News | FFXnow - Part 430

Morning Notes

Published September 28, 2023 at 8:15AM

A heron stands by a log at Royal Lake in Kings Park West (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Developer Hosts Political Fundraisers at Possible Reston Casino Site — “Perhaps to bolster its efforts to build a casino at or near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, Comstock scheduled fundraisers for two Democratic Party candidates who may be leading the Virginia General Assembly during the 2024 Session.” [Patch]

County Takes Over Volunteer-Based Nonprofit — “The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is pleased to announce it will assume administrative and programing responsibilities for GrandInvolve, a non-profit organization that places older adults as volunteers in Title I schools, effective Nov. 1, 2023.” [NCS]

Barton Hill residents worry demand for pickleball courts will overwhelm parking

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Barton Hill tennis courts in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reston Association is approaching a crossroads in its project to convert tennis courts at Barton Hill into pickleball courts.

The organization is now considering two potential designs for the facility at 1901 Barton Hill Road. One would replace two of the four existing tennis courts with 10 pickleball courts, including six dedicated courts and four with “blended lines” that could be shared with tennis players. The other would have four pickleball courts, all of them dedicated to the trendy sport.

Heavier fines approved for speeders outside McLean park

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2023 at 2:30PM

Linway Terrace in McLean (via Google Maps)

Drivers will now have to pay more if they exceed the speed limit on Linway Terrace in McLean.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave its support yesterday (Tuesday) to an additional $200 fine for speeding on the residential street between Birch Road and Kirby Road, a half-mile stretch that includes the entrance to Linway Terrace Park (6246 Linway Terrace).

Local snack shop owner arrested for distributing narcotics and money laundering

By Matt Blitz

Published September 27, 2023 at 1:30PM

Highs and Lows snack shop on Richmond Highway (photo by Matt Blitz)

The owner of a local “exotic” snack shop has been arrested as part of a drug ring investigation by county police.

Last week, the Fairfax County Police Department announced it had arrested four individuals related to an investigation into an “extensive drug ring” in the Mount Vernon District.

Chantilly data center gets greenlight from planning commission after tense hearing

By Melanie Pincus

Published September 27, 2023 at 11:30AM

Developer Penzance is seeking to build a data center off of Route 50 in Chantilly (via DCM/Fairfax County)

Over vocal protests from members of the public, the Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval of a plan to build a data center in Chantilly.

Following a five-hour public hearing that started on Sept. 20 and ended well past midnight on Sept. 21, the recommendation passed with six votes in favor, including from Evelyn S. Spain, who represents the Sully District where the data center would be built.

Proposal to replace Herndon area cricket field with affordable housing gets hearing

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2023 at 10:30AM

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority has acquired land at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive for future affordable housing (via Fairfax County)

The community will soon get a chance to comment on whether a temporary cricket field near the Innovation Center Metro station should be opened up to affordable housing proposals, even as the search for a replacement athletic facility continues.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 yesterday (Tuesday) to schedule a public hearing on the proposed transfer of county-owned land at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive for Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Draft McLean Community Center budget funds energy study, playground and more

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated September 27, 2023 at 4:41PM

The McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue (courtesy MCC)

(Updated at 2:50 p.m.) Operations at the McLean Community Center (MCC) are starting to look a lot more like 2019 — at least as far as its budget is concerned.

The center’s governing board will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) to gather community input on its proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which will begin July 1, 2024 and end on June 30, 2025.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published September 27, 2023 at 8:15AM

A Metrobus stop at Concord Centre in Springfield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Where to See Fall Foliage in Fairfax County — “Autumn is officially here and our estimated 44 million trees will be putting on a spectacular show of colors lasting a few weeks in October (though this year’s drought-like conditions may impact some colors)…Check out Visit Fairfax’s best locations for leaf peeping” [Fairfax County Government]

Metro Shares Options to Address Budget Gap — “Metro said Tuesday it is considering three options for addressing a $750 million budget shortfall next summer, but all would require additional money from D.C., Virginia and Maryland to prevent service cuts that transit leaders say would irreparably harm its rail and bus networks.” [Washington Post]

Report: Comstock wants a casino in Reston, but state legislation still needed

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Reston Station from the Wiehle Avenue bridge (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A casino may still be on the table for Fairfax County, though it faces some long odds to becoming a reality.

According to a new report by Patch, the real estate company Comstock is interested in building a casino in the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station area, where it owns nearly 80 acres of land for the still-growing Reston Station development.

McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center seeks to make businesses more visible with renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated November 20, 2023 at 3:45PM

Chesterbrook Shopping Center owner Federal Realty has requested more signage space for South Block and other tenants (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The new signs planned for Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean won’t point to their corresponding businesses with big, flashing arrows, but that’s essentially the effect property owner Federal Realty hopes to achieve.

The developer got the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support on Sept. 14 for a special exception that would allow more signage space at the shopping center on Old Dominion Drive.