Loudoun Residential Planning, C-PACE, Bus Service Input, Climate Reality / Reinventing Power, Native Plant Symposium, Film: What Lies Upstream
February 2019 Great Falls Group Cascade
Significant Events Calendar

Feb 12 - Fairfax C-PACE Ordinance

Mid Feb - Loudoun C-PACE Ordinance

Feb 12 - Loudoun's Future - Community
Discussion

Feb 15 - Input on Herndon - Reston Bus
Service

Feb 17 - Double feature: Climate Reality / Reinventing Power

Feb 23 - Native Plant Symposium

Mar 15 - Film: What Lies Upstream
Upcoming Events and Information
Climate and Energy
C-PACE UPDATE

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a financing program that allows improvements in energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects in the private and non-profit sectors.

Actions:

Fairfax County - Feb. 12: draft ordinance will be presented to Board's Environment Committee for adoption in March

Loudoun County - Mid to late Feb: direct the staff to adopt C-PACE ordinance

Fairfax County Energy and Climate Action Plan

Residents of Fairfax County - Call to Action: advocate for the 12-Point Energy & Climate Action Plan. This plan outlines recommendations that we believe are achievable in 2019 and could ensure meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the years to come .

Loudoun's Future: Community Discussion
WHEN: Tuesday, February 12; 7- 9pm (Doors open at 6:30pm.)
DETAILS: Did you know that the draft comprehensive plan for Loudoun County, Envision Loudoun 2040 , proposes increased residential density? What impact will this have on people living in Loudoun? Come see the slide show presentation illustrating the impacts. Join your neighbors to learn when and how to voice your concerns.

SPONSORS: Loudoun County Preservation & Conservation Coalition, Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun, 350 Loudoun, Sierra Club Great Falls Group

Source of photos:
Climate Reality Encore Presentation with VA highlights 
Plus  Reinventing Power  documentary
WHEN: Sunday, February 17, 2-5pm (1:30 doors open; 2:00 Presentation, 3:30 Film)
DETAILS: We'll offer an encore presentation of Climate Reality with VA highlights for those who missed the November presentation. This presentation will include updated information on the climate crisis, as well as exciting solutions! Virginia-specific climate change issues, including Environmental Justice problems, will be described. We will identify opportunities for action.
Next, at 3:30pm , we'll present a screening of Sierra Club's documentary Reinventing Power . Please feel free to arrive just for the film, which takes viewers across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future achievable. These individuals are working to rebuild what’s broken, rethink what’s possible, and revitalize communities.
CONTACT : Natalie Pien at natcpien1@gmail.com (Please put Climate Reality in the subject line.) RSVP
SPONSORS: Climate Reality Project, Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun Green Team, Sierra Club Great Falls Group, 350 Loudoun
Film and Discussion: What Lies Upstream
WHEN: Friday, March 15, 6:30 - 8:30pm (6:30 snacks, 7:00pm film)
DETAILS: View the film  What Lies Upstream , a scandalous political thriller. The filmmaker takes his investigatory grit to West Virginia where he looks into a mysterious chemical spill that left 300,000 people without drinking water for months. As the story deepens, we discover scientific cover-ups and political malfeasance across all levels of government, poisoning the entire system meant to protect drinking water. Waste water environmental experts will provide background on how water contamination affects Virginia. This event is free of charge and open to the public.  RSVP
CONTACT:   sbonney001@aol.com
SPONSORS : Sierra Club Great Falls Group, UUCF Climate Action Group, 350Fairfax, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions 
Input on Herndon-Reston Bus Service
Help Fairfax County improve bus service. Here are ways you can provide input:

Fairfax County Department of Transportation, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033.
More details are at 

Public input is accepted until
5:00 p.m. on 
Friday, February 15, 2019.  
Native Plant Symposium for Beginners
WHEN : Sat., February 23, 9am to 2pm
 
WHERE : McCoart County Administrative Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22192

Learn how to: : 

  • Create a beautiful yard
  • Create habitat for birds & pollinators
  • Improve water quality
  • Reduce erosion

The $15 fee covers coffee and donuts, lunch, and materials. 


Let us help you to stop mowing and get going on your dream landscape! Call 703-792-7070 for more details. 
LED Bulbs Now Accepted at at Sites in Fairfax City and Lorton
Drop-off locations:
  • I-66 transfer station, 4618 West Ox Rd., Fairfax, Monday-Saturday, 8am to 4pm, and Sunday, 9am to 4pm
  • I-95 landfill complex, 9850 Furnace Rd., Lorton, Monday-Sunday, 7am to 4pm
Land Use Issues
Gabrielson Bridge Replacement Update for Difficult Run
Bowman Consulting has provided Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) with a draft concept design plan which they are reviewing.

The Coalition to Replace Gabrielson Bridge is waiting to hear about funding for the bridge’s replacement, and is recommending an expedited building review plan.

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86-Bed Benchmark Medical Facility on Historic Hunter Mill Rd
SE 2018-HM-024 is a special exception application by Orr Partners and Benchmark Senior Living for an 86 bed facility on a R-E zoned lot at 2347 Hunter Mill Rd, which is next door to The Church of the Good Shepherd. Initial projections are for a June 12 Planning Commission Public Hearing.

Location of proposed 86 bed assisted living facility, 2347 Hunter Mill Rd. - East lot boundary RPA / Angelico Branch
Blake Lane Park
There has been great community concern about plans by Fairfax County Public Schools to build a school at Blake Lane Park. The park is in an area surrounded by townhomes and condos without backyards or open spaces to play in, and the new school would take away the natural, open space for these residents. The park is the glue of the community - a place to meet and chat with neighbors, and for children to get outdoors and play.

Summary of Past Events
Fighting Climate Change with Smart Growth
On Thursday, January 10, Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director, Coalition for Smart Growth gave a detailed talk on walkable, bike-friendly, transit-oriented communities. Recommendations include:

Contact local elected officials and state legislators to support:

  1. More funding for transit, including additional operating $ for Metro to increase the frequency of service (The Metro General Manager has made this request).
  2. Maintaining the state's existing SmartScale transportation prioritization program, which has ensured selection of better and more cost-effective projects.
  3. Mixed-use, mixed-income, walkable transit-oriented development to reduce driving demand, traffic, and greenhouse gas emissions
Susan Bonney, Stewart Schwartz, Susan Weltz, Catherine Carver, Karen Camblin and Kelsey Crane
Also see Sierra Club/CSG Blueprint for Transportation in Northern VA for smart growth projects - mainly transit and bike/pedestrian but some road projects

More Information: 

Co-Sponsors : Sierra Club Great Falls Group, 350 Loudoun, 350 Fairfax, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
Green New Deal Lobby Day 1/22
The Virginia Committee on Commerce and Labor voted 8-7 in favor of passing  HB 1635 to a full House floor vote within a few days. Introduced by Delegate Sam Rasoul, HB 1635 calls for a moratorium on “fossil fuel projects and for clean energy mandates.” This is the first time an environmental bill of this magnitude and ambition will be debated on the floor in Virginia. This progress comes after a staunch showing of support for clean energy initiatives today with a massive 100+ person lobbying event earlier in the day.

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