It will be the heat of summer when Falls Church leaders consider possible changes to the city’s snow-removal ordinance.
At an April 29 calendar-setting work session, City Manager Wyatt Shields told City Council members he’d like to hold a “scoping” session on July 20, focused on rules applying to commercial property after snowstorms.
“We will have some options” to revamp the current regulations, Shields said.
The current city code requires owners of commercial property to clear snow and ice from sidewalks within six hours of a storm ending. If a snowfall happens overnight, property owners have six hours from daybreak to remove accumulation.
City residents and businesses were put to the test in late January, when a snow and sleet storm dumped a winter mess that, if not cleared immediately, solidified into an almost impenetrable layer of ice that stuck around due to frigid temperatures.
In Falls Church and across Northern Virginia, some sidewalks were usable almost immediately after the storm but others remained virtually impassable for weeks.
The city’s snow-removal ordinance also applies to residential properties, giving homeowners 12 hours from the end of a storm to remove the accumulation.
Violations by owners of either commercial or residential properties can lead to fines ranging from $100 to $500, although city officials consider fines a last resort, used only after attempts to encourage compliance fail.
Arlington officials also plan to revisit January’s “snowcrete” storm at a July meeting. County Manager Mark Schwartz has told County Board members he will provide a detailed after-action report and may recommend changes to operational processes.
Like Falls Church, Arlington officials prefer to encourage compliance before issuing citations. But after the January storm, at least 15 fines were levied against county property owners.
In other Falls Church City Council news:
Concern raised about speed of housing plan: At the April 29 calendar-setting session, several Council members expressed concern about how fast plans to redevelop portions of the Virginia Village community into committed affordable housing might be progressing.
City leaders aim to secure a development partner by fall and approve a development plan by next spring, making the project eligible for 2027 affordable-housing tax credits. But at the April 29 meeting, Council member Arthur Agin urged his colleagues not to rush.
“If we can’t make it for this year, we can’t make it for this year,” Agin said regarding finding a development partner and agreeing to terms.
At the same meeting, Council member David Snyder said the timeline for approving a request for proposal (RFP) to send to prospective partners did not provide enough time for community review and input.
Current plans call for the Council to consider the RFP at a work session on May 18, with approval set for May 26.
“That’s not fair,” said Snyder, who has been critical of what he sees as a push for intense redevelopment in the Virginia Village community.
On April 27, council members voted 5-1, with Snyder against and Justine Underhill absent, to authorize spending up to $175,000 on a consultant to help guide potential redevelopment of portions of the Virginia Village community.
Options currently under consideration for the Virginia Village site range from renovating the 1940s-era fourplex apartment buildings to razing them and building new housing in their place.
The city’s Economic Development Authority currently owns nine of the 20 buildings, and the owner of at least one fourplex in private hands has expressed interest in joining the project. But to do a large-scale project, city officials would need to acquire many or all of the remaining properties.
Employee of year honored: Council members on April 27 honored Dilraj Sidhu, Falls Church’s deputy building official, as the city government’s employee of the year.
The selection was made by the Employee Review Board, comprised of Joseph Rollo and Edwin Henderson II. Sidhu was selected from among eight city employees nominated by their peers.
Sidhu “exemplifies the highest standards of public service,” Rollo said, making “a transformative impact on the city’s most significant development efforts while advancing broader organizational goals.”
Before the formal recognition by Council members, Sidhu was honored at a reception at City Hall.
“I really appreciate how you spoke about the team first,” Mayor Letty Hardi told Sidhu. “That says a lot about you as a quiet leader, your integrity and all your hard work.”
December sendoff set for Rep. Beyer: City Council members have set Dec. 14 as the date for a sendoff to Rep. Don Beyer (D-8).
Under the new congressional maps approved by voters on April 21, the redrawn 8th District no longer will include the Falls Church or the northern 60% of Arlington. Both have been shifted to the new 7th District.
Beyer, a resident of Alexandria, is seeking re-election in the redesigned 8th District. He has occupied the seat since succeeding Jim Moran in 2015.
Up to a dozen Democrats will be seeking the 7th District nomination in the Aug. 4 primary. At least one Republican also is currently seeking the seat.
Should the Virginia Supreme Court invalidate the referendum, the old districts would remain in place — keeping Falls Church in the 8th District. A ruling is expected in coming weeks.
