The Fairfax County Water Authority has proposed increasing the land area for the Griffith Water Treatment Plant and reconfiguring the Vulcan Materials quarry in Lorton to be used for water storage.

The Graham Virginia-II quarry at 10000 Ox Road in Lorton would be converted over two phases and approximately 70 years, and could ultimately hold between 16 and 17 billion gallons of water for the county.

County staff has recommended the Planning Commision accept the proposal and pass it on to the Board of Supervisors, with conditions including requiring a trail along the Occoquan River and additional archaeological analysis of the area.

The item was scheduled to be voted on at the March 19 public meeting, however safety concerns raised during a closed session prior to the meeting caused a decision to be postponed until the March 26 meeting, according to a representative from the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission meetings take place at 8:15 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. The meeting agenda and staff report on the Water Authority proposal is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning/calendar/calendar_march15.pdf

Public comments must be submitted ahead of time by calling the Planning Commission office at 703-324-2865 (TTY at 703-324-7951), joining the speaker’s list through the office website or emailing plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov.