Council Backs Downtown Project
The Town Council voted 6 to 1 Tuesday night, with Councilwoman Ann Null opposing, to pass a resolution that will authorize the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), through a Transportation Enhancement Program, to fund downtown street improvement projects for the Federal fiscal year 2005-2006.
By approving the resolution, the town now waits for the CTB to create a proposal for how they plan to execute the project that will address the specific Downtown Streetscape Revitalization areas.
Along with requesting a set proposal for the improvements, the approval will also allow the Transportation's Program to use $544,000 from the Federal FY 2005-06 funds to be used for Phase 2A of the three phase proposed area.
Phase 2A specifically deals with the area from the Herndon Commerce Center to Lynn Street, where pedestrian improvements will be made to the streets as well as vehicle and bicycle transportation improvements to help traffic flow.
As a part of the resolution, the town accepts that if they renege on the agreement at anytime, they will have to pay back the Virginia Department of Transportation any costs incurred up to that point.
The town also agrees to pay a minimum of 20 percent for the cost of engineering design and construction for this project as a part of the resolution.
The overall project is based on the Town's Comprehensive Plan to improve pedestrian environments along major streets, improve transportation for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians in the core downtown area as well as work on landscape and engineering designs.
THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY passed a resolution, at the request of Town Attorney Richard Kaufman, which condemns a storm drainage easement from landowner Virginia Lippincott at 864 Station Street.
Because the town needed the storm drainage easement on Lippicott's property in order to complete the planned Station-Monroe Storm Drainage project, they offered her $11,787.
Lippincott did not accept the offer, leaving the town to take legal action to acquire the land through condemnation.
This resolution was necessary so the improvements could be made and completed with the other storm drains in the Station-Monroe Storm Drainage project to support the public's storm drainage system.
THE COUNCIL VOTED 7-0 to refer a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) to the Planning Commission regarding the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Overlay District, or storm water management practices.
By approving the referral of this document to the Planning Commission, the council hopes they will be able to update Article X of the Herndon Town Code (2000) dealing with proper storm water management practices, so they can eventually approve it with the proper changes.
Under review of the commission, the proposed amendment would need clarification of certain language as well as specific changes based on recommendations from the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department.
THE COUNCIL VOTED unanimously to approve the initiation of a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) that will amend the Town Code so it can accept the transfer of the Worldgate development area from the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance to the town.
By approving the ZOTA, the council begins the process of amending the Town Code to legally adopt the Worldgate development and its existing structures so they are compliant under the town's Zoning Ordinance.
The next step is for the Planning Commission to review the documents from the county to evaluate each building and its developments and make the necessary changes to the Town Code so they will be compliant.
Council member Dennis Husch expressed his concerns that the Planning Commission needs to make a thorough evaluation of all the materials pertaining to the development so that future developments will be required to meet town development standards.
THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY approved a resolution recognizing the month of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness month.
After reading the resolution, Mayor Michael O'Reilly offered a plea for members in the community to receive regular mammograms to hopefully prevent illness and bring more awareness to it.
O'Reilly explained his mother died almost 20 years ago from the disease, not living long enough to see her nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His sister is a breast cancer survivor.
"For anyone who thinks of it as an inconvenience," said O'Reilly, "think about the effect on others."