Board of Supervisors approves eminent domain for Sleepy Hollow sidewalk project
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved measures Sept. 14 allowing the county to use eminent domain to acquire land rights for two projects in Mason District.
One measure calls for the county to use eminent domain to facilitate the construction of a pedestrian walkway along Sleepy Hollow Road between Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike.
The project includes 4,789 linear feet of concrete sidewalk, new curbs and gutters, upgraded curb ramps, drainage improvements, and a new retaining wall.
Land rights are required for 47 properties for the acquisition of street dedication, storm drainage easements, grading agreements, and temporary construction easements. The Land Rights Division has already acquired the rights for 35 of the properties, but negotiations have stalled for 12 others.
As a result, the county pursued quick-take eminent domain powers to ensure construction can start on schedule.
Related story: Sleepy Hollow Road residents not convinced of need for sidewalks
The other eminent domain action approved by the Board of Supervisors involves the realignment and replacement of sewer lines in the Lee Boulevard Heights neighborhood in Seven Corners.
The project calls replacing a defective sewer line with 1,700 linear feet of a slip line. The Land Acquisition Division acquired the rights for 13 properties and needs to use eminent domain for 14 others.
The project affects homeowners on Celadon Lane, Arlington Boulevard, Worthington Circle, Wooten Drive, and Olin Drive.
UPDATE: The Board of Supervisors also on Sept. 14 approved a measure to convert a single-family house at 2959 Sleepy Hollow Road to a pump station operated by Fairfax Water.
14 responses to “Board of Supervisors approves eminent domain for Sleepy Hollow sidewalk project”
Leave a reply
Fairfax County in general needs to continue to make changes that make it more pedestrian friendly. There will always be NIMBY concerns, but the greater common good needs to prevail wherever possible.
"eminent domain"
What a nice way to say "we are taking your property"
what else would you expect from the same people who gave you 1$-a-bag
Who determines what the "common good" is? Maybe they'll determine a parking lot where your house is as the common good.
The "common good" is whatever the powers that be want it to be.
It's worth remembering there was not a great clamor for this sidewalk project and I imagine the usage will be ridiculously low once completed. Is the expenditure for such a low-use project worth it or would the common good be better served elsewhere?
re Anonymous @5:51… Sidewalks along sleepy hollow were in fact identified as a priority for county residents in a county survey, and I have people ask me all the time about when this is going to get done (because they are looking forward to it).
As to its usage – not a day goes by that I don’t see multiple people walking on sleepy hollow. The other day I went from Carolyn Dr down to Holmes Run and passed 4 people (with 2 dogs being walked) in that tiny, dangerous stretch.
And while one can focus on the negative, I’d like to point out that the county and land owners were successfully able to come to agreement on 35 out of the 47 (roughly 75%) properties that needed some kind of rights or property transferred without needing to force the issue via eminent domain.
Sleepy Hollow needs a sidewalk. The county did a good job listening to feedback and making the project MUCH less impactful to property owners than the initial proposals. Its time to move forward.
@anon5:51
Yeah the actual usage of this sidewalk is yet to be seen, but it's notable that infrastructure sort of projects like this 1) induce demand, and 2) may be being driven by the desire to induce such demand.
As to the whether the expenditure is worth it or not, or better served elsewhere, I don't know, but it is almost certain that the county has done more analysis of this than you or I or anyone commenting here. Have you looked to the county for this information?
The County really stretched the idea of a trail/sidewalk in the design of this public amenity – accommodating citizen requests to avoid trees as much as possible, making site by site changes to ensure continuity but minimal disruption. Pedestrian access is a critical component of a livable community – a community for all. Because sidewalks were not constructed when the neighborhoods along Sleepy Hollow went in (last mid-century) we are now required to spend significant amounts of public monies to remedy this. I look forward to being able to access Seven Corners from Annandale safely and without having to drive in my car.
A one-way trip from Annandale to 7 Corners is at least three miles. What in 7 Corners is worth that kind of slog, Ross Dress for Less? I think you're just trying to put lipstick on this pig, James.
Eden Center, Casual Pint, Dogfish to name a few.
What kind of monster walks around 7 corners?
The County keeps stating this project was a priority in a survey of County residents. However, very few (?none) of the Sleepy Hollow residents, who would be most likely to use the sidewalk, stated at the meetings that they were ever aware of any such survey. So, perhaps it was a priority for residents of other neighborhoods, for some unknown reason?
The two main problems I see with the project that is being pushed forward:
1.) Traffic will be insane during the construction period. Traffic is bumper to bumper from Congressional School to Seven Corners every afternoon. Imagine how much worse it will be with lane closures.
2.) Increased safety is great as a goal, but it strikes me as unsafe to place the length of the sidewalk across the street from the only two schools on Sleepy Hollow Rd. Until the County Police start enforcing the speed limit and/or VDOT installs traffic calming measures, those kids will continue to be at risk with or without a sidewalk.
I would prefer sidewalks be put in for major streets that don't have shoulders or street parking and nowhere for pedestrians or cyclists to travel that isn't in a travel lane. I am struggling to remember anywhere on SH where the only pavement is two narrow car travel lanes. How about sidewalks on Edsall Rd, Little River Turnpike, Braddock Rd (LRT to Columbia Pike), Cherokee, Chowan, Old Columbia Pike, Backlick Rd, Lincolnia Rd. I'm sure I can name many more from this area of FFX County that have far greater need for sidewalks than SH with its great pavement and nice wide paved shoulders. What about nice bike lanes (or shared use paths) along any/all of those? I would love to live closer to SH so I could bike, run, or walk along it just as it is right now. My 10 year old rolled her eyes when I told her about the project. She asked what's the point when there is already plenty of room for people & bikes. What a total waste of money.
That was why this project was chosen by the county – they mostly had the space already there. They'd never do anything that requires any actual legwork, like accommodating pedestrians on any of those other much more narrow roads that you mentioned.