City Council to Consider Split Lots

1.	Split Lots                                                                           7:30 pm

Split Lot Memo

PC Memo on Split Lots w/ attachments

Lot Lines – May 2013

Lot Lines – Sectional

2.	Stormwater Fee (TR13-15) and (TR13-16)             8:00 pm

(TR13-15) and (TR13-16) Stormwater

3.	DPW/DDS Permit Fee Ordinance (TO13-12)                 8:30 pm

Revised Fees Ord. (TO13-12)

4.	FY13 Budget Amendment (TO13-13)                            9:00 pm

(TO13-13) Budget Amendments

5.	Council Comments and Schedule

 

6.

Closed Session pursuant to (1) § 2.2-3711 (A) 3 of the Code of Virginia for the “[d]iscussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body”….and (2) § 2.2-3711. (A) 7 “[c]onsultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation, where such consultation or briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body; and consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel”…. [Water Litigation]

 

OUTSIDE THE BOX: Is Walkability Just a Pipe Dream?

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
May 19, 2013

There has been a lot of talk over the years about how to make Falls Church City more walkable. Residents and activists have different reasons for promoting it; some just like to walk places, while others hope improving walkability can reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with motorized transportation.

But is this just an impossible dream?

The Little City is blessed with a great location. It is near two Metro stops, convenient to Interstate 66 and Interstate 495, and has superb access not only to the region’s traditional employment center of Washington, but to the area’s new employment center of Tyson’s Corner.

However, that central location comes at a price. Thousands of commuters come through town each day on their way to somewhere else. They take Broad Street traveling between Alexandria and Tysons. They take Lee Highway between Fairfax and Washington. And they use West Street to go between the former and the latter.

All of this travel causes congestion, and that congestion is surely compounded by the carpool restrictions on I-66 and the Arlington Strangle, where three lanes drop to two as Fairfax gives way to our eastern neighbor. I can’t prove it, but the brutal reality of I-66 must cause traffic to spill over into Falls Church City.

And they don’t just spill onto Route 7. Heavy traffic there, backing up from West to Shreve in the afternoon, for example, causes drivers to spill into residential neighborhoods as they seek to get where they’re going a little bit sooner.

Commuters illegally cut through the West End Shopping Center, Rite Aid, and Taco Bell to avoid Broad Street congestion or the light at Broad and West. They barrel down Park Avenue, making it difficult to exit City Hall at times, a police officer says. They illegally cut through the Applebee’s parking lot to speed their way north on Washington Street. I’m sure readers are aware of others.

There doesn’t seem to be much we can do about Broad Street. It’s a state highway, meaning the state limits the City’s authority there. A while back, some city officials got the idea of restricting through trucks on Broad, but that idea was vetoed by Richmond.

Some of the streets that feed into Broad are major problems as well. Trying to cross Broad on foot at West is like taking your life in your hands. Impatient drivers turning from southbound West to westbound Broad frequently don’t stop before turning right on red, and they turn in violation of the signs that say No Turn on Red When Pedestrians Are Present.

City planners put together an enormous pedestrian plan to address some of these issues, but the entire thing was put on hold because of the controversial idea of prohibiting parking on Lincoln and Hillwood avenues.

Planners insisted the restrictions were just a thought for the future, but that item had the unfortunate effect of a lot of causing a lot of good ideas to be shelved. Perhaps the City Council could bring the pedestrian plan back, sans the parking restriction, or consider approving small pieces of it at a time.

It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing: we don’t need to emulate Washington’s bad habit of stuffing every legislative wish list item into a bill, making it an Omnibus bill in Washington lingo, also known as a “Christmas tree.”

Still, even though we hear a lot of advocacy for improved walkability, I wonder how deep that desire is among local residents.

A brief discussion emerged a few months ago after a pedestrian was hit by a car on West. Several commenters suggested putting a crosswalk there, at Ellison, but several others thought that was a terrible idea, fearing that it would back up automobile traffic.

That seems dubious to me; there aren’t enough pedestrians to really cause traffic to back up. It’s not like we have George Mason University here, so pedestrian traffic is quite irregular.

But even if it did cause small backups, is that really such a terrible thing? Cars sometimes pile up about three deep at the Washington & Old Dominion Trail if several people are crossing in short order. However, that’s nothing like how many back up at the Broad Street light during peak times, when the total back up could be 15 or more cars.

Besides, waiting an extra 30 seconds at the W&OD doesn’t seem awful, either. And I have to say that after 10 years living in Chicago, where drivers are quite disrespectful of pedestrians, I find that I actually enjoy stopping for people out for a run, walk, or stroll.

It’s like my good deed for the day. The pedestrians like it, and it exerts a calming influence on me, kinda the opposite of what happens if you race to make a light. Northbound West Street drivers heading for Broad at 45 mph, I’m looking at you.

Outside the Box is an opinion column. Read it every Sunday in the Falls Church Times.

Unanimous City Council Approves Two Mixed Use Projects

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
May 15, 2013

Two large mixed use projects, each combining grocery stores and other retail on the ground floor and several floors of residential above, were approved in unanimous votes by the Falls Church City Council late Monday.

The projects, one slated for the parcel where Saab dealer International Motors and the adjacent Meineke Muffler shop now operate, and the other where the old post office sits empty on West Broad Street, are expected to add several million dollars in revenue to the city’s coffers annually, in addition to millions more in developer contributions to the city’s school building fund.

It also means the city is likely to soon have an extra $4 million in its bank account on top of those other figures, because the approval by the Council means the sale of city land next to the post office on the 200 block of West Broad Street can soon proceed. The City had earlier agreed to sell the land to developer Rushmark Properties for $4.3 million, but that deal was in limbo until the Council approved Rushmark’s plans for the site.

The plans include a 60,000 square foot Harris Teeter grocery store and 288 apartments, an increase of six from the previous proposal. The 288 apartments include 100 two bedroom units, which is down from 106 in an earlier proposal, with the rest being efficiencies or one bedroom units.

The complex at the Saab parcel is expected to have a 26,000 square foot Fresh Market store and 224 apartments. Both projects will have underground parking.

The next step in the process is for each developer to submit site plans to city officials, illustrating exactly how they envision the building and grounds to look.

While the projects should add significant revenue to a city that could very much use it, they remain controversial because they are adding considerable density to a place that dubs itself the Little City. That density will add some students to the schools, along with more traffic, from residents and shoppers alike, making Falls Church City a more urban place that it previously has been.

Police Investigating Stabbing on W&OD Trail

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
May 14, 2013

Police on Tuesday afternoon were driving on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in a search for a masked suspect who stabbed someone around 3 pm near the trail’s intersection with Grove Avenue.

The victim was stabbed in the hand and was being treated at an area hospital, an officer searching for clues at the scene said.

Details were sketchy, and it wasn’t clear if the incident involved people who knew each other. It also was unclear if it was a robbery attempt or just a case of random violence.

The fact that witnesses reported the suspect wore a mask may imply a robbery, but that remains for police to determine. The officer at the scene reported that they recovered the mask, but said they were having trouble getting an accurate description of the suspect.

The officer said two “credible” witnesses gave conflicting information about the man’s clothing, although both described him as a Hispanic male. One witness told police the suspect was wearing a white shirt and jeans, while another said he had a flannel shirt, the officer said.

At about 3 pm, an officer on a motorcycle headed west on the trail over the Broad Street bridge in search of the suspect.

The incident delayed dismissal from the two City schools nearby — George Mason High School and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School — and officers were stationed at both schools “out of an abundance of caution,” City Spokeswoman Amy Betor said in a press release.

Police have cleared the area, Ms. Betor said. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on the incident is being asked to call police at 703-241-5053.

Schools spokesman John Brett said the delayed dismissal was done at the request of police while they conducted a search for the suspect. He said the all clear was given at 3:25, which delayed buses heading for Thomas Jefferson and Mount Daniel elementaries.

Falls Church Kiwanis Little League Game Reports

By Neal Comstock
Falls Church Times Staff
May 14, 2013

Below are exclusive to The Falls Church Times game reports from the Falls Church Kiwanis Little League (FCKLL) at the Majors, AAA, AA and Single A levels. Game reports were prepared by FCKLL Managers, Coaches and parents. Complete scores and standings can be found at FCKLL.org.

Many games were postponed this past week due to rain and soggy fields, but a few games and the Hit-a-Thon for Majors level players took place.

Majors (ages 10-12)

Between the raindrops, the Majors’ Hit-a-Thon was held on Friday, May 10 at Westgate Park. The FCKLL annual Hit-a-Thon is the League’s primary fundraiser in which family and friends of players donate to support the oldest Little League in Virginia.

This year, the Hit-a-Thon Majors’ winner was John Putziger of the Cubs who crushed two home runs and hit ten balls for an overall distance of 1320 feet. John won two tickets to see the Washington Nationals vs. Colorado Rockies on June 23.

Also at the Hit-a-Thon, Majors teams have a timed race in which the winner is the fastest team to have six players circle the bases. For the second consecutive year, this year’s Hit-a-Thon Race winner was the Red Sox. Manager Ralph Freeman’s Red Sox circled the bases in 1 minute and 22 seconds. The speedy Red Sox won a team pizza party at Ledo’s on Route 7 in Falls Church.

AAA (ages 8-11)

In a Mother’s Day matchup, the Tigers beat the Giants 14-6, bringing the Tigers’ season record to a League leading 6-1-2. The game was close until the fourth inning, when the Tigers broke it open with a five hit attack on Giants pitching. Charlie Tucker had four strong innings on the mound for the Tigers and collected two hits and two RBIs. Peter Villa went three for four with a triple and two RBIs and also pitched two solid innings. Tommy Shaw had his strongest game of the season and also went three for four with one RBI. The Giants were led by Michael Pandula and Thomas Downs, who had two hits apiece; and Evan Stegenga who added another hit and three RBIs. Downs and Pandula also pitched for the Giants and did a great job of keeping the Tigers’ bats quiet. These two teams will square off for the final time this year this coming Saturday.

AA (ages 7-9)

On Thursday, May 9, the Blue Claws came from behind and beat the Rockhounds 9-5. Ryan York had three hits and scored three runs for the Blue Claws who also got timely hits from Daniel Fried, Adam Peterkin, and Owen Growney. Sam Sanders hit two doubles for the Rockhounds who had solid pitching from Ben Rodriguez and Ian Wilson.

Also on May 9, the Red Wings defeated the Bandits by a score of 9-6. It was a well-played game with lots of hits and several great defensive plays, including two line-drive catches at 3rd base by each team. The Red Wings built up a 9-2 lead early. The Bandits than rallied in the final inning scoring four runs thanks to some big hits and aggressive base running.

Single A (ages 6-8)

On May 1, the Rivercats met the Bees at Idylwood Park. The Bees started strong with three runs scored in the 1st inning answered with three runs by the Rivercats. Though the two teams were evenly matched, including a strong finish from the Bees, the Rivercats overcame with the final score ending up 16 to 12. Payton Raia led the way for the Bees offense, supported by Billy Asel, Francis Gainer and Joseph Jones each of whom got hits. Max Vitt was the high scorer from the Rivercats, followed by Nolan Tift, Stella Smith, Isabel Costa and Matthew Downs with four hits each. The Rivercats defense was led by Harris Hunt.

The Muckdogs played the Mudcats on Friday night, May 10, at Walnut Hill West. While both teams had solid fielding and hitting, the Muckdogs prevailed 11-10 over the Mudcats. Daniel Garza, Noah Grossman, Harris Lechtman, Daniel Miller, and Sean Casserly led the way with hits for the Muckdogs, while Zander Greene, Ryan Grub, Carter Ossman and Dwij Joshi all hit to keep the Mudcats in the game.

City Staff Agrees to Support Traffic Plan for Saab Parcel

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
May 13, 2013

After initially having misgivings about the traffic management plan for the new mixed-use proposal at the Saab parcel on South Washington, city planners, on the eve of the City Council vote for approval, now say they are comfortable with the proposal.

Last week, the Times reported that staff had misgivings in advance of tonight’s vote, despite the fact that two new traffic signals were going to be added: one, that would be paid for by developer Lincoln Property Company at Washington and Tinner Hill Road and another that would be installed by the city at Washington and Maple.

Their concern was that left turns into and out of the new development, which will feature 224 apartments and ground floor retail expected to include a 26,000 square foot Fresh Market grocery, might be a safety hazard for traffic and pedestrians alike on Washington.

Planners previously acknowledged that the developer’s own traffic engineer could justify the allowance of left turns, and they also said that Fresh Market had indicated it would object to any left turn prohibition.

In the new staff report, planners struck a more conciliatory tone, noting that, if this project were nixed, any future project might be worse.

“The challenge to having a drive aisle (an entrance and exit) on South Washington Street is not unique to the proposed development; it is a challenge faced by any use on the subject site,” the report says. “And, one benefit of the proposed development is that it will reduce the number of drive aisles to one, from the three which currently exist on South Washington Street.

“In addition, were the site to redevelop with several independent businesses, each would likely expect a full service driveway entrance and related parking and drive aisle, and so the consolidation that occurs with this proposed mixed-use project provides a long-term improvement that mitigates impacts that could occur under other redevelopment scenarios.”

The report goes on to point out that having multiple access points for the project — on Maple, Tinner, and South Washington — will have the beneficial impact of dispersing traffic so that no one location is too congested, and cautions that the imposition of a left turn restriction comes with its own set of problems.

“With a right in/right out restriction, drivers may slow, stop or even attempt to make a turn before they are aware of the restriction. Having a full access drive aisle gives drivers the option and opportunity to get to the site from South Washington Street if they choose, and/or until they find a preferred, alternate route.”

The report concludes with a recommendation that the Council approve the traffic management plan for the site with no turn restrictions.

City Council to Consider Rezoning, Development Plans

1.	CALL TO ORDER

2.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3.

ROLL CALL

4.	VALIDATION OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

5.	ADOPTION OF MEETING AGENDA

6.	PROCLAMATIONS

(1)	Proclamation honoring Judge Karen A. Henenberg

Henenberg Proclamation

(2)	National Police Week Proclamation

Police Week Proc.

(3)	School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

School Resource Officer Proc.

(4)	Proclamation for Floodplain Awareness Month

Watershed and Floodplain Awareness Month Proc.

7.	OATH OF OFFICE TO NEW BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS

8.

RECEIPT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS, REQUESTS, AND CONSENT ITEM COMMENTS. [The public may address Council for one 3-minute period.  The Mayor may shorten the time allowed each speaker, depending on the length of the agenda and number of speakers. A chair or representative of a board, commission, or committee may make a 5-minute oral summary of the written report.]

(a)	Summary of Written Comments.

(b)	Council Requests

9.	REPORT OF CITY MANAGER TO COUNCIL

10.	BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA

(a)	Second readings of ordinances and other items requiring public hearings

(1)

(TR13-07) RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 2.2 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 540 AND 580 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 52-308-004 AND 52-308-008) FROM “BUSINESS” TO “MIXED USE” ON THE CITY’S FUTURE LAND USE MAP

(2)

(TR13-06)  RESOLUTION TO GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HEIGHT BONUS FOR A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT ON THE APPROXIMATELY 2.2 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 540 AND 580 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 52-308-004 AND 52-308-008) KNOWN AS “RESERVE AT TINNER HILL” BY LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY

(TR13-07) and (TR13-06) Reserve At Tinner Hill

Attachment 1 – Application

Attachment 2 – Fiscal Impact

Attachment 3 – B/C comments

Attachment 4 – Public comments

(3)

(TR13-10) RESOLUTION TO GRANT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL USES WITHIN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND HEIGHT BONUS FOR A MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON THE APPROXIMATELY 2.6 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 255 AND 301 WEST BROAD STREET (REAL PROPERTY CODE NUMBERS 52-309-414, 52-309-111 AND 52-309-412) KNOWN AS ” 301 WEST BROAD STREET” BY RUSHMARK  PROPERTIES, LLC

(TR13-10) Rushmark SE Staff Report

(TR13-10) Rushmark Staff Report and Attachments (137 pages)

(b)	Resolutions and first readings of ordinances

(c)	Consent items

(1)	AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH BREEDING CONSTRUCTION, INC. TO EXPEND UP TO $300,000 FOR ROOFING SERVICES, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS BY CITY COUNCIL IN THE BUDGET.

Breeding Construction Contract

(2)

AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MCMILLAN PAZDAN SMITH ARCHITECTURE LLC FOR REVIEW AND UPDATE OF A 2008 SPACE STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG RANGE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN FOR THE MARY RILEY STYLES PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000, WITH REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.

Library Contract

(d)	Items removed from consent

(e)	Other business

11.	BUSINESS NOT ON THE AGENDA

12.	COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS

13.	APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

(1)	Minutes of City Council Meeting of March 27, 2013

DRAFT Minutes 3-27-13

(2)	Minutes of City Council Meeting of April 8, 2013

DRAFT Minutes 4-08-13

14.	ADJOURNMENT

OUTSIDE THE BOX: Fear and Loathing in the Little City

By Stephen Siegel
Falls Church Times Staff
May 12, 2013

If you turn on the news, you know will hear something sad. There are stories about fires, explosions, car accidents and shootings. You also may hear someone objecting to something.

Some of their complaints may be legitimate. We all know there are plenty of injustices out there. But the parade of people objecting to everything under the sun wears thin after a while. If you watch enough of the news, it seems like there’s always another grievance.

And so it is in Falls Church City. Yet it shouldn’t be.

The City is in an enviable position: it has homes that sell within days for high prices; a location at the crossroads of booming Northern Virginia; an economy prosperous from the federal government’s stabilizing influence and the explosive growth of the information technology industry.

But ever since moving here in 2008, I have heard people say they wanted to slam shut the city door to keep out that scourge of our society, families with children. The annual battles over the budget are acrimonious.

It’s okay for the debate over the budget to be passionate. Politics ain’t beanbag, goes a famous expression, and people who live near Washington take their politics with a heaping dose of extra serious.

It is to be expected that people defend their positions ardently, but somewhere, somehow, it feels like some have crossed a line somewhere. I was reminded of this anew during the battle over this year’s city budget.

I didn’t have any issue with the differing positions taken by members of the City Council. There was, you may recall, disagreement about how much of an increase the schools should get (once again, a luxury many cities do not have). The disagreement was well explained by City Councilor Johannah Barry in a Falls Church Times article in April.

Instead, what I am talking about is the tone, the language some residents are using during these debates. It is one thing to suggest the schools need to sacrifice. That is a legitimate position. It is quite another to assert that a “school lobby” is using “talking points” to effect a “money grab.”

Wow.

There’s no doubt Falls Church City spends a lot of money on its schools. So do Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax. The City has to spend more per capita in some cases because it lacks the economies of scale those larger jurisdictions enjoy.

But some of the anger about the school budget was based on a misunderstanding. While the Council voted to increase the city transfer 14 percent, that did not increase funding for school operations 14 percent.

In the 2012-2013 year, the schools spent $38,489,400 on operations. With the Council’s approval, they will spend $40,937,800, a 6.4 percent increase. Enrollment was up 6.9 percent over the last year. The figures come from Superintendent Toni Jones.

Funding for the city schools comes from a variety of sources: Mostly city funding, but also state and federal subsidies. State assistance increased 4.7 percent, but federal just 0.6 percent.

And here’s the kicker: The schools were using money from their fund balance the last several years, which helped keep the amount they needed from the City Council down. That changed with this year’s budget. The amount the school fund balance was being raided to fund operations fell 61 percent this year, from $3.28 million to $1.27 million, necessitating that the money be made up elsewhere.

Now, that doesn’t mean that the schools can’t tighten their collective belts. They can. The question is whether we, as city voters, want them to, which is ultimately a political question.

The city has small schools with small class sizes, which are considered a good thing. But it is a legitimate political position to say that smallness is a luxury we can’t afford, or, to be more precise, one could say we can afford it but that it would be better to have larger class sizes and a lower tax rate, or larger class sizes and more money to spend elsewhere.

That’s what politics is about. But people with that view need to make that case, and not just fire off language complaining about the schoolstalkingpointsmoneygrab. It’s unbecoming a community like ours, and the fear and loathing isn’t healthy — for those on either side.

One could also make the case that we can’t afford to be independent, and that we don’t need to be any more. The city desired its own independence and better quality schools at a time when Fairfax County was extremely rural.

Times have changed. Fairfax is now one of the wealthiest counties in the nation and has many excellent schools. Ditto for Arlington. If we just gave up independence, and became as one with one of our neighbors, perhaps we could have excellent schools and a lower tax rate.

That’s a political choice as well. But it’s one I doubt most City residents would make.

Outside the Box is an opinion column. Read it every Sunday in the Falls Church Times.

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