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| Jack Sawicki | Paul Michl |
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| John McCracken | Nancy McCracken |
The house, built in 1929 in the Tudor Revival style, evokes fond memories of its longtime owner, Dudley Babcock, who played an active role in church and community organizations. The club acquired the house from the Babcock estate in 1985.
In the 1970s, the club built the indoor tennis facility next to the Babcock home. Acquisition of the house heightened concern about the club's continued expansion into the neighborhood, and RSCA formed a committee to oppose the club's use permit.
Finally, the club and the RSCA reached an agreement,
which was ratified by the County Board on April 16, 1988. It included the
stipulation that the Babcock house would be retained in perpetuity, with the
outside maintained to resemble an occupied residence. (For more information, see
the Rock Spring News, February 1997, p. 3.)
Four key elements characterize community policing:
· Increased problem solving--solving crimes and reducing chronic crime conditions rather than focusing primarily on making arrests.
· Partnership between police and communities in addressing problems.
· An emphasis on prevention rather than just responding to crimes after they occur.
Ed Flynn, Arlington's new police chief, obviously believes in community policing and thinks it fits the participatory "Arlington Way." He also is restructuring the Police Department into six newly formed districts, so that officers assigned to them will be more visible, better known and therefore better able to work with neighborhood leaders in solving problems.
The Rock Spring Civic Association area is part of District 1. Officers attending the workshop said that District 1 is by far the county's largest geographic district, but also has the lowest crime rate. About 50 officers are assigned to District 1 under the leadership of Captain James Younger. Younger specifically asked to meet with civic associations to begin working with neighborhood groups on their problems.
By decentralizing, Chief Flynn also hopes to offset the tendency towards impersonal, sometimes tense, relationships between police officers and citizens. We citizens were pleased to discover that the police officers at our tables were open, interested and personable individuals. Some of the police officers were in turn surprised that we would sacrifice a Saturday to attend this workshop, thus undermining their stereotype of citizens who "don't want to get involved."
Flynn's other objective is to reduce the "fire horse" mentality among police officers, who often are judged more by their response times to 911 calls than by their success in reducing crime. He thinks they can use some of the time now spent waiting for such calls to address the underlying causes that trigger them.
To accomplish his goals, Flynn needs us to participate
in the process along with his police officers. In the coming months, RSCA will
offer you opportunities to meet the officers of District 1 and to work with them
on any problems arising in our neighborhood.
The Old Dominion Drive Study Group met earlier this summer. Arlington County Department of Public Works presented a plan involving a combination of sidewalks and widening of the roadway. While the overall proposal is for Old Dominion from Lee Highway to the Fairfax County line, the Study Group focused on the portion from Glebe Road to Fairfax.
The plan calls for a continuous sidewalk system on one side of Old Dominion or the other, or on both sides, from Glebe Road to N. 37th Street. The location of the sidewalk in some areas was selected to preserve trees. Also, there was discussion concerning a suitable building material for the sidewalks--asphalt, concrete, or a pervious material.
In general, the roadway widening is from two to three feet in each direction. Public Works is not proposing to do anything over the ravine between 37th Street and Edison Street because of budget constraints.
Because the Old Dominion Drive residents were
concerned about the exact placement of roadway and sidewalk, Public Works will
present engineering drawings at the next meeting. The RSCA will notify people of
the date of the next Study Group meeting by door-to-door flyers and a mailing.
Anyone who wishes to be on the mailing list, please call Paul Michl at
534-6205.
In mid July, the Arlington County Board approved the renovation and additions to Marymount University's student activities center. Work on the project began in late July and is expected to be completed in summer 1999.
Because Arlington has a county manager form of government, our legislation must be approved by the state legislature. Although the UFC, County staff, and our state representatives tried to have language passed for a tree ordinance, we were not successful. We then looked at the County codes and found that we could add the word "tree(s)." This was accomplished in 1996.
Although Arlington does not have a tree ordinance, we
now have codes that proect and include trees. The National Arbor Day Foundation
found our efforts satisfied their requirements and granted us "Tree City USA"
status in 1997 and 1998.
At least a week before the festivities, call Traffic Engineering, 228-3575. Give them the time and date, and the name and address of a contact person. Barricades to close the street will be delivered the day before the party and picked up the day after. Neighborhood consensus is required, and there is a $10 charge. Alcohol and loud music aren't allowed.
RSCA invites you to celebrate Neighborhood Day with your neighbors! If you're planning a block party, please let RSCA president John McCracken know (538-5685).
On May 2, a number of Rock Spring residents attended a memorial service for the creek. Speakers included the Rev. Charles Wildman and former resident Steve Dryden. The memorial was organized by Friends of Rock Spring Creek, and that group has continued to investigate the county and state approval processes for the subdivision.
One question has to do with the County's method of designating areas that require protection under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Regulations. In response to a letter from a Rock Spring Road resident, the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department in Richmond wrote on June 23: "The Department is concerned that the County's approval of the proposed subdivision...may be based upon assumptions and interpretations that, in the Department's opinion, are not consistent with the spirit and intent of the Act and Regulations."
The County responded by letter on July 16, pointing out that the State had approved Arlington's ordinance in 1993 and asking for clarification of a number of issues.
On August 7, some 25 Rock Springers met with County Board members Chris Zimmerman and Barbara Favola to discuss their concerns about the County's handling of this issue. No written reply has been received. County Board members have said, however, that legally there is nothing they can do.
It is expected that the Board will form a committee to review Arlington's Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.
For more information about Friends of Rock Spring Creek, call Peter Neil
at 536-4766. A petition is available for signing.
The Rock Springer is published periodically by the Rock Spring Civic Association (RSCA) and is mailed to all dues-paying members. The RSCA comprises 1,150 homes and is dedicated to keeping residents informed of issues that affect the neighborhood. It also represents neighborhood interests before the County Board and the Planning Commission.
For more information about Friends of Rock Spring
