Environmental Sustainability Council

Minutes Environmental Services Council Thursday April 16, 2015 7:30-9:30 Community Center (Notetaker: Arnaudo/McGough) ESC Attendees: Council Members - Peter Adriance, Raymond Arnaudo, Sarah Bayldon, Andy Crawford, Chris McCloud, Peter Oppenheimer, and Mary Keenan (student rep). Others: Paul Stoddard, City Planner, Chris McGough, Staff Liaison, Peter Batten and Jeff Whitman (Mason Row representatives). 1. Call to Order at 7:30 2. Last month’s minutes were approved 3. New Business --Solarize Update: Tim Stevens briefed the ESC on current efforts of the Solarize project. There will be a kickoff event at Community Center, 26 April, 2:30-4. The next goal is to hand out fliers/door hangers and drum up interest, and to highlight the friendly competition between Vienna, Herndon, Falls Church mayors for the highest levels of participation. This should help generate some positive press. Events will be filmed and put on ‘YouTube’. Program website: www.SolarizeFallsChurch.org. Tim asked for volunteers requested, especially for the 25 April Extravaganza, and to hand out Solarize brochures at farmers market. Mary Keenan, our student representative from the George Mason MU Environmental Club said they are willing to help pass out fliers. ESC members were urged to sign up for a free home checkup. --Mason Row: The ESC was briefed on the latest proposal for development of Mason Row by Jeff Whitman, lead architect, and Peter Batten, of the Spectrum development team . The proposal has had its first reading passed, and will now pass to boards and commissions for their review. It is a mixed  use development proposal for the area bounded by West Broad Street, Park Avenue and West Street and will include residences, a hotel, shops and movie theater. Residences will meet LEED Silver certification standards, and the hotel will be LEED certified. The ESC noted the efforts of the City Council, especially Dan Sze, to press for strong environmental performance by the builders. The public is also demanding greater environmental awareness and energy –saving standards. Several members raised concerns over the increased amount of traffic which will be generated by the project and the Mason Row team said that they have just hired a traffic demand manager for assessment of the property. Andy Crawford urged greater use of solar energy. Peter Oppenheimer raised questions about cisterns, stormwater management, and bio retention, including such options as a partial green roof design. The ESC will hear from Jason at next month’s ESC meeting on the questions of stormwater. Other questions raised: light pollution, 20 ft sidewalks, green space, and tree planting. The City Council will review the plan again in July. The ESC agreed to send its comments to the Council before its next review. 4. Old Business --VPIS goals: The ESC reviewed and approved the latest draft of the VPIS environmental plan, and agreed to work with the VPIS on next steps, publicity, timetables, and a joint resolution to the City Council. --Bike Master Plan: Paul Stoddard briefed the ESC on the current draft bike master plan, a follow-up to the Mobility for All Modes plan which was adopted in 2014. The Plan is conceptual in design, stressing sharrows, wayfinding, intersection markings, bike boxes, and high priority bike corridors . There is also a plan to bring “Bike Share” to the East Falls Church metro in the next one-two years. The ESC supports the general ideas in the plan and Peter Oppenheimer volunteered to draft a letter of support. --Division of work: Peter Oppenheimer requested additional comments on his latest draft. --Vice Chair: Ray Arnaudo asked for a volunteer to assume the role of Vice Chair.  --Website: The ESC will review the website pages at its next meeting. Members were asked to look at the site and offer suggestions . Chris McGough will lead the discussion at the May meeting. 5. Next Meeting - Thursday May 21, Dogwood Room, City Hall ( Notetaker: Bayldon)