News | FFXnow - Part 424

Planning underway for new Colvin Run Mill trail, but funding path unclear

Published October 10, 2023 at 2:30PM

A sign for Colvin Run Mill (file photo)

Residents are calling on the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that a trail is constructed on the south side of a new tunnel in Colvin Run Mill Park.

Construction on the $1.5 million tunnel under Route 7 as part of the widening of Leesburg Pike is currently underway. But the project, which is managed by state officials, lacks a 1,000-foot trail to the south side of the tunnel that would allow residents to walk to the park’s sites in Great Falls, Lake Fairfax and Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail.

County leaders ‘in shock’ over violence in Israel and Palestine, board chair says

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 10, 2023 at 1:30PM

The flags outside the Fairfax County Government Center flags are at half-staff after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack against Israel (via Fairfax County/Twitter)

Family members of a Fairfax native and Woodson High School graduate are among the 150 people reportedly taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas when it attacked Israel on Saturday (Oct. 7).

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay acknowledged the violence that has now gripped Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza for four days to open today’s board meeting.

Nearly 1 in 4 Fairfax County residents are food insecure, report finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 10, 2023 at 11:45AM

My Market is stocked with both perishable and nonperishable food (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Finding sufficient, quality food remains a challenge for many people across the D.C. area, even with the immediate economic disruptions triggered by the pandemic in the rear view mirror, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) says in a new report.

Released last month, the nonprofit’s 2023 Hunger Report found that the region is still seeing elevated levels of food insecurity that are nearly identical to what was reported a year earlier. In Fairfax County, 24% of residents are food insecure — the exact same percentage as in 2022.

Reston Association proposes studying staff compensation in draft budget

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 10, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated October 10, 2023 at 11:29AM

Reston Association (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Reston Association is considering a 10% increase in its annual membership assessment as part of a preliminary budget draft for fiscal year 2025.

The proposal — which is the first of what will likely be several drafts — was discussed at a Sept. 28 Board of Directors meeting. As previously reported, the budget would include new positions and cover membership recreational passes in the assessment fees.

More office space requested for Westfields Corporate Park in Chantilly

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 10, 2023 at 9:30AM

The campus is home to a federally secure tenant (Image via Google Maps).

More office space could be coming soon to an existing secure campus in Chantilly’s Westfields International Center.

COPT Stonecroft is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to expand the amount of office space at the park center, which is located at 4850 Stonecroft Blvd. Sought for an unnamed “Federal user that desires to expand its footprint on the Property,” the additional development requires upzoning to allow more office uses.

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 10, 2023 at 8:15AM

A seating area on Wilkins Plaza at George Mason University's Fairfax campus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

GMU’s Fall for the Book Kicks Off Today — After a week of preview events, George Mason University’s annual book festival officially returns today for its 25th anniversary. The festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a talk by roller derby skater Gabe Montesanti about her new memoir and continue through Saturday (Oct. 14). [Fall for the Book]

Police Investigate Linked Thefts and Vehicle Break-Ins — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau, Criminal Investigations Division, are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins and package thefts that occurred between October 3-4. The suspect is believed to be responsible for breaking into several vehicles and stealing items during the late-night hours in both the Fair Oaks and Reston police districts.” [FCPD]

Va. attorney general opposes Dulles Greenway toll increase in Northern Virginia

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published October 9, 2023 at 3:30PM

The eastern end of the Dulles Greenway near Herndon (via Google Maps)

The Office of the Virginia Attorney General is opposing a private toll road owner’s request for a rate increase.

In July, Toll Road Investors Partnership II, the owner and operator of the 14-mile Dulles Greenway that runs between Leesburg and Washington Dulles International Airport, filed a request with the State Corporation Commission to increase tolls by at least 21%.

Developer of Oakton’s AT&T campus scales back housing, preserves more trees

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 9, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 9, 2023 at 1:48PM

The existing AT&T campus at 3033 Chain Bridge Road in Oakton (via EYA)

(Updated at 1:45 p.m.) A proposal to redevelop AT&T’s campus in Oakton with housing and retail has undergone some changes since it went before the Fairfax County Planning Commission in March.

Joined by county planners, developer EYA presented a revised concept to the community on Oct. 2 that cut back slightly on the number of proposed apartments, while tweaking the site layout to allow more open and green space.

Route 29 pedestrian path in Merrifield no longer ends at ditch

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 9, 2023 at 10:15AM

There's now a continuous shared-use path along northbound Route 29 between Vaden Drive and Nutley Street (courtesy VDOT)

A ditch will no longer force pedestrians and bicyclists to ditch the shared path along Route 29 in Merrifield.

Construction has been substantially completed on a new, unbroken shared-use path spanning about one-third of a mile between Vaden Drive and Nutley Street, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Friday (Oct. 6).

Fairfax County to mark solar eclipse with event ‘extravagaza’

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 9, 2023 at 9:30AM

Residents gathered to view a solar eclipse in 2017.

As a “ring of fire” eclipse descends this Saturday (Oct. 14), Fairfax County is prepping with a series of events.

The annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from the Earth, appearing such that it is smaller than the sun. The result is that it leaves a ring of light around the edge of the moon.