December 11, 2024

Neighbors,

We held a ribbon cutting ceremony today for the W&OD Trail bridge over Wiehle Avenue.

While the bridge opened for use in the summer, the overall project is nearing completion. The remaining work includes widening Wiehle Avenue to allow for a bike lane on each side of the road and a 10-foot shared use path on both sides as well.

This bridge will save lives. I know multiple people who’ve had accidents at this crossing, and VDOT says there have been 15 crashes reported at or near this crossing since 2019 alone.

It’s not often in government service that you can see immediate results, but that’s what this project delivers.

This bridge is a visible demonstration our commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety. To support similar projects, the Board of Supervisors has committed $100 million for these kinds of improvements countywide.

I want to thank everyone who made this bridge possible, including former Sen. Janet Howell, NOVA Parks, county transportation and public works staff and community advocates, including Reston Bike Club, Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling and Friends of the W&OD Trail.

Regards,

Walter

At a town hall on Monday, local developer EYA presented its proposal to amend the county’s Comprehensive Plan for the Lake Fairfax Business Center, along with a high level presentation of their redevelopment plan.

If approved, their proposal to update the Comprehensive Plan for the 73-acre site would allow for mixed use residential development. This area is currently planned for office, industrial and institutional uses, but the existing office park is 65% vacant now.

The rezoning plan, which requires Board of Supervisors approval, calls for Lake Fairfax Business Center to become home to approximately:

• 1,000 residential units (a total of 600 townhomes, stacked townhomes and condos, and 400 apartments)
• 8,000 square feet of retail space
• 3 acres of green space and parks — more than the Comprehensive Plan recommends
• A 4-acre site for a future elementary school

The development is either within or on the edge of walking distance to the Wiehle Metro Station, and the new residential village would include a 10-foot shared use path that will connect to the W&OD Trail, Lake Fairfax Park trails and Sunset Hills Road. EYA’s plans also call for extending Michael Faraday Court into the business center, making a new connection to the site.

Next steps include additional public meetings early next year that will be publicized in future issues of this newsletter.

The county is updating and combining its Bicycle Master Plan and Countywide Trails Plan into one: the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan. Provide your feedback in a survey that closes on Dec. 20.

The ActiveFairfax Plan will establish a roadmap for a safe, comfortable and convenient network of streets, sidewalks, bikeways and trails whether you’re walking, biking or rolling (ie. by scooter, wheelchair, stroller). Active transportation is defined as these methods of mainly human-powered travel.

Use this interactive site to:

• Learn more about the project
• Look at an interactive map
• Leave comments on the map

To manage an anticipated increase in wastewater from northern Fairfax County in the future, the county is increasing sewer capacity in this area. This effort includes a new pump station that’s under construction now, along with a new sewer line.

If you live in one of the following areas, attend the community meeting for your neighborhood to learn more. Each meeting is tailored to specifically address plans for your neighborhood’s segment of the new sewer line:

• Waverly/Eastern: Monday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m. at Westbriar Elementary School
• Eudora/Central: Thursday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m. at Wolftrap Elementary School
• Tanglewood/Southwestern: Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m. at Madison High School

In late November, the county held its final community meeting for the Lake Anne Economic Visioning Study, recapping potential redevelopment options. The study’s final phase aimed to give property owners information about potential redevelopment options and try to build consensus.

As the study wraps up, and given that these properties are part of the county’s Lake Anne Revitalization District, I standby to help if property owners decide they wish to redevelop and/or pursue new uses for their property. Some owners expressed a readiness to move forward when the county’s consultant held private briefings with them on their options.

The study focused on the redevelopment of these three properties which showed the most immediate potential:

• Washington Baptist Church
• Lake Anne of Reston Condominium’s upper parking lot
• Tzu Chi Foundation

Multiple redevelopment scenarios were examined — including consolidation of the Baptist Church and LARCA properties — for four different housing types:

• Apartments
• Condominiums
• Townhomes
• Stacked, two-over-two townhomes

The almost two-year long study will conclude with a final report to be delivered next year.

Your fresh Christmas tree can go up in flames in just seconds, and there are 155 house fires on average per year caused by holiday trees.

Watch the above video to see how quickly a dry tree can burn, and follow these tips to keep your home safe, including:

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.

The Community Advisory Committee meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne, 1609 Washington Plaza. The topic is Metro's footprint and policing. These meetings are open to anyone who's interested. Reston District Police Station commanders will also be there to answer questions. For more information email Officer Jenette Post.

Santa, here? I know him! I know him!

See Santa at the screening of the holiday movie classic “Elf” on Friday, Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center. Details.

Meals Tax Vote Deferred Until January

The Vienna Town Council deferred its vote until January on a proposed temporary 1% meals tax increase. The meals tax increase would pay for design and construction of a new aquatics and fitness facility. Learn more. 

• Enjoy the Old World Charm of Christmas in Europe at the Herndon Winter Markt on Saturday, Dec. 14 from noon to 7 p.m.
• Shop for holiday gifts from 20-plus local makers, crafters and artisans at Celebrate Fairfax’s Annual Winter Market on Saturday, Dec. 14, from noon to 5 p.m.
• Encore Chorales of Reston, Ashburn, Fairfax and the Sentimental Journey Singers perform holiday classics on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at Heritage Fellowship Church.
• Tephra’s open house is Saturday, Dec. 14 from 2-4 p.m., and it’s a last chance to experience Ebony G. Patterson’s powerful video installation.
• NOVA Parks Historian Paul McCray recounts the history of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad on Sunday, Dec. 15 at City of Fairfax Regional Library. His talk will be illustrated with some of the 2,000 photos he collected.
• Based on the Broadway musical adaptation, watch “The Color Purple” on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at the Reston Community Center.
• “The Fabulous Four” will be screened at Senior Movie Day on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas at Reston Town Center.