After 20 years of discussing, planning and debating at the Town Council and Planning Commission levels, the concept of a revitalized downtown is finally moving forward.
Or at least the Town Council hopes so.
During the council's Feb. 15 work session Dana Heiberg, senior planner for the town, reviewed recent developments for the concept of a parking garage, cultural arts center, retail/office spaces and residential units in the core downtown area.
In addition to updating the council on meetings with the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Heiberg mapped out two alternative plans to the Elden/Center/W&OD/Station Street areas.
AT A NOVEMBER SESSION, Mayor Michael O'Reilly updated council on the latest talks with Dranesville District Supervisor Joan DuBois and Dranesville District Commissioner Marty Dunn with the Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
During those discussions he said the two supported working with the town, and offered possible funding avenues to explore.
"There are resources that the Fairfax County Housing Authority has that the town does not," said DuBois in November. "They have the expertise in facilitating how you get something like that done."
Although not directly tied to locating grants or best-suited development techniques, DuBois said she supported the town's efforts and any guidance the county could offer in the process was important.
Dunn explained both the town and county bring something to the potential partnership.
"We have access to lower income bonds that others can't get to because we are the housing authority," he said. "The town owns the land, they bring this to the table."
One proposed way of developing the land has been the concept of a public/private partnership — PPEA — where a private company would undertake constructing public facilities as well as other major developments in the proposed area.
At the time, O'Reilly and staff said the county was hesitant to join into public/private agreement because of "all the strings attached."
ALMOST FOUR MONTHS later, Heiberg said the county has reconsidered and suggested the town pursue a public/private partnership.
But, before the town can take that step, the council needs to create a master plan of the area to submit to developers.
"We need to bring in a consultant, we need to have the expertise," said Heiberg, concluding his staff report. "We think the time is right."
Response from the council supported Heiberg.
"This is great, this is where we need to be," said Council member Carol Bruce, who was on the 1988 council that first addressed potential revitalization.
Bruce later explained this public/private partnership has worked before between the county and town.
The Fortnightly Square townhouses and condominiums — constructed off of Center Street — are the product of this partnership.
At the time the county worked with the town, allowing them to design the high density development, and then employed a developer to construct exactly what the town asked.
"My one suggestion is to invoke a support model that shows it already works," said Council member Dennis Husch. "That model is what was done with the Fortnightly Boulevard."
Council members Steven Mitchell, Ann Null and Darryl Smith all agreed the town needed to take advantage and move forward with the creation of a master plan.
Smith emphasized a "family-friendly" concept needed to be included from the beginning in the plans.
Council member Harlon Reece added, the faster a plan is out there, the more public comment the council can hear, which will help them consider potential density for the area and how everything should be designed.
"First and foremost, I think it's important for this council, planning commission and town staff, to establish an acceptable density for this block," said Mitchell. "Density is going to drive the ultimate cost."
Husch agreed the best way to determine density was through public comment, and the best way to garner public comment was to put the plan on the table.
"By forcing the issue of developing a Fortnightly-like master plan, that pushes public comment," said Husch, summing up the almost 20 years of talking, saying "the music's playing, it's time to dance."
"We need to tell the developers what we want so we can move forward," said Mitchell. "We don't want to dance for another 20 years."