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Coalition Update
January 20, 2025
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- Martin Luther King's Legacy: Remain Humble But Determined
- PUBLIC HEARINGS: Franconia Triangle
- Bren Mar Data Center: What's Next
- Plan Forward: Lusk Adds Two In-person Presentations in Franconia
- Tysons Casino Takes Center Stage
- In The News
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Remain Humble But Determined
Most of us try to make a positive difference in this world. Today we are inspired by a single person's efforts to make our world a more equitable and welcoming country, who made a profound difference. Martin Luther King was humble but determined. Not all his dreams have come true (yet), but we are getting closer. Even though we can find present day evidence of the contrary, that is the case for all causes worth our effort.
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There is no straight line to success. Even the best intensions take a circuitous route. I believe King knew this and that's where determination comes in. You keep the goal insight, but expect obstacles along the way. If we understand this, we will have an easier time making our way through and around them. The less we waste on frustrations with what is inevitable, the more energy we will have to move forward.
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Although (most likely) it will take longer than expected, our patience, efforts, and determination along the way will make the true difference.
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Sharada Gilkey, Founder
Rose Hill Coalition LLC
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Franconia Triangle
Fairfax County is planning for changes to the Comprehensive Plan’s land-use guidelines for the area referred to as the "Franconia Triangle". This 22.75-acre conglomerate of businesses, public, and residential places is bounded by Franconia Rd, Beulah St, and Grovedale Dr. It is also the home of the current Franconia Governmental Center, the Franconia Volunteer Fire Dept, and the historic Mt Calvary Community Church (built in 1901). Discussions around these three sites continue to come up.
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The Staff Report (PDF) was published on January 17, 2025. According to Staff, it incorporates comments received by the public. However, the Franconia Land Use Advisory Committee will not vote on their recommendation until February 3.
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Community engagement meetings began in 2024 through January this year.
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These meetings all lead up to two Public Hearings in February and March.
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- Planning Commission (recommendation): February 12 , 7:30–10 pm (or later)
- Board of Supervisors (decision): March 18 , 3:30–9 pm (or later)
The Planning Commission will review the Staff Report, hear public comments, and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Similarly, the BOS will review the staff report with the PC's recommendations, hear public comments, and ultimately make a decision on the site-specific planning amendment (SSPA).
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Following the Public Hearings, the PC and BOS may make changes to the Staff's recommendations, request addition information, and/or defer a decision to a later date. Deferrals have become very popular by both bodies, and the decision is made as a "decision only" meeting, though still public. Decision-only meetings usually include comments by the planning commissioners or board supervisors to justify their votes.
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The area is planned for public facility, governmental and institutional use, office use, and retail use up to 0.25 FAR. The amendment will consider:
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- Retail use up to 0.30 FAR along Franconia Road (Tax Map Parcel 81-3 ((5)) 13)
- Multi-family residential use up to 120 units for the Franconia Governmental Center (Tax Map Parcels 81-3 ((5)) 3A, 2A, 2B, 2C1 and 83-3 ((8)) 503)
- Multi-family and attached residential use up to 12 dwelling units per acre for the Beulah Street SSPA site (Tax Map Parcels 81-3 ((5)) 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 17C and 17D)
- Attached residential use on Tax Map Parcel 81-3 ((5)) 16 subject to consolidation or coordination of development with the adjacent residentially planned parcels.
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Bren Mar Data Center
On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) will be holding an "evidentiary hearing" on the application by the Virginia Electric and Power Company for approval and certification of electric transmission facilities (230 kV Lines #210 and #243 Extension and 230-34.5 kV Edsall Substation). For meeting information, see the January 16, 2025, Coalition Update, "Data Centers in Virginia".
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The Board of Supervisors (BOS) Land Use Committee is meeting on January 28, 2025, to discuss the substations that will be required for the data center proposed for the Bren Mar neighborhood (Mason District). The data center site is less than one mile from Franconia. The Save Bren Mar Coalition opposes the data center (aka 500 Plaza).
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PLAN FORWARD ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS
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Lusk Adds Two Meetings in Franconia
Two new in-person meetings at the Franconia Governmental Center have been scheduled by Supervisor Lusk for Franconia District residents to learn more about the County-wide project to update the Policy Plan of the Comprehensive Plan, which guides land-use and development.
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Both meetings will feature a viewing of the online presentation. In addition, Staff from the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development will be on-site, in-person to address questions and receive comments from those attending. (Come early, be polite, and get to the point.)
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For more information on Plan Forward, go to:
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County Engagement Meetings
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- Wednesday, February 5, 6 – 8 pm at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway
Lorton VA 22079-2124
- Saturday, February 8, 10 am – 12 pm at Chantilly Regional Library, 4000 Stringfellow Rd
Chantilly, VA, 20151-2628
- Tuesday, February 11, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at George Mason Regional Library, 7001 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA, 22003-5975
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*These will coincide with the above mentioned in-person meetings at the Franconia Government Center. Note that the in-person portion of the meetings will not be recorded or televised.
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Tysons Casino Takes Center Stage
If you still watch the news, you can't miss the action taking place in Richmond about the proposed data center for Tysons Corner in Fairfax County. Yes, many "interested parties" are playing key parts and will continue to both on and back stage.
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On Friday, January 17, a House subcommittee rejected (aka tabled) a bill that said land-use decisions around solar, wind, energy storage, and data center projects should "belong solely to the locality and shall not be ceded to any state agency or state-sanctioned body”. Del. Tom Garrett argued his bill would ensure that local governments can continue to extract proffers from developers of such projects.
https://cardinalnews.org/2025/01/17/subcommittee-tables-garrett-bill-on-local-land-use-decisions/
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Significant sums of monies have been and will continue to be spent on this behemoth project, including your tax dollars before, and if ultimately approved, during and after. Just keep that in mind if you don't see it in your backyard. The takeover by interested parties to build a future casino in Fairfax County is unlikely to go away. Keep searching the internet for "Tysons Casino" and stay in touch.
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- Millions and millions for the state of Virginia which depends on tax revenues from Fairfax County (despite a huge budget surplus this year)
- Millions in residual revenue for Fairfax County (the County has a huge budget deficit)
- Thousands of dollars in the pockets of state and local politicians making the decisions (directly from the developers and those who will benefit financially)
- Lack of local input and support
- High crime levels associated with casinos
- Not in "The Plan"
- Most of the tax revenues will go to the state as the County won't be able to require proffers (such as infrastructure improvements) from the developers.
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- Pillion Backs a Casino in Fairfax County
“We've become accustomed to seeing localities with struggling economies look to casinos for an economic boost, so it's odd to see one of the most affluent counties in the state want one, too. But, yes, Fairfax County wants a casino. An effort last year to get legislative approval failed, but it's back this year."
Source: Dwayne Yancey, Cardinal News, January 17, 2025
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In The News
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- New American Community Survey Data Published
The U.S. Census Bureau has released new social, economic, housing, and demographic statistics for the 119th Congress. The four data profiles cover all congressional districts and are based on the 2023 American Community Survey 1-year estimates. For more information, go to data.census.gov and the Application Programming Interface.
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Mark Your Calendar
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The Coalition Calendar provides detailed information on Public Hearings and other Fairfax County meetings on land use affecting primarily the Rose Hill Planning District. Each event includes an option to add the event to your online calendar. (Fairfax County provides a single list of ALL County hearings and meetings.)
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Take Action!
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Planning Commission: Public Hearings and Staff Reports
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Schedules, agendas, information, and staff reports on land use applications that are scheduled for public hearings. PC meetings have different requirements for public testimony than BOS meetings.
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All Board of Supervisors meetings held in the Board Auditorium and Conference Room 11 are available to view live on Channel 16 and stream online. BOS meetings have different requirements for public testimony than PC meetings.
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Stay In Touch!
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The Rose Hill Coalition LLC provides current information and supports full transparency on land-use issues directly affecting the Rose Hill Planning District within Franconia in Fairfax County, Virginia. More than 300 subscribers!
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We need your donations to maintain the Rose Hill Coalition website and publish the Coalition Update. Thank you for your support!
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