<sh>West Group Change Approved
<bt>Supervisors signed off on a change to the design of a 13.5 acre West Group development in Tysons Corner at their Aug. 2 meeting. The Board of Supervisors voted to allow West Group to replace 58 proposed townhouses with 138 loft apartments at the corner of Westpark Drive and Park Run Drive. The change would not alter the maximum number of new units planned, which stands at 1,354 units. West Group sought the change when its planners noticed that granite bedrock would make it impossible to place a planned grocery store in the basement of one of the four highrise buildings proposed. Instead, the grocery store will be at street level and will be topped by the loft units. County staff originally recommended that the board deny the new application but changed their recommendation once West Group provided staff with more information on traffic flow in the area.
The only speaker at the board's hearing, former board chairman Jack Herrity, opposed the change. No one testified at the Planning Commission's public hearing last month.
"We sat down, and we went through the last draft of the proffers word by word, page by page," said West Group vice president Tom Fleury. "It's been 24-7 with staff."
The original rezoning application was approved in January 2003. It includes four high-rise residential buildings, retail outlets and community space.
<sh>Sign Up for Halloween Parade
<bt>The 58th annual Vienna Halloween Parade takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m., on Maple Avenue. Vienna area businesses, community organizations, school classes, athletic teams and other groups are invited to enter the parade. Deadline is Friday, Oct. 1. This year's theme is "Vienna ... A Community Portrait." For entry application forms and more information, call 703-255-6356 or e-mail Cathy Salgado at salgado@ci.vienna.va.us.
<sh>Join Virginia 2007 Planning
<bt>Vienna's Virginia 2007 Community Committee will meet on Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Marco Polo Restaurant. All those interested are invited to attend. Participants will discuss possible projects for Vienna during the Jamestown Celebration. For more information, call 703-938-5187. Marco Polo Restaurant is located at 245 Maple Ave., W.
<sh>Historic Christmas Cards Available
<bt>Historic Vienna Inc. offers Christmas cards depicting historic scenes in Vienna and an original Christmas ornament depicting an historic site in Vienna each year. The 2004 ornament is the First Baptist Church, Vienna's first church built by African-Americans in 1867. The structure also served as a school for local black children. The miniature wooden replica is $16, and the cards are sold in packs of 10 for $6, and can be purchased at the Historic Freeman House Store and Museum, 131 Church St., N.E., Vienna.
<sh>Voce Seeks Singers
<bt>Voce, a choral ensemble, is conducting auditions for limited openings in all voice parts for its 2004-05 concert series. Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Nafziger, Voce presents its 16th subscription season. Auditions are offered by appointment in August and September. To make an appointment, call 703-277-7772.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the People story, "Video Voting Documentary Wins Prize" (Connection, July 28-Aug. 3), Leila Giles and Elizabeth Angel were 12 and 11, respectively, when they won second-place honors in the C-SPAN contest, not 13. Elizabeth is home-schooled by her mother, Amy Angel, and Leila is taught by her mother, Celeste Land. Also, Pamela Haines of TV & Me Inc. was the girls' mentor for this project and will receive $250 to use toward video equipment.