Tag: environment
Every bit of unused land doesn’t need to be developed: Conservation Trust offers an alternative
By Alan Rowsome, executive director of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. As residents of Northern Virginia, we’re witnessing our communities develop rapidly with an influx of new businesses that are soon to call this region home. There are many positives to living and working in such a thriving area, but it is also crucial that … Continued
Sediment problems at Inova construction site not resolved, volunteer charges
Sediment found in a stream washed downstream from the Inova construction site. [Kris Unger] While Fairfax County officials insist controls put into place at the construction site for the Inova Center for Personalized Health on Gallows road are keeping sediment out of a Holmes Run tributary, environmental activists say the problem has not been adequately … Continued
Fairfax County disputes claims that Inova construction project is harming the environment
Fairfax County has taken exception to the post in the Annandale Blog on Nov. 13 that described the failures of Inova’s contractors to keep sediment out of the Holmes Run watershed during the construction of the Inova Center for Personalized Health on Gallows Road. The following response was submitted by Anne Cissel, public information officer … Continued
Sediment from Inova project is damaging the watershed
Sediment from the Inova construction site is flowing into streams. [Photos by Kris Unger] Construction at the Inova Center for Personalized Health and related projects on Gallows Road on the former Exxon Mobil site is causing large amounts of sediment to flow into streams and is thus compromising the Holmes Run watershed. While some efforts have … Continued
Commentary: Vote No on Constitutional Amendment Question 1
Flooding in Accomack County, Va. [Accomack County government] By Marie Reinsdorf In keeping with Virginia’s regular habit of amending the Constitution, the Nov. 6 ballot has two amendments up for a Yes or No vote. Question 1 states: Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property … Continued
Petitions call for bond referendum to protect Lake Accotink
The marina at Lake Accotink. Save Lake Accotink, an advocacy group that’s pushing Fairfax County to support a bond referendum to ensure the future existence of the lake, submitted a package of petitions with 4,168 signatures to the Park Authority May 25. The petitions will be presented to the Board of Supervisors June 5. Fairfax … Continued
Public invited to tour sustainable gardens
The Carosella residence. If you’ve always wanted to create a backyard oasis that focuses on sustainability, the annual Sustainable Garden Tour, hosted by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, is a great way to see some examples. The 2018 tour, on Sunday, June 10, 1-5 p.m., features homes, a church, and a school … Continued
Vernal pools sustain habitats for wildlife
The group gathers for a tour of vernal pools near Lake Accotink. By Dave Lincoln and Beverley Rivera of Friends of Accotink Creek On a recent sunny April afternoon, educator and vernal pool expert Michael Hayslett led a captivating exploration of vernal pools in the Accotink Creek watershed. Vernal pools, also known as ephemeral pools, … Continued
Decision delayed on asphalt plant
The Vulcan concrete plant. The Fairfax County Planning Commission deferred until June 14 a decision on the Vulcan Materials Co. rezoning and special exception applications to expand the company’s facility and add an asphalt plant on Industrial Drive in the Springfield area of Mason District. The proposal for an asphalt plant has raised concerns from … Continued
Planning Commissioners tour asphalt plant
Asphalt produced by Virginia Paving is stored in the silos. Members of the Fairfax County Planning Commission toured the Virginia Paving Co.’s asphalt plant in Alexandria April 14 to get a feel for how an asphalt plant in Mason District would affect nearby residents. The Planning Commission is scheduled to vote April 19 on a … Continued
New Edsall Road Fire Station planned
An illustration showing what the new Edsall Road Fire Station could look like. Construction of a new, larger Edsall Road Fire Station will start in fall 2019, and the building is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by winter 2021. Meanwhile, the fire station will be housed in temporary quarters in spring 2019, … Continued
Planning Commission to delay decision on Vulcan
Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Julie Strandlie (Mason) plans to make a motion at the commission’s March 15 meeting to defer a decision on Vulcan Materials until April 19. The Board of Supervisors’ hearing will be delayed to May 1. The company is seeking a rezoning and special exception that would allow it to replace some … Continued
Healthy trees can withstand a windstorm
Tree damage from windstorm. Much of the damage caused by trees crashing onto houses and power lines during last week’s windstorm could have been prevented, says Jim McGlone, an urban forest conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry. Many of the trees that were uprooted were already dead or dying, McGlone told the audience at … Continued
Deer-tolerant, native seedlings on sale
Redbud This year’s seedling sale hosted by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is focusing on native trees and shrubs that are deer tolerant. You can order a package of six bare-root tree seedlings for $11.95 or a package of 10 bare-root tree and shrub seedlings for $16.95. Seedlings can be ordered online. Orders … Continued
Public invited to Tree Forum
While we can’t do much about the trees that were destroyed by the recent windstorm, too many trees around here are needlessly chopped down because homeowners think they might fall on a house or cause too much shade. And that’s a problem that can hurt everything from wildlife, to drainage, to property values. The public … Continued