3 November 2003 Sully District Land Use and Transportation Committee Report
by Jeff Parnes

  1. Members: Jim Hart (Virginia Run), Carol Hawn (Old Mill), Judith Heisinger (Bull Run CA), Mark McConn (Bull Run CA), and Jeff Parnes (Chantilly Highlands)

  2. Presentations:

    None:

  3. Old business:

    • WFFCA's 7 October meeting discussed the Battlefield Bypass, the Tri-County Connector and other transportation issues affecting Western Fairfax. Some points raised:

      Maps of the current alignments for the Tri-County Connector are not in enough detail to determine the possible impacts to existing homes.
      Another Tri-County Connector newsletter is expected shortly, It is expected that the new newsletter maps will have more detail.
      The Congressional mandate for the Battlefield Bypass study is to remove traffic from the National Park, routing traffic around the park but not necessarily improving it.
      The extent of the interplay between the Battlefield Bypass and the Tri-County Connector has yet to be determined,
      The funding horizons for each are different. VDOT doesn't have the funds for the Tri-County Connector, but funding for the Battlefield Bypass comes from the federal budget.

    • Dulles Airport held a Preliminary Purpose and Need and Alternatives Public Meeting on the Proposed New Runways and Associated Improvements exploring the New Runways Environmental Impact Statement on 8 October, at Westfield High School

      Although the Open House was supposed to assist the FAA in finalizing the alternatives under consideration and other significant issues that are to be addressed in the Draft EIS, it seemed:
      that the differences in the alternatives were minor.
      that since the Draft EIS was not yet available, it might have been better release it and then seek comments on it

    • Presentations made at Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance "What You Need to Know About Transportation in Five Minutes or Less" held on 8 October are available on their web site: www.nvta.org/ppt/seminar.html

    • VDOT's 9 October public meeting covered the General Assembly's direction to VDOT, DMV and the State Police to address safety issues on designated areas of highway through the Highway Safety Corridor Program.

      Ultimately, these highway safety zones could receive increased law enforcement, education and safety enhancements.
      Most of the attendees at the public hearing were local governments or members of the press.
      The SDC attendee suggested that the name of the program be changed, as the emphasis is on making unsafe roads safer, then they ought not to be called Safety Corridors, but Unsafe Corridors. Of cause, VDOT and the Commonwealth could never designate a road as unsafe - they'd be opening themselves to suits for allowing the conditions to exist.
      It was also suggested that it seemed to be unfair the Commonwealth's drivers to first be forced to drive on roads for which the Commonwealth doesn't have funds to improve, and then be subject to increased fines to compensate for unsafe conditions caused by the lack of funding.

    • VDOT held a public hearing on the proposed Fairfax County/Fair Lakes Parkways Interchange on 28 October.

      Although there are no funds available for the construction, preliminary plans for the interchange at the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 7100) / Fair Lakes Parkway (Route 7700) and the widening of Fairfax County Parkway to six lanes within the existing median, from south of Interstate 66 to north or Rugby Road (Route 750), were shown.

  4. New Business:

    • Jim Hart brought up that a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA) entitled "Editorial and Other Minor Revisions" would delete certain categories of appeal of actions of the Zoning Administrator that currently could be brought to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

      After discussion on the matter, it was moved, seconded and passed, that the Sully District Council opposes changes to section 19-609 that would delete certain categories of appeal of actions of the Zoning Administrator.
      Judith agreed to present the SDC position to the Planning Commission, but after county staff became aware of strong opposition by many citizen groups to the proposed wording, the hearing was cancelled and staff planned to revisit the ZOA wording.

    • Jim also indicated two BOS public hearings on 17 November, the first for land acquisition for stoplight at Lee Highway and BRPO Rd; the second for on blight abatement for 16001 Lee Highway.

  5. Other scheduled meetings:

    • The Citizens Advisory Committee of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council Of Governments scheduled a public meeting on 18 November, moderated by Hunter Mill Supervisor, Catherine Hudgins, on the expansion of the Beltway with High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes.

      Flour-Daniels has made an unsolicited proposal to VDOT to conduct the lanes from West of The I395/I95/I495 interchange to just south of the Georgetown Pike on I495.

    • The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council has scheduled a Public Hearing on the Environment on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 7:30 PM, in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Virginia

      The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is an advisory group that has been appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advise the Board on environmental matters. The Council is comprised of one citizen representative from each Magisterial District, four at-large members, and one student representative. Each year, EQAC holds a public hearing to obtain citizen input on issues of environmental concern. The public is encouraged to attend and share views on the state of the environment and to identify any environmental issues applicable to Fairfax County. Environmental issues considered by EQAC include water quality, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, stream valley protection, wildlife management, light pollution, visual pollution, and the use and preservation of ecological resources. The Council would welcome your written and/or verbal testimony. To be placed on the speakers list or for additional information, call the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning at 324-1210 (TTY 711—Virginia Relay) or send an e-mail message to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov

    • Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will hold public hearings on the Supplemental Draft of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project:

      • Wednesday, 3 December, Langston Hughes Middle School, 11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston, VA 20191
      • Thursday, 11 December, Farmwell Station Middle School, 44281 Glouster Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147

      Each session will begin with an open house at 6 PM followed by the hearing at 7 PM. More information can be found on their website

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey M. Parnes
Chair, Sully District Council
Land Use and Transportation Committee

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modified by Jeffrey M. Parnes