Vernon Miles | FFXnow

Transportation plan builds hype for potential Metro line extension and Route 7 BRT

Published March 29, 2023 at 3:30PM

Some transportation projects on the horizon have sparked excitement among the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors over potential transit improvements.

Visualize 2050 is a federally-mandated long-range transportation plan with an emphasis on projects that adhere to new emission reduction goals.

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County board honors police unit that cracked down on Lorton car thefts

By Vernon Miles

Published March 28, 2023 at 9:30AM

A Fairfax County police car parked outside the Franconia District station (via Google Maps)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently honored a local police district that help crack down on a string of car thefts earlier this year.

At a meeting last week, the Board of Supervisors recognized the Franconia District Police Station and the Fairfax County Police Department’s Auto Crimes Enforcement Team.

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Fairfax County board approves plan to lure developers into replacing lost affordable housing

By Vernon Miles

Published March 27, 2023 at 11:00AM

Heming, a 410-unit apartment building at Scotts Run in Tysons, will include 82 affordable dwelling units (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a new policy last week that could offer incentives to developers to replace the affordable housing lost to new development.

The new policy wouldn’t just require a one-to-one replacement of units set aside as affordable — known as committed affordable units — but would incentivize the replacement of those that were naturally affordable — meaning market-rate affordable.

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BREAKING: Pedestrian killed in fatal crash in Seven Corners, first of 2023

By Vernon Miles

Published March 24, 2023 at 8:55AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:29PM

Crash location near Seven Corners (image via Google Maps)

(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is investigating a crash in Seven Corners where they say a pedestrian was killed.

Police said a driver struck an adult woman at 6:18 a.m. in the intersection of Wilson Blvd and John Marshall Drive in Seven Corners. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

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Fairfax County initiates turn calming study, following Portland and New York City’s example

By Vernon Miles

Published March 23, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:32PM

Afternoon rush-hour traffic clogs up Dolley Madison Boulevard at the Ingleside Avenue intersection in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County could be taking some notes from New York City and Portland as it tries to turn back the surge of recent pedestrian fatalities.

The Board of Supervisors directed the Fairfax County Department of Transportation on Tuesday (March 21) to review turn-calming measures from other jurisdictions, discuss options with the Virginia Department of Transportation, and come back to the board’s transportation committee with an analysis of how that can be implemented.

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County master arts plan identifies gaps in facilities and support for the arts

By Vernon Miles

Published March 20, 2023 at 1:15PM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:33PM

Outside 1st Stage in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors got a first look last week at a new plan that it hopes can help turn the county into a hub for the arts.

At an economic initiatives committee meeting on March 14, Fairfax County Arts Committee Chair Leila Gordon said the new Master Arts Plan shows that some of the county’s revitalization zones — like the one in the works for downtown McLean — need to do more to prioritize the arts and add more supporting facilities.

Around Town

Local cafe chain Java Loco opening this spring in West Falls Church

By Vernon Miles

Published March 16, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:34PM

Java Loco is opening a location at Graham Park Plaza in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Alexandria-based cafe Java Loco is coming to West Falls Church.

The cafe owners have filed for a permit to modify the interior of a 1,368-square-foot suite in Graham Park Plaza (7263J Arlington Blvd).

Around Town

Fairfax County restaurants join in regional ‘Spring Wine Fling’ pairings

By Vernon Miles

Published March 14, 2023 at 1:15PM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:34PM

Wine and a dish at Alta Strada Mosaic (photo via Alta Strada Mosaic/Facebook)

Several Fairfax County restaurants are joining in Spring Wine Fling — a nearly two-week stretch of wine and dinner specials on offer around the region.

The special is set to run from Monday, March 20 through Friday, March 31.

News

Board of Supervisors sends Fort Belvoir renaming concerns up to Secretary of the Army

By Vernon Miles

Published March 9, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:35PM

Army headquarters at Fort Belvoir (image via Fort Belvoir/Facebook)

Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors is no stranger to renaming things, from roads to magisterial districts. But now, the board is leading a push not to rename a site associated with slavery.

In a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (March 7), Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck raised the topic of Fort Belvoir’s potential renaming. The base is named for the Belvoir plantation that once occupied the site.

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