BULLETIN, Mon, June 23, 11:35 p.m. EDT — By a unanimous 5-0 vote at 11:17 p.m. tonight, the Falls Church City Council approved zoning changes and a special exception to permit the construction of 110-room Hilton Garden Inn at 706 W. Broad St., adjacent a Burger King and within 100 yards of the St. James School. Strong arguments in favor of the hotel were presented by City business owners and residents, while opposition persisted from St. James School parents and residential neighbors to the site. An agreement reached between Fr. Posey of the St. James Church and developer Bob Young of Jefferson Park, LLC, earlier in the day was decisive for the unanimous outcome. Unable to stay for the vote because of a business trip to Paris, Council member David Snyder said he would have voted yes, as well, had he been able to. The yes votes came from Mayor Robin Gardner, Vice Mayor Lindy Hockenberry, serving in her final meeting on the Council before leaving after eight years, and Council members Dan Maller, Hal Lippman and Dan Sze.
