Key Gains for F.C. Scored in Richmond

State representatives serving the City of Falls Church and its environs have made important gains for the region during the on-going Virginia legislative session in Richmond, although an important vote on photo red light systems will take place in a House committee this Friday.

Del. Jim Scott introduced an amendment to a bill expected to pass in Richmond that exempts the City of Falls Church from a prohibition on the use of the special exception process negotiate affordable housing proffers from developers.

The bill is aimed at codifying a court ruling against the County of Arlington's attempt to impose a rigid affordable housing quota on developers, but since Falls Church was not involved, Del. Scott's amendment is expected to be passed.

This is vital to Falls Church's ability to continue the process of granting approvals for large-scale development projects in the City. It was only when the City adopted a flexible "special exception" approach that successful negotiations led to the approval of four such projects in the past three years.

In another development, State Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple has spearheaded Northern Virginia's interest in winning endorsement of a blue ribbon panel's recommendations on the need for Metro to have an independent funding source.

A critical vote will take place this Friday in the House's Police and Militia Committee to determine if the photo red light public safety capability now working the City of Falls Church and other Virginia jurisdictions will be allowed to continue.

Also, Del. Bob Hull succeeded in including $15,000 for the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation in Falls Church in the state budget approved by the House last week.

The money is earmarked for the development of the Tinner Hill Cultural Center and John Jackson Center for Piedmont Blues.

Hull got a similar grant of $32,000 in 2003 for the construction of the Tinner Hill arch on Rt. 29 commemorating the first rural branch of the NAACP across from where the new museum and cultural center will be built.

The final version of the state budget will be voted on Feb. 26, when the legislature is due to adjourn.