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Council approves Navy Federal site plan and 14-foot acoustic fence after resident noise concerns
Summary
After a lengthy presentation and public comment from a nearby resident, the Vienna Town Council unanimously approved Navy Federal Credit Union’s site-plan amendment to install replacement emergency generators and a 14-foot acoustical fence, with staff conditions and continued opportunity for neighbor outreach.
The Vienna Town Council on April 28 approved a site-plan amendment and a modification to allow a 14‑foot acoustical fence for new emergency generators at the Navy Federal Credit Union campus on Fallen Lane, following technical presentations, resident concerns and a unanimous roll-call vote.
Deputy Director of Planning and Zoning Kelly O’Brien described the proposal and explained the requested fence-height modification: "the applicant is requesting tonight is approval of the site plan... and a modification... to have the fence at 14 feet, and 6 feet is the maximum allowed." The applicant said the fence would be combined with acoustical wrap material and $75,000 of evergreen landscaping to reduce sound.
Resident Ken Foley, who lives on Massey Drive, objected to the proposed location and recounted earlier multiyear noise problems at a nearby facility, saying the prior noise was "similar to a helicopter landing in our backyard" and urging the applicant to consider a lower, hillside location to gain natural attenuation. Foley asked whether the generators would only run in emergencies and how often testing would occur.
The Navy Federal representative, Tim Markle, said the company had considered alternate locations but found technical and cost constraints, and presented modeling showing decibel levels falling to the mid-40s at the nearest homes after proposed mitigation. "By the time the noise gets to those locations, it will have dramatically been reduced," he said. He also noted the firm runs generator testing weekly and would work with neighbors about concerns.
Councilmembers pressed for additional mitigation for existing generators, clarification of testing hours and verification that the proposed materials and landscaping would meet the Board of Architectural Review's conditions. Planning staff said planning commission had recommended approval with conditions and that technical drawings and sound analysis are posted with the planning record.
Councilmember Baldwin moved to approve the site plan; the motion passed unanimously with council and applicant commitments to continued neighbor outreach and staff review of remaining technical details. Council also separately approved the requested modification to allow the 14‑foot acoustical fence.
