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Meeting Notes – April 19, 2023

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the April 19, 2023 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

On April 19, 2023, the Yorktown Civic Association held a general meeting at Yorktown High School.  David Friedman, David Herring, Campbell Maloney, Mehul Vora, Caryn Wagner, and Mike Cantwell were in attendance, with Brian Young reporting the minutes.

ARLINGTON COUNTY ELECTIONS

  • Mr. Cantwell reported on the upcoming elections, including the mechanics of rank choice voting.  Early voting starts May 5 and the primary will be held on June 20 and the deadline for filing paperwork to run as an independent.

NEIGHBORHOOD DAY

  • We did not receive any volunteers for the Neighborhood Day.  We plan to hold an event in October.

MISSING LINK SIDEWALK PROPOSAL

  • The Callsen family has nominated East side of Florida Avenue between 27th Street North and 26th Road North for consideration for a “missing link” sidewalk, which would connect non-contiguous sidewalks on that block. It was resolved to put the proposal to a vote during the July 12 General meeting.

MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY PLANS

  • Mr. Cantwell described Marymount University’s proposal to build a sports field on 26th Road and Old Dominion.  A representative of Marymount University will be present at our July 12 meeting

SMART STREET CAMPAIGN

  • Mr. Cantwell described the County’s Smart Streets Campaign, which includes installation of stop signs on Little Falls near Nottingham Elementary.
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Meeting Notes – February 1, 2023

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the February 1, 2023 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

The meeting was held in Patriot Hall at Yorktown Highschool.  The following people attended, with Brian Young reporting the minutes:  include David Coia, James Churbuck, Terry Costello, William Garvent, Zach Newkirk, Caryn Wagner, Kim Klinger, Brian Cobb, Jim Page, Michael Cantwell, Frank White, Christine Purka, and David Friedman.

PAGE GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES

  • Barbara Hamlett and James Page spoke about Page Global Business services, a business that opened in the former Title Max property on Langston and George Mason.  Hamlett and Page, the owners of the business, invite the Yorktown community to the business’s grand opening on Friday, February 10 from 4-5:30 p.m.  The company’s website is www.pageglobal.com.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NOMINEES

  • Caryn Wagner, Mehul Vora, and Zach Newkirk were nominated to serve on the Executive Committee and addressed the group.  Their nominations carried on a unanimous voice vote.

MISSING MIDDLE UPDATE

  • Mr. Cantwell provided an update on the Missing Middle Plan.  Last week, the County Board held a nine-hour meeting.  The result of the meeting is that the Board passed an authorization to advertise, which resulted in the legislation being posted on the County website.   The Board will vote on the proposal at their March meeting.

DRIVER, CYCLIST, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY COMMITTEE UPDATE

  • Mr. Churbuck provided an update on the Committee’s work.  The Yorktown Civic Association maintains records of traffic accidents on 26th and Harrison.  The County also maintains data, but it has limitations: the accident must cause at least $1,500 in damage to be documented.  The committee is working on a plan to put QR codes on electrical poles that would enable pedestrians to report near misses, thereby increasing the reliability of our data.  There have been three rollover accidents in the YCA since December.  There was a fatal collision at Little Falls and John Marshal.

NEIGHBORHOOD DAY

  • The civic association is planning to hold a neighborhood day in the spring and is looking for a chair to volunteer.

HIGHSCHOOL INTERN

  • The Yorktown Civic Association is looking for a high school aged intern.  Please contact Michael Cantwell if you know somebody who is interested.

KIM KLINGLER

  • Kim Klinger, a candidate for Commissioner of Revenue, addressed the Civic Association.  Her website is kim4arlington.com.
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County Response Update: Little Falls Road

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | 07:00 PM

As part of the Vision Zero action plan, they regularly review and evaluate critical crashes to identify actionable items that can be implemented and responded to quickly.

In response to the recent tragic crash fatality at the intersection of Little Falls Rd and John Marshall Blvd, the Vision Zero Critical Crash team has developed short-term safety improvements and enhancements options for this intersection.

At this meeting, you will:

  • Hear an update on the investigation findings (pending final Police investigation)
  • Learn about potential short-term safety improvements and enhancements, for the intersection of Little Falls Rd and John Marshall Blvd

The meeting will be held at Nottingham Elementary School in the multi-purpose room. Please use door #10 off Ohio Street.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP (optional).

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Accidents at N Harrison and 26th Street N

N Harrison and 26th - January 24, 2020

The Yorktown Civic Association is collecting data about the frequent accidents at the intersection of N Harrison Street and 26th Street N. YCA is working with Arlington County to address this intersection, but the solutions by the County, so far, have proven insufficient to improve the safety for pedestrians and drivers.

Our records of accidents are available here.

If you have records for more accidents, please provide the information to us in this form.

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Meeting Notes – May 4, 2022

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the May 4, 2022 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

  • A meeting of the Yorktown Civic Association Executive Committee was held virtually. Brian Young, Secretary, reporting.
  • Those in attendance include Lynda Ramirez-Blust, Barry Holt, Campbell Maloney, Brian Yost, David Haring, David Friedman, Frank White, Craig Mastrangelo, Karla Loper, Mark Loper, MJ Harford, Ori Nir, Jan Hartford, James Churbuck, and Terry Costello.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION PROJECT

  • David Haring provided an update on the Neighborhood Conservation Project. The project to add sidewalks to 25th street has been submitted to the County and the engineering study for this project is under consideration.

NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN

  • Lynda Ramirez-Blust, a consultant, described the Yorktown Neighborhood Plan. The intention of the Neighborhood Plan is to create a comprehensive list of projects, ranging for side walks and curbs to bikeability and walkability. The goal is to submit a plan to the County by the end of the calendar year. Blust helped facilitate the creation of a neighborhood survey, which she intends to distribute to the neighborhood in the near future. The plan is to hand deliver surveys to each house in the neighborhood. We hope to have residents complete the survey by the end of May.

MISSING MIDDLE

  • A discussion about the merits of the “Missing Middle” proposal was held.

TRAFFIC UPDATE

  • Campbell Maloney addressed the “bump outs” being created on 26th and Harrison, which appear to be intended to make the crossing distance shorter. The YCA received no notice or communication from the County regarding this curb extension. If you observe unsafe driving in the vicinity of 26th and Harrison, please contact Campbell Maloney at [email protected].

NEW MEMBERS

  • Michael Cantwell put a call out for new members to join the YCA Executive Committee.
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Meeting Notes – November 16, 2021

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the November 16, 2021 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

  • On November 16, 2021, the Yorktown Civic Association held a virtual general meeting.  The following individuals were recorded as being in attendance at the beginning of the meeting, with Brian Young reporting the minutes:
  • Michael Cantwell, Amelia Frenkel, Ann Adler, Ann Marie Thro, Berry Holt, Campbell Maloney, Carolyn Boswell, Christine Callsen, David Friedman, David Haring, Don/Krista Supon, Don Purka, Doreen Parekh, James Churbuck, James Maxstadt, John Boswell, Karen Morgan, Leslie Humes, Margaret Pollack, Mehul Vora, Nancy Murphy, Suzi Suchyta, Terry Costello, and Frank White.

Neighborhood Day Recap

  • Brian Young and Amelia Frankel provided a recap on the Neighborhood Day held in October. Members of the Executive Committee introduced themselves.

Neighborhood Conservation Sidewalk Project for 25th Place

  • Mr. Haring provides a description of the Neighborhood Conservation Sidewalk Project for 25th Place. Members expressed views on the project and a motion to end debate carried upon a voice vote. The following resolution was proposed: “the Yorktown Civic Association Affirms its previous selection of the 25th Place Sidewalk Project as its priority Neighborhood Conservation Project and asks the County to move forward with the design and engineering phase of the project.” A vote was held and the motion carried with 16 votes in favor and 12 opposed. The reporter notes that several members held more then one property in the YCA borders and were therefore able to cast more than one vote.
  • Votes were recorded as:
    • Vora – Yes
    • Maxstadt – No
    • Herbert – No
    • Haring – Yes
    • Frankel – No
    • Hume – Yes
    • Thro – No
    • Pollack – No
    • Gabardine – No
    • Maloney – Yes
    • White – Yes
    • Suchyta – No
    • Stephen – No x 2
    • Young – Yes
    • Churbuck – Yes
    • Anderson – Yes
    • Friedman – Yes
    • Supon – No
    • Holt – Yes
    • Parak – No
    • Keller – Yes
    • Mormon – No
    • Murphy – Yes
    • Boswell – Yes x 2
    • Costello – Yes
    • Cantwell – Yes

Plan Langston Boulevard & Traffic and Pedestrian Safety

  • Amelia Frankel delivered an update on Plan Langston Boulevard and Campbell Maroney delivered an update on traffic safety. The imperative of recording all traffic accidents in the YCA borders was discussed.

Treasurer’s Report

  • Mr. Andersson delivered a Treasurer’s report and emphasized the need to collect dues.
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Plan Lee Highway Scenarios

Plan Lee Highway

On June 23, 2021 Mike Cantwell wrote to the Arlington County board to share the Civic Associations position on the Plan Lee Highway Scenarios:

“Arlington County Board and Plan Lee Highway Staff,

The Yorktown community includes many citizens who are deeply opposed to the increased density in each of the proposed Plan Lee Highway scenarios. Our community also includes many residents who welcome aspects of the plan. There are, however, a few things we can all agree on:

First, we would like a commitment from the county board that they will plan and budget for the purchase of land for green space and public use in our area. It is not sufficient to hope that private developers will subsidize the cost of green space in the future. According to a recent review by the Arlington County Civic Federation, the county has underinvested in public land park acquisition for over a decade. As a result, there is less park land acreage per 1,000 residents today than at any other time in the last 50 years. Increasing the density along Lee Highway without adding additional open space will further reduce the amount of park land per capita. In our area, we are lucky to have public spaces that are heavily used by existing residents. In order to maintain quality of life with increased density, more public spaces are necessary. Monies for those spaces should be considered and budgeted alongside the revised general land use plan for Lee Highway.

Second, we would like a commitment from the county board that they will plan and budget for schools and infrastructure commensurate with the increased density and population growth along Lee Highway. Planning for private development without planning for public infrastructure will necessarily lead to underinvestment and a more-expensive, less-thought-out game of catch-up in the future.

Third, we would like a commitment from the county board that they will not use eminent domain, now or at any point in the future, to achieve any portion of the Plan Lee Highway use scenarios. Our neighbors want assurance that they will retain the ability to decide what to do with their own property, even as the area may be changing.

Thank you for your consideration. We welcome further dialog with our civic association about this planning process.

Sincerely,

Mike Cantwell
President – Yorktown Civic Association

Amelia Frenkel
Vice President – Yorktown Civic Association”

On July 30, 2021 the County Board responded:

“Dear Mr. Cantwell,

Thank you for your message and for sharing your thoughts concerning the Plan Lee Highway study. I’m responding on behalf of my colleagues, and please know that your email and perspectives have been shared with and read by each member of the Board.

First, I’d like to underscore that the study is in its early stages. County staff, and PLH civic leaders, have sought to shape a process where community members can weigh in with your priorities and the positives and negatives of the various scenarios.

We appreciate that you’ve done so – and in your comments, as well as in those of your neighbors, it’s clear how much you value both the environment and quality of life in your community currently. Thank you for taking the time to share stories, as well as perspectives and concerns, with us on the County Board.

As you may know, Plan Lee Highway is designed to build upon the community’s vision and guiding principles as we work to create a walkable, “Main Street” type corridor, looking at everything from multi-modal transportation options to responsible development and public facilities. Currently, County government and civic partners from Lyon Village and other neighborhoods along the corridor are developing ideas and offering different possibilities to the community so we can better understand the impacts and benefits of different types of development along the corridor. These plans are also designed to explore and evaluate how government and the private sector can work together to help achieve the community’s aspirations for this “Main Street.” The goal of this phase is to open the door to meaningful discussions with the community so that staff can make informed decisions as the proposal evolves. With community feedback on preliminary land use concepts, the Planning Team will be refining the ideas and developing a Preferred Concept Plan which will be shared with the community in Fall 2021. Again, no conclusions or decisions have been made at this time.

The land use scenarios currently under discussion were developed with a number of things in mind, including the community feedback received during last year’s workshops. You may find it of interest to visit the Plan Lee Highway project page to review the latest presentation materials and reports. On this page, there is also a link to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which provides answers to many key questions and concerns about the effort.

The most important thing to emphasize from these FAQs: The County has no plans to rezone existing single-family residential properties and will not be seizing private property through eminent domain as a part of this project. Regardless of what scenarios or zoning tools are ultimately recommended in the Plan Lee Highway study, each property owner will make their own decisions about whether to maintain their property unchanged, or whether to pursue changes and how.

We thank you again for reaching out with your concerns, as well as your meaningful reflections about what makes your Arlington neighborhood special, and we encourage you to stay engaged in the process.

Sincerely,

Katie Cristol
Vice Chair, Arlington County Board”

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Meeting Notes – July 21, 2021

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the July 21, 2021 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

  • On July 21, 2021, the Yorktown Civic Association held a virtual general meeting.  The following individuals were in attendance, with Brian Young reporting the minutes:
  • Bryan Walsh, Campbell Maloney, Christine Purka, Craig Mastrangelo, David Haring, David Friedman, Ginger Brown, Hillary Gillen, James Churbuck, Kristi Roberts, Maisie Meade, Mehul Vora, Melissa Jackson, Michael Strazzella, Mike Cantwell, Paul Gibson, Paul Holland, Rob Fisher, Sally Linderman, Shelly Pelletier, Terry Costello, Amelia Frenkel, Frank White.

In Memoriam: James and Shauna Waites

  • Craig Mastrangelo offered condolences to the families of Shauna and James Waite of North Greenbrier Street, who were killed in a tragic accident last week.  Please keep the Waites and their family in your thoughts.

Plan Lee Highway

  • Paul Holland and Ginger Brown addressed Plan Lee Highway, a land use development plan for the Lee Highway corridor.  They took questions.   Documents pertaining to Plan Lee Highway are available here: https://projects.arlingtonva.us/plans-studies/land-use/lee-highway/process/.  Residents may contact Plan Lee Highway at [email protected].  Ms. Brown may be contacted at [email protected] and Mr. Holland may be contacted at [email protected].  Mr. Cantwell reported that the Goddard School is renting the former bank location near Lee Highway and George Mason and is hopeful that this space will become a childcare center.  Ms. Brown reported that an eatery had expressed interest in the space that was formerly occupied by Tops Cleaners on Lee Highway but had no further information.

Neighborhood Day

  • The Association discussed holding a neighborhood day in Chestnut Hills on a date to be determined this fall.  Mr. Cantwell put out a call for someone to volunteer to serve as chairperson of the event.  In the past, Neighborhood Day featured food trucks, musical entertainment, and a bounce house.  Please contact Mr. Cantwell at [email protected] if you wish to volunteer.

Crime and Traffic

  • Mr. Cantwell gave an update on crime developments and traffic safety.
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Meeting Notes – January 27, 2021

Meeting Notes

Minutes of the January 27, 2020 Yorktown Civic Association General Membership Meeting

  • A meeting of the Yorktown Civic Association was held virtually.  Brian Young, Secretary, compiled these minutes.
  • Meeting attendees include: Brian Young; Amelia Frenkel; Anne Bodine; David Coia; David Friedman; David Haring; Jeanne Mershon; Matt Duckery; Michelle Winters; Mike Cantwell; Peter Rousselot; Rene Sollod; Terry Costello; Craig Mastrangelo; Matthew Cleaveland; Mehul Vora; Campbell Maloney; James Churbuck; Karen Hardee; Ginger Brown; Rick Epstein; Margie Bell; Rick Epstein; Susan Kerin; Terry Costello; Dave Schutya.

Special Election

  • Mike Cantwell nominates Brian Young to serve on the Executive Board of the YCA and as the Secretary for the YCA. Craig Mastrangelo seconded the motion.  The motion carries unanimously on a voice vote.

Special Guest – Matthew Duckery, Arlington County Code Enforcement

  • Mr. Duckery, of Arlington County Inspection Services, addressed code enforcement for Arlington County, which enforces Virginia’s Property Maintenance Code.  The County has eight inspectors to survey all land within the County borders and strives to perform inspections in response to complaints in 3-5 business days.  Code inspectors are not permitted to reveal the identity of complainants – that information is confidential.  Inspector Duckery may be reached at [email protected].  Those wishing to lodge complaints may call 703-228-3232 or email [email protected].   The phone number for Arlington County Environmental Services, which inspects permeable driveways, is 703-228-3883.

Special Guest – Peter Rousselot, Arlingtonians for Our Sustainable Future

Lee Highway News

  • Mike Cantwell discussed developments on Lee Highway, particularly including the site on the corer of George Mason and Lee Highway.  Mr. Cantwell reported that the new tenant provides business services such as printing and virtual meeting facilities.

Crime

  • Mr. Cantwell addressed crime in the YCA borders and stressed preventative measures such as security measures and ensuring that residents lock car doors.

Treasurer’s Report

  • A Treasurer’s report was deferred until the next meeting.

Future YCA Meeting

  • The YCA aspires to hold an outdoor meeting in March or April.  Details will be forthcoming.