From Supervisor Foust: Dranesville Dispatch

With school back in session, it is important to be aware of school buses on the road, active school zones, and crossing guards. More information on how to obey the law and help keep students safe is included in this issue.

In McLean, the community-driven planning study for the Commercial Business Center is well underway. An update on this effort is included below. Also in the McLean area, the Virginia and Fairfax County Departments of Transportation continue to work on ways to address congestion and cut-through traffic. An update on these efforts is included below.

Other exciting news for the region is that a Design/Build Team has been selected for the Route 7 Corridor Improvements project. Countywide happenings including the approval of short-term rentals, the County's Operational Energy Strategy, the appointment of a new Fire Chief, and more are also included in this issue.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts on how to best serve you and all residents of the Dranesville community, and welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Please contact my office if you have questions or concerns. It is my honor to serve you.

John

DRANESVILLE AND COUNTY NEWS

Road Rules for School Buses, School Zones and Crossing Guards

With more than a million residents and many visitors each day, roads in Fairfax County are normally busy, but the start of school adds three elements to local streets drivers should consider: school buses, school zones, and crossing guards.

Driving Rules Near School Buses

Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily. Passing a stopped school bus that has its lights illuminated and stop sign extended is illegal in Virginia. Traffic in all directions must come to a complete stop unless separated from the bus by a median.

School Zones

Watch for school zones, paying special attention to where they start and end. Follow the speed limit (25 mph in active school zones) when the lights are flashing.

Crossing Guards

Heeding the whistles and waves of crossing guards is crucial to ensuring the safety of students. A map showing the location of crossing guard posts in Fairfax County is available online.

Downtown McLean Planning Study Underway

In coordinaton with Supervisor Foust, Fairfax County's Department of Planning and Zoning has embarked on a community-driven planning study that will give residents the opportunity to contribute to the update of the Comprehensive Plan for downtown McLean. The Comprehensive Plan is used to guide future planning and development, including land uses, development intensities, transportation, public facilities, and design standards.

The McLean Commercial Business Center (CBC) is more commonly known as downtown McLean and is centered on the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive. It has long been planned to serve as a focal point for residents, with a mix of residential and community-serving commercial uses. The last significant review of the Comprehensive Plan for McLean occurred over 20 years ago.

The study began in June with three well-attended community workshops. A consultant, StreetSense, has been hired to compile and analyze the input that was received. The County will hold two community meetings in the fall to help finalize the vision statement. A task force composed of residents and representatives of the McLean Citizens Association, McLean Revitalization Corporation, McLean Planning Committee and the McLean Chamber will work with County staff to translate the community's vision into recommendations for changes to the Comprehensive Plan. Task force meetings are posted on the Meetings page of the McLean CBC Planning Study website and are open to the public.

Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-zoning/mclean-cbc-study for meeting information, documents, and videos of the workshops. For more information, contact Ben Wiles in the office of Supervisor Foust at Benjamin.Wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-356-0551.

Design-Build Team Selected for Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project

The Route 7 Corridor Improvement project will widen almost seven miles of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive from four to six lanes. In addition, the project will add facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and make substantial intersection and other improvements along the corridor.

This project has long been a priority for Supervisor Foust. In addition to improving roadway capacity for drivers, the shared use paths will provide significantly improved access for pedestrians and cyclists. Supervisor Foust worked closely with residents and neighborhood groups along the corridor to ensure any concerns or questions were answered by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

The projected cost of the project is currently set at $278 million, which was higher than expected. These higher costs are due to a competitive market linked to ongoing construction in northern Virginia, unexpected utility relocations, and the 230 property transactions necessary for the completion of the project. Fairfax County and VDOT worked together to find additional funds necessary to close the funding gap and each contributed an additional $40 million.

After years of work and preliminary design, the contract for final design and construction was awarded to the Design/Build Team of Shirley Contracting Company LLC and Dewberry Engineers, Inc. Survey work began in mid-August. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025.

Jones Branch Connector Progress

Work on the Jones Branch Connector is well underway. This project is being completed by the Virginia Department of Transportation in cooperation with Fairfax County. It will provide an important new link between Jones Branch Drive and Route 123, over the Capital Beltway (I-495), for commuters and visitors to Tysons. The link will improve local traffic and access for drivers, as well as provide a vital option for area bicyclists and pedestrians.

The half-mile project includes new roadway from the interchange of the I-495 Express Lanes and Jones Branch Drive to Scotts Crossing Road. Improvements will also be made along the access road from Jones Branch Drive to the Express Lanes, as well as along Scotts Crossing Road. Project features include two travel lanes and on-street bike lanes in each direction, three bridges over the I-495 Express Lanes and general-purpose lanes, 8- to 12-foot-wide lighted sidewalks, landscaping and other streetscape amenities, and a wide, raised median to accommodate the future Tysons Circulator bus.

By providing an alternate route across the Beltway and linking the Tysons East and Central areas, the Connector is expected to relieve traffic along Route 123, at the I-495 interchange, and at other congested intersections. One lane in each direction is expected to be open to traffic in early 2019, and the project is expected to be completed in fall 2019.

Board of Supervisors Approves Tysons Bicycle/Pedestrian Path and Bridge Agreement with VDOT

On June 19, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a project agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to design and build a shared-use path into Tysons.

The 10-foot-wide path will go from the Old Meadow Road/Route 123 intersection, along the west side of Old Meadow Road, behind the Dolley Madison Apartments, over I-495 on a bicycle/pedestrian bridge, to Tysons One Place. Input on the project was sought through public forums and community meetings.

The projected budget is $9.23 million, and the Supervisors had previously approved $1.6 million of the budget on May 15. About $7.62 million of the project is to be funded with money from Congestion Mitigation Air Quality and National Highway Safety funds as well as local funds set aside for the Interstate-495 High-Occupancy Toll Lanes bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The Board of Supervisors recognizes that there is a need for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian access in the Tysons Corner area, and is working towards that goal by approving this project.

McLean Area Traffic Concerns Update

Supervisor Foust has continued to work with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) on ways to address congestion and cut-through traffic in the McLean area, much of which stems from insufficient capacity on the American Legion Bridge.

A group of residents was appointed by Supervisor Foust, Delegate Murphy, and Senator Favola in early 2018 to serve on a task force to discuss these issues through a regional lens. The McLean Traffic Advisory Group (MTAG) meets monthly to help VDOT and FCDOT identify and evaluate recommendations for short-term and intermediate-term solutions and possible improvements for specific streets.

The intersection of Balls Hill Road and Georgetown Pike is a significant choke point. VDOT has proposed a capital project that could improve the intersection by adding an additional north bound lane on Balls Hill Road (there would then be dedicated left, through, and right lanes). Supervisor Foust is currently working with FCDOT and VDOT staff to find the funding needed to construct the project.

Garrett Moore, VDOT Chief Engineer, presents VDOT's pilot proposal to the crowd.

Several public meetings have now been held to discuss these topics and resident concerns. Most recently, VDOT hosted a meeting on August 2 to update the community on efforts to identify potential congestion solutions for neighborhoods near the Beltway and specifically to discuss a proposed pilot project. If implemented, the pilot project would restrict access from Georgetown Pike onto northbound I-495 (the Beltway) on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Approximately 300 residents attended the meeting on August 2 and many shared opinions on the proposal. The presentation from the meeting and information on how to provide comments is available online at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/mclean_traffic_analysis.asp.

VDOT emphasized that community support is necessary for the pilot project to proceed. A second meeting was scheduled to be held on September 13 but will be rescheduled due to the severe weather the area is expecting and VDOT's emergency operations for the impending hurricane. Once a new date has been set, the community will be notified.

Written comments can be sent to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov with "McLean Area Traffic Analysis" in the subject line.

I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Study

Maryland Governor Hogan has prioritized widening I-270 and the Beltway in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Transportation has begun the environmental study process that will be required for the project, which is being expedited. Within two years, the state expects to have a detailed plan for widening the highways.

To dovetail with this effort, Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board approved $6 million for VDOT to conduct an environmental study of a plan to extend the I-495 Express Lanes by approximately three miles from the I-495 and Dulles Toll Road interchange to the vicinity of the American Legion Bridge and Maryland line.

Virginia's I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension study, also referred to as 495 NEXT, will be developed as an independent, stand-alone project that will be closely coordinated and compatible with plans for the I-495 Capital Beltway in Maryland. The full scope of improvements will be refined over the coming months.

The environmental study, which will be completed according to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), will evaluate site-specific conditions and potential effects the proposed improvements may have on air quality, noise, neighborhoods, parks, recreation areas, historic properties, wetlands and streams, and other resources. The study began in April 2018 and a community meeting was held in June. A public hearing will be held in early spring 2019 and the study is expected to be completed in late spring 2019.

More information on the study is available online at http://www.virginiadot.org/495next/.

Coppermine Road and River Birch Road Traffic Signal

The intersection of Coppermine Road and River Birch Road in Herndon posed serious safety risks for pedestrians and challenges for drivers. Until recently, there was only a two-way stop for drivers on River Birch. As a result, pedestrians wishing to cross Coppermine had to navigate four lanes of traffic with no pedestrian refuge. In addition, because of the steady stream of traffic on Coppermine, drivers on River Birch had difficulty crossing or turning at the intersection.

In response to requests from the community, Supervisor Foust advocated for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection and worked closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation to find funding for the project. The signal is now fully operational.

Balls Hill Road/Old Dominion Drive Intersection Improvements

Public Meeting Held

On June 28, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Supervisor Foust held a public meeting to discuss alternatives for improving the intersection of Balls Hill Road and Old Dominion Drive.

Four alternatives, in addition to a no-build alternative, that would extend turn lanes or reconfigure the intersection were presented to the community. In addition to roadway reconstruction, the project will also include drainage improvements and 1.5 miles of new bike lanes, as well as 2,750 feet of walkways.

Information from the meeting, including the presentation, is available online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/projects/balls-hill-road.

Once community input has been received and reviewed, FCDOT staff will recommend an alternative to proceed through further design. Community input will continue to be solicited throughout the process.

New Canoes Coming to Riverbend Park through Grant

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant that will help purchase new canoes for Riverbend Park. The Park Board awarded the $3,000 grant to the Friends of Riverbend Park (FORB) at its regular meeting on July 25.

FORB requested the grant money to replace ten existing canoes that were purchased in 2010. The canoes have received more than 3,000 uses, served many camps and programs, and produced more than $56,000 in revenue. Due to their popularity, the canoes are in poor condition. The replacements will be similar to the old ones in color and style. FORB will match the grant with a $3,000 contribution, and the Park Authority will contribute $454 to complete the purchase.

Mastenbrook Grants provide limited matching funds for projects in Fairfax County parks. Since 1999, there have been more than 170 Mastenbrook Grant projects with awards of approximately $1.6 million. The grants have gone toward projects in Fairfax County valued at more than $10.6 million.

This information is available online at https://bit.ly/2nl2Hyq.

Clemyjontri Park Trackless Train and Picnic Pavilion Ribbon Cutting

Supervisor John Foust and Dranesville District Park Authority Representative Tim Hackman joined other elected officials, community members, staff and representatives from the Rotary Club of McLean, McLean Project for the Arts, the Fairfax County Park Foundation, McLean Community Foundation, and Friends of Clemyjontri.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, the Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) and members of the McLean community gathered on July 28 for the "inaugural" ride on a new trackless train at Clemyjontri Park, as well as a ribbon cutting for a new picnic pavilion. The celebration highlighted the many contributions of community organizations and individuals.

This popular park in McLean hosts more than 80,000 visitors each year who come to enjoy the fully accessible features which include an enormous playground, carousel, swings and now these new amenities as well. Everything is designed to enable children of all abilities to play side-by-side. Friends of Clemyjontri Park funded the new trackless train and a forthcoming "train station." The new picnic celebration pavilion was made possible by contributions from the McLean Community Foundation, Rotary Club of McLean, and Friends of Clemyjontri Park. Other contributors include Amy and Jeff Sonderman and the friends and family of Sue Rowell, a longtime contributor to the park. McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) and Wheat's Landscape have also contributed to park improvements.

New Fairfax County Fire Chief Appointed

The Board of Supervisors has appointed John S. Butler as the new chief of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, effective September 1. Butler will replace Chief Richard Bowers, who retired in April 2018.

Most recently, Butler served as chief for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue in Maryland and had been with the department since 1993. He began as a firefighter-paramedic and served as a battalion chief, emergency medical services chief, and administrative chief. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps, having served 21 years and seen two combat tours.

In Howard County, Chief Butler expanded fire and rescue services, hired the most diverse firefighter/paramedic trainee class in the history of the department, and helped establish the first and only local affiliate of the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services (iWomen). He also established community outreach programs, oversaw the construction of several fire stations, and improved service delivery and response times.

Chief Butler has a Master's degree in management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Baltimore. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and has a certificate from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Leadership in Crisis Program. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Human Relations Committee and Maryland's Emergency Medical Services Board, and has received the Johns Hopkins University's Global Achievement Award for humanitarian work in Africa.

Supervisor Foust joined Chairman Bulova, other members of the Board, and County Executive Bryan Hill at Chief Butler's Swearing In Ceremony on September 4.

New Zoning Rules to Regulate Short-Term Rentals

Fairfax County has put in place new zoning rules that permit homes to be rented out as short-term lodgings, such as those advertised on Airbnb, VRBO, and FlipKey, subject to specific conditions.

New Short-Term Lodging Regulations
On July 31, the Board of Supervisors adopted the new regulations, which will take effect on October 1, 2018. Until now, the County's zoning rules did not permit homeowners to offer these kinds of rentals, although officials estimate there are at least 1,500 active, online listings for short-term lodging in the County. Previously, the regulations only permitted transient occupancy, defined as rentals shorter than 30 days, in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

Starting on October 1, short-term lodging operators must apply for a new $200 two-year zoning permit.

Short-term rentals will be allowed in single-family homes, townhouses, condos, mobile homes and apartments with some significant limitations, including:

Owners or renters must be permanent residents of the property they offer for short-term lodging.
Properties may be rented for no more than 60 days per calendar year.
Guests are limited to six adults; lodgers must all be associated with the same rental contract; only one contract per night is allowed.

T he regulations do not bar homeowners or community associations from prohibiting short-term lodgings within their subdivision or development.

New Tax Revenues Generated

Short-term lodgings will generate new tax revenues since operators must pay transient occupancy taxes. As an example, County leaders calculate that these rentals would generate approximately $428,268 in transit occupancy taxes a year based upon the estimated 1,500 active listings. Of this amount, $249,823 would go to the County's budget fund and the remaining amount would be used to support tourism and regional transportation as required by state law.

Extensive Public Input Shaped New Rules

Zoning officials engaged in extensive public input to develop the proposed rules. Over 7,600 responses to an online survey were received, four community meetings were held across the County, and County staff met with individual homeowners and civic groups, tourism professionals, real estate agents and representatives from the short-term lodging and hotel industries.

County staff also participated in a workgroup with other local jurisdictions that are considering or have adopted regulations, including Arlington County, Alexandria and Loudoun County.

For more information on the new zoning regulations, including permit requirements, contact the Fairfax County Zoning Administration Division at 703-324-1314, TTY 711.

Fairfax County Operational Energy Strategy

The Board of Supervisors adopted the Fairfax County Operational Energy Strategy during its July 10 meeting. This document is intended to further the objectives of the Board's Environmental Vision by providing goals, targets, and actions in each of the following 10 focus areas:

Energy Use and Efficiency
Water Use and Efficiency
Green Building
Innovative Energy Solutions
Electric Vehicles
Goods and Services
Waste Management
Awareness and Engagement
Utility Cost Management
Reporting and Collaboration

The Energy Strategy promotes cost effective solutions and an energy-conscious culture for County government agencies and employees. The resulting reductions in energy use will help mitigate escalating energy costs and promote a more sustainable future for Fairfax County.

The strategy is projected to cost $47 million over ten years, but the measures taken are expected to save the county $82 million over the same length of time; by the seventh year, the utility savings generated will essentially pay for the cost of the plan. When fully implemented, the plan is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 533,000 metric tons compared to today.

The plan is intended to support the County's Environmental Vision and its Cool Counties commitment, as well as regional climate change goals. The Energy Strategy is available online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/energy/energy-strategy.

County Approves Public Safety Bond Referendum for November Ballot

At its June 19 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a $182 million public safety bond referendum for the upcoming November election. This action allows the County to petition the Fairfax Circuit Court for a referendum which, if ordered, will appear on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot.

Voters will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on the public safety bond question. If approved, the County will sell $182 million in general obligation bonds, which will be used to renovate, expand, or replace fire, police, and court facilities.

If approved, $73 million is expected to go to the Fire and Rescue Department, $59 million to the Police Department, and $50 million to the Courts and the Adult Detention Center. The money from the bonds must, by law, be used only for the purpose stated in the ballot question.

Fairfax County has a triple-A bond rating, the highest possible credit rating for any government, from Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Standard and Poor's Corporation, and Fitch Ratings. Consequently, Fairfax County bonds sell at relatively low interest rates compared to other tax-free bonds.

For more information and the specific projects that would be funded, visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicaffairs/fairfax-county-authorizes-182-million-public-safety-bond-referendum-nov-6-election-ballot.

Body-Worn Cameras Pilot Program Extension

As approved by the Board of Supervisors in November 2017, the Fairfax County Police Department began a pilot program to evaluate body-worn cameras (BWC) technology with police officer training in February 2018.

Two hundred and thirty (230) body-worn cameras were distributed to trained officers at three police stations: Mason District Police Station, Mount Vernon District Police Station, and Reston District Police Station. These locations were selected because of the diversity of the communities and the varying types of calls for service and incidents resulting in the use of force. Not every officer at each of these stations was issued a camera.

The Board's approval allowed for an option to extend the pilot from 90 days to 180 days, which has been exercised as the first 90 days were deemed insufficient to fully assess some of the program areas. The pilot program ended at the beginning of September.

The pilot had many goals, including evaluating equipment, costs, policy, officer assessments, impacts on the overall effectiveness, and community perceptions or concerns, and identifying gaps or any requirements or costs in other programs areas that should be further considered.

As a result of the pilot program, it is anticipated that the Police Department and other primary stakeholders will be able to provide more comprehensive data, more accurate cost and staffing requirement projects, policy assessment, and other information and recommendations to the Board as a foundation for future consideration of a full BWC program adoption and implementation.

For more information about the pilot program, visit https://bit.ly/2AOYNHs.

How the County Oversees Infill Development

Infill development, the replacement of older homes with new ones, is a common occurrence in Fairfax County. It happens when vacant land is scarce, and is a sign of a strong and vibrant economy. Despite this, some residents are understandably concerned about possible disruptions, tree loss, and stormwater issues caused by the infill development. For this reason, Fairfax County takes infill development seriously, and works to ensure that this type of construction is done properly.

Project plans must be submitted for the County to review before a developer can receive a land disturbance permit. These plans are reviewed by multiple County agencies, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and various outside agencies before being approved. Once approved, construction can not start until County inspectors, the owner, and the contractor have held a meeting.

When construction does begin, a series of on-site inspections take place to ensure that construction is moving ahead as it should. County engineers, inspectors, and other professionals examine erosion and sedimentation controls, stormwater drainage, driveways, sewer and water connections, fire protections, and site grading and landscaping.

Tree preservation is often one of the biggest concerns with infill development, and is governed by the Tree Conservation Ordinance. This ordinance requires developers to preserve some trees during development, and to plant new ones to help build a tree canopy following the completion of construction. Fairfax County has a staff of 12 urban foresters who ensure that tree preservation and planting requirements are met during all types of development, including infill.

If you have a question or concern about infill development in your neighborhood, including possible violations of the County's regulations for infill development, contact Ben Wiles in Supervisor Foust's office at Benjamin.wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Land Use Cases in Dranesville

Stanley Martin Companies, LLC

PCA 2017-DR-014, CDPA 2017-DR-014, FDPA 2017-DR-014A

South side of Dulles Technology Drive between River Birch Road and Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon

At its July 10 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved the Conceptual Development Plan Amendment associated with RZ 2017-DR-014 to amend a previously approved rezoning application to add an option to construct up to 172 two-over-two multi-family stacked homes. All previous commitments, including the extension of McNair Farms Drive, a public road, from Centreville Road to Dulles Technology Drive, and to realign a portion of Dulles Technology Drive remain. The new option provides 52% open space and includes a meditation garden, open lawn areas, seating areas, a tot lot, and a stream valley trail on the southern portion of the site.