News | FFXnow - Part 460

McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center will get solar panels, energy upgrades

Published July 25, 2023 at 1:30PM

A man on a bench outside the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s efforts to become more energy efficient will get a power boost this week, as work begins on improvements at McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center.

Set to break ground at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday), the project will add the recreation center at 1239 Spring Hill Road to a growing list of county facilities supported by solar panels. Other planned changes include pool dehumidification unit replacements, LED lighting upgrades, improved building automation systems and a new geothermal HVAC system.

County’s 911 center ramps up staffing to fill vacancies after pandemic

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County's 911 operations floor in the McConnell Public Safety & Transportation Operations Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Handling 911 calls has never been a regular 9-to-5 job, but a national staffing shortage has increased the hours and pressure felt by call takers and dispatchers across the country.

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications wasn’t spared from the workforce challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from close to 180 staffers before 2020 to about 160 people right now.

Fairfax County’s office vacancy rate is at a 10-year high, staff says

By Acacia James

Published July 25, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated August 1, 2023 at 10:17AM

Space is available for lease at an office building on Penrose Place in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:05 a.m. on 7/26/2023) Fairfax County is currently the second largest suburban office market in the nation, with an inventory of 120 million square feet.

However, the current office vacancy rate sits at 16.7% — topping the county’s previous 10-year high, according to Stephen Tarditi, director of market intelligence at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 25, 2023 at 7:30AM

A sunset at Valo Park in Tysons (photo by Fazli Erdem/Twitter)

County on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly — “Fairfax County Forest Pest Management unit…is asking County residents to help slow the spread of this invasive pest by being vigilant about not moving spotted lanternfly life stages when traveling through known infested areas and to vacuum nymphs and adults with a shop vac and scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, as well as report sightings.” [DPWES]

Longtime Seven Corners Clothing Store to Move — “After outfitting local healthcare workers for 20 years, Gallo Clothing in the Seven Corners Shopping Center is closing for good. The store’s last day is Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, just about everything in the store is marked down 25 to 75 percent…The landlord is raising the rent, so Gallo Clothing is relocating, says manager Doris Zelaya.” [Annandale Today]

FCPD steps up presence on Burke Centre Parkway after fatal crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2023 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police are stepping up their presence on Burke Centre Parkway this week (via FCPD/Twitter)

Drivers on Burke Centre Parkway can expect to see more police than usual this week, as the community still reels from a crash that killed one teen and put three others in the hospital.

The Fairfax County Police Department launched a High Visibility Enforcement (HIVE) initiative today (Monday) that will increase the presence of motor and patrol officers along the roadway between Fairfax County Parkway and Burke Lake Road.

Court rejects petition from police officer fired after fatal Tysons shooting

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated August 3, 2023 at 4:41PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (file photo)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/3/2023) The former Fairfax County police officer who reportedly shot and killed D.C. resident Timothy Johnson on Feb. 22 in Tysons lost a court petition seeking reinstatment earlier this month.

Wesley Shifflett’s petition alleging that the county violated his due process rights and its own policies during a grievance review was rejected by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shannon, who affirmed County Executive Bryan Hill’s conclusion that the Fairfax County Police Department had followed proper county procedures.

Merits of road widening projects debated as Richmond Highway land acquisitions continue

By Vivian Hoang

Published July 24, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 24, 2024 at 5:08PM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

(Updated 10:55 a.m. on 7/26/2023) The ongoing redevelopment of Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Fairfax County has sparked a larger discussion over whether the benefits of road widening projects outweigh their potential harm.

The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to bring improvements to a three-mile stretch in the Richmond Highway corridor in two phases: first from Jeff Todd Way to just north of Frye Road, then from just north of Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane.

Planning Commission supports overhaul of Reston Comprehensive Plan

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 24, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated July 24, 2023 at 3:04PM

Reston Town Center from the Dulles Toll Road (staff photo by Fatimah Waseem)

(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) The overhaul of the Reston Comprehensive Plan is barreling towards approval this fall.

At a July 19 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved a new version of the plan, which sets a comprehensive vision for the planned community and culminates more than two years of work by residents, officials and county staff.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 24, 2023 at 7:30AM

An airplane flies above Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Contractor Will Settle Fraud Lawsuit — “Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377 million to settle a long-standing Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the Northern Virginia-based company overcharged the U.S. government to help cover losses in other areas of its business, federal authorities announced Friday.” [The Washington Post]

Burke Residents Call for Traffic Light After Fatal Crash — “A petition garners over 1,100 signatures for Fairfax County to install a stoplight at the site of Tuesday’s fatal crash along Burke Centre Parkway. Police said that speeding was likely a factor, as man driving a car, collided with four teens. The driver, Rebekah Zarco, 17, was killed immediately.” [DC News Now]

FCPD: Woman sexually assaulted at Marriott hotel in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 21, 2023 at 3:00PM

Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A woman staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield was sexually assaulted yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax County police say.

Officers were called to the hotel at 2722 Gallows Road at 1:30 p.m. for the assault, which had just occurred, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.