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| Monthly Newsletter from Chairman Sharon Bulova |
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| Internships |
My Office is looking for new interns for winter/spring 2017. If you know anyone who might be interested, please direct them to this
page for more info.
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| Stay Connected |
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Email
Website
Office
(703) 324-2321
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, concerns or ideas.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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Greetings,
Thanksgiving kicks off the Holiday Season. I hope Byline readers took advantage of this holiday to appreciate and reflect on the things we have to be thankful for. I am thankful every day to live in a County like Fairfax, with top notch schools, safe streets and neighborhoods, beautiful parks and convenient libraries. Best of all are our Fairfax County residents. We are a diverse community that celebrates our differences and works together to maintain the quality of life we all value.
As we move into the weeks ahead, the Holiday Season can also be somewhat frenetic. So much to do. So much planning and preparing. The upcoming presidential inauguration and a change in administration may add for some an extra element of tension. Change is stressful.
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Heraclitus of Ephesos, 17th century painting by Johannes Moreelse |
I am dedicating my opening letter this month, and some of the articles that follow, to the subject of change. Change, after all, is the only constant in life. These words were originally attributed to the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus in 500 BC, but they have been uttered by many others over the centuries, including me!
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Before Fairfax County was a county, we were populated by Algonquian-speaking Native Americans called the Taux or Dogue. We were part of Prince William County until 1742, when the northern part of Prince William was broken off to form Fairfax. For those of you who are doing the math, this was 275 years ago. A second split occurred fifteen years later when the northwestern two-thirds of Fairfax became Loudoun.
I often wonder how those earlier inhabitants of Fairfax County would have reacted should they have been given a peek ahead into the present day. I'm pretty sure they would have disliked what they saw. People inherently resist change - unless they are part of making change happen. Helping to make change happen can be a creative and satisfying experience. Ensuring opportunities for the community to be part of the process is essential for good governance.
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During the next year, I would like to engage our Fairfax County community in a discussion about how we can enhance our process for including interested and/or affected residents in Land Use Planning and Development.
Stay tuned for more information about this effort, which will include an educational element regarding land use regulations and earlier planning processes. We will explore how planning and development is done in other jurisdictions. The effort will conclude with recommendation from the group about how we can improve on the current Fairfax Forward process.
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This June, we will have an opportunity to contemplate the changes that have occurred over the past 275 years as Fairfax County has evolved from a farming community, to a suburban bedroom community of the District of Columbia, into our present day combination of urban areas (i.e. Reston Town Center, the Mosaic at Merrifield, and Tysons), suburban neighborhoods (i.e. Burke Centre, North Springfield, Hollin Hills, Franklin Farms, and Mantua) and more rural areas (i.e. Great Falls, Clifton and Mason Neck).
In anticipation of this Anniversary Celebration, I have convened a small planning group to explore ways in which the County can display our rich history. This celebration will be held on the grounds of the Courthouse in Fairfax and will include a visit from Lord Nicholas Fairfax himself, a descendent of Thomas Fairfax, the 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693-1781), proprietor of the Northern Neck area of the County. For more information about this celebration, you can visit their website at www.fxva.com/275.
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Lastly, as we head into Budget season, I am including information in this Byline about the upcoming Fiscal Year 2018 Budget and our Budget process. This will be a challenging budget and it will be important for our community to work together to make sure we protect the quality of life we value and rely upon, while also being sensitive to the affordability of taxes for our residents.
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Sincerely,
Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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| County and Schools Working Together to Address Joint Priorities |
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Joint Board Retreat, June 2016
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A few months ago, the Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County School Board held a joint retreat to discuss our many shared goals and priorities. An action item that came out of the retreat was to develop a Joint Work Program to focus on: children and families, land use policies, and fiscal policies. This week I convened our newly formed "Joint Budget Workgroup" consisting of the chairmen and budget chairmen of our respective boards. We began the work of prioritizing issue areas described at the retreat. We will present a Work Plan to both boards by the end of January. Both boards will have many opportunities to work together to address the Work Plan, beginning with the FY2018 Budget and throughout the remainder of our terms.
The next budget process for FY2018 will not be easy. In November, the County and FCPS each announced their budget forecasts, which include expected tax revenues and funding needs. The budget process will officially begin when the County Executive and Superintendent propose their Advertised Budgets this winter. There will be plenty of opportunities for community members to comment on the proposed budget and proposed tax rate recommended by the County Executive. The Board of Supervisors will hear from the community, make changes to the County Executive's proposal, and officially adopt a marked-up budget in April. Our Office of Public Affairs wrote a helpful article on FY2018 budget forecasts and what we might expect for the year ahead. I will certainly keep the community in the loop every step of the way as the budget process unfolds.
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| Fairfax County Celebrates Diversity |
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"Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity & Peace" Town Hall hosted by Communities of Trust, Sept. 10, 2016. |
One of Fairfax County's greatest assets is our diversity. We are and will continue to be a County that exemplifies values of respect and acceptance, where we welcome and celebrate one another's differences and cultural backgrounds. Our diversity makes our community strong and vibrant, and I am proud of what every resident has to offer.
Immigration is a federal matter. Fairfax County partners with federal authorities on immigration issues when required. The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office piloted the Secure Communities program under a partnership with U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2009, and has continued this partnership through the Priority Enforcement Program, where individuals who commit serious crimes and are in this country illegally are turned over to the Department of Homeland Security for deportation. Just being here without documentation is not considered a serious crime by DHS.
Fairfax County fully complies with federal and state laws requiring the County to ensure that people benefiting from public services are here legally. These federal and state laws are very clear about benefits that can only be provided to residents who are in this country legally. Such benefits include voting in elections, welfare, foods stamps, and affordable housing. Many non-profit and faith-based charitable organizations do serve Fairfax County residents who are in need regardless of their immigration status.
Lastly, Fairfax County complies with the federally mandated requirement that we educate all children, despite immigration status. The United States Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits denying a free public education to immigrant children based on their or their parents' legal status.
Our local police officers work hard every day to keep our residents safe and build trust with the community. We believe in community policing where residents are not afraid to call law enforcement if their safety is at risk or to report information critical to resolving an investigation. We do not ask, nor do we have the resources for, our police officers to become immigration officials. Any immigration efforts on the local level above and beyond our current cooperation with ICE would compete with police officers' responsibility for community policing and law enforcement.
Additional immigration efforts would also compete with fiscal resources against other county programs. While we always support maintaining safe communities, we will also not risk our core values of respect for all people and community policing.
Fairfax County has spent the past two years developing and implementing very thoughtful recommendations of the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission to increase police transparency, modify use of force policies, and improve communication between our police department and the residents they serve. The Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee has also been hard at work for two years encouraging community dialogue and building relationships between public safety and residents.
Be assured, I will be vigilant to any future policy changes that could negatively affect our community and all the progress we have made.
Our diversity makes our community great. We will continue to be a community that is inclusive and respectful to all people, because that is the lifeblood of Fairfax County.
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| Improving Community Engagement in Local Land Use |
Land use (the development or redevelopment of property) can sometimes be a confusing and even controversial process. In Fairfax County zoning laws, processes and regulations have been adopted over the years to protect property rights, ensure safety, and to provide notification of pending land use changes so that the community is able to comment. Without land use rules involving detailed planning and zoning, you might run into conflicts such as this:
Fairfax County has a population of over 1.1 million people. Within our 406 square miles we have a wide array of residences, retail establishments, office spaces and entertainment venues competing for space. Using planning and zoning to lay out where uses may be located and how they can be used can make a big difference in our quality of life. Having a plan can mean the difference between:
All land in Fairfax County is zoned for a particular use. Fairfax County adopted its first zoning ordinance in March of 1941. Zoning is law. A person's right to use their property in accordance with its underlying zoning category is protected under strong State and Federal property rights law. Fairfax County's Comprehensive Plan (the "Comp Plan," for short) is the long-range vision - or Guide - for development of land over the next 20-30 years.
The Countywide Comprehensive Plan includes four smaller "Area Comp Plans," each taking into account future development patterns, transportation improvements, natural resources, health and safety, and diverse community goals regarding how the area should be developed. This could potentially be different from the existing underlying zoning. The Comp Plan is a very powerful tool used by the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, County Staff, and the community to guide land use decisions.
While the Comp Plan serves as a vision and guide for land use, the Zoning Ordinance is used to "implement" or "carry out" the Plan. The Zoning Ordinance includes various zoning districts such as Residential, Commercial and Industrial, and describes what kinds of structures and uses can be developed within each zoning district. If a proposed new development falls in line with the existing zoning for that property, the developer can complete the project "by right" without public review or Board approval. Applicants can apply for a "rezoning" when they wish to build or develop their property in a way that is different from their existing zoning. A rezoning is a legal process that involves a review by County staff and a public hearing before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. During a rezoning the request is evaluated to determine if the change is in harmony with the Comp Plan for that area.
Over the years, the County has used a number of processes to engage the community in accommodating requested changes to zoning and the Comp Plan. Some may remember past Comp Plan processes including the "PLUS Plan" during the 70's, followed by the Area Plan Review process, the Annual Plan Review process, and our current Fairfax Forward.
I sometimes hear concerns from County residents, business owners and developers that the land use process in Fairfax County has become complicated, mysterious and bureaucratic. Sometimes residents feel their opinions don't matter when they express objection or support for a rezoning or new development. Business owners express frustration because the process takes so long, is unpredictable, and varies in different Supervisor Districts. Speed, predictability and consistency are issues that staff is already working to address. The community engagement part is something that I would like to discuss with the community.
During the next year, I will be undertaking an effort to invite the community to the table to discuss ways for ensuring constructive community engagement when changes to land use are being considered.
At its core, land use planning is about what we want our community to be. To make our process most effective, it is important to have a transparent system where people feel welcome to participate.
My staff and I are currently brainstorming on ways to improve citizen engagement in land use. Beginning in February, I will be hosting a series of forums on this subject. In the meantime, we would appreciate hearing your ideas. You can contact my office by calling
703-324-2321 or emailing me at
[email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you.
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| Reaching Out to Residents About Diversion First |
A number of us from Fairfax County recently met with MVLE's self-advocacy group called Our Voices Count (OVC) to have a discussion about Diversion First. Many young adults with disabilities asked great questions about public safety and shared what they already knew about what to do in an emergency. Supervisor John Cook, Lieutenant Ryan Morgan (Police), PFC Janelle Colie (Sheriff), Captain Kimberly Hood (Fire & Rescue), Dan Cronnell (CSB) and I had a great time meeting with this group to help spread the word about Diversion First, a program that offers alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system for low level offenses. The goal of Diversion First is to intercede whenever possible to provide assessment, treatment or needed supports. People needing diversion may also have a substance use disorder, which often co-occurs with mental illness. Diversion First is designed to prevent repeat encounters with the criminal justice system, improve public safety, promote a healthier community and is a more cost effective and efficient use of public funding.
If your organization or community group would like to learn more about Diversion First, feel free to email [email protected] to set up a time to meet. Representatives from the BOS, Public Safety and Human Services would be happy to come to where you are to answer any questions, share the latest data, and help the community learn more about this great program in Fairfax County.
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| Share Environmental Issues at Upcoming Public Hearing |
 The Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) will hold its annual public hearing on the environment on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 7:30 PM in Conference Rooms 9 and 10 of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway.
EQAC is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to advise on environmental matters. You are invited to attend EQAC's public hearing to share views on the state of the environment and to identify environmental issues applicable to Fairfax County. Environmental issues considered by EQAC include water quality, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, stream valley protection, wildlife management, light pollution, visual pollution, energy, climate change response and adaptation, land use, transportation and the use and preservation of ecological resources. If you can't make the meeting in person,
EQAC welcomes written or recorded testimony. You can upload
video testimony to YouTube, Ustream or Vimeo. Just let EQAC know ahead of time so they can present it at the public hearing. More information...
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| I-66 Updates - Inside and Outside the Beltway |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is hosting design
public hearings for the Transform I-66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project on
December 5 and
December 8. You can review the preliminary plans, project schedule, and general information about the project at the hearings. You can also
sign up to receive I-66 project information by email to stay up to speed on the latest progress.
As for the I-66 Outside the Beltway project,
Express Mobility Partners, a private organization, will do the building, designing, financing, operating, and maintaining of the expansion along I-66. Project construction will begin in 2017 and new express lanes will open to traffic in mid-2022.
More info...
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| Fairfax County's Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success |
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| Help Hungry Pets this Holiday Season |
The Humane Society of Fairfax has a Pet Pantry that provides temporary assistance to needy families in the area who have fallen on hard times. Many times, the families only need pet food so that they can keep their beloved companion animals in their homes until they can get back on their feet. With the generosity of animal advocates in the community, we can ensure that no pet goes hungry, especially during the Holiday season and throughout the year. Donations can be dropped off at the Humane Society Office, located at 4057 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. For more information, please email Gina Lynch at [email protected]. Thank you so much for caring. The grateful animals appreciate it very much - and look forward to a wonderful season filled with a generous bounty!
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| Snow Day Camps for Kids Now Available at Four Local RECenters |
If snow causes Fairfax County Public Schools to close for multiple days this winter, the Fairfax County Park Authority can help take care of the kids! Now through March 31, four RECenters (Audrey Moore, Lee District, Oak Marr, and Spring Hill) will offer Snow Day Camps where k
ids ages 6-10 can enjoy sports, arts and crafts and swimming from 9am to 5pm. Kids can fully enjoy their day off without parents missing work.
Snow Day Camp is $65 a day per child. You can sign up for email notifications for Snow Day Camp registration alerts.
These camps will be available if FCPS is closed and Fairfax County Government remains open. For more details, please visit fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/snowdaycamp.htm.
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| Local Holiday Lights! |
I love the winter months, especially December. With the cold comes holidays, and with the holidays comes beautiful lights! I love to see spectacular lights throughout the area, and there are so many different attractions to see. A couple of my favorite light displays happen to be in
Reston and
Fairfax Station. I also recommend Bull Run's
Festival of Lights which is two and a half miles of lights! If you don't mind some walking, then Meadowlark's
Winter Walk of Lights in Vienna is a must-see. The City of Fairfax also has some great displays at
Kirktree Court and
Sharon Court. Hope you enjoy all the sights and sounds of the Holidays this year!
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| You're Invited to Chairman Bulova's Annual New Year Reception |
Come celebrate the New Year at the Fairfax County Government Center! I invite you to attend as a special "thank you" for all you've done for Fairfax County and our community. Come enjoy friends, food and a great evening.
Please
RSVP and hope to see you there!
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This event is my treat and not funded via County tax dollars
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Fairfax County's Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success was adopted by the
