Letters to the Editor: March 21 – 27, 2015
Take Caution When Parking In F.C. on Memorial Day
Editor,
I am writing for two reasons in anticipation of the imminent Falls Church Memorial Day celebration on Monday
Reason 1: To provide an advance notice intended to remind visitors attracted to the Memorial Day Events of the City’s passive interest in regulating predatory towing. In short, while the Falls Church community entices visitors to enjoy the attractions of “The [charmingly-named] Little City,” we are more than happy to have them find their cars towed if they choose to park in an unpropitious area.
Reason 2: To generally advise that I will spend a portion of the Memorial Day afternoon at Broaddale to alert visitors that history indicates that they risk having their cars towed if they park in Shopping Center area and subsequently leave the premises to view the parade or participate in other city-sponsored holiday activities.
On May 31, 2014, I wrote to the News-Press on this topic. I found that the alerted drivers frequently shrugged and left their vehicles to fate. Others appreciated the “heads-up.”
All I am suggesting is that Falls Church could make a stronger effort to provide visitors with the “rules” so those visitors can decide whether or not to visit and participate in the City’s version of hospitality and, if so, to help them determine where they may park their vehicles with confidence that the vehicle will be still be in the same place where they left it when they return.
G T Bowman
Falls Church
Mason Row Would Disrupt Residential Life Near West Street
Editor,
Living in a West Grove townhouse with our bedrooms, living space and yard back to West Street, we are getting increasingly concerned with some of what is currently proposed with the Mason Row Project.
My family and I have been Falls Church City residents for the past 11 years. One of the reasons we moved our family to the City, and specifically to West Grove, was the fact that our townhouse backed to the bike trail away from the large development and high traffic. We love nature and appreciate the fact that we could see the sky when we looked out of our windows or sat on our deck.
I am not against the development, but am anxious to know that it would be a positive change for our tight knit community, rather than a monstrosity that has a negative impact on our daily lives.
In the last planning meeting my husband and I attended, we were encouraged when the developer announced that they had made changes to make the West Street side of the building more visually pleasant, with a wide pedestrian walkway, and the plan had tucked the loading area in the back away from residential homes.Unfortunately I was not able to attend the next meeting but we’re concerned now that we hear that the loading dock has been moved to West Street. This would really affect our quality of life, I can’t imagine the additional noise that would be generated from having the loading dock facing our bedrooms in addition to the expected increase of car traffic and the increase of foot traffic on the path behind our home.
Our other concern is the height of the proposed development, we are concerned about the visual as well as the shadow effect.
We would like the city to please take its time reviewing the details of the request for exceptions by the developer, as well as think about the permanent change they are making to our city. I also ask for transparency with the community and enough time for taxpayers to review the proposals and give feedback. I would also like to urge you to think of those of us who are raising our families in proximity of this development and how it will impact our quality of life.
Aline A. Orfali
Falls Church
Letters to the Editor may be submitted to letters@fcnp.com or via our online form here. Letters should be limited to 350 words and may be edited for content, clarity and length. To view the FCNP’s letter and submission policy, please click here.
