Vienna Town Council rejects assisted living facility over parking concerns  On June 17th, the Vienna Town Council rejected a proposal from Sunrise Senior Living to construct a mixed-use retail and 108 bed assisted-living facility at 100 Maple Avenue. Despite over a year of back and forth discussions, Sunrise was unable to convince the Council that the development would not overly strain the area’s limited parking resources. The main question surrounding the proposal was whether or not the development’s planned 59 space parking garage, along with an additional 12 off-site parking spots for employees, would be sufficient for its needs. With 71 spaces for a 108 person facility, Sunrise’s proposal included a per unit rate of .66 parking spaces. Applicants pointed out that this ratio would be above some of Vienna’s neighbors, and would be well above the .41 ratio suggested by the industry standard for assisted living facilities created by the Institute of Transportation Engineers.  However, applicants also acknowledged that this picture would change dramatically during peak times when, assuming that no employees carpooled, were sick, or took public transit, as few as 2 spots could have been available during weekday afternoon shift changes.  After viewing the statistics, a majority of Councilmembers remained opposed. Echoing concerns raised by Councilmember Pasha Majdi, Councilmember Howard Springsteen remarked, “We just have insurmountable parking problems here.” Also opposed were a number of local businesses, who submitted a protest petition to the Council on June 10th. In response, with a no vote looking increasingly likely, representatives from Sunrise pleaded with the Council for approval saying, “We are doing everything that we can, we are open to solutions beyond those that we have come up with…we cannot figure out any kind of facts that would demonstrate that we don’t have adequate parking, and that we haven’t gone above and beyond to mitigate that impact.” Prior to voting, Councilmember Majdi asked the proposal’s key backer, Councilmember Tara Bloch, if she would be interested in tabling the motion for approval until the parking situation could be reworked. Bloch, whose June 17th meeting was her last, rejected Majdi’s request and pushed forward with a vote that ended 3-4, two votes short of the 5 votes it needed to pass. After rejection, staff from Sunrise looked sufficiently chagrined. The proposal had received the blessing of the Town Planning Commission, and the McLean based company no doubt hoped June 17th would have paved the way for its 326th facility. As it stands, Sunrise will have to wait a full year before it can reapply.  Let all ginseng lovers get the real ginseng from Wisconsin Update as of 05/02/2017 FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTES TO DENY SUNRISE'S APPLICATION. AFTER ALMOST SIX HOURS OF TESTIMONY, THE FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED BY A SLIM MAJORITY TO DENY SUNRISE'S APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION. THE VOTE CONCLUDES OVER THREE YEARS OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM OVERDEVELOPMENT. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL OR EMAIL SUPERVISOR FOUST TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT. HE DELIVERED AN ELOQUENT AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED SPEECH EXPLAINING HIS MOTION TO DENY THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION. HE EMPHASIZED THAT HE SUPPORTS SENIOR LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR MORE SENIOR LIVING IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. HE SAID THAT THE CASE WAS NOT ABOUT THE NEED FOR SENIOR LIVING, IT WAS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THIS PARTICULAR STRUCTURE ON THIS PIECE OF LAND. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MASSIVE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE DEVELOPMENT WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE LOT AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THE SAY NO TO SUNRISE COALITION. Comments: (@Emily)
(@Jason) 6 votes against Sunrise's proposal; 4 votes for it. The size of that lot is 3.7 acres in residential zone, not appropriate for a senior center (need minimum 5 acres by current zoning regulations). 大部分反对的住在本区。大部分支持的不住在本区。 (@May)
Sunrise is seeking to build a medical facility near Longfellow MS Email Dranesville Supervisor Foust's office at dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov and john.foust@fairfaxcounty.gov to tell them you opposed the zoning exemption.
FINAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEARING AND FINAL DECISION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2, 430 PM AT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER.
For More Info, Please Check: http://www.saynotosunrise.com/home.html
Sunrise Corporation LLC has applied to build a 90 bed assisted living/memory care facility on the corner of Kirby and Westmoreland (currently the Surge Church property). The land is zoned for single family homes, 3 per acre, and we believe that is what should be built there. Supervisor Foust must approve two exceptions to the zoning laws in order for the project to go forward.
1988 Kirby Road, McLean, VA
We believe the development of a large commercial facility in the middle of our residential community will increase traffic, reduce safety, and degrade the integrity of our residential community. We believe there are may other locations in the local area available to Sunrise that are appropriate for a large scale medical facility such as this. We urge Fairfax County Officials to respect the intent of the zoning laws and deny Sunrise's attempt to force a massive commercial operation into our residential neighborhood.
Trash and discarded furnishings behind nearby Sunrise Facility
Our neighborhood is about to be transformed and unless we unite to oppose the development, our communities will be irreparably harmed. Please read on, and if you wish to oppose the project, follow our recommendations on the "take action" page.
FINAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEARING AND FINAL DECISION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2, 430 PM AT THE FAIRFAX COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER.
For More Info, Please Check: http://www.saynotosunrise.com/home.html
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