High-Rises To Be Built Near Metros A Problem For Reagan National

From the outside looking in, at least, it's a tale of two agencies trying to do the right thing.

For the city of Arlington, VA, building high-rise buildings near metro stations not only broadens the county's tax base, but is seen as a significant component of its nationally-recognized smart-growth, transit-friendly strategy. It's the future of their economy, reports the Washington Post. A good thing.

For the FAA, however, some of that planned construction could threaten air safety for aircraft flying into and out of Reagan National Airport (DCA). As everyone recalls, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the FAA boosted its protection of the airspace over Washington.

And although the FAA has no authority to stop those planned Arlington high-rises, Arlington Economic Development Director Terry Holzheimer said the county will not allow buildings that do not meet FAA scrutiny to move forward and will not do anything "that causes a problem."

However, he added, with "some time and some attorneys' fees," he believes the FAA's concerns will be resolved and the buildings will be built.

"I think ultimately all these buildings will be approved," Holzheimer said. "I don't think we have proposed anything unreasonable."

Including last week's decision, the FAA has three times ruled that planned high-rises in Crystal City, Rosslyn, and on Columbia Pike would pose a "presumed hazard" to aircraft using DCA.

Claiming that the county's plan to build high-rises near the airport "defies common sense," Leo J. Schefer, president of the Washington Airports Task Force, a nonprofit group that promotes the development of the region's airports, said he supports Arlington's efforts to "move into a more vibrant future."

"It's just plain dumb to put tall trees, large buildings or cell towers in the flight path of airports," he added. "It's like telling your kids to go play on the freeway."

The most recent project to meet FAA disapproval is a six-story retail and residential complex planned for Columbia Pike, which the FAA said last week should not be taller than nine feet, or about one story. The Siena Park project located about 2 1/2 miles from Reagan National, is one of the foundations of an effort to restructure Arlington's Columbia Pike area into a more traditional "Main Street."

Said the FAA's Jim Peters, property owners and government officials who do not like the FAA rulings can seek a further, more detailed review from the agency, present opinions from experts, and possibly win a reversal.

"If we issue a determination and they don't like it, they can appeal it to headquarters," he said.

Holzheimer and FAA officials also noted that it is possible to reduce dangers by installing flashing lights atop buildings, painting them a vivid orange and white, changing airline flight paths and giving pilots different information to use in charting their course.

For Leo Schefer, president of the Washington Airports Task Force, those measures don't go far enough.

"If a highly unlikely series of events coincide - a power failure, bad weather, a jet on the wrong course - all of a sudden you have a disaster. If that happens, the people who allowed the building to be put up should be held responsible."

Confidence is key for the developers of the three projects, however. They are convinced they will be able to persuade FAA officials to reverse their rulings during the appeal process.

"We think they'll approve it as it is," said Kathleen Webb, principal of JBG, which is proposing the 31-story tower, which would be part of a pair with a 30-story residential tower in Rosslyn. "It's an issue to be resolved, but I think it will be resolved in a fashion that will let us proceed."

Webb noted that the FAA has approved other tall buildings that are closer to the airport.

The proposed Columbia Pike building that was criticized by the FAA is also near buildings taller than what the builder, Woodfield Investments, is planning.

The FAA's ruling on that case is "a little silly," Holzheimer said. "It's not a tall building close to the airport, but somehow it triggered a review."

FMI: www.washingtonairports.com, www.faa.gov, www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com