13 September 2004 Sully District Land Use and Transportation Committee Report
by Jeffrey Parnes

Adopted from Land Use Notes - September 16, 2004 By Rachael Kesler 09/15/2004 ©Times Community Newspapers 2004

  1. Attendees

    • Members: Carol Hawn (Old Mill), Judith Heisinger (Bull Run), Jay Johnston (Virginia Run), xGeorgette Kohler (Rock Hill Civic Assoc), xMark McConn (Bull Run Civic Assoc), Jeffrey Parnes (Chantilly Highlands), John Swanson (Franklin Farm), and Larry Tessier (Franklin Glen)
    • Guests: Mark Baker and Steven Grant (Bowman Consulting), John Cowles (JCE, Inc.), Larina and Lo Voss (Ox Hill); Gary Garczynski (National Capital Land); Jim Hart (At-Large Planning Commissioner); Sheri Hoy (McGuire Woods), Charles Hustings (Chantilly Green); Greg Iungues (Stanford Hotels), Rachael Kesler (Time Newspapers), Ron Koch (Sully Planning Commissioner); Bruce McKinley and Dean Mojett (Ox Hill Baptist Church), Frank Stearns (Venable); David Woltel (OPX Architects)

  2. Presentations:

    1. 7:30
      • Proponent: Applicant is Stanford Hotels Corporation, Agents are Sheri Hoy and Greg Riegle.
      • Action: SE application for increase in building height
      • Location: It is on 4 parcels on the north side of 50, between 50 and the Rt 28 exit and Thunderbolt, in the NE quadrant of 28 and 50.
        The Standford Hotels Corp. was represented by Greg Riegle, an attorney with McGuire Woods. Riegle presented an application for an increase in building height for the future Hilton Garden Inn, which will be built on a 5-acre parcel of land on the northeastern quadrant of the intersection of routes 28 and 50 in Chantilly. This parcel is located in the Dulles Business Park.
        The land is currently zoned for the maximum allowable height of 40 feet. The Stanford Hotel Corp. would like to build the Hilton Garden Inn to a height of 67 feet, with six stories and 167 rooms.
        The inn will feature a restaurant, indoor elevators and a shuttle to the airport and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
        It will include 2,200 square feet of space, which can be used for weddings, small conferences and meetings.
        Committee member Carol Hawn suggested that the conference rooms also be available for use by community organizations.
        Riegle noted that adjacent parcels are zoned with a maximum allowable height of 75 feet, thus the Hilton Garden Inn would be compatible with surrounding buildings.
        "We are using the existing space by going taller, instead of spreading out," he said.
        "And," he added, "this hotel is not the type of business that would promote excessive peak-hour traffic."
        Since the hotel will be built near the boundary of the Sully Historic District, Hawn also suggested naming the conference rooms after historic figures or events or having a display that commemorates the nearby district.
        The committee recommended that Riegle and the Stanford Hotel Corp. present to them again after county staff has made its recommendations. Riegle said that he expects to appear in front of the planning commission by next February.

    2. 8:00
      • Proponent: Frank Stearns agent for National Capital Land & Development
      • Action: RZ 2004-SU-015, to rezone 19.72 acres to PDH-5
      • Location: Redevelop the area on Lowe St. that didnt redevelop last time.
        Frank Stearns, an agent for National Capital Land and Development, appeared before the Sully District LUT Committee for a second time concerning the residential development of property off Centreville Road, adjacent to Chantilly Green Estates and Armfield Farms, in Chantilly.
        After appearing before the committee in August, Stearns and his team made some improvements to their plan, upon the recommendation of the LUT committee. They added a tot lot, eliminated some units and reshaped some lots to allow for more recreation space.
        "We made the changes we needed to make in order to gain staff approval," Stearns said.
        The development comprises 87 single-family detached homes and nine single-family attached garage townhouses, which are classified as affordable dwelling units in Fairfax County. There are 409 parking spaces, walking trails and trail stations, as well as more than one-third open space. Sidewalks line all roads in the development.
        The committee advised that they would like to see the staff report, which will be available Oct. 4. Stearn said he hopes to "get across the finish line [with this project] by the end of the year."
    3. 8:30
      • Proponent: Bill Baskin for Ox Hill Baptist Church
      • Action: Rezoning (R1 to R12) and concurrent Special Exception
      • Location: Elmwood Street, off Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Rt. 50), south of the existing BB&T bank.
        • Bruce McKinley, Chairman, Ox Hill Baptist Building Committee, provided the latest copy of the GDP/SE for Ox Hill Baptist Church. Mr. McKinley was present to answer questions about their plan for the expansion of the church. Pastor L. Dean Majette was also present at the meeting.
        The expansion is a four-phase process, still in the first phase, which will take about 15 to 20 years to complete the final build-out.
        The first phase includes expanded parking, curb and gutter improvements, as well as improvements to the stormwater management system.
        The second phase will add a major wing to the church and a facility that will include a social hall, kitchen, gym, classrooms, an enlarged foyer and parlor.
        Phase three will add administrative offices and a music suite. The final phase will see the construction of a 600-seat sanctuary, more parking and additional classroom space.
        McKinley noted that the adjacent communities and their homeowners associations have expressed approval of the plans for expansion.
        McKinley has previously presented to the Western Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) land use committee, and both the WFCCA and the Sully district committees expressed approval of the church's renovation plan.

  3. Old Business (9:00)
    1. Capital Beltway Study Environmental Impact Statement Citizen Information Meetings were held in June.
      • Based on the large number of comments received from local governments and the general public regarding the physical impacts associated with the proposed improvements presented in the Draft EIS, VDOT has decided to evaluate modifications which would reduce the size of the Candidate Build Alternatives, particularly at each of the ten interchanges. In addition, the feasibility and effectiveness of High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on the Beltway are also being evaluated.
      • The results of these additional studies were presented at two citizen information meetings. Jeff attended one of the meetings and reports:
        • Basically the offered designs were essentially alike, except there are two HOT lanes and one HOV lane. Both the HOV and HOT proposals now show a non-barrier separation of the additional lanes from the existing four lanes of the Beltway.
        • The slip ramps from and to the HOT/HOV lanes to the regular lanes no longer exist. Once a decision is made to enter the limited lanes, one must either exit via one the special ramps or continue to end of the lanes before the Georgetown Pike exit northbound or before the I95/I395 interchange to the south.
        • The HOV/HOT lane entrances/exits at Rt 236, RT 29 southbound on, northbound off (for buses only) and Rt 123 are all in the middle of the current intersections (think of Stringfellow Road and I66).
        • Both the I66 and Rt 267 interchanges show new ramps connecting existing HOV lanes to the proposed HOV/HOT lanes. At I66 there would be full connectivity to and from the west. No ramps to I66 eastbound from southbound I495 HOV/HOT lanes or in reverse are shown. No HOV ramps from eastbound Rt267 to northbound I495 are shown, nor from westbound Rt267 to southbound I495.
        • Although some sort of improvement on the Maryland Beltway is being considered (one lane due to right-of-way considerations), there were no plans shown for connecting across the American Legion Bridge to the proposed Maryland's improvements.
        • VDOT has a website discussing the I495 HOT lane proposal
        • There is no funding available for the HOT lane proposal, but the HOT lanes may be self-funding with a 100 million contribution from the state.

    2. The Board of Supervisor's Transportation Subcommittee met on 19 July.
      • WMATA briefed on its request for a dedicated funding source, and its need for recapitialization funds, entitled Metro Matters, for purchase of additional running stock under the option provision of existing contract (saving hundreds of millions of dollars) and vital upgrading/replacement of existing 30 year old physical equipment.
      • VDOT briefed on the Beltway EIS Update.
        • They are reconsidering the impact of proposed Maryland improvements, such as including the missing ramp from eastbound Rt 267 to northbound I495 and extending the beltway lanes to the American Legion Bridge.
        • No HOV/HOT improvements are projected east of Braddock Road to Woodrow Wilson Bridge under this study
      • Two proponents briefed on plans to extend High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes on I95 southbound.
        • Both the Clark and Fluor proposals included building the HOT ramps from and to I495 HOT lanes, assuming the I495 improvements went forward.
        • The Clark proposal concentrated on I95 from Springfield south to Rt 17 north of Fredericksburg. They proposed three-laning the existing HOV lanes, and extending new HOT lanes to Rt 17. The provided options to go as far south as Rt 3 in Fredericksburg and three-laning the existing HOV lanes on I395.
        • The Fluor proposal discussed a Bus Rapid Transit service from Spotsylvania Count (RT 17 south of Fredericksburg) all the way to the Pentagon, as well three-laning the existing HOV on both I395 and I95, and extending new HOT lanes to Rt 17 south of Fredericksburg.
      • The Transportation Advisory Commission briefed on its recent efforts
        • Transportation Summit
        • TAC Spot Project Program (Sully's spot improvement is widening Stone Rd. to provide left-turn lanes at Olde Kent Rd., Billingsgate Ln. and Battery Ridge Ln.)
        • TAC response to the Braddock District Transportation town meetings (folks participating in the Transportation town meetings reported that had they better understood the 2002 transportation tax referendum they would have all supported it, even those who had voted against it).
        • TAC’s role in the BOS 4-year Transportation Plan

  4. New Business (9:30):

    1. Fairfax County has created a web page on the 2 November bond referendum so residents can obtain information about the four bond questions on the ballot. The ballot will include questions asking voter's approval to borrow money for improvements in:
      • Human service programs ($32.5 million)
      • Libraries ($52.5 million)
      • Parks($75 million)
      • Transportation ($165 million)
      For more information call 703.324.3187.

  5. Scheduled Meetings:

    1. Monday, September 13, 2004 at 7 p.m.
      The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a public hearing to present a proposal for the General Management and Conceptual Development Plan for Ox Hill Battlefield Park and the General Management Plan for Union Mills/Confederate Fortifications Historic Site. Both sites represent important local historic and cultural resources relating to the Civil War which warrant protection and interpretation. The combined hearing will take place in Room 106/107 located on the first floor of the Herrity Building at 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax.

    2. Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.
      Sully District 2004 Apr Task Force will meet fortnightly continuing into December.

    3. Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
      The Department of Planning and Zoning will be hosting on a public information session to introduce the draft staff recommendation for the Planned Development Districts Zoning Ordinance Amendment in Rooms 106 and 107 of the Herrity Building located at 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax, Virginia. The website will be periodically updated. Therefore, you may visit this site for the latest information concerning this amendment.

    4. Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004:
      Tentative FY2006-2011 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP)
      Public hearings to comment on rail, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian and highway projects (except for local/secondary roads) to include in the tentative program to be adopted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in 2005. Held at VDOT Northern Virginia District, Fairfax Room, 14685 Avion Parkway, Chantilly, VA.
      5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Informal open forum; comments can be submitted
      6:00 Formal presentation session starts; comments will be accepted alternating between that evening’s districts.

    Respectfully submitted,

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

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    2004 ©SDC; last modified Monday, 4 October 2004
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    modified by Jeffrey M. Parnes