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Dranesville Dispatch
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February 2016: Issue 32
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News and Information for
Dranesville District Residents
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John Foust
Dranesville District Supervisor
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Contact us at:
Dranesville District Supervisor
McLean Governmental Center
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Message from Supervisor John Foust
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Dear Dranesville Resident,
Welcome to the first issue in 2016 of the Dranesville Dispatch. The Dispatch includes important information on County issues, such as the budget, transportation and land use as well as recognition of community members. In addition to the Dispatch, my office produces and distributes the Dranesville Happenings, which includes upcoming events and announcements, as well as Resident Notices with brief updates and important alerts. I hope you find these publications helpful and informative.
Fairfax County's budget season is here. For the past several years, arriving at a balanced budget has been very challenging. This year will be no exception. Once again, the Board of Supervisors must arrive at a budget that supports essential County services while considering the County's financial soundness and ability to respond to future unknown challenges.
On February 16, County Executive Ed Long presented his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017 to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. On March 1, the Board will vote to advertise the real estate tax rate. The Advertised Budget includes an increase of $70 million for our schools, including a proposed increase of $54 million for the school's operating fund. This amount is below the amount requested by the School Board. Teacher salaries and class size are critical issues for the schools, and I will continue my efforts to find additional funds to address these priorities. Information on the Advertised Budget, including dates of my town hall meetings to discuss the budget, is included in this newsletter.
One very good piece of news is that the County's triple-A bond rating was affirmed by all three bond rating agencies (Moody's, Standard and Poor's and Fitch). Only 9 states, 37 counties and 32 cities in the nation, have this distinction. This triple-A rating has saved taxpayers about $700 million since 1978, by allowing the County to sell bonds at lower interest rates.
In addition, the Board of Supervisors has adopted policies to strengthen County pension systems, eliminated the use of one-time funding for recurring expenses and doubled its reserve policies from 5% to 10% of General Fund disbursements, which led to Moody's lifting its outlook from negative to stable.
The 2016 Lines of Business (LOBs), the first step in a multi-year process to shape the County's priorities and strategic direction, is well underway. There are 390 LOBs in Fairfax County. Community feedback is crucial for the LOBs process. We want your input on County services and priorities. There is more detail about the LOBs process and resources included below.
We experienced a record breaking snow event in January that really put VDOT to the test. Given the intensity of the storm, VDOT did a very good job. However, we have identified some areas where we will work with VDOT to improve future responses to major storms. For example, some streets were plowed several times, while others, even in the same neighborhood, were not plowed until much later or only once. Many sidewalks and bus stops remained unplowed, which contributed to keeping schools closed for several days. As we did following Snowmageddon in 2010, the Board will hold a post-storm summit on this year's Snowzilla. The summit will occur on March 1. Representatives from VDOT, FCPS and the police will be present to examine what was done right and how things can be improved. Information on the March 1 meeting is contained in this newsletter.
I welcome the opportunity to speak with your civic group or homeowners association. Please contact my office if you would like to set up a meeting.
As always, I appreciate your thoughts on how to best serve the Dranesville community. Please feel free to contact my office with your suggestions and concerns. It is an honor to serve you.
John
John Foust
Dranesville District Supervisor
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DRANESVILLE AND COUNTY NEWS
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County Executive Proposes Fairfax County Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
Supervisor Foust Seeks Community Input
On February 16, County Executive Ed Long presented his Advertised Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY 2017) to the Board of Supervisors. Schools are the number one priority, as evidenced by the proposed transfer of 52% of the General Fund to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
Fairfax County's budget is affected by the state of the local economy. While the County's unemployment rate remains well below the state and national level at 3.1%, the local labor market is exhibiting tepid growth. While the County gained almost 5,600 jobs for the period (June 2015 over June 2014), the growth is half the pace set in 2012. The contraction in federal procurement has impacted local labor markets and commercial office space vacancies. The office vacancy rate, which includes empty sublet space, was 17.5% at mid-year 2015. The amount of empty office space topped 20 million square feet. On the residential housing side, home prices were up 5.8% nationally through November 2015, but up only 2.1% in the Washington DC Metro area. The number of home sales rose 9.6% in 2015, but homes that sold in 2015 stayed on the market for an average of 52 days, up from the 45-day average in 2014. The County's budget has to reflect these economic realities.
Revenues are highly dependent on residential property tax
Real estate taxes are the primary source of the County's revenue at 64.9 % of General Fund receipts; of that number, taxes on residential properties provide most of the revenue. County-wide assessments for residential properties in FY 2017 are estimated to increase 1.64% down from last year's 3.39%. Taxes on non-residential properties in FY 2017 are projected to be approximately 19% of the total real estate assessment base, which is below the County's goal of 25%. However, after declining for two consecutive years, commercial real estate values are showing a modest increase of 2.87%.
FY 2017 Revenue
The County Executive's FY 2017 plan showed a balanced budget with a $0.03 per $100 of assessed value increase in the Real Estate Tax rate. However, even with this increase, a number of unmet needs and investment requirements would go unfunded. For this reason, the County Executive 's Advertised Budget recommends an increase of $0.04 in the Real Estate Tax rate. On March 1, the Board of Supervisors will vote to advertise a specific tax rate. Advertising an increase in the rate does not prevent the Board from adopting a lower rate; however, the Board cannot ultimately adopt a higher rate than what is advertised.
Based on the current assessments, the amount of revenue generated by each penny on the tax rate is approximately $23 million and impacts the average homeowner by approximately $53.
FY 2017 Disbursements
The County Executive's Advertised Budget proposes General Fund disbursements of $3.988 billion, an increase of 4.4% ($168.7 million) over the FY 2016 Adopted Budget plan. The amount the County transfers to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been more than 50% of total County spending for more than twenty years. This year's proposed transfer is 52.2% of total spending. Under the Advertised Budget, Public Safety would receive 11.9%, with Health & Welfare and Parks & Libraries receiving 11% and 1.3% respectively.
Transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools
The proposed budget continues the County's long-standing commitment to our public schools. Our schools are among the best in the nation and a significant attraction for businesses considering locating in our County. Maintaining their quality is the right thing to do for the students, and it is critical to maintaining and growing our economy.
The County Executive's proposed budget provides $2.08 billion in FY 2017 for General Fund transfer for school operations, infrastructure and debt service. This represents an increase of $70.6 million or 3.51% over the FY 2016 Adopted Budget Plan. Within this amount, the transfer for School operations is $1.88 billion, an increase of $54.75 million; the amount for School debt service is $189.87 million, an increase of $2.72 million; and an increase of $13 million in baseline support for School construction.
In addition to the Operating Fund transfer amount, the debt service, and the construction support, the County directly provides additional support for schools in the amount of $
84.7 million for programs such as Head Start, school health, school resource officers, school crossing guards, after-school programming (SACC), field maintenance and recreational programs.
On February 4, the School Board requested a County operating transfer of $1.95 billion, an increase of $122.7 million or 6.7% over the FY 2016 Adopted Budget Plan year and $68 million more than the County Executive's Advertised Budget for FY 2017.
Public involvement in the budget process
The Board of Supervisors is currently conducting an extensive review of the Advertised Budget. As that review moves forward, Supervisor Foust
asks for your input to insure that the Board arrives at a budget that accurately reflects our community's priorities. The opinions of all Dranesville residents are important. As in prior years, the Supervisor will hold town hall meetings on the budget.
McLean
Monday, March 7, 7:00 p.m.
McLean Governmental Center, Community Room
1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean
Great Falls
Thursday, March 31, 7:00 p.m.
Great Falls Grange
9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
Supervisor Foust and School Board Member Janie Strauss, along with County and school budget staff, will also present and discuss the proposed FY 2017 County and school budgets at the McLean Citizens Association's semi-annual membership meeting.
Wednesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean
The Board will hold public hearings on the proposed budget at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Hearing dates and times are:
Tuesday, April 5 at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 7 at 1:00 p.m.
To register to speak at one of the budget hearings, please call the Clerk to the Board's office at 703-324-3151 or 703-324-2391 (TTY 711), or sign up online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speaker_bos.htm. The public can submit written testimony to the Clerk's Office by emailing clerktothebos@fairfaxcounty.gov. The hearings will be televised live on Cable Channel 16.
On April 19, the Board will hold its "Mark Up" session, proposing additions and subtractions to the County Executive's Advertised budget. The final step of the budget process will be the Board's adoption of the FY 2017 budget on April 26. That budget will become effective on July 1, 2016.
For more information about the FY 2017 Advertised Budget Plan, contact Jane Edmondson at Jane.Edmondson@FairfaxCounty.gov.
Overview of the County Executive's Advertised FY 2017 Budget
How was the 2017 Budget Built? (values in millions)
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| Available Revenue (assuming $0.04 real estate tax increase) |
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$ 197.97 |
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| Uses of Funds |
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FCPS Transfer: |
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School Operations Transfer |
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$ (54.75) |
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Capital Funding |
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$ (13.10) |
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School Debt Service Transfer |
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$ (2.72) |
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FCPS Transfer |
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$ (70.57) |
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County Requirements: |
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Employee Compensation |
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$ (43.01) |
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Public Safety |
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$ (18.41) |
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Capital/Debt Service |
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$ (15.77) |
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Human Services |
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$ (12.01) |
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Community Development |
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$ (3.77) |
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Cost of Operations |
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$ (9.93) |
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County Requirements (before reductions and savings) |
$ (102.90) |
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| Reductions and Savings |
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$ 13.63 |
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| Total County Requirements |
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$ (89.27) |
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| County Reserves |
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$ (15.58) |
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| Available Balance |
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$ 22.53 |
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County Undertakes Lines of Business (LOBs) Review
Seeks Input from Residents
The County is well into Phase I of the multi-year Lines of Business (LOBs) process to shape the County's strategic direction and validate County priorities.
The $7 billion budget of the County includes an array of programs and services to support the diverse population of more than one million people. The County has 390 LOBs dealing with the approximately 47% of the General Fund that is not transferred to schools. The General Fund is derived primarily by residential and commercial real estate and personal property taxes.
Phase I included preparation of the LOBs by County staff over a several month period. Each LOB was reviewed by a LOBs committee, comprised of staff from various County agencies and the Board of Supervisors. The LOBs documents include a brief department/fund overview as well as detailed information about each individual Line of Business. Each LOB is also aligned to the County's Vision Elements. The Vision Elements were chosen because they were designed to include the entire universe of what the County does (outside of the transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools).
Beginning in mid-January and continuing through March, County departments are presenting their LOBs to the Board of Supervisors. During the presentations, each department engages in a discussion on trends, challenges, metrics and issues facing the department and its LOBs.
Phase II will focus on programs/services to be reviewed for improved efficiency and effectiveness and direction of staff to create project plans around implementation of recommendations from the Board. Ultimately, the Board will be better positioned to approve a sustainable financial plan to invest in the County's future success.
The ultimate linkage to the budget is in the context of 8 years of budget reductions, which have resulted in the elimination of more than 700 positions and $300 million. Any budget adjustments will need to be made with the recognition that the County's priorities will be impacted and, as a result, thorough evaluation is needed. As a result of the LOBs discussion, the community and the Board will be fully informed regarding the impacts associated with specific decisions.
Community engagement and input are critical to the LOBs process. There are a variety of ways to access the LOBs information at
http://fairfaxcounty.gov/budget/2016-lines-of-business.htm
. LOBs can be viewed by choosing the LOB number, the department, a category, by Vision Elements, a key word search, or by program area. Comments and questions can be submitted to the County. From these submissions, staff will develop and post Frequently Asked Questions and responses.
The County will hold three focused community meetings on LOBs on the following dates:
Saturday March 12, 2016
9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
South County Government Center (Room 221) in Main Conference Room
8350 Richmond Hwy #301, Alexandria, VA 22309
Saturday, March 19, 2016
9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Providence Community Center (Multipurpose Room #2)
3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031
Saturday, March 19, 2016
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Government Center Building (Conference Room 9/10)
12000 Government Center Pkwy, Fairfax, VA 22035
The LOBs exercise will also be discussed at the community meetings on the budget that Supervisor Foust will hold:
McLean
Monday, March 7, 7:00 p.m.
McLean Governmental Center, Community Room
1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean
Great Falls
March 31, 7:00 p.m.
Great Falls Grange
9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls
Supervisor Foust and School Board Member Janie Strauss, along with County and school budget staff, will also present and discuss the proposed FY 2017 County and school budgets at the McLean Citizens Association's semi-annual membership meeting.
Wednesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean
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McLean Area Renovations
McLean Community Center Renovation Update
Construction Scheduled to Begin Fall 2016
 Rendering of MCC Renovation
Construction to renovate the McLean Community Center (MCC), 1234 Ingleside Ave, is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016 and be completed in 2018. The renovation will add 7,750 square feet to the facility. Plans include a fitness room, open courtyard, natural lighting throughout the building, open lobby and hallway, a new conference room, expansion of the theater lobby and administrative area, and a glass façade on the back to allow visual connectivity with the library and the outdoors.
The Center's Governing Board held four public meetings in March, April, and May of 2015 to inform the community of the project plans and to obtain feedback. The project will be fully funded through capital reserves. The construction contract will be awarded in January 2017 and the building will be closed from April 1, 2017 until November 30, 2017. The Alden Theatre will reopen on December 1, 2017 while the remainder of the building will reopen September 2018.
Langley High School Renovation Update
Langley High School is undergoing a renovation to modernize the school which was originally built in the 1960s. The renovation will add large, open gathering spaces for peer-to-peer interaction, increase classroom sizes, provide access to outdoor green space, co-locate classrooms to encourage cross-curricular teaching, and improve traffic flow throughout the building. The addition of "Langley Hall," a large, open, multi-functional lobby with a staircase, will serve as a gathering space for students as well as a meeting spot for various organizations, fundraisers, and other activities.
The first phase of the construction consists of the addition of a classroom wing as well as a new Performing Arts wing, replacing the current theatre with a state-of-the-art performing arts center. The auditorium and performing arts area and administrative suite are on track to be completed soon. Additionally, the new science wing in the rear of the building is scheduled to be completed in the spring.
The Main Gym renovation and the Courtyard renovation will take place during the summer of 2016. In the future, the renovated courtyard at the center of the school will function as the "heart" of the school. There will be increased access to this improved green space. The last phase, from April to December 2017, includes the expansion of the Cafeteria and the addition of an adjacent "café" which will open to the courtyard and a study lounge.
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Bellview and Old Dominion Intersection Improvements Completed
The intersection of Bellview Road and Old Dominion Drive in McLean had been the site of numerous car accidents, including one fatality, caused by obstructed line-of-sight for drivers. Supervisor Foust
took an active role in initiating and accelerating the important Fairfax County and Virginia Department of Transportation project at this intersection.
The completed project addressed the line-of-sight issue by re-grading the intersection corners and cutting back vegetation and trees blocking the view of drivers. VDOT completed the tree removal on public land in October 2014 and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) completed the vegetation and tree clearing and re-grading in December 2015.
Improved Intersection at Bellview Road and Old Dominion Drive
"This is one of the most important road safety projects we have completed during my time in office," said Supervisor Foust. "I want to thank the neighbors who provided easements for the project and the entire community for their patience during the planning and construction process. I would also like to thank community leader, Michael Selig, who has been communicating with our office about the intersection problems and representing neighborhood concerns from the start. County and VDOT staff really stepped up and finished the project quickly. Project design manager Kirsten Munz and her team deserve thanks for their great work. I'm very pleased that we have already seen a dramatic reduction in accidents since the project was completed," said Supervisor Foust.
Supervisor Foust honored by intersection neighbors. Left to right: Betty Stacey, David Poe, Robert Makheja, Supervisor Foust, Sejal Makheja, Jared Makheja, and Michael Selig.
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New Herndon Fire Station
The construction of the new Herndon Fire Station is well underway and is estimated to be completed by July or August 2016. The 14,500 square foot, two-story facility will be located on the original fire station site at 680 Spring Street in Herndon and will have below-grade parking. The project will receive the LEED Silver rating for its energy and resource-efficient design that incorporates elements such as a green roof. A temporary fire station was constructed at 791 Elden Street and is currently being used.
 Rendering of new Herndon Fire Station.
Captain Wally Johnson stated, "We were able to stay in the same area and our service to Herndon and the surrounding communities has continued without any disruptions. We have worked hard to make the temporary facility like our home, and it continues to function extremely well."
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Arts Herndon
The Official Arts Organization of the Town of Herndon
The Boards of Directors of the Council for the Arts of Herndon (CAH) and the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts (HFCA) have officially joined together as a new organization called Arts Herndon.
Over the past thirty years, the CAH has awarded over $120,000 in scholarships, as well as educational opportunities and professional development programs to students and artists in Fairfax County. The CAH has commissioned public works of art, conducted literacy programs, and increased the visibility of the visual and performing arts in our area. CAH's work with at-risk communities have helped bring the arts within the reach of the entire Herndon community.
HFCA has served as a cultural hub for the town. It has hosted continuous exhibits at ArtSpace, funded arts programming throughout the Greater Herndon area, and conducted well-received performing arts programs such as 2015's Dominion Notes Concert Series. Its several annual events blend together the arts and society in new and innovative ways.
The work of both organizations has been critical to establishing Herndon as a leader for the advancement of the arts within Fairfax County. The new Arts Herndon will uphold these programs and traditions, while opening the doors for new and exciting opportunities.
For additional information contact Signe Friedrichs, Executive Director, Arts Herndon at signe@herndonarts.org or 703-689-9535.
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Community Working Group Formed to Address
Reagan National Airport Noise
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) established the Reagan National Airport Community Working Group in response to increasing community concerns regarding aircraft noise affecting residential areas in the District of Columbia and Virginia along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.
The Working Group is comprised of community representatives from Washington, D.C., and representatives from the Virginia jurisdictions of Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and the Dranesville and Mount Vernon Supervisor Districts of Fairfax County. Elected officials representing each community selected citizens to represent the jurisdiction in the Working Group. Supervisor Foust appointed Jim Phelps, of the McLean Citizens Association, to represent the Dranesville District.
Topics considered by the Working Group include air safety requirements, current operating conditions affecting air traffic patterns occurring at Reagan National, existing and emerging technologies that affect aircraft movements and performance, roles and responsibilities of government and business entities related to aircraft noise, and experiences of other airport communities in addressing noise issues.
The Working Group plans to complete its work by the summer of 2016 by presenting its final recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Construction Starting March 2016 on
Widened Route 7 Bridge over Dulles Toll Road
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) received funding to widen
the Route 7 bridge over the Dulles Toll Road (Rt. 267) from four lanes to six lanes.
Project construction is scheduled to begin in March, with an estimated completion date of May 2018. The bridge will remain open throughout construction. This bridge project includes widening the bridge and the roadway from approximately 0.1 mile west of Tyco Road to approximately 0.6 mile west of Tyco Road. The six-lane facility will tie into the existing four lanes of Rt. 7.
An attractive 14-foot-wide shared-use path will be built for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel in each direction on both sides of Route 7, tying into future planned trails. VDOT project engineers worked with Supervisor Foust and Dranesville residents to arrive at an underpass design that allows pedestrians to travel under exit and entrance ramps, crossing only one ramp at ground level.
This project replaces the decks and widens the middle of both separate sides of the bridge, to accommodate one extra lane in each direction.
VDOT will hold a "pardon our dust" meeting for this project on the following date:
Meeting Details
Wednesday, March 9
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Colvin Run Elementary School
1400 Trap Road, Vienna
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| Rendering of an aerial view of bridge widening project. |
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Updated Noise Ordinance Effective February 17
The new noise ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors sets maximum decibel levels for residential, mixed use, commercial and industrial areas. Some noises are excluded from regulation, including generators used in emergencies, snow removal, cars on the road, Metro trains and police or fire sirens.
Though Fairfax County previously had noise rules in place, they were rewritten by the Board of Supervisors last year because of a state supreme court ruling on a similar law which found that a "reasonable person" standard was too subjective.
Additionally, the Park Authority is changing the operating hours of dog parks to match what is required as part of the new noise ordinance. The new hours will be 7:00 a.m. to one half-hour after sunset Monday through Friday. On weekends and Federal holidays, the hours will be 8 a.m. to one half-hour after sunset.
For complaints:
- During daytime hours (Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Friday 9:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.), contact the Department of Code Compliance at 703-324-1300, TTY 711.
- At night, call the Police Department's non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, TTY 711.
For more information on the updated noise ordinance rules, please visit
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoning/noiseordinance/.
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I-66 East Set to Expand Inside the Beltway
A Plan to Reduce Congestion
Governor Terry McAuliffe and both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly announced on February 10, a bipartisan agreement to move forward on a plan to reduce congestion on I-66 inside the Beltway by widening a four mile stretch from the Dulles Connector Road to Ballston, improving transit, and adding new options for single drivers.
The work to start widening of eastbound I-66 from the Dulles Connector Road to Ballston will commence this year with an environmental assessment. Construction work will start in 2017 and the new lane will be open to traffic in 2019. This construction will take place within the existing right-of-way.
An original plan was previously approved by the Commonwealth's Transportation Board in December; many of those details, including tolls, are still in place:
- Converts I-66 inside the Beltway to Express Lanes during rush hours in the peak directions and improves transit options.
- If you carpool today (two or more people in a vehicle), you will continue to ride the lanes for free when tolling is scheduled to begin in 2017 during morning and evening rush-hours (5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. eastbound and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. westbound).
- Solo drivers can ride the lanes during morning and evening rush hours in exchange for paying a variable toll based on the distance they travel. Average toll is expected to be $6 a trip.
- In 2020, lanes will be free to vehicles with three or more people during rush-hours (carpoolers, vanpools and buses) and motorcycles per adopted regional policy. All others will pay a variable toll.
- The lanes will remain free to all traffic during off-peak periods. There will be no tolling in the reverse commute.
- All of the revenues raised from the tolls will be used by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for improvements in the corridor such as new transit service and carpooling incentives. Estimated toll revenue in 2018 is $18 million.
A separate plan is under consideration for I-66 outside the Beltway to Gainesville.
March 7, 8, 9: "I-66 Inside the Beltway" Design Public Hearings
In March, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), will host several Design Public Hearings (originally scheduled for late January and early February) for the "Transform 66 Inside the Beltway" Project. Attend one of the hearing dates and find out what you need to know about this important project:
- Learn how the dynamically-priced toll lanes will operate on I-66 inside the Beltway.
- Review proposed locations and design of toll gantries and pricing signs.
- View displays and discuss your questions with VDOT staff.
- Attend the formal presentation, followed by a public comment period.
- Submit oral and/or written comments.
Hearing Dates/Times:
Monday, March 7 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. - Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Washington-Lee High School
1301 N Stafford St, Arlington, VA 22201
Tuesday, March 8 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. - Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Eagle Ridge Middle School
42901 Waxpool Rd, Ashburn, VA 20148
Wednesday, March 9 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. - Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
VDOT Northern Virginia District
4975 Alliance Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030
How to Provide Your Comments
At the Public Hearings:
- Engage in discussions with VDOT staff and project representatives
- Provide oral comments during the pubic comment period following the formal presentation or individual to the court reporter
- Submit written comments on the comment sheet
If you are not ready to submit your comments at the hearings, you may submit them by March 24, 2016 as follows:
- Email: Email your comments or question to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov
- Online: Submit your comments via the online comment form, available at Transform66.org
- Mail: Mail written comments to: Amanda Baxter, Special Projects Development Manager, VDOT Northern Virginia District, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Please reference "Transform 66 Inside the Beltway" in the subject line of all correspondence.
For more information visit
transform66.org
.
Click
here
to view a copy of the hearing notification.
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Bike and Pedestrian Projects Approved for
Western Fairfax County Silver Line Stations
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved several transportation projects affecting commuters in the Dranesville and Hunter Mill Districts last fall.
The
31 pedestrian and bicycle projects approved by the Board aim to encourage multimodal commuting, increase access to the Herndon and Reston Town Center Silver Line Metro stations, and improve safety conditions for all. The projects are part of the Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study (HMSAMS), which includes projects within the Town of Herndon and surrounding areas, and Reston Metrorail Access Group Phase 2 (RMAG2).
The approved HMSAMS projects include:
- 3 pedestrian/bicycle intersection improvements;
- 7 pedestrian and bicycle facility improvement projects, including signalized crosswalks, lighting, sidewalks, shared-use paths and on-road bike lanes; and
- 3 projects that will study the design feasibility and costs of major pedestrian and bicycle improvement projects.
The approved RMAG2 projects include 18 bicycle and pedestrian projects, similar to those initiated through the HMSAMS recommendations.
Additionally, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to bring
Capital Bikeshare to
Reston and Tysons. This investment will help get cars off the road, boost local economy, and contribute to a healthier community.
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Merrifield Crisis Response Center Opened January 1
The new Merrifield Crisis Response Center (MCRC), a key component of the County's Diversion First initiative and a collaborative effort of the Community Services Board and public safety agencies, opened on schedule on January 1.
Diversion First is a collaborative effort to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the County jail by diverting low risk offenders experiencing a mental health crisis to treatment rather than bringing them to jail.
Since opening, a sheriff's deputy and a police officer have been stationed in CSB Emergency Services every day from 11:30 a.m. until midnight. Their primary duty is to accept custody of individuals brought in to the crisis response center by other police officers and sheriff's deputies who have detained an individual for a nonviolent offense and who judge that the individual may need mental health treatment rather than incarceration. This is designed to balance providing appropriate assessment and care for individuals in crisis while allowing those other officers and deputies to go back into service for other duties more quickly.
The interagency and community stakeholder teams have made significant progress in developing the necessary components of the Diversion First initiative. While their work will continue, some of the components of Diversion First have already begun, including Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for police officers and sheriff's deputies and Mental Health First Aid training for other County first responders, including the Fire and Rescue Department and Department of Public Safety Communication's personnel.
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Dranesville Disaster Community Resiliency Group
Supervisor Foust speaks with community members and volunteers at a disaster resiliency program sponsored by Fairfax County and Volunteer Fairfax.
In March 2015, a partnership between Volunteer Fairfax, Faith Communities in Action, and County offices of Emergency Management and Neighborhood and Community services completed a pilot program with a FEMA grant that is unique. Instead of a government focus, this program aimed at engaging local community partners: nonprofits, faith and community-based organizations, businesses, homeowners' associations and PTAs in emergency preparedness.
The pilot program was enthusiastically received, which led to another FEMA grant to expand the program into the Dranesville and Lee districts.
The goal of the program is to help create an awareness of our own potential capabilities, but also limitations, which may arise in the case of an unthinkable disaster. It is important to be aware of our community's resources and capabilities now, so that we are prepared to handle anything that comes our way.
The Disaster Resiliency Program consists of a seminar to educate and connect community partners, and a tabletop exercise to test and practice the newly-created networks in preparation for emergency situations. Recently, nearly 100 people representing many group participated in the program.
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Land Use Cases in Dranesville
The TEA Center, LLC
SEA 79-D-071-02
999 Balls Hill Road, McLean
The applicant seeks to amend an existing special exception for a private club (Sharon Lodge Masonic Temple) to establish the addition of a child care center.
Information, including the map of the site and staff report can be found here.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
PCA 2009-HM-017 / FDPA 2009-HM-017
South side of Dulles Toll Road and Sunrise Valley Drive, West of Dulles Station Boulevard
The applicant seeks to amend the approved proffers and the associated final development plan to permit an increase in the height of the County-owned parking garage from seven to eight levels with one level located below grade instead of two levels. No additional parking spaces are proposed, and the previously approved floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.05 would remain for the original rezoning application area.
Information including a map of the site and staff report can be found here.
This case was approved at the February 16 Board Meeting.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
SE 2015-DR-028
2205 Rock Hill Road, Herndon
Proposed Special Exception application for The Innovation Center Station - North Transit Station, part of Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Silver Line Metrorail Extension Project. Proposal consists of a northern entrance pavilion to the Innovation Center transit station and an elevated pedestrian walkway that connects the northern entrance pavilion to the transit station and other transit-related facilities, such as access lanes for a bus transfer area, a vehicle pick-up and drop-off area, and separate areas for car sharing and bicycle storage.
Information including a map of the site and staff report can be found
here
.
This case was approved at the February 16 Board Meeting.
Basheer/Edgemoore-Brooks, LLC
RZ 2014-DR-022
Approximately 600 Feet East of Springvale Road and North of Parkerhouse Drive
Applicant proposes to rezone a 51.9 acre property from the R-A zoning district to R-E Cluster (Residential Estate), at a density of .38 dwelling units/acre. The rezoning would permit 20 single-family detached homes and would be served by a public street.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here.
Gulick Group, Inc.
RZ 2015-DR-009
South of the terminus of Challendon Road, Great Falls
Proposal to rezone an 11-acre parcel from RA to R1-Cluster. The rezoning would permit the construction of 10 homes.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here
.
Sunrise Development Inc.
SE 2016-DR-001
1988 Kirby Road, McLean
Applicant proposes to construct a 73-unit assisted living facility on a 3.7 acre parcel zoned R-3.
Information including a map of the site, public hearing dates, and staff report can be found
here.
For more information on land use cases in Dranesville contact Ben Wiles in the office of Supervisor Foust at Benjamin.Wiles@FairfaxCounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
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Donation from the Offices of Dranesville Supervisor Foust and
Council for the Arts of Herndon
Annual Donation to Hutchison Elementary School's Shoe Locker
(l. to r.) Jenny Phipps, Herndon Aide to Supervisor Foust; Hollie Daniel, Counselor, Hutchison Elementary School; Renee Gorman, Counselor, Hutchison Elementary School; Ray Lonnett, Principal, Hutchison Elementary School; John Foust, Dranesville District Supervisor; Douglas Tyson, FCPS - Region 1 Assistant Superintendent, Leigh Allen-Hughes, Assistant Principal, Hutchison Elementary School; Anna Bledsoe, CAH Program Assistant; Pat Macintyre, CAH Director; Signe Friedrichs, CAH Executive Director.
The Council for the Arts of Herndon joins with Dranesville Supervisor John Foust's office every holiday season to gather new shoes and gift cards for children at Hutchison Elementary School in Herndon, a Title 1 school serving many students with challenging social and economic issues.
Thank you to all the kind and generous donors who provided much needed and appreciated shoes and gift cards.
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Supervisor Foust Helps Stuff the Bus
Stuff the Bus: Helping Fairfax Families
Supervisor Foust with community members and volunteers helping Stuff the Bus at Giant in McLean.
Supervisor Foust joined community members and volunteers to support Stuff the Bus 2016. This program is partnership among Fairfax County Government, local grocery stores, and nonprofits to collect donations for families in need.
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Board of Supervisors Recognized Student-Athlete, Autumn Brenner
McLean High School senior, Autumn Brenner, one of four students in Virginia awarded the Student-Athlete of the Year award by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, was honored for her athletic and academic achievement as well as her civic involvement.
National Student Clearinghouse and Freddie Mac in Herndon and FOX Architects LLC in McLean were honored as recipients of the 2015 Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) designation.
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March 1: Snow Summit
Snowzilla 2016
On the afternoon of March 1, the Board of Supervisors will host a Snow Summit during the Board Meeting, with school officials and police officers, providing the opportunity to thank VDOT staff and first responders for their efforts and to also address lessons learned and issues to be considered going forward. We will discuss a number of issues, including clearing pedestrian facilities, school bus stops, and commuter bus shelters after a heavy snowfall.
In Fairfax County, with the exception of privately owned streets, most roads are owned and maintained by the State, not the County.
Currently, neither the State nor the County clears snow from sidewalks. While not legally obligated, residents and businesses are asked to shovel walkways in front of their property. There are many sidewalks in Fairfax County that are not adjacent to a home or business however, and those go un-shoveled. When snow piles up in crosswalk corners, it becomes difficult or impossible for pedestrians to safely cross the street. Many residents took to walking in the streets as a result of snow piles covering the sidewalks.
These and other issues regarding the snow storm and its aftermath will be discussed during the Snow Summit on Tuesday, March 1 (after closed session and before public hearings). You can tune into Channel 16's Live Stream to watch the discussion.
If you have comments concerning your experience with snow removal this year or ideas for me to review before the Snow Summit, please email me at
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov. Your feedback is appreciated and welcome.
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March 15: DMV Connect
DMV to provide services at McLean Government Center
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March 8 and 15: Free Tax Relief Workshops
Locations throughout the County for older adults, people with disabilities
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is hosting a series of free tax relief workshops in March at several locations throughout the county. Real estate tax relief is available for older adults and people with disabilities who meet certain qualifications; you also may be eligible for car tax relief and tax relief for renters.
County staff from the Department of Tax Administration (DTA) will be at the locations listed below to assist with filling out the application form, as well as answering questions.
Dranesville District
Hosted by Supervisor John Foust
March 8 and 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
McLean Governmental Center, Community Room
1437 Balls Hills Road, McLean
703-356-0551
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| Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. For information, call the Dranesville District office at 703-356-0551, TTY 711. |
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| If you would like your community announcement included in Dranesville Happenings please send an email to Dranesville@FairfaxCounty.gov. |
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