The meeting was called to order by Council President Mark McConn at 7:00 PM.
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- Topic: Report from Richmond by Sully State Legislators
- State Senators
- Janet Howell (32nd District) - Did not attend, she was stuck in Richmond
- Jennifer Wexton (33rd District) - Did not attend, she was celebrating her birthday with her family!
- Chap Petersen (34th District) - Did not attend
- David Marsden (37th District) - Attended
- George Barker (39th District) - Did not attend
- House of Delegates
- Kenneth Plum (36th District) - Did not attend
- Dave Bulova (37th District) - Attended
- Timothy Hugo (40th District) - Attended
- Jim LeMunyon (67th District) - Attended
- Tom Rust (86th District) - Attended
The state senators and delegates discussed economic growth, education, transportation, and law enforcement. Virginia's economy is growing but at a slower rate than the national growth. Main reasons for the reduced growth are the federal contract cuts and federal government hiring freezes.
With transportation, improvements and traffic congestion were the main topics. The Silver Metro expansion will do very limited traffic congestion reductions but it will increase economic growth along the Dulles Toll Road corridor. Currently, Northern Virginia wastes about 900,000 hours every day in traffic. By focusing on the most traffic congestion projects, the improvements will reduce these hours by 10% per year. Some concerns were expressed about tolling our way out of traffic congestion. Because of Maryland's strict land-use planning, another major bridge crossing is very unlikely. Since the transportation bill was passed in 2013, NOVA has received over $350M with Fairfax County getting $40M.
For education, state funding and Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) budgets were discussed. State funding to FCPS has increased by 24% over the five years. The major issue is assessing overhead costs that is roughly current 33%. SOL Commission is assessing alternative methods of testings for some students. Therefore, decreasing the overhead would improve the budget challenges.
Law enforcement was the final topic. Human trafficking is a growing concern and the General Assembly is passing laws for enforcement. State Police Troopers will start to wear body cameras. Another legal issue is digital assets after death. Lastly, the state is addressing sexual assaults on college campuses given the recent UVA case.
- State Senators
- 8:30 - Regency Centers @ Commonwealth Centre
- Proponent: Susan Yantis, Senior Land Use Planner, Hunton & Williams LLP
- Action: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2015-III-DS1 and Proffered Condition Amendment/Final Development Plan Amendment 2006-SU-025-02
- Location: Commonwealth Center is located immediately east of the interchange at Route 28/Westfields Boulevard
Commonwealth Centre consists of approximately 101 acres and was approved in 2007 for development of 1.41 million square feet of office, hotel and retail uses.. The Applicant, Regency Centers, proposes to substitute for a 21-acre portion of the approved office and hotel uses at Commonwealth Centre a Wegmans Market and other complimentary restaurant and retail uses intended to serve Westfields employees, visitors and nearby residents.
Regency's presentation on Commonwealth Centre (Wegmans)
SDC has no objections to the proposal. The council recommends improving pedestrian and non-vehicular access from residential communities east and west of the site. Finally, the developer did have concerns that the county is trying to postpone the BOS consideration of the parcel until after the elections, which they feel may cause Wegmans to reconsider their 2018 planned date, or even the site itself.
- 9:00 - Sully Plaza Sign SEA 89-Y-035
- Proponent: Inda E. Stagg, Senior Land Use Planner, on behalf of Combined Properties
- Action: SEA 89-Y-035 application to replace the existing shopping center sign
- Location: Sully Plaza Shopping Center - 13960 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (north of Rt. 50 and east of Centreville Road))
A SEA application has been filed on behalf of Combined Properties to replace the existing Sully Plaza Shopping Center sign. This application has been formally accepted. The Tax map identification is 34-4 ((1)) 16C pt. The case number is SEA 89-Y-035 with the Planning Commission date set for 16 September. Sharon Williams is the Staff Coordinator.
The proposed sign is larger and taller than permitted by the Ordinance. This is similar to Combined Properties' recently approved request to replace the Chantilly Plaza Shopping Center sign. At issue, once again, is visibility and the need for more prominent tenant recognition. The existing sign is in conformance with the permitted height and size of a shopping center sign. The proposed sign is more attractive (in Inda's opinion) and more visible; it is also taller and larger than permitted. The graphic shows the existing and proposed signs side-by-side.
The application includes "modifications to a drive-in bank". They were required to include an existing bank's use in this application because a previous SE was approved on the property for the bank, SE 89-Y-035. They needed to amend that old application to add the sign request and to remove one parking space (to accommodate landscaping around the new sign). No revisions to the existing bank building or its use are proposed with this application.
SDC has no objections to the proposal.
- 9:30 - SE 2015-SU-017 approval to allow a drive-through bank
- Proponent: Inda E. Stagg, Senior Land Use Planner, on behalf of BBCN Bank
- Action: SE 2015-SU-017 application approval to allow a drive-through bank
- Location: 13890 Braddock Road (TM 54-4 ((1)) 87D pt.)
This is an office building located immediately south of the shopping center located south of Lee Highway, east of Old Centerville Road, and north of Braddock Road. The shopping center contains "Spa World" as a tenant. The office location is highlighted in yellow in the portion of the tax map below.
BBCN is seeking SE approval to allow a drive-through bank in an existing building. No new construction is proposed. This case is a little strange because a SE was previously approved for this use in this location, the building was constructed for the use (with drive through lanes and a canopy), and it was used as a drive-through bank for a number of years. Unfortunately, the bank that was using the drive-through left. The drive-through use was not operated on the property for more than two years and the use expired. Now a bank wants to reoccupy the space, but can't without new SE approval.
Here's a photograph of the existing building and drive-though:
Here are the submission materials
SDC has no objections to the proposal.
- Membership Topic: State of Sully by Sully Supervisor Michael Frey
- Land Use and Transportation Committee:
- 8:30 - Akridge Westfields Development
- Proponent: Lori R. Greenlief, Senior Land Use Planner, McGuireWoods LLP
- Action: Development
- Location: Westfields
Akridge last presented their plans for residential use on their property in Westfields at our April meeting. Their Planning Commission hearing is the night of our June meeting and they would like to return prior to the PC hearing to present refinements to the project based on the additional feedback received from citizen groups.
- 9:00 - Trinity Centre residential units
- Proponent: Mark C. Looney, Cooley LLP, representing JLB Realty
- Action: rezoning application pending with Fairfax County (RZ/FDP 2015-SU-002 and PCA 86-S-071-04) to permit construction of approximately 355 residential units
- Location: Adjacent to the existing lake at the eastern entrance to Trinity Centre
JLB Realty is under contract to purchase one of the undeveloped parcels in Trinity Centre. JLB has a rezoning application pending with Fairfax County (RZ/FDP 2015-SU-002 and PCA 86-S-071-04) to permit construction of approximately 355 residential units adjacent to the existing lake at the eastern entrance to Trinity Centre. They currently are scheduled for a September Planning Commission public hearing and wanted to arrange an initial presentation to the Land Use Committee of the Sully District Council. This first presentation would be for informational purposes, and they would return in July or September with a final presentation.
- 8:30 - Akridge Westfields Development
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:50 p.m.