Photo by nicoleramona on Flickr.

Arlington scrutinizing big box stores

Arlington is moving quickly to require county board approval for big box stores. The move is likely aimed at Walmart, which is eying an area in Shirlington for a potential store. (ARLnow)  

BRAC moving faster than expected

Virginia’s 2 senators and 2 of its representatives are calling on the Pentagon to slow its transfer of personnel to transit-poor Mark Center.  The $100 million in transportation improvements have only just begun. (Post)  

Fairfax to require permits for pick-up games

You better have a permit if you want to play a pick-up game in a Fairfax County park.  If the number of players and spectators exceeds 20 people total, each person faces a $250 fine. (TBD)  

2 visions for St. E’s

St. Elizabeth’s East could either have windy roads and separated clusters of uses, or a main boulevard and mixed uses. Shouldn’t this be an urban design no-brainer by now? (City Paper)  

Police suggest making speeding mandatory

Montgomery police suggested making it illegal to drive below the speed limit in the left lane of a freeway. They withdrew the idea after officials pointed out that it’s illegal to drive above the speed limit, too. (Gazette)  

DC urged to perform landlord stings

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is urging the District to use undercover methods to root out housing discrimination. The report is suspicious of the lack advertising for housing vouchers west of the park. (Post)  

Why aren’t the hip new restaurants in Georgetown?

There are three theories: 1. Too many tourists crowd out everything else. 2. The neighbors doth protest too much. 3. Rents are exorbitant for what you get. (Housing Complex)  

Georgia convicts pedestrian of vehicular homicide

On a wide road with no safe crossing options, a driver who had been drinking hit and killed a 4-year-old and fled the scene. He will serve 6 months in prison. The county charged the mother with vehicular homicide, and she now faces 3 years in prison. (AJC via Streetsblog)  

And…

Adrian Fenty joins a malpractice firm and is adamant he’s through with politics. (City Paper) … UMD’s human-powered helicopter took flight for a record 12.4 seconds. (Post) … A solar-powered buoy is sniffing for radiation on the Potomac. (Patch)