**CANCELLED**Falls Church Planning Commission Public Hearing: W&OD Trail Improvements (Public Comment Open Until 4/20/20)

**CANCELLED**  **PUBLIC COMMENT STILL BEING ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY**City of Falls Church staff will gladly accept any and all public comment in writing up until 7:30PM on April 20, 2020, ahead of action by the planning director on April 27. 2020.

For questions or to send in written comment on the project, please contact:

Jeff Hollern
jhollern@fallschurchva.gov
Project Summary
Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority and AMT Engineering have submitted a Site Plan Application to expand the majority of the Falls Church stretch of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD) to a Dual Trails model. The project, which spans on W&OD Trail between Little Falls Street and N West Street and includes a wide, dedicated pedestrian path and bicycle path, with a 2-foot separation between the two (See below for a typical section layout). Other features include:

Improved storm water management system
Replanting of disturbed areas with native/adaptive species
Groundwork for future lighting system improvements

Process
Development proposals of this scale must go through numerous phases of staff review and receive several reviews and recommendations by boards and commissions before they are considered for approval by the Planning Commission or Planning Director.

Prior to a formal Site Plan Application, the Applicant (NOVA Parks and AMT Engineering) met with the Planning Commission on July 1st, 2019 to discuss the project while at was at an early stage of 30% Design.

NOVA Parks and AMT Engineering first applied for the formal site plan application on November 1st, 2019 at 60% Design. It was distributed to City staff for review, and comments were relayed back to the development team later in the month. This same 60% Design plan was brought to the Planning Commission for a work session discussion on December 16th, 2019.

In responding to the comments from the Planning Commission and staff, the development team submitted 90% Design Plans on January 9, 2020 and 100% Design Plans on March 9th, 2020; each with their own staff review. The applicants presented the project to the Architectural Advisory Board on March 11, 2020, where it received a positive recommendation to the Planning Commission ahead of approval.
Project Status
According to City Zoning Ordinance Sec. 48-1142, this project is eligible for Administrative Approval by the Planning Director with staff recommendation. During the December 16, 2019 Planning Commission Work Session, the Planning Commission elected to retain their approval powers in this case, considering the project’s reach throughout the City. The project is now scheduled for action during a April 20th 2020 Public Hearing. (SEE NOTE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING RESCHEDULING DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC)
Project Schedule

Date
Milestone
Associated Documents

June 17, 2019
Preliminary Submission – 30% Design
Document

July 1, 2019
Planning Commission Work Session
Video (@1:28:00)
Presentation Slides

November 1, 2019
Site Plan Submission #1 – 60% Design
Document

December 16, 2019
Planning Commission Work Session
Video (@1:04:00)
Presentation Slides

January 7, 2020
Site Plan Submission #2 – 90% Design
Document

March 9, 2020
Site Plan Submission #3 – 100% Design
Document

March 11, 2020
Architectural Advisory Board Meeting
Presentation Slides

April 20, 2020
7:30 PM
Planning Commission Public Hearing (if held)
-OR-
Staff cutoff for written public comment ahead of admin action*
Staff Report
Final Site Plan Document

April 27, 2020*
Administrative Action*

*NOTE: Should the Planning Commission Meeting on April 20, 2020 not be held due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Planning Commission has agreed to relinquish their approval powers to the administrative action method this project is eligible for. In this scenario, staff will gladly accept any and all public comment in writing up until 7:30PM on April 20, 2020, ahead of action by the planning director on April 27. 2020.

For questions or to send in written comment on the project, please contact:

Jeff Hollern
jhollern@fallschurchva.gov

Paul Stoddard
pstoddard@fallschurchva.gov

For More Information: Go to the NOVA Parks Website