BVSCA Newsletter April 2000
Contents:April 25 Meeting Agenda
Please refer to the newsletter for a summary of agenda items.
7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting
7:30 pm Full Membership Meeting
BVSCA dues paying members may participate as observers in meetings of the BVSCA Executive Committee. Note: BVSCA Membership Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) building, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, in Room CC-2 of the Ellipse Conference Center. Free garage access is provided at NRECA's underground parking garage for BVSCA meeting attendees arriving between 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm only. After 8 pm, the garage's automatic exit device allows exit-only traffic.
Next meeting: May 30 Annual Meeting (election of officers)
Waste Not, Want Not
The North Arlington recycling center located near Fresh Fields will close this summer due to planned development of the current site. The county is considering establishing a permanent recycling center in Ballston on county property adjacent to the metro bus parking lot between N. Quincy and N. Randolph. The recycling center would be landscaped, serviced daily, and lighted. Carl Newby of Arlington County's Solid Waste Division will provide an overview of the proposed facility at our April 25 meeting.
GMU Expansion
George Mason University (GMU) will be initiating a Phase II expansion, providing for an increase in enrollment from the current 1200 students (plus 140 faculty and staff) to 10,000 students. The GMU Foundation is seeking to acquire land in Virginia Square to provide space to build a parking garage for 550 cars. This will bring the available number of on site spaces to 902, short of the 1100 spaces required by the county in its approval of the master plan. Is this enough? Are there other issues of interest or concern to BVSCA members? Please join us to discuss the expansion at our April 25 meeting.
Ballston Point
Lincoln Properties has submitted a request to revise the site plan for an office/retail building proposed for the rectangular piece of property adjacent to Hechts at Wilson Blvd. and Glebe Rd. The revised site plan reflects a shorter building than originally approved, though still exceeding zoning limits. The revised parking allocation has improved from the prior plan, but remains short of county standards. The developers and their representatives will provide an overview of the new site plan at our April 25 meeting.
Neighborhood Day
This year, Arlington's Neighborhood Day will be held on Saturday, May 13. BVSCA neighbors are welcome to take part in the countywide parade. Come dressed as construction workers! Please contact Theresa Smith (703) 243-3695 or DeAndra Beck (703) 528-5126 for parade details.
Miscellaneous News Items
Balancing Economic Growth and Quality of Life. A Community Forum sponsored by Arlington New Directions Coalition will be held May 6, 2000 from 9:00 - 11:30 am. The forum will be held at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Building, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, 1.5 blocks from the Ballston Metro. Spanish translation will be provided.
Washington Regional Network For Livable Communities. Smarter Growth and Transportation In the Washington Region: How Will the Region's Proposed 25-Year Transportation Plan Measure Up? Three elected local officials and alternative transportation experts will comment then participate in a discussion on Monday, May 8. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the program starts at 7 pm. Location: 121 Cannon House Office Building, Capitol Hill.
Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Join the Spring 2000 Walk and discuss "The Future of Wilson Boulevard: A Place to Be or A Place to Drive Through?" with Board Chair Favola. The event will occur on May 10, starting at 6:00 p.m. outside the Virginia Square Metro Station, followed by discussion and soft drinks at the Ballston Commons Food Court, 7:00 p.m.
Project WORD. To empower people with special needs, Project WORD offers a variety of services, ranging from providing disability-related information to matching those with special needs with volunteer mentors. If you're interested receiving services, volunteering to help people with special needs, or offering support call Project WORD at (703) 525-9673 or send email to info@projword.org.
Listserv. BVSCA members are cordially invited to subscribe to the BVSCA listserv. The listserv is a good way to receive periodic updates on issues of neighborhood interest. To subscribe, send an email message to the list coordinator, William P. Jackson, Jr. (Bill), at wpj@translaw.com advising that you would like to join. Include your name and post office address in your message along with the email address(es) from which you will be sending messages. When you are added to the list, you will receive a "Welcome" message with details regarding how to use the listserv. Remember that a message sent by a BVSCA listserv member to BVSCA-L@rootsweb.com will be relayed automatically to all listserv members. To prevent senders of unsolicited commercial email from using our list for unauthorized purposes, only listserv members may send messages to the mailing list from a subscribed address. So, if you use more than one email address, include all of your addresses.
President's Prerogative
Here's an update of what's up. At the March meeting, BVSCA members approved the submission of a project proposal for spring NCAC funding to improve Hayes Park. Also at the March meeting, members approved a decision to approach neighborhood businesses for sponsorship of mailings to avoid raising BVSCA dues. Lastly, members voted to hold six membership meetings per year rather than the current ten meetings per year. Thanks to all who participated!
DeAndra Beck
President, BVSCA
How to Join the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association or Renew Your Membership
All individual persons who are residents of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association's area or who in their individual capacity own residential property located therein, shall be eligible for membership in the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association. For the purposes of this organization, the boundaries of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association are Kirkwood Road on the east, Glebe Road on the west, Wilson Boulevard on the south, and the I-66 right of way on the north.
If interested in joining the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, please complete the BVSCA Membership Application Form and send your application and dues to Jeffrey Green, Treasurer, Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, who may be reached at (703) 276-2723.
Dues are payable when first joining and are renewable each year on or before the annual anniversary of that date. New members and members who have not paid their dues within the three preceding Association years must pay their dues 30 days before they receive voting privileges. Former members who have been members in good standing within any of the three immediately preceding Association years may be reinstated as voting members by paying their dues for that year.
All members of the Association are volunteers. Dues are used to help fund the Association's activities and sponsored events. Please join the Association today, or renew your dues paid membership. Visit us at (http://www.bvsca.org)