Architectural Advisory Board
Regular MeetingFalls Church, VA · July 1, 2020
Minutes
Architectural Advisory Board
VIRTUAL MEETING Via Skype for Business
July 1, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m.
1. Roll Call: Mr. Bitici, Mr. Osburn, Mr. Way, and Ms. Friedlander were present. Youth Representatives
Evan Lankford and Daniel Ng were present as well. Mr. Wong was absent.
2. Petitions: There were no petitions.
3. Consent Calendar: There were no consent items.
4. Old Business: There was no old business.
5. New Business:
a. Feedback and Recommendation to the Planning Commission requested on the West Falls
Church Economic Development Project, located at 7124 Leesburg Pike, RPC #51-221-001 of
the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned B-2, Central Business. Presentation by West Falls
Church Economic Development Team.
- Friedlander - Appreciative of extended context of site plan. Positive site modifications made to make site
work with ADA and sustainability requirements. Thankful for shadow studies and resulting diagrams.
- Bitici – Variation of facades helps with massing. Question RE: Pedestrian connections. Will there be
opportunities for small shops to line pedestrian walkways (aside from commons)? Street B and Street C,
not enough room – will be artwork/murals, features instead. Street A has more opportunity for shops.
- Osburn – Parking garage, plain looking. Much of garages are hidden. Visible façade will be changed with
mural and artwork on brick sides. Office Roofs, how will it be used? Small amenity spaces for office
users. Mechanical equipment and green roofs.
- Way – RE: Commons, what is envisioned for kiosks? Restaurant for North, South is place-holder. Could
be open space but ideally coffee or ice-cream. Sidewalk materials/treatments? Haycock and Rt 7 use city
standard brick, main sidewalks will be colored-scored concrete, center concourse uses pavers. Entrance
at Rt 7, why rejected? VDOT wanted to align Chestnut and commons. Will be changed with new straight
intersection into commons. Color Palette – Muted colors, but renderings had brighter colors. Modern but
ties to brick below, timeless. Grocery Store, committed? Negotiating Lease. What will be in Lane 4?
Retail, music school, school connections (grove). Further comments and questions regarding school
connection with Lane 4 and Street A.
- Friedlander – Can Grove, Plaza, Lane 4 be closed of for event space? Can be looked at, is entirely
possible. Grocery façade has made progress to be less monolithic, still needs more development. Play
with proportions to break up lines and façade. Office building (Lane 2 and Commons) has great
proportions and façade.
Harry E. Wells Building • 300 Park Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 • 703-248-5015 •
www.fallschurchva.gov
- Osburn – Units on corner of apartments, does glazing have privacy issues being above commons? Can
be adjusted, but they offer a different type of single bedroom suites. Some may enjoy the interaction with
those below.
- Way – Commons connections and usage; how will lawn be usable being surrounded by
pedestrians/vehicle traffic? Will be used in addition to future additions to Virginia Tech open space. This
will be flexible, activated space vs Tech’s passive open space. B3 Garage facing MEH Middle School,
what are materials and how will it interact with school? Placemaking and Art Panels, perhaps be done by
art dept at school. Providing framework for range of graphics and art.
b. Feedback requested on the latest draft of the West End Small Area Plan. Includes presentation
from staff. Discussion and comments will be forwarded to staff and Planning Commission.
Presentation from Staff
- Way – Dated and underutilized area. Needs focus on pedestrian crossings and safety. It includes
industrial area and includes businesses we need.
- Friedlander – Pedestrian and walkability is most important for plan. W Broad is barrier past pedestrian
bridge.
6. Other Business:
7. Minutes:
a. Minutes from the March 11, 2020 Meeting - Mr. Osburn made a motion to approve the minutes.
Ms. Friedlander seconded, and it passed unanimously.
8. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15pm
Harry E. Wells Building • 300 Park Avenue • Falls Church, Virginia 22046 • 703-248-5015 •
www.fallschurchva.gov
Agenda
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 7:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting – https://meet.lync.com/fallschurch-fallschurchva/jhollern/2HK8T1WD
NOTICE: The meeting for which this agenda has been posted will be held pursuant to and in
compliance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Section 2.2-3708.2 and state and local
legislation adopted to allow for continued government operation during the COVID-19 declared emergency.
All participating members of the Architectural Advisory Board will be present at this meeting through
electronic means. All members of the public may view this electronic meeting via this Skype meeting link:
https://meet.lync.com/fallschurch-fallschurchva/jhollern/2HK8T1WD.
Public comments may be submitted to jhollern@fallschurchva.gov until 7:30 p.m. on July 1, 2020. All
comments will be provided to the Architectural Advisory Board members and comments received by the
deadline will be read/summarized during the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will be conducted via Skype. If you do not already use Skype, you will be
prompted to install it when clicking the meeting link, so please take some time ahead of the meeting to do
so. If needed, there are short instructions to download Skype following the meeting agenda. Please
email jhollern@fallschurchva.gov if you need assistance with installation. During the meeting, staff will
likely not be available to assist with installation.
1. Roll Call:
2. Petitions:
3. Consent Calendar:
4. Old Business:
5. New Business:
a. Feedback and Recommendation to the City Council requested on the Special Exception
Site Plan for the West Falls Church Economic Development Project, located at 7124
Leesburg Pike, RPC #51-221-001 of the Falls Church Real Property Records, zoned B-2,
Central Business. Includes presentation from the Applicant. Information on this project can
be found online here: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/1599/West-Falls-Church-Project
b. Feedback requested on the latest draft of the West End Small Area Plan. Includes
presentation from staff. Discussion and comments will be forwarded to staff and Planning
Commission. Information on this project can be found online here:
https://www.fallschurchva.gov/2028/West-End-Small-Area-Plan
6. Administrative Business:
7. Minutes:
a. Minutes from the March 11, 2020 Meeting
8. Adjournment:
The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, call 703-248-5015, TTY711.
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