News | FFXnow - Part 633

Morning Notes

Published October 24, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated October 24, 2022 at 8:20AM

The Boro in Tysons is pictured at sunset (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Herndon Shooting — A suspect has been arrested in connected with a shooting at the 2600 block of Logan Wood Drive in Herndon. The victim was hospitalized with injuries that are not life threatening. [Fairfax County Police Department]

School Board Member Apologizes After Using Slur — “Fairfax County School Board member Karen Keys-Gamarra was heard using a slur about people with disabilities during a hot mic moment at the board’s Thursday meeting… Keys-Gamarra sent a statement to WTOP, saying she deeply regretted using the word.” [Inside NOVA]

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: Oct. 15-21

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 21, 2022 at 3:30PM

A data center or warehouse is proposed for Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway, now known as Route 50 (Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government).

The weekend is almost here. Let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the five most-read stories on FFXnow this week:

Mosaic District skating rink proposal skids to a halt until next year

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 21, 2022 at 2:30PM

A few skaters use the Mosaic District's roller rink in July 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

There will be no ice skating at the Mosaic District this winter.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals agreed on Wednesday (Oct. 19) to postpone a decision on Rink Management Services Corporation’s special permit request for a rink in the Merrifield neighborhood that would have roller skating in the spring and ice skating in the winter.

Roughly 25,000 voters receive incorrect voting information due to ‘printing issue’

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 21, 2022 at 1:15PM

A state elections mailer sent to around 25,000 voters incorrectly directed Town of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton voters to the wrong polling locations.

The letter directs Town of Herndon residents should vote at a new location nearly thirty minutes away from the town: the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center in the City of Fairfax.

Equity concerns pauses county’s push to develop sports tourism facilities

By Matt Blitz

Published October 21, 2022 at 10:30AM

Kids play soccer on a synthetic turf (via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Concerns over equity and the recommendation of specific sites have delayed Fairfax County’s push into sports tourism.

At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed that the county start advertising that it’s seeking proposals from private entities to develop sports tourism facilities.

Agreement for Bowman Towne Court overhaul approved by county housing authority

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 21, 2022 at 9:30AM

Foulger-Pratt has backed out of a proposal to move forward with the redevelopment project (Photo via Fairfax County).

Developer Foulger-Pratt‘s unsolicited proposal to redevelop Bowman Towne Court in Reston is moving forward to the next phase of planning.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s commissioners voted yesterday (Oct. 20) to approve an interim agreement with the developer for up to 350 affordable apartments and a 40,000-square-foot Reston Regional Library on the 2.9-acre property owned by FCRHA at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 21, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated October 21, 2022 at 9:31AM

A fountain goes off in Mason Pond on George Mason University's Fairfax campus (photo by Susan Woolsey)

I-66 Ramps in Fair Lakes Area to Close Next Week — The I-66 East ramps from Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road will begin closing as early as 10 a.m. on Monday (Oct. 24) “to accommodate continued construction related to the 66 Express Lanes.” They will reopen by the end of this year with the rest of the eastern section of the interstate’s new toll lanes from Route 28 in Centreville to I-495. [VDOT]

County Police End Weekly Crime Reports — “The Fairfax County Police Department is no longer putting out weekly crime reports that list incidents for each police district. Instead, the FCPD has adopted CityProtect, an online map that shows the location of incidents with very limited details.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax County seeks more authority from state to fix trash pickup issues

By Matt Blitz

Published October 20, 2022 at 3:00PM

An American Disposal truck in Fairfax County (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Fairfax County will ask the Virginia General Assembly for more authority to fix its trash troubles, as complaints about American Disposal Services continue.

At Tuesday’s (Oct. 18) legislative committee meeting, the Board of Supervisors once again dove into the persisting problems with trash pickups by the private, contracted collectors that serve about 90% of residents and almost all businesses in the county.

Construction ‘practically’ finished on Vienna Market development

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 20, 2022 at 1:30PM

Vienna Market brings townhouses and retail space to Maple Avenue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After a noisy couple of years, construction is wrapping up on the Vienna Market development that now looms over Maple Avenue.

Replacing the former Marco Polo restaurant at 245 Maple Avenue West, the complex consists of 44 condominium townhomes and 8,200 square feet of ground-floor retail space. It broke ground in mid-2019 after a lengthy planning and design process.

County takes key step to prepare for redevelopment of Fairfax’s Judicial Complex

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 20, 2022 at 11:45AM

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik directed to staff to submit a plan amendment to move redevelopment forward (Photo via Fairfax County Government).

Fairfax County is considering updating its comprehensive plan to incorporate new housing and other public facilities in the Judicial Complex, a nearly 48-acre portion land surrounded by the City of Fairfax that is slated for redevelopment.

Home to the county’s circuit, general district and juvenile courts as well as the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, the county jail, and volunteer organizations, the complex underwent a master planning process that concluded in January 2021, kicking off implementation of a 20-year plan.