The Federal Aviation Administration in a Nov. 24 report warned Arlington County that a new development planned for Rosslyn would pose a hazard to planes coming in and out of Reagan National Airport.
According to a copy of the report obtained by The Examiner, the development, known as Central Place LLC, would be too tall at 390 feet above ground level. The development would be located across from the Rosslyn Metro Station between North Moore and NorthLynn streets.
“Initial findings … indicated that the structure as described exceeds obstruction standards and/or would have an adverse physical impact or electromagnetic interference effect upon navigable airspace or air facilities,” the report states. “Pending resolution of the issues … the structure is presumed to be a hazard to air navigation.”
Developer JBG Companies has 60 days to submit a new plan to the FAA for review. The site manager did not return calls for comment.
Arlington officials said they were recently made aware of the report. The county board is set to consider site plan approval for the development at its meeting tomorrow.
As of press time, County Manager Ron Carlee had not made a recommendation to the board on whether to approve the plan. This was only one of two items out of the 48-item agenda for which Carlee had not yet offered his opinion.
Arlington planning director Bob Brosnan said he would urge the board to defer action on the plan so more information can be gathered on why the structure would violate FAA regulations.
“I couldn’t tell you what’s going on without going through it some more,” Brosnan said. “We’re going to have to defer the site plan to look into what the issues are. I’m not sure what the issues are.”
Brosnan added the area around the planned development was a target for redevelopment.
“Our thought was that we could increase heights” and get more density into new buildings, he said.
After viewing the report, the Arlington County Civic Federation, a group comprised of civic leaders from around the county, on Dec. 5 passed an emergency resolution calling for a “very public discussion of the issues raised by the report” and urged the county board not to approve the site plan.
