The Observer Newspapers | Invitation to Review Hotel Plan

June 6, 2008

Invitation to Review Hotel Plan

To the editor:

The Herndon Planning Commission is currently reviewing an application for a hotel in the downtown. The project is known as the "Diamond Property" or the Element Hotel. This project, if approved by the various review bodies and Town Council, will have a lasting and major impact on our community. In an effort to ensure adequate review and understanding of this project, the Commission will be having a special work session on June 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Herndon Municipal Center, located at 777 Lynn Street.

During the work session, four work groups will take a good look at various aspects of the project. The groups are: Operations, very basic day to day activities such as traffic, loading areas, stormwater, etc.; Building, Landscape and Streetscape Design; Uses, what types of shops are permitted, considered desirable/undesirable; and Overall Impact on the Community, both good & bad. We are hopeful that by taking an in-depth look at these key components as well as the whole, the Planning Commission will be able to make a well informed recommendation to the Town Council.

The Commission is asking town residents and business people to get involved in the review of this project. We want people who care about Herndon to take some time and take a good look at this project with us. The Commission wants you to express your opinions and ideas at the June 17 session as we work together in the evaluation of this project.

The Commission knows that Herndon is a community of caring, passionate and talented individuals that want Herndon to be better tomorrow than it is today. With that said please feel free to contact the Commission, get involved and express yourselves. Come to the meeting on June 17 to work on this project with the commissioners handling a subject matter that you have an interest in. I also encourage you to contact the Commission and express your thoughts on this very important project. The Commission can be reached at planning.commission@herndon-va.gov or by calling the Department of Community Development at 703-787-7380.

Carl I. Sivertsen

Chairman

Herndon Planning Commission