HCA Meeting 6/7/17
Welcome and Introductions
Art Ovalle, President
Jeff Woodward, Vice President
Harry Shepler, Treasurer
Everett Price, Secretary
Guest Speaker
Dan Storck, Supervisor, Fairfax County – Mount Vernon District
Birdogged reopening of community center after fire
Insisted that it needed to reopen in time for summer
Important that it has reopened in time for voting
Decided to do box lunches in place of hot meals because kitchen still being remodeled
Asking that FMD restrict parking to center users during center hours
New fire system, mostly new lighting (energy efficient)
Came on Saturday for reopening tour
Visited levee on Saturday, all going to plan
Riverside apartments filed for special exception to add more housing units; want to remove ground parking and install parking garages and 4-5 story apartment, multi-family homes; approx 750 units
Wesley Housing next to 7-11; Storck more than willing to support it; still needs tax credits; but needs competitive, state-wide process;
North Hill development along Rt. 1; number one ranked project in tax credit process in Virginia; roughly 60% workforce (affordable) housing and 40% market price housing; will find out about tax credits next week
Upcoming development: Fairchild property behind Walmart; Novus Properties planning to build near Wendy’s
Embark Richmond Highway; improved public transit sytem from Huntington Metro down Rt. 1; dedicated bus lanes; goes all the way to Prince William County; 2026 for extension to Ft Belvoir, but depends on federal funding; required change to Comprehensive Plan; south of Costco, Rt 1 for 3-mile stretch to be expanded to 3 lanes in each direction and may include dedicated bus lane in addition, but will require removal of buildings and houses; about year and a half before news of next appropriation of funds
Upcoming events:
Back to the Bay, sponsored by Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 10am-3pm, June 10th, Mason Neck Park, entertainment, recreation, food
Summer Entertainment Series, concert every Friday night during summer, 7:30pm-8:30pm, Gristmill Park, sponsored by corporations and organizations
Workhouse Art Center, former Lorton prison, Saturday night concerts, 7pm
June 30th Disaster Preparedness
Original Mount Vernon High School: project proposed to redevelop the 40-acre complex, currently speaking with master planner; NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) might bring classes to the current building
Colonial Quarter or Cultural Quarter; aiming to link with bike paths and shuttle service; pursuing idea of full service hotel
Motel issue: some want to go but want too much money for their properties
Sunoco & Vacant lot; Storck very engaged on this issue; Sunoco packaged the property with others they owned for bid process; Sunoco decided to reopen the bid after initially closing it a month or two ago; some local businesses were looking to buy the property
Will come back in a year
Email mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov to be added to Mt Vernon newsletter
Paul Browne, Wesley Housing Development Corp. (2317 Huntington Ave.)
Unsuccessful in gaining tax credits for development this spring; need Supervisor Storck’s support to help our case the next time around
First meeting with County staff tomorrow to discuss the revised plan
Construction would be 9 months after tax credits secured next Spring (approx 2019)
No other properties in Mt Vernon district; Coppermine Place in Herndon; Strawbridge Square in Mason District; senior housing in Drainesville; own some properties in Alexandria City (Beverly Park, Lynnhaven, Parkview); best example is Coppermine Place
Plan to keep duplexes vacant although Wesley does not own them currently although they are under contract
HCA Committee Reports:
Mount Vernon Council of Community Associations
General Council Meeting
Art could not attend but received minutes; Discussed Embark Project; SEE PACKET for what was discussed
Planning and Zoning
Two speakers on Monday night
Riverside Apartments
No hard questions from committee
HCA probably will vote on the project in August
Park Service Captain
Big accident at Morningside and GW Parkway
Speeding 20mph over is reckless driving on Parkway; 25mph over north of Pentagon
Transportation – Jeff Woodward
Discussion focused on GW Parkway accident
Proposal for intersection near Costco to install cloverleaf
Visit County website to learn more about Embark Project
Environment and Recreation – Alan Ruof
Unable to attend E&R meeting
Levee Project moving ahead on time; focused on excavating for the pump station; next need to build temporary sewers; then will excavate “keyway” or bad soil near Victory Dr.; Levee website posts construction photos and updates; Aaron Cook, longtime County project manager, is departing and his deputy Mike Dreyer will take the helm; mistakenly cut down a tree belonging to someone on the opposite side of the fence line, working to formulate an appropriate response
Health and Human Services
Still vacant
Education – Caitlin Wilson
Not present
Budget and Finance
Not present
Neighborhood Watch – David Sears
Training held last night
POST NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH EMAIL ADDRESS
New Business/Action Items/Updates
HCA Member Vote: Office space us of Wesley Housing Project
Discussion of why to make ground floor office space, whereas retail space would be more attractive; others made the point that the retail tenant would not necessarily be attractive
“Although we prefer improved retail for the area, for the purposes of this project, we support business space”
The motion passed, with one in opposition
HCA Member Vote: Revised HCA Bylaws
Passed unanimously
Vote retracted; postponed to August
HCA Member Vote: HCA Memberships from calendar year to annual date of membership
The vote was postponed to August
HCA Member Vote: Change/offer alternate Payment Method for Annual HCA Membership
The vote was postponed to August
Huntington Community Center – Working relationship
Community Center director interested in expanding cooperation with HCA, including involvement in National Night Out
Mt. Vernon District Joint Public Safety Community Meeting – May 31st
New HCA Website rollout date
Coming July 1st
Huntington Community Association Logo
Send out on listserv
Huntington Community Picnic (Farrington Park)– June 24th, no rain date
Will post info to listserv next week
Huntington Neighborhood Cleanup – July 8th
Farrington Park
Will open to public on Saturday, June 10th or Monday, June 12th at latest
National Night Out – August 1st
Parker allowing us to use their park
Hotdogs, chips, and drinks
Midtown joining National Night Out and contribute money
Fairfax County Parks and Recreation may help us, possibly staff
Inquiring with businesses for donations
Police, Fire, and Ambulance
Going to flyer the neighborhood
Next HCA Meeting: August 3rd at 7:30pm