Wednesday, March 6, 2024
As Supervisor Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon) rolls through the Mount 
Vernon District making improvements left and right, he’s boiled it all down to a list. What is the status of the projects on this list?
1. Airplane Noise Reduction: Complaints about airplane noise have been coming into the supervisor's office for nearly 10 years so to address the issue, Congressman Don Beyer and Supervisor Storck organized a meeting with MWAA and the FAA to discuss the concerns. Out of that came the South Flow Alliance citizens group, Reagan National Airport Community Working Group. The FAA worked with MWAA and they established a new departure pattern to lessen the noise which is still in the testing phase. Next Meeting - April 25, 2024 - 6pm to 8pm (people may log-on at 5:45pm). https://www.flyreagan.com/about-airport/aircraft-noise-information/dca-reagan-national-community-working-group
2. Embark Richmond Highway: Embark Richmond Highway is a multi-faceted project promoting revitalization along a 7.5 mile segment of the Richmond Highway Corridor by creating a series of mixed-use activity centers supported by a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. As part of this effort, new apartments, condominiums and townhouses have opened in the Huntington, Penn Daw and Lockheed Boulevard area. In addition, there are a few new murals along the corridor and some intersection improvements and officials continue to make progress along the corridor. In February 2022, the BRT was officially named “The One,” and modern bus design was made public but they haven’t started rolling out yet. According to Fairfax County, Section 1 is delayed from late 2026 to 2030 and section 2 from 2028 to late 2030. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mountvernon/sites/mountvernon/files/assets/documents/embark%20factsheets.pdf
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/transportation/richmond-hwy-BRT
3. George Washington Parkway Study - The National Park Service conducted a study of the George Washington Memorial Parkway called the “George Washington Memorial Parkway – Southern Section Road Diet Traffic Impact Analysis,” and is divided into Concept 1, between Belle Haven Road and Morningside Lane, and Concept 3, between Morningside Lane and Stratford Lane. NPS gathered comments on this study through Oct 24, 2023. The National Park Service heard common themes about the Belle Haven and Belle View intersections from the public that included: high-speeds, confusion over who has the right-of-way, struggles to find gaps in traffic, and difficult sight-lines to see northbound vehicles while turning left from the side streets. In September 2023, the National Park Service implemented a new traffic pattern at both intersections.
4. Huntington Levee - With Cameron Run right on their doorsteps, the residents of the Huntington area witnessed the flooding through the years and some have the high water mark in place on their wall just as a reminder. In 2009, the Army Corps of Engineers completed a study to evaluate flood damage reduction measures. In the Huntington community, more than 160 homes are in the floodplain and all are at risk of flooding. At the request of Fairfax County, the United States Army Corps of Engineers studied the best ways in which to protect the Huntington community from future floods. The study found that the most cost-effective and sustainable way to manage flooding risks in the area was to build a 2,800-foot levee and pumping station. In June 2019, they celebrated the completion of the levee and pumping station. In late 2021, the area protected by the levee was removed from the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.
5. Infill Development Task Force
Neighborhood representatives, the District Supervisor’s office, state elected representatives, and developers serve on the task force to review and evaluate County and state options for better addressing the impacts on neighbors and neighborhoods of “by-right” residential infill redevelopment projects. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mountvernon/infill-development-task-force-idtf
6. Lorton Landfill Closure - Construction and demolition debris was halted for the Lorton Landfill in 2018 and in 2021, the landfill was completely closed. Future plans include turning it into "Overlook Park," and this concept was discussed at the Lorton Landfill Summit which was held in September 2021. The property is now the largest grassland in Fairfax County and is home to pollinator meadows, areas for ground nesting birds, beehives and other environmental efforts.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2022/jun/10/proposal-landfill-park-land/
7. Lorton Community Center - The Lorton Community Center opened in October 2022. The 30,000-square-foot facility is co-located with the Lorton Library and Lorton Park. The community center provides space for the Lorton Senior Center and Lorton Community Action Center, as well as services, programs and activities for individuals of all ages and abilities. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/lorton-community-center
8. Lorton Visioning 2040 - Lorton Visioning 2040 is a community-driven visioning process to understand how Lorton residents move through and use their community, and how it could be strengthened in the future up to the year 2040. The Lorton Visioning Steering Committee meets monthly to plan meetings and prepare information for this effort.
9. Opioid Disposal: The Mount Vernon District Supervisor’s office at 2511 Parkers Lane, Mount Vernon, VA, 22306, provides free drug deactivation kits. The Springfield District Office has a permanent opioid drop-off box, located at 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA, 22152.
Walmart has also launched a first-of-its kind opioid disposal solution, available at no cost, in all company pharmacies.
Fairfax County Police stations also offer permanent opioid drop off boxes.
10. Original Mount Vernon High School - At the old Mount Vernon High School building, the classrooms are gone but the space has been slated for "adaptive reuse," to include nonprofits, a teen and senior center, a gym and early childhood education. The site is being eyed for educational programs to support workforce development which includes business incubation spaces, visual and performing arts programs, a Welcome Center and the current library, which will be converted to an event space with this project, the county said. 
The Original Mount Vernon High School was built in 1939, a classic example of Colonial Revival architecture. The county-owned facility is located at 8333 Richmond Highway on a 22-acre property that was once part of George Washington’s estate.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/capital-projects/original-mount-vernon-high-school
11. Penn Daw Fire Station and Emergency and Supportive Housing - On top of Beacon Hill, just off Richmond Highway is a spot that was home to the Hybla Valley Nursery which closed in 2020. Fairfax County stepped in and slated the site to co-locate a new Penn Daw fire station and supportive housing structure to take the place of the outdated Eleanor Kennedy Shelter now on Fort Belvoir land. According to the county, construction could start this coming summer and be complete at the end of 2026.
12. Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit This project is a vital part of the overall “Embark” project. It will be built in two sections for the BRT, with six stations planned for Part I that stretches from Huntington to Hybla Valley, and Part II which stretches to Fort Belvoir. Section l is scheduled to begin in 2023 and be completed in early 2027, while construction on Section II will span from 2025-2029, project information said. See number 2 above.
13. Richmond Highway Widening from Napper Road to Jeff Todd Way Widening Richmond Highway is on the schedule at the Virginia Department of Transportation to begin in early 2027. The two-phased, $465 million project will ultimately widen the highway from four to six lanes from Jeff Todd Way in the south to Sherwood Hall Lane.
14. Save River Farm, Mission Accomplished. The possibility for River Farm to go up for sale with development looming, community involvement, zoning changes, funding from the state and major efforts inside the American Horticultural Society saved River Farm. Save the date for the annual AHS Spring Garden Market coming April 12 & 13.
15. South County Police Station & Animal Shelter - Due west on Lorton Road, a new South County Police Station and Animal Shelter opened in the summer of 2023. The new facility includes a 34,000 square-foot police station and a 23,000 square-foot animal shelter. Stop by and adopt a dog or other pet.
16. South County Site Specific Plan Amendment, a zoning process.
Fairfax County has gathered public input on proposals to change the Comprehensive Plan for 23 sites in southern Fairfax County, including residential, office, retail, and mixed use properties near places like downtown Annandale, the Huntington and Franconia-Springfield Metro Stations and Richmond Highway. See https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/sspa/south