January 4 – 10, 2007
F.C. Planning Commissioners Stay On – For Now
Two veteran members of the City of Falls Church’s Planning Commission who planned to end their service on the volunteer board as of Jan. 1 have agreed to stay on into the New Year until replacements can be found. Peter Holran and Bob Burnett both intended to depart the commission at the end of 2006, but were in their seats at Tuesday’s meeting. The interviewing process for prospective replacements has not yet been completed, reported commission chair Ruth Rodgers. She and others on the board urged the two to change their minds and stay on for another four-year tour of duty.
Hekemian Due Back With New Pearson Property Plan
The Hekemian Company is apparently willing to risk getting the “Lucy” treatment from the Falls Church City Council, trying once again like Charley Brown to kick that football. On the other hand, the third time may be the charm for them. Twice before rebuffed by the Council when it came forward with a plan for a mixed use rental project on the site of the former Pearson Funeral Home on N. Washington St., the developers will be back before the Council at the end of January for yet another try. According to Acting City Manager Wyatt Shields, Hekemian will be proposing further modifications to its original plan, scaling back the number of rental units to 100, lowering the height of their proposed structure to one story on the corner of N. Washington and E. Jefferson and increasing the percentage of commercial in the total project to 23.5%. The Council’s receptiveness “will depend on how well the project fits in with the site,” Shields said. But it will also probably depend on how fervently the residential neighbors to the site oppose it, as they have in the past.
F.C. Meets Sister City Fundraising Goal
The goal of having at least 100 Falls Church citizens donate at least $10 each on line in a 10-day period at the end of 2006 was reached, and thereby a $5,000 “challenge grant” was secured for schools in Falls Church’s African-based Sister City, the region of Kokolopori in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Organizers announced the news yesterday. The grant was provided by Sister Cities International and the Global Giving Foundation.
Connolly Addresses Fairfax Legislative Delegation
As the annual legislative session in Richmond commences, the chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Gerry Connolly, has summoned all members of the legislative delegation from Fairfax County to the County Government Center this Saturday morning at 9 a.m., when he will deliver a public address and hold a public hearing on the county’s legislative priorities for the coming session. The event will be open to the public. Those who wish to speak at the public hearing will need to contact the clerk of the Board of Supervisors by noon Friday, Jan. 5. at (703) 324-3151 and can also sign up at the hearing. The county center is located at 12000 Government Center Parkway. A legislative preview will be provided by former Virginia Governor Mark Warner to the Northern Virginia Democratic Business Council Friday morning.
Year-End Gifts Boost F.C. Education Foundation Efforts
Over $116,000 in special year-end gifts was received by the Falls Church Education Foundation, according to executive director Donna Englander. The non-profit education foundation is entering the New Year with a major fundraising drive for programs to support the Falls Church City Public Schools focused on its annual dinner on April 27 that will feature George Mason University men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga. It will be held at the Westin Arlington Gateway and will feature a reception, dinner, auction and performances by school system students.
Chap Peterson Announces Campaign for State Senate
Former State Del. Chap Peterson, who lost his seat during an unsuccessful bid to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2005, will seek the State Senate seat in the 34th District including Vienna, the City of Fairfax and a large section of central and western areas of Fairfax County.
