Author: chogan@directresearch.com

Planning Commission Meeting 8/8/2018 – Review

The Town of Vienna Planning Commission met 8/8/2018 to discuss, among other things, some potential changes to MAC regulations.  There were perhaps 20 citizens in attendance, and maybe 8 people got up to speak.  My overall take is that MAC zoning will proceed as business-as-usual, with minor changes.

For me, the absolute low point of the evening was when a Commissioner (who shall remain nameless) called out the citizens for spreading false information — and then proceeded to spread false information. Continue reading Planning Commission Meeting 8/8/2018 – Review

Meeting

The revised proposal for 444 Maple West/Tequila Grande will be discussed in a Town Council work session Thursday October 4, 7:30 PM, in Vienna Town Hall.

Link to materials describing the revised proposal is here.

Link to my analysis of the changes is here.

Looking forward, the Town Council will probably vote on this revised 444 Maple West proposal at the Monday October 29 Town Council meeting.

Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday August 8, 2018

The Vienna Planning Commission will meet TONIGHT, Wednesday August 8, 2018, at 8 PM in Vienna Town Hall to discuss some modest proposed changes in Maple Avenue Commercial zoning.  This is the meeting where they should finalize any recommendations they may have about these changes, to be passed on to the Town Council.  Please place this on your calendar and plan to attend.

The meeting materials are this web page.  Probably the overriding issue is the potential for adding a density limit to MAC zoning — limiting the number of allowable dwelling units per acre. Continue reading Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday August 8, 2018

Slug line

Thoroughly updated 8/5/2018:  As it turns out, there’s an app for that.  And a modern slug is a well-organized slug.

On this page, I argue that maybe the best commuter use of the Mill Street garage is to make it the base for the first successful I-66 slug line from Vienna.  And that the Town should work to make that happen.   The question I address here is, could that work? Continue reading Slug line

Review of the July 30 Planning Commission meeting.

On the schedule:

Wednesday, August 8, 8 PM, Town Hall:  Planning Commission meeting for further discussion of proposed MAC amendments.  This is a continuation of the public hearing and citizens are invited to speak briefly about their concerns.

Monday, August 20, 8 PM, Town Hall:  Town Council hearing that should determine the fate of the 444 Maple West proposal (for now), and will also have a public hearing regarding proposed changes to MAC zoning.  The public may speak about those changes, but not about 444 Maple West.

The Planning Commission met July 30.  Most of the time was spent taking public comments on proposed changes to Maple Avenue Commercial zoning. Continue reading Review of the July 30 Planning Commission meeting.

Yesterday’s Sun Gazette and thoughts on a survey of Vienna residents, 7/27/2018

It’s no secret that the Sun-Gazette is strongly pro-developer.  Every editorial regarding this current MAC zoning controversy has them wagging their finger at the Town of Vienna, warning of the vague-yet-dire consequences if Vienna does not allow 444 Maple West to be built as proposed. Continue reading Yesterday’s Sun Gazette and thoughts on a survey of Vienna residents, 7/27/2018

Yesterday’s Sun Gazette and the three ways this could end, 7/27/2018

Yesterday’s Sun Gazette had extensive coverage of the controversy around MAC zoning.  Probably the most important thing that I learned is that there are three different ways the current consideration of 444 Maple West could end.  Until I read that article, I only knew of two ways, so I thought it was worth writing this up.  I have yet to find the right part of either Virginia or Town statute that mentions all three ways. Continue reading Yesterday’s Sun Gazette and the three ways this could end, 7/27/2018