MINUTES OF
FAIRFAX COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
PRESENT: Walter L. Alcorn, Commissioner At-Large
John R. Byers, Mount Vernon District
Joan M. DuBois, Dranesville District
Janet R. Hall, Mason District
Suzanne F. Harsel, Braddock District
John B. Kelso, Lee District
Ronald W. Koch, Sully District
Ilryong Moon, Commissioner At Large
John M. Palatiello, Hunter Mill District
Laurie Frost Wilson, Commissioner At-Large
ABSENT: Peter F. Murphy, Jr., Springfield District
Linda Q. Smyth, Providence District
//
The meeting was called to order at 8:15 p.m. by Vice Chairman John R. Byers.
//
COMMISSION MATTERS
Vice Chairman Byers congratulated Commissioner Hall for her recent promotion at the
Department of Justice and welcomed new Planning Commission Office employee Virginia
Ruffner, Management Analyst II.
//
RZ-2000-MV-066 - SOUTH STATION LLC
FDP-2000-MV-066 - SOUTH STATION LLC
PCA-1996-MV-037-4 - SOUTH STATION LLC (Decisions Only)
(The public hearing on these applications was held on July 18 and 19, 2001. A complete
verbatim transcript of the decisions made is included in the date file.)
Commissioner Byers MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE PCA-1996-MV-037-4.
Commissioner Kelso seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 9-0-1 with Commissioner
Palatiello abstaining; Commissioners Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.
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COMMISSION MATTERS September 5, 2001
Commissioner Byers MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE RZ-2000-MV-066, SUBJECT TO EXECUTION OF
PROFFERS CONSISTENT WITH THOSE DRAFT PROFFERS DATED 21 AUGUST 2001.
Commissioner Kelso seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 9-0-1 with Commissioner
Palatiello abstaining; Commissioners Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.
Commissioner Byers MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVE MODIFICATION OF THE TRANSITIONAL
SCREENING YARD REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE
CHURCH TO ALLOW PLANTINGS REQUIRED IN TRANSITIONAL SCREENING YARD
1 TO BE PLANTED IN AN AREA THAT IS 35 FEET WIDE; THE MODIFICATION OF THE
TRANSITIONAL SCREENING YARD REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE WESTERN AND
SOUTHERN BOUNDARIES OF THE CHURCH TO REFLECT THE CDP AND FDP; AND
A WAIVER OF THE BARRIER REQUIREMENTS ON ALL BOUNDARIES OF THE
CHURCH.
Commissioner Kelso seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 9-0-1 with Commissioner
Palatiello abstaining; Commissioners Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.
Commissioner Byers MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND THE
BOARD APPROVE THE REQUESTED WAIVER OF THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF A
RESIDENTIAL PRIVATE STREET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 11-302 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
Commissioner Kelso seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 8-1-1 with Commissioner
Wilson opposed; Commissioner Palatiello abstaining; Commissioners Murphy and Smyth absent
from the meeting.
Commissioner Byers MOVED THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE FDP-2000-MV-
066, SUBJECT TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS DATED AUGUST 23,
2001 AND THE BOARD'S APPROVAL OF PCA-1996-MV-037-4 AND RZ-2000-MV-066.
Commissioner Kelso seconded the motion which carried by a vote of 9-0-1 with Commissioner
Palatiello abstaining; Commissioners Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.
//
Secretary Harsel reminded the Commission that the Development Criteria Review Committee
would meet on Thursday, September 6, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Conference Room.
//
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COMMISSION MATTERS September 5, 2001
Secretary Harsel announced that the Housing Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday,
September 19, 2001 had been cancelled and that the next meeting of that Committee would be
Wednesday, October 10, 2001 at 7:30 p.m.
//
Commissioner Palatiello reminded the Commission that the Policy and Procedures Committee
would meet on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Conference Room.
//
 

ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Secretary Harsel set the following order for the agenda:
1. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT (Commonly Accepted Pets)
2. RZ/FDP-2001-MA-017 - IVY DEVELOPMENT, LC
3. SEA-85-L-110-4 - VERESTAR, INC.
This order was accepted without objection.
//
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT (Commonly Accepted Pets) –
To amend Chap. 112 as follows: Revise the definition of commonly
accepted pets to include African pygmy hedgehogs and hermit crabs.
PUBLIC HEARING.
Ms. Lorrie Kirst, Zoning Administration Division, Department of Planning and Zoning,
presented the staff report, a copy of which is in the date file. She noted that staff recommended
approval of the language outlined on page 3 of the staff report.
Ms. Kirst responded to questions from Commissioner Moon regarding the approximate size and
weight of African pygmy hedgehogs, the likelihood of hermit crabs carrying bacteria harmful to
humans, and how other jurisdictions in the area regulated these animals as pets.
In response to questions from Commissioners Moon and Hall, Ms. Kirst said that this proposed
Ordinance Amendment was prepared by staff at the request of the Board of Supervisors.
In response to questions from Commissioner Koch, Ms. Kirst said that the possibility that
an escaped pair of hedgehogs would breed and multiply in the wild in northern Virginia was
extremely low due to their low tolerance to cold weather.
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ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 5, 2001
(Commonly Accepted Pets)
In response to questions from Commissioner Byers, Mr. Earl Hodnett, a wildlife biologist with
the Animal Control Division of the Police Department, explained that African pygmy hedgehogs
were probably singled out for this amendment to avoid a situation where native wild hedgehogs
could be exploited. He said that he did not know who would be liable if a pet hedgehog became
infected with rabies and passed it on to a human.
In response to questions from Commissioners Wilson, DuBois, Alcorn, Hall, and Palatiello,
Ms. Kirst explained that hedgehogs would be kept indoors and that they could be purchased
from breeders. Mr. Hodnett explained that neither hedgehogs nor hermit crabs were an
endangered species and that he had no reservations about adding these animals to the list
of commonly accepted pets.
Vice Chairman Byers called for speakers on this matter and recited the rules for public
testimony.
Dr. Arthur Trask, 8835 Ashgrove House Lane, Vienna, spoke in favor of the proposed
amendment. He said that African pygmy hedgehogs made excellent pets.
There being no further speakers, no further comments or questions from the Commission and
Ms. Kirst having no closing staff remarks, Vice Chairman Byers closed the public hearing and
recognized Commissioner Moon for action on this case. (Verbatim excerpts are in the date file.)
//
Commissioner Moon MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
APPROVE THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT DEALING WITH THE
DEFINITION OF COMMONLY ACCEPTED PETS AS OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
REPORT DATED JULY 9, 2001.
Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion which carried unanimously with Commissioners
Murphy and Smyth absent from the meeting.