Parkway Citizens’ Association

Residents Voice Their Views at the Special Meeting on the Spout Run Bridge

On November 19^th, the Woodmont Civic Association dedicated a special meeting to discuss the pros and cons of a bicycle pedestrian bridge across Spout Run Parkway. After adopting special rules for the meeting, residents shared their views on the bridge. People presented their views on how the bridge might impact public safety, crime, property values, vehicle and cyclist traffic, and aesthetics.

At the special meeting, members passed a motion that a one-question survey be sent to all 300 Woodmont households early in January asking residents whether they support building a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Spout Run. The results of the survey will constitute the position of the Woodmont Civic Association on the bridge. All survey responses must be postmarked by January 17^th and received by January 21^st.

A special committee comprised of residents both for and against the bridge decided what documents would be included in the mailing to help Woodmont residents make an informed decision on the bridge.

The next Woodmont Civic Association Meeting will be held Thursday, January 30^th, 7:30 pm in the lower level of the Woodmont Center.

Changes at Fort C.F. Smith Raise Neighborhood Concerns about Party Rentals

There is a growing concern among Woodmont residents that Fort C.F. Smith Park will be utilized more for party rentals than educating the public on the Civil War. The original impetus for the park was developing public programs, exhibits and interpretive markers that inform the public about the historical and natural resources of the park and why they are important to our community. Over the last eight years, the Fort has been plagued with poor planning, construction delays and cost overruns.

Many Woodmont residents believe that we, as a civic association, need to ask Arlington County to maintain a balance between parties and education. Many believe the park programs should attract visitors that will appreciate and take care of the park’s resources and respect our community. We have invited Lynne Everly from Arlington County to address the opening of Fort C.F. Smith Park at the January 30^th Woodmont Civic Association meeting.

The Woodmont Civic Association would like to form a citizen’s committee to track this issue to recommend the maximum number of parties the County should host in a year, overflow parking, and the number of people allowed to attend outdoor events. The Woodmont Civic Association hopes to partner with several historical societies to make a consolidated effort to work with the County on this issue.

Arlington County Will Fund Additional Tree Plantings throughout the county to help increase its canopy cover, to replace dead or dying trees, and to improve the beauty of the neighborhood. If you would like to make suggestions on the location of the tree plantings, please submit your ideas to Rose Kehoe by February 10^th.

Woodmont Civic Association Responds to the Landscape and Tree Preservation Plans

The Woodmont Civic Association and the neighbors of 2903 Lorcom Lane had a chance to review the tree preservation and landscaping plans of the proposed development and shared their feedback with Messers. Yeonas and Ellis.

The residents of 24^th Street appreciate the plan to plant evergreens along the retaining wall. In addition to green plants, the neighbors fully support planting a variety of high quality trees that provide a lot of color, shade, and aesthetic beauty to the property. It is in the best interest of the developer and the neighbors to maintain a natural setting along Fillmore Street and Lorcom Lane. The current plan calls for preserving three of the large, mature oak trees that are located near Lorcom Lane as well as one adjacent to Fillmore Street.

Along with maintaining green space, the Woodmont Civic Association asked the developer to minimize the amount of black top and concrete it uses in the driveways. We asked that the developer use a more permeable surface such as rocks, bricks, or gravel.

The residents of Kenmore Street will continue to rely on Arlington County and professional arborists to determine which trees to save and remove. By saving a maximum number of mature trees along the property line, a natural barrier will help ensure privacy. The Kenmore Street residents’ top concern remains storm water run-off.

Raw, Untreated Sewage Causes Unpleasant Smell Along Lorcom Lane

The Woodmont Civic Association has invited Randy Bartlett of Arlington County Public Works to speak on the Lorcom Lane Sewage problem and remedies at the January 30^th civic association meeting.

Arlington County did place inserts in the manhole that covers Lorcom Lane, but it is unclear whether this remedy has fixed the problem.

Welcome to the Newly Elected Woodmont Civic Association Officers

Rose Kehoe, President, [email protected]

Stacey Brown, Vice PresidentCwbrown@comcast.net

Larry Roberts, Treasurer, [email protected]

Diana Dempsey, Secretary, [email protected]

Recent History on the Neighborhood Conservation Program

The Arlington County Board created the Neighborhood Conservation program in 1964 so residents could spend a portion of taxes to improve their neighborhoods. Projects include curb, gutter, sidewalk, parks, traffic management, streetlights tree plantings, and beautification. A neighborhood must submit a neighborhood conservation plan in order to qualify for funding. A petition must also support certain projects.

The Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC) is composed of representatives from 44 civic associations including Woodmont. Carla von Bernewitz currently serves as Woodmont’s representative. Prior to Carla’s involvement, Robin O’Hara represented Woodmont. The NCAC meets monthly to guide the program. The NCAC advises the Arlington County Board on neighborhood projects.

In 1985, Woodmont (formerly Parkway) began the neighborhood conservation planning process. Dave Foster (now School Board member) chaired the campaign until he moved. Then, Bill Swedish managed the project. In March 1986, questionnaires were hand delivered to every house in Parkway, which included Woodmont and Dover Crystal. Questions covered a vast array of issues including transportation, zoning and development, and public improvements to parks, trails, the Woodmont Center, street lighting, and landscaping.

The neighborhood conservation plan was then prepared based on the questionnaire, meetings with County staff, and civic association meetings. In June 1993, the Parkway Citizens Association approved the plan and the County Board accepted it in September 1993.

Several NC projects have improved the Woodmont neighborhood. The first project that was submitted was for landscaping and playground equipment at the Woodmont Center. In spring 1994, the County replanted almost 20 trees along the sidewalk, replaced the fence around the field and later built a retaining wall to protect mature trees from erosion. More recently, Woodmont received NC funding for speed humps on 24^th Street. A pending project includes installing a sidewalk on Edgewood Street south of 24^th Street.

In 2003, the Woodmont Civic Association would like to update its neighborhood conservation plan as long as a committed group of residents would be willing to work on the project. If anyone is interested in serving as a NC representative or working on the committee to update the NC plan, please contact Rose Kehoe at [email protected]

Great Weather and Turnout Make Fifth Annual Neighborhood Halloween Party A Smashing Success

Thanks to the hard work of newly elected vice president Stacey Brown, Woodmont residents enjoyed a festive Halloween Party. Kids dressed up in scary costumes and paraded around the track at Woodmont. Games included an egg relay race, turn your friend into a mummy, guess that icky substance, and eat a doughnut on a string without your hands. Residents enjoyed wonderful cider and apples from the Courthouse Farmers Market. Thanks to all the residents who helped volunteer for the event.

Background on the Arlington County Civic Federation

The Arlington County Civic Federation, formed in 1916, today has eighty-one member organizations dedicated to advocacy and community involvement. Many of the improvements in Arlington are the result of actions initiated or strongly supported by the Federation - the County Manager form of government; sewer and water systems; the Central Post Office, better schools, master zoning ordinances. The Federation exists to support its members' needs and to give community voice to emerging issues. The Woodmont Civic Association is one of the member organizations.

Woodmont has several volunteers who serve as delegates and alternates to the Civic Federation. Our delegates include Rose Kehoe, Ellen Killalea, Larry Roberts, and Steve Baur. Alternates are Stacey Brown, Norm Mosher, Carla von Bernewitz, and Jim O’Hara. If you are interested in attending monthly Civic Federation meetings and would like to get involved with the Civic Federation, please contact Rose Kehoe at [email protected].

This past year, two long time Woodmont residents passed away –Suzanne Echols and Mary Kay Martin. May our memories of them stay alive in our hearts.

Please also remember Mr. Pinkett (our mailman) who lost his son this past summer.

Don’t forget to check out our new website at http://geocities.com/woodmontca/

You will find meeting minutes, results of the Spout Run Bridge survey, the January newsletter, and much more.

Woodmont Finalizes Design on the Neighborhood Sign

Over the past year, a sign committee has been working on developing a design and locations for a neighborhood sign. Thanks to the hard work of Palma Strand (chair), Harry Bacas, Suzanne Fucella, Mariah Nelson, Carla von Bernewitz, and Jim O’Hara, the sign committee has finalized its recommendation to the Woodmont Civic Association.

A black-and-white schematic of the proposed design for the smaller signs is included in this newsletter. The sign committee is recommending a sign of polished warm reddish-brown/rust-colored stone with a design of a tree in unpolished relief. The lettering is to be cream-colored. For the larger sign, the round tree design would be placed on a polished rectangular background with larger, horizontal lettering.

The Woodmont neighborhood is to receive four neighborhood signs—three small and one large—to be erected at the various entrances to the neighborhood. Location of the signs, subject to County approval, include:

· A small sign on the north side of Lorcom Lane off Spout Run

· A large sign on the corner of Fillmore Street and Lorcom Lane at the main entrance to the neighborhood

· A small sign on the north side of Lorcom Lane at the bottom of the hill in the Windy Run green area

· A small sign on the triangular median at the intersection of Military Road and Nellie Custis.

The sign committee will present the color versions of the proposed designs and locations at the January 30^th Woodmont Civic Association meeting for discussion and a vote.