tracking down the hottest toy of the year. As a result, shoppers sometimes illegally park in accessible spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Approximately 75,000 county residents have a disability, so it is critical that these parking spaces remain available to them.” [Fairfax County]

Winchester Woman Arrested for Vienna Assault — “Vienna police officers went to Park Terrace Court, S.E., on Nov. 5 at 1:42 a.m. after authorities received a 911 hang-up call. Police located a resident who advised she had been assaulted by her girlfriend.” [InsideNova]

Fairfax Tax Deadline Extended — “Fairfax County Government Offices will be open Wednesday, December 5. However, because Wednesday has been proclaimed as a national day of mourning to honor the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, the due date for 2018 second installment Real Estate tax payments has been extended until December 6.” [Fairfax County]

The sign above the store still says Falafel Street, but there’s chicken coming to 235 Maple Ave E. in Vienna.

Banners placed on either side of the storefront’s door say that a restaurant called Keiko Charcoal Chicken is “coming soon.”

Falafel Street, a Mediterranean restaurant whose sign is overhead, closed earlier this year, according to its Yelp page. Despite the banners in the window, Keiko Charcoal Chicken does not seem to have any identifiable online presence yet.

Keiko isn’t the only establishment coming to this stretch of Maple Avenue. Across the street, Shin Se Kai Ramen is also “coming soon” to 234 Maple Ave E.

Hat tip to “Vienna J”

The massive Boro development in Tysons has a very small problem: its new Elf on the Shelf needs a name.

The development is holding a social media contest to name the elf as part of some planned holiday activities this month. The person who posts the most creative suggested name, as determined by the Boro, will win a Starbucks gift card.

Thus far the suggestions on Facebook include:

• Bobo
• Elfat Burrow
• Boronimo

Photo via Facebook