If you wish to comment on the Central United Methodist Church's application to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (State Historic Preservation Office) to remove human remains and perform archeological excavations at the Robert Ball family graveyard in Ballston, you must do so by Monday, November 14, 2016. Send your comments by mail or e-mail to: Joanna Wilson Green Easement and Stewardship Archaeologist 2801 Kensington Avenue Richmond VA 23221 Email: joanna.wilson@dhr.virginia.gov Phone: (804) 482-6098 On Saturday, November 5, 2016, the Arlington County Board voted unanimously to authorize the advertisement of public hearings on the proposed historic designation of an approximately 325 square feet area (approximately 18 feet x 18 feet) of the Ball family graveyard as a County Historic District in accordance with the County's zoning ordinance. The Church verbally agreed to not perform any excavations until the Board votes on the historic district designation. For further information about the Board's action and the Church's agreement, see the County's news release at: https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/public-hearings-set-for-robert-ball-sr-family-burial-ground/. At the Church's request, the County Board agreed to defer its public hearing on the historic district proposal until such time (probably in February) that the Board holds its public hearing on the Church's rezoning and site plan request. If approved, the rezoning and site plan will permit the Church to construct an eight-story residential building (named Ballston Station) on its property. For information about the site plan and rezoning request for Ballston Station, see the County's web page on the project at https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/ballston-station-ballston-central-united-methodist-church/. Visit this website periodically to obtain information on future County advisory committee meetings on the site plan and rezoning. The County planning staff contact for the project is Michael Cullen. You can express your views and discuss your concerns with the planning staff by contacting Mr. Cullen at mcullen@arlingtonva.us or (703 228-3538. The Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) of the Arlington County Planning Commission will hold the first public meetings on the Ballston Station site plan. The SPRC will discuss details of the building and project site. These details will include any provisions in the site plan for open space and for preservation or removal of the graveyard that the Church may propose. The SPRC for the Ballston Station project will contain members of the Planning Commission and representatives of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association and various County Board advisory commissions (see https://commissions.arlingtonva.us/planning-commission/sprc/sprc-members/ ). Other members of the public may attend the meetings; however, they will be able to speak at the meeting only if SPRC Chairperson permits this. The Chairperson of the SPRC has not yet scheduled any meetings on the Ballston Station project. Visit the SPRC's home page frequently at https://commissions.arlingtonva.us/planning-commission/sprc/ to learn the times and dates of the SPRC meetings on the project. Links on the SPRC home page will contain agendas, written materials and illustrations that the SPRC will discuss at its meetings on the Ballston Station site plan. The SPRC will probably hold three or four meetings on the project. The SPRC will then present its recommendations on the project at a public hearing that the County's Planning Commission. The County Board will hold its public hearing on the project and the historic district designation approximately two weeks after the Planning Commission meeting. The County Board also discussed the Church's request for a court order that would permit the removal and reburial of any human remains that are in the graveyard. County staff informed the Board that three members of the Ball family have informed the Court of their opposition to removal their family's remains. Additional members of the Ball family can discuss their concerns and perhaps participate in the Court proceedings by contacting the family's attorney, Alex Berger, at 703-994-8133. Therefore, if you know of any Ball family members who are not yet participating in the Court action, I suggest that you provide them with Mr. Berger's contact information. Approval by either the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) or the Court would permit the Church to remain human remains from the graveyard. DHR approval is required for any archeological studies that involve site excavation, regardless of whether the Court permits the removal of human remains. Bernie Berne