Fairfax County Planning Commissioner Julie Strandlie (Mason) plans to make a motion at the commission’s March 15 meeting to defer a decision on Vulcan Materials until April 19. The Board of Supervisors’ hearing will be delayed to May 1.
The company is seeking a rezoning and special exception that would allow it to replace some buildings, consolidate two concrete batching plans, and make other changes at its facility in an industrial area in Mason District.
At a public hearing on March 1, people who live near Vulcan expressed concerns about the company’s future plans to add an asphalt plant to the site, which is close to the Edsall Park community. A petition, with 564 signatures as of March 15, says “the odors and noise from an asphalt plant could have a major detrimental effect on neighborhoods’ quality of life” and “the presence of an asphalt plant will likely lower home values.”
In a message posted to the community on Nextdoor, Strandlie said: “Deferring to April 19 will provide the Planning Commission with the opportunity to tour the Virginia Paving asphalt plant.” That facility, at 5601 Courtney Ave., Alexandria, is near the Van Dorn Metro Station and Cameron Station.
“Once we receive a confirmed date when the plant will resume operations, the tour date/time will be posted on the Planning Commission website since more than two commissioners will attend,” Strandlie said. “We will also determine logistics regarding how interested persons may participate; Virginia Paving informed me that tour groups are limited to around 25 people for safety reasons.”
The staff report on the Vulcan proposal is expected to be available on or before March 20. Comments on the Vulcan case can be sent to the Planning Commission at plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov.