Pickwick Parking Zone Will Restrict Boats, RVs

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to restrict the parking of boats, recreational vehicles and trailers on Pickwick Road.

The vote established the Pickwick Community Parking District, which will from the northern boundary of 13940 Braddock Road to Willoughby Newton Drive and on Pickwick Road from its southern intersection with Willoughby Newton Drive to Wharton Lane.

Residents of the neighborhood advocated for the district after a number of boat owners left their boats parked on the streets for extended periods of time. The large vehicles took up parking and storage tarps fell into disrepair, residents said.

“The condition is horrific and detracts from our community,” said William Soble, a representative of Willoughby’s Ridge condominium association.

Other advocates for the district said the large vehicles were a safety hazard, forcing drivers down the narrow residential road to go over the double yellow line to get past them.

But other residents, including the boat owners, said that they were being unfairly targeted.

“I just don’t understand why we need to make a change here to move four boats,” said one speaker.

Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey supported the motion, citing the overwhelming residential support for it.

“It is clear to me that the communities support this approach, and so I’m going to support the communities,” he said.

Frey said there were other places to park boats, RVs and trailers without negatively affecting the neighborhood, including commercial lots, self-storage facilities and leasable spaces at Bull Run Regional Park.

“It is difficult to find parking for recreational vehicles but it is not impossible,” he said.