Next Meeting October 2
The next Huntington Community Association meeting will be Thursday, October 2 in the Community Center starting at 7:30 pm.
map to the community center

Huntington Flooding Possible This Weekend
A tropical storm warning has been issued until for the region until 11 p.m. Saturday and a flash flood watch will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday for Fairfax County. According to the National Weather Service, rainfall is anticipated to be 4-8 inches with wind gusts between 40-45 mph during the height of the weather activity on Saturday afternoon. This will be a fast-moving storm; it is expected to enter this area late tonight with the bulk of the precipitation occurring between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow. Flash flooding is a concern.

Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) are monitoring areas such as New Alexandria, Belle Haven and Huntington ­ portions of the county that have flooded during past storms. DPWES staff are also monitoring state-regulated dams located within Fairfax County, and have scheduled crews to work 12-hour shifts as necessary, with numerous staff on call for the weekend if needed. In addition, public safety personnel will patrol in flood prone areas of the county.

Residents should be alert to signs of flooding, be ready to evacuate at a momentıs notice Community Emergency Alert Network (CEAN) will be issuing messages about Tropical Storm Hanna, as well as issuing preparedness news releases. Messages will be posted here as received. Residents are encouraged to sign up on the CEAN to receive any incelement weather messages or other emergency notices.
County News Release
Online CEAN Signup

Help Revise our Neighborhood Plan
Several neighbors were present at the August meeting and heard presentations regarding the Huntington Conservation Plan. The 1976 Conservation Plan is online on our "planning" page.

As a result of developer interest in parcels along Hungtonton Avenue, a committee of members was created to look into amendments to the Conservation Plan, as a way of steering future development, and as a way to articulate our goals about the condition and future of our neighborhood. We will be working with the county's Redevelopment and Housing Authority on the amendments and on requirements for county adoption. We can use a few neighbors to represent Biscayne, Glendale, Blaine, Riverview, Fairview areas on the committee. Please contact Ray Novitske, 703-960-4598 to express your interest.

Reports on the committee's progress will be posted in the "reports" section during the next three months, as well as at the community association meetings.


Developer Presents Plans at May Meeting
A&R Companies presented plans for the block bounded by Huntington Avenue, Biscayne, Blaine, and Glendale at the Association's May meeting before an overflow crowd. The plan presented calls for transit-oriented development consisting of mostly residential rental apartments, with ground floor retail and commercial space fronting along Huntington Avenue, and offices at the eastern end of the block, again fronting on Huntington Avenue. All parking for the development would be accommodated in internal and underground garages, and not on the public residential streets.

The plans presented represent the developer's application to change the county Comprehensive Plan of this land. The approval process would last until the end of this year at the earliest and include further public hearings and review. If the Plan change is approved, the next step would be to apply for a zoning change, at which time many of the details dealing with parking, construction, noise, and building height and entrances would be addressed with the neighborhood.

It is believed that the entire block could be developed at the same time, although A&R currently only has plans and control over the western section of the block. The developer is considering a 150-foot residentai building at the corner of Biscayne and Huntington Avenue, stepping down in height along Biscayne to three or four story townhouses facing Glendale. A&R or another developer may find the remaining block attractive for redevelopment at a later date.
A&R company web site

Ticketing and Towing Begins May 1 for Parking Violations
Beginning May 1, police will ticket vehicles parked in violation of the Community Parking District (CPD) regulations recently established in the Mount Vernon Magisterial District. A "tow tag," a warning ticket and an informational flier will be attached to the vehicle. The owner will have 48 hours to move the vehicle. If the vehicle remains in the CPD after the initial 48-hour period, a parking ticket will be issued with an additional 48 hours to move the vehicle. If the vehicle is not removed from the CPD following the second 48 hours, it will be towed.

The Mount Vernon CPD was established following a public hearing on March 10 and passage by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Vehicles that are not allowed on public streets in residential areas in the Mount Vernon Community Parking District are
* Boat trailers
* Watercraft
* Motor homes
* Camping trailers
* Trailer or semi-trailer, even if attached to a vehicle
* Vehicles with three or more axles
* Vehicles with a gross vehicle weighted rating (GVWR) of 12,000 pounds or more
* Vehicles transporting 16 or more passengers (except school buses)

Low Cost Rabies Clinics
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will hold its remaining 2008 low-cost rabies clinics from 2 - 4 pm at the animal shelter at 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030.
Dates for the 2008 clinics are:
Sunday, May 18
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008
An additional clinic will be held Sunday, April 6 at the Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, VA 22307. This clinic is also 2 - 4 pm.

The cost for rabies shots at the clinic is $10.00. The clinic is held for dogs, cats and ferrets. All dogs should be on leashes and all cats and ferrets in carriers. Fairfax County 2008 dog licenses will be sold separately at the clinic and cost $5.00 for altered dogs and $10.00 for unaltered dogs (please bring proof of your pet's spay or neuter).

The clinic is sponsored by the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and Deepwood Veterinary Hospital. For more information, please call (703) 830-1000. For more information about the rabies clinic, visit the Fairfax County Animal Services Web site.

New Crime Solver Technology
With the recent creation of their new website, Fairfax County Crime Solvers has tapped into the latest technology available for receiving anonymous tips. Tipsters may now give their information via texting or e-mail using state-of-the-art software purchased through Anderson Software. Texting is a popular form of communication for the younger generation and Fairfax County Crime Solvers hopes to open that line of communication with them. Previously, tipsters were limited to calling a phone number. This new software opens the door for Crime Solver programs and interfaces these newer forms of communication with tip-taking. It enables tipsters to communicate through a secure server that blocks their identity. Thus, tipsters are able to relay vital information from anywhere they can send text or e-mail messages and at any time. In addition, their new website provides current information on wanted persons, news releases, suspects caught in the act and upcoming events. This site is continually updated. It was designed with the user in mind and provides a means to stay current with the latest efforts of the Crime Solvers Board. Fairfax County Crime Solvers is the first in the Washington Metropolitan region to implement this new texting and e-mail software.

Other programs in the nation that currently use it have seen a sharp increase in the number of tips received. Fairfax County Crime Solvers is a non-profit 501C3 organization comprised of business leaders and citizens throughout the area. They provide a venue for those with knowledge of a criminal act to report information without the fear of retaliation. Their tip lines are protected under law. The Fairfax County Crime Solvers' Board of Directors invites you to visit their new website at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org Those who wish to report information may now utilize one of the three methods available:
    • By phone - Call 1-866-411-TIPS/8477 and follow the voice prompts to Fairfax County
    • By e-mail - visit www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org and click on the secure link to communicate back and forth.
    • By texting - Text "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES/274637

Flood Levee Proposed
A flood wall levee isproposed for protecting Huntington from Cameron Run flooding. A levee would be roughly 65 feet wide and have at least one access ramp for maintenance and emergency equipment. The levee at its highest point at Fenwick would be 19.6 feet and would have three pumping stations. At this height, there is only a two percent chance of it being overtopped. The levee would also meet FEMA certifications requirements meaning that residents living behind the levee would not have the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement.

The Corps and the County will now move forward with the necessary design work. You may see Corps engineers in the community taking soil samples and performing similar work. The Corps estimates that the levee can take up to two years to construct. Huntington did not qualify for Federal funds to construct the levee. The Corps estimates the cost to be about 25 million dollars. The Huntington Community will need to work with County, State and Federal officials to identify funding sources. It may turn out to be a combination of funding sources.

Flood Study Draft Meeting
Following up on the April 24th 2007 meeting, at which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, presented preliminary flood control measures to protect the Huntington community, the USACE presented the cost benefit analysis on January 15, 2008.

At this meeting a presentation was made to provide greater detail about the various alternatives and the cost benefit analysis investigated to mitigate future flood related damages to the Huntington Community. At this time, you have the opportunity to ask questions and to provide feedback on each of the alternatives.

To view the slide presentation and view other information, visit the county web site set up for flooding information at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater/floodreport.

Renew Your Community Association Membership for 2008
For $10 a year, businesses or residents can join to support the Huntington Community Association and its activities. Now is the time to renew your membership for 2008. Download the membership form, complete it, and send it in or bring it to the next meeting. Join in and make a difference in the community.

Get on the HCA "E" List
Huntington Community Association has an official list of members who wish to receive quick updates about events, crime watch, notices, announcements, and reminders by e-mail. To place your name on the mailing list, simply send an e-mail to mail@HuntingtonOnline.org.