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It’s heartwarming to see our community come together to lend a hand, but the needs continue, especially with the ongoing extreme cold.

Regards,

Walter

• Affordable Rental Housing Waiting List Opens Up Feb. 2
• Take a Survey to Help Shape Proposed Zoning Changes for Accessory Living Units
• Get Basic Emergency Training from Fairfax County’s Community Emergency Response Team
• Cathy Hudgins Community Center Grand Reopening Party Jan. 31
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

What’s happening: The county’s housing authority will accept pre-applications for affordable rental housing for low-income people and families from Monday, Feb. 2 at 8 a.m. until Sunday, Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m. Available units range from studio to four-bedroom apartments and townhouses across Fairfax County, and tenants only pay 30-35% of their income for rent.

How to Apply: Use the online housing application portal called Rent Café.

• Rent Café Guide
• Rent Café Guide (Español)
• Rent Café Guide (Korean)

For help, call the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development at 703-449-9050 or visit their offices at 3700 Pender Drive, Fairfax.

Who’s eligible: Applicants must be 18 years and older and earn less than 50% of area median income. This means individuals may earn up to $57,400, and the maximum household income for a family of four is $81,950 (both figures based on 2025 limits). The agency also evaluates applications on other criteria as well, giving preference based on age, disability, employment status, and other factors as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s rules. Learn more.

Available properties: While the available units aren’t advertised yet, properties are located across the county, including in Reston, Herndon and Vienna. See properties.

Take a Survey to Help Shape Proposed Zoning Changes for Accessory Living Units

What’s happening: Take a quick online survey to help shape potential zoning changes to rules for accessory living units —or ALUs for short. The survey is open through Feb. 28.

Possible changes: Changes under consideration for these units, often called in-law suites, include:

• Clarifying language for semi-detached ALUs
• Considering situations when ALUs could be larger than currently allowed, such as based on a property or home’s size.
• Considering a reduced lot size requirement for detached ALUs
• Allowing ALUs with attached homes, such as townhouses or duplexes

Proposed changes by county staff are intended to reduce the difficulty and confusion for homeowners, provide additional housing options, and increase the overall housing supply. Learn more about the proposed ALU revisions.

Background: Currently, ALUs are only allowed in conjunction with single family detached homes. They may be within a home’s interior — such as a basement or an addition — or they may be separate detached buildings. In 2021 ALUs got a lot of attention when zoning rules were relaxed to allow certain ALUs to be approved administratively without a public hearing, and since then only 12 have been approved in the Hunter Mill District.  

What’s happening: Following a five-month HVAC system and flooring renovation, the Cathy Hudgins Community Center will hold a grand re-opening party on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. You’re invited for free pizza, snacks, vintage arcade games and more.

Programing resumes: The center will resume programming this week. Please visit the center's page for specific information about your program, or call 703-860-0676.

Photo: The Vienna Town Council and Mayor

Vienna Dog Licenses Due Jan. 30

Renew or apply for a dog license by Jan. 31. Dogs older than four months must get an annual license from the Town of Vienna. (Note: dogs registered to town residents do not need a Fairfax County dog license.) Tags are sold only upon presentation of your dog’s up-to-date rabies inoculation certificate. Tags cost $10 per dog, although no fee is waived for guide/service dogs. Learn more.

Public Hearing on Proposed Zoning Changes Rescheduled to Feb. 23

Due to the recent snow storm, the town council’s public hearing on proposed zoning changes has been rescheduled to Feb. 23. The proposed changes are to the Town of Vienna Code Chapter 18, which addresses zoning and subdivisions. Review this memo for an overview of the proposed changes.

Proposed Aquatics and Fitness Center Presentation

At their next meeting, the town council is scheduled to receive a presentation on the timeline and construction funding agreement for the proposed 24,500-square foot aquatics and fitness center to be located at 301 Center Street South. The center’s aquatics facilities include a recreational pool with a large deck for relaxation and socializing, as well as a standalone slide with its own splash zone. The fitness facilities will offer areas for weights and machines, cardio workouts, and group exercise classes.

Navy Federal Credit Union has offered the town an interest free loan of $3 million for design activities to be reimbursed after five years. This will be captured as a lump sum payment via the FY30 bond issuance.

‍🛡️ Take the online Cybersecurity and Fraud Awareness training on Jan. 29.

🎭 Watch comedy-horror play “Drowner” starting Jan. 29 at Next Stop Theater.

🫒Partake in free all-you-can-eat happy hour on Jan. 29 at Greenhouse Kitchen + Bar.

☕ Celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day on Jan. 31 at Shipgarten.

🧩Swap new or gently-used puzzles and board, card and party games on Jan. 31 at Reston Regional Library.

🎪 Take flight with Intro to Aerials starting on Jan. 31 at Mindshift Gym.

🕺🏽Put your right foot out for a beginner-friendly country line dancing class on Jan. 31 at Reston Regional Library.

🤸‍♂️Reston Summer Camp Expo on Jan. 31 at Reston Community Center.

📖 Patricia Tanumihardja reads her latest picture book “Monkey’s Sweet Surprise: A Lunar New Year Mix-Up” on Jan. 31 at Bards Alley.

☪️Attend the Medina Ramadan Market from Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in the Oakton High School Cafeteria.

👢Watch Kinky Boots on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Capital One Hall.

🎞️ Watch a free screening of “Haiti: The Price of Independence” on Feb. 1 at the Vienna Presbyterian Church.

🐻 Join a lecture “Living with Black Bears” on Feb. 1 at Wolf Trap National Park.

📽️Watch the movie “Free Guy,” when Ryan Renolds plays a bank teller who becomes a character in an online game, on Feb. 2 at Reston Community Center.

🎞️ Watch “A Real Pain,” a movie about mismatched cousins on a Jewish heritage tour in Poland, on Feb. 2 at Reston Community Center.

🎸 The legendary Little River Band performs on Feb. 6 at Capital One Hall.

🎤 Listen to singer-songwriter James Stevens perform on Feb. 6 at Bear Branch Tavern.

🦌 Learn about Citizen Science opportunities, like stream monitoring and wildlife counts, on Feb. 7 at Walker Nature Center.

🎸 Listen to Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Feb. 7 at Capital One Hall.

🤡 Watch the Happenstance Theater’s clown circus “Preposterous!” on Feb. 8 at Reston Community Center.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.