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| Linconia residents and business owners look at a map of Lincolnia. |
Members of the Lincolnia Planning District Study Task Force spent most of their third meeting on March 22 talking about what they like about Lincolnia and how it can be improved.
The task force was convened to provide input to Fairfax County planners as they update the Lincolnia section of the Comprehensive Plan. A key decision for the group is to determine whether the area around the Little River Turnpike/Beauregard Street intersection should be designated a community business center (CBC).
A CBC designation would encourage mixed-use redevelopment and the creation of a pedestrian-friendly town center.
The staff circulated a map showing the potential boundaries of a CBC consisting of about 200 acres within the larger 2,000-acre Lincolnia area. During the second meeting of the task force on March 7, the group discussed making a few changes around the edges but nothing was decided.
Between mid-April and the end of May, developers will be invited to submit ideas for redeveloping properties within the CBC, said Lincolnia project manager Faheem Darab, of the Department of Planning and Zoning. That will provide a rough idea of whether there is interest in redevelopment and what types of projects might be proposed. More detailed discussions of those proposals would occur next year.
Similar discussion about redevelopment proposals for areas in Lincolnia outside the CBC will happen later.
When the task force broke into small groups to consider the following questions, here are some of their responses:
Why did you choose to live in Lincolnia?
It’s easily accessible to highways for commuting. Homes have large lots. It’s affordable, safe, and quiet. You can walk to the grocery store. The diversity is a plus.
What are the strengths of Lincolnia, considering both the potential CBC and the larger area?
There’s a variety of great, ethnic food. It’s convenient for shopping. The diversity is a strength. There is a variety of housing types, including single family, townhouses, apartments, and affordable housing. There are green areas, like Turkeycock Run, Indian Run, and the field behind the Lincolnia Senior Center that can become parks. The CBC area has relatively few property owners and is not visually appealing which presents an opportunity for redevelopment.
What specific transportation improvements would you like to see in the CBC and the larger area?
Fix the traffic congestion in the Little River Turnpike/Beauregard/N. Chambliss intersections and Interstate 395. Build a flyover on Little River Turnpike to relieve congestion at the Beauregard intersection. Create pullovers at bus stops to relieve traffic backups caused by buses. Build a pedestrian bridge over Little River Turnpike at Landmark Plaza. More stoplights and crosswalks. Establish a shuttle system to help people access Metro and Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus.
What would like to see improved in the CBC and larger area?
More walkability and more green space in the CBC. A common space for performances and social gatherings. More entertainment options, such as a movie theater, skating rink, art center, or community center in the CBC.
In the greater Lincolnia area, fix the infrastructure, including better drainage and road improvements in suburban areas; repurpose and redevelop the areas with aging housing stock. More options for entertainment, nightlife, sports fields, emergency services, and upscale restaurants. Prevent overflow parking from apartments on suburban streets. Improve code enforcement. Add a dog park.
The next meeting of the task force will be April 4, 7 p.m., at Holmes Middle School.
The next meeting of the task force will be April 4, 7 p.m., at Holmes Middle School.