Has yours made plans to join us in 2012?

• I495 Express Lanes presented by Mike McGurk of TransUrban.

• In January, the SDC heard a request for a variance to subdivide 2+ acre parcel on Ashburton Ave. into two 1+ acre lots with 1 lot with required 150’ width and the other with 76’ width (the variance)
  • We voted to not oppose the variance request.
  • In May, Keith C. Martin informed the SDC that the variance app for 2 lots on Ashburton Ave has been converted to a Special Exception for waiver of lot width because VA Sup. Ct ruled that the BOS has authority to grant SE’s. Exact same layout just different code section.
  • Now, due what we understand were environmental issues, the driveway design has changed. See the revised special exception plat and contact Keith for more information.
  • Even with the change County staff objected to the access on Safron Drive due to tree loss.
  • We then queried the LUT membership for their views and received this response:
    • As a representative of one of the communities adjacent to the location of the proposed two-lot Special Exception, I do not have any objections to this action.
    • It does seem a little curious that Fairfax County staff have objected to the proposed site access onto Safron Drive due to tree loss when I do not recall this comment / objection arising in connection with any of the other recent larger scale development proposals in the Sully District. One could argue that if the removal of existing trees in connection with the development of this two-lot residential property was a concern, it should have been a concern of equal or greater importance relative to any of the development proposals along Centreville Road.
  • Based on this feedback we will continue with our current position

• In September, the SDC heard request PCA-FDPA 2006-SU-007 to revise the CDPA-FDPA, Proffers and Conditions for the Timber Ridge Residential Development on the EDS site fronting Centreville Road between Wall Rd and Cox Offices
  • The SDC indicated it had no objections to the proposed changes for the development and not to oppose the variance request.
  • Planning Commissioner Jim Hart provided the SDC the following documents:
    • Staff's memo to the Planning Commission on the application
    • CDPA/FDPA
    • Proffers
    • Conditions

• Possible Changes in Trinity Centre
  • Commissioner Jim Hart commented on a recent issue of the Fairfax Newsletter
    • Usually I don't forward this sort of thing to you all, but there was an article on p.4 about Trinity Centre, reproduced below, which I thought might be of interest, maybe we are coming full circle. There is a suggestion that the new owner now may want to go back to residential[?] partly. I remember the discussions over the years about changing the mix away from retail to emphasize office, whether a Metro station is possible on a curve, building heights vs. mountain views, athletic fields [?], and despite several do-overs, it still never quite came together or synchronized with the real estate market. I think at the very beginning wasn't there going to be a multiplex theatre [before Centre Ridge]?
    • I suspect that any dramatic changes in Trinity Centre would require another plan amendment even before any applications were filed. A newsletter article doesn't necessarily mean that anything is happening.

      Spear Street Capital Acquire Building, Vacant Land at Trinity Centre

      In July, San Francisco-based Spear Street Capital purchased three office buildings at Trinity Centre at the apex of Route 28 and 1-66 in Centreville, paying $44.5 million for a total of 335,000-square feet of office space.
      
      Now, the privately-held real estate investment firm, Spear Street Capital, has added another Trinity Centre office building to its portfolio, along with approximately seven acres of developable land.
      
      In its latest acquisition from Clark Enterprises' CEI Realty, Inc., Spear Street Capital paid a total of $42.5 million for the 4-story, 140,018-square foot Trinity Center 2 office building at 5840 Trinity Parkway.
      
      John S. Grassi, president of Spear Street, says what made Trinity Centre appealing to the company was that it is "a very attractive, well-located complex" with a diverse tenant base representing both public and private sector employers.
      
      As for the future of the 7-acre vacant parcel, Grassi says the company will evaluate its options, which could include a build-to-suit for an office tenant (the property is zoned PDC Planned Development Commercial). He's also not ruling out - "if it makes sense down the road" - the possibility of making necessary adjustments to allow multi-family residential development in lieu of the office building.
      
      Meanwhile, Spear Street's president says while there is uncertainty in the market given the federal spending cuts on the table, he is taking a longer-term perspective. He says he expects the outcome will be less Draconian than predicted and that a middle ground will be found in Washington. Even with spending cut-backs, Grassi expects continued demand for intelligence-related and technology-related jobs in the D.C. area.
      
      He also points to the well-educated employee base located in Northern Virginia that continues to attract companies like Hilton Hotels. "It is always hard to find this kind of employee base," Grassi says.
      
      The 70-acre Trinity Centre mixed use campus, accessed from Route 28, Lee Highway, includes six office buildings, a Marriott Spring Hill Suites hotel, Lifetime Fitness, and restaurants like Carraba's, Red Rock Grill, Austin Grill, on a campus-like, lake-centered setting.

• TPB Community Leadership Institute
  • The TPB’s Community Leadership Institute is a workshop designed to help community activists learn how to get involved more effectively in transportation decision-making in the Washington Region.  It is also intended to help the TPB reach out to communities and groups that typically have not been involved in the TPB process.
  • CLI participants represent organizations that have been recognized as forces for change in their communities, including leaders of civic groups, homeowners associations, business organizations and local citizen advisory boards. Through CLI, participants learn about how, where and when transportation decisions are made in the Washington region through a series of interactive activities and presentations. The curriculum also includes information about the various planning processes at the state, regional and local levels. Through experiential learning, information about key regional transportation challenges are woven into the curriculum, including the need for improved coordination between transportation and land use.
  • Former TPB Chair and Prince George's Council member Peter Shapiro will facilitate the upcoming
  • The next CLI is scheduled for Thursday, November 29 & Saturday, December 1, 2012.View the CLI brochure.
  • Registration Information
    Registration for the Fall 2012 CLI is open from September 19 – November 2, 2012.  If you are interested in participating, submit a brief Statement of Interest during the registration period.  The Statement of Interest can be up to 200 words, may be a bulleted list or in paragraph form, and should include the following information:
    • First and Last Name
    • Jurisdiction where you live
    • Recent community leadership experience and relevant activities (this could be participation in a citizen group, professional affiliation, volunteer experience, etc).
    • Reason for interest in CLI (1-2 sentences is sufficient)
    • Contact information for potential participant (including email address, preferred telephone number, and postal address)
  • Statements of Interest may be submitted to Deborah Kerson Bilek via email at dbilek@mwcog.org, or via postal mail at:
    Deborah Kerson Bilek
    Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
    777 North Capital Street, NE Suite 300
    Washington, DC 20002
  • Once the Statement of Interest is received, a member of the TPB staff will contact you regarding your registration status. 
  • CLI participants represent a range of transportation interests and come from all corners of the Metropolitan Washington Region.  In order for the CLI to be successful, it is important for participants to comprise a comprehensive group that is representative of the mosaic of interests and geographical diversity within our region.   The TPB hosts the CLI one – two times annually, so if interested parties are unable to attend the CLI this fall, future opportunities will be available.

• On 17 October 2012 Garrett Moore, VDOT District Administrator, Northern Virginia presented
  • Northern Virginia highlights for the Dulles Area Transportation Association.

• On 10 October 2012 Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance presented its 8th Annual What You Need to Know About Transportation Seminar
  • The presentations opened with John McClain of the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis discussing a newly released study on “Connections Between Transportation Investment and Economic Growth.” To read the entire study, click here
    • Connections Between Transportation and Economic Growth
      John McClain, George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis
    • Momentum – the Next Generation of Metro
      Richard Sarles, General Manager & CEO, WMATA
    • Northern Virginia Project Progress Report
      Garrett Moore, VDOT Northern Virginia District Administrator
    • Virginia Railway Express: Today and Tomorrow
      Doug Allen, CEO, Virginia Railway Express
    • Dulles Rail on Track: Phase I and II Update
      Pat Nowakowski, Executive Director, Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
    • NoVa’s North-South Corridor and Bi-County Parkway
      Gary Garczynski, Commonwealth Transportation Board
    • The State of transportation in Virginia
      Greg Whirley, Commissioner of Highways, Virginia Department of Transportation
    • What’s Still Missing
      Bob Chase, President, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance<

• Conservation Corridors in Northern Virginia Planning Project - Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032
  • This program will feature Laura Grape, senior environmental planner at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), speaking on a project to identify and map high-value ecological cores and corridors across the Northern Virginia region. Northern Virginia is rich in sensitive ecological areas, important drinking water sources, unique wildlife habitat, globally-rare forest communities, and nature-based recreational opportunities. Through the Conservation Corridors Planning Project.
  • NVRC and its local partners provide information and guidance on what natural assets exist in the region and how they relate and connect to important human interests. The program is $10 ($5 for members). The presentation will be followed by a networking reception with refreshments.
  • To register, visit www.novaoutside.org.

• Springfield District Council meeting topic - Keeping the Parkway from Becoming a Parking Lot
  • 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 23, at James W. Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax
  • There is an old riddle that goes "Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?" Unfortunately the Fairfax County Parkway, one of Fairfax County's "main streets" is quickly becoming a parking lot and challenging this age old riddle. We have had some successes in improving parts of the Parkway but I believe we need to get in front of the problem and establish a vision for its long-term future now. The Springfield District Council and I will hold a Town Hall meeting on the future of the Parkway on October 23 and I look forward to your participation. – Pat Herrity, Supervisor
  • Goals of this Town Hall meeting:
    • Share the history of the Parkway
    • Give current and projected levels of traffic
    • Explain improvements that are currently planned
    • Discuss possible future solutions and plans that should be considered
    • Provide an open forum for residents to give their views and offer their own visions for the Parkway

• Green Roof Tour - Thursday October 25th from 12-1 p.m., Herrity Building Parking Garage, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
  • No Cost and No RSVP Required
  • The Green Group has been invited to a guided tour of the Herrity Building garage green roof at the Fairfax County Government Center Complex (12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035). The green roof was installed in 2008 to help control rainwater runoff and serve as a demonstration of green roof technology. Learn how it has performed.
  • You can drive to the top floor of the Herrity building garage and park there, or you can park anywhere in the garage and take the garage elevator to the fifth floor. Turn left and the green roof is straight ahead. The tour will begin at noon. Light refreshments will be served.

• Fairfax County Roundup – A Whole Community Collaboration for Disaster Resiliency
  • The Fairfax Federation invites you to join its membership at the upcoming Fairfax County Roundup. This important event will be held on Thursday, October 25th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Community Center, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA. The Roundup’s purpose is to bring various community, faith, and non-profit organizations and businesses together to discuss the community’s role before, during and after disasters. The Federation is pleased to partner with Volunteer Fairfax, Fairfax County departments of Emergency Management and Neighborhood and Community Services, and Northern Virginia Community College on this event.

• Fairfax Bike Summit: Pedaling our way to a healthier and happier community
  • All are invited to join Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), George Mason University (GMU) and Fairfax County for the inaugural Fairfax Bike Summit on Saturday, October 27 at GMU from 9AM - 2 PM. Register for free - Attendance is limited to 200 people - so act fast!
  • About the Fairfax Bike Summit: The summit will bring together bicyclists, bicycle organizations, bike shops, and transportation professionals to discuss:
    • Turning Fairfax into an even better place to live by making bicycling a major part of the transportation system
    • Details about the recently-completed bicycle master plan draft that serves as our roadmap for making our streets safer for bicyclists (adding bike lanes, cycle tracks, signed bicycle routes, and connecting trails and streets that lead to major destinations)
    • How other communities are being transformed from auto-centric places to more people-oriented places
    • Bicycling as an alternative transportation option that provides opportunities to grow Fairfax County into a more competitive, livable, connected, and vibrant community.
  • You'll hear from nationally-known speakers including Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, Chris Eatough of BikeArlington, and Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. See the latest in transportation bikes and gear on display from local bike shops. Join GMU staff for a bike tour of campus bike facilities after the summit. A limited number of bicycles will be provided by The Bike Lane.
  • The summit will be held at The HUB at GMU in the Front-Middle Ballroom, 10423 Rivanna River Way, Fairfax, VA 22030. Display space is available for bicycle businesses and organizations. For further information, please visit: http://www.fabb-bikes.org or contact them at bikesummit@fabb-bikes.org.
  • Sponsored by Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, George Mason University, and Fairfax County.

• Branch Banking & Trust Special Exception Amendment request at Village Center in Sully Station
  • Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) has filed a Special Exception Amendment application to request approval to construct a free-standing drive-in bank on the south side of the Village Center in Sully Station.
  • The project has a Planning Commission hearing scheduled for 8:15 PM on 29 November 2012.
  • Because development proposals in the Village Center have generated neighborhood interest in the past, Sully Supervisor Frey has scheduled a public meeting so that BB&T can present their application to the community and answer any questions in advance of the public hearings. The meeting will be held in the Sully Supervisor's Westfields office at 7 PM on Monday, 29 October 2012.

• CONTECH’s 2012 Fall Stormwater Technical Seminar - Thursday, November 8, 8am -1145am, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Herndon.
  • This Seminar should appeal to many of the folks that are concerned about the future of Stormwater Management in Northern VA.
  • It will be useful to see what the private sector has come up with to meet many of the challenges that fall outside of standard practice, especially for ultra-urban development or retrofits.
  • The Seminar is scheduled for Thursday Nov. 8th (two days after the Election) from 8am -1145am, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Herndon.
  • It’s a great program filled with information, project profiles, practical examples and 4Hrs of continuing education credit available (PDH).
  • Here’s a brief overview of the program:
    • Update on new Stormwater Management Regulations for VA.
    • NEW Technologies for Treatment and Detention
    • Project Case Studies of local projects using CONTECH treatment and Detention solutions
    • Rainwater Harvest and Re-use – What is it and how to integrate it
    • Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (industrial pre-treatment and standalone for non-public sewer areas)
    • We’ll also have our full scale Magellan WWT mockup on display for view.
  • We’ll have a number of industry experts speaking at this event, as well as CONTECH representatives, sharing lessons learned for upcoming development projects.
  • Please contact Chris Gorman of CONTECH Engineered Solutions LLC directly to RSVP!

• Provide Your Input on Upcoming Multi-Year Budget Plan
  • Residents have the opportunity beginning Oct. 10 to provide input on funding priorities and possible reductions for the multi-year budget plan for Fiscal Year 2014 (effective July 1, 2013) and Fiscal Year 2015 (Effective July 1, 2014).
  • "The combination of flat revenue growth due to the slow economic recovery and increasing demand and requirements for services means that the county faces a projected budget shortfall of more than $100 million in both FY 2014 and 2015,” explains County Executive Ed Long. ”We want your ideas on how we can continue to move forward in a way that protects the quality of life we value in our community.”
  • Below are the two ways residents can provide ideas and suggestions this fall. The Department of Management and Budget will compile the input, which will be posted online in December and provided to the Board of Supervisors and the county executive.
    • Online Survey – This option will be open through Friday, Nov. 30. Helpful information to read before answering the three survey questions can be found in this presentation (PDF) and at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.
    • Community Engagement Sessions – Attend meetings hosted by the Department of Management and Budget; no registration is needed:
      • Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7-9 p.m. – South County Government Center, Conference Room 221.
      • Friday, Nov. 16, 7-9 p.m. – Government Center, Conference Rooms 9/10.
      • Saturday, Nov. 17, 9-11 a.m. – Reston Community Center, Lake Anne Plaza Large Meeting Room.
  • Upcoming opportunities for input in the coming months include “Ask Fairfax” online chats with the county executive and public hearings scheduled for April 9-11, 2013. Long is scheduled to release his multi-year budget at the Feb. 26, 2013 Board of Supervisors meeting.
  • For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.