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May 14, 2025
Neighbors,
Every year, the county holds its Shark Tank Technology Challenge for high school students to develop innovative apps or devices for older adults, adults with disabilities, or caregivers.
This annual contest is open to students from both public and private schools in Fairfax County, City of Fairfax and City of Falls Church. The competition challenges them to develop solutions to help people live independently and make the world more user-friendly. Not only does it call for students to engage their creativity and technology skills, but also it advances initiatives in the county’s SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan.
As chair of the Board’s Older Adults Committee, I was honored to participate in last week’s awards ceremony for these amazingly creative and talented young people. This year six teams competed for cash prizes.
Varsha Ayala and Eesha Viswanathan from The Madeira School (see photo below) took first place for their wearable device called RAPIDx. It allows paramedics to retrieve patient data instantly.
Second place winners from McLean High School developed an online platform called Artisin which ignites creativity and joy through short, easy-to-follow art tutorials.
In third place, the team from Thomas Jefferson and McLean High Schools created a virtual reality rehabilitation application called Gaitway, offering immersive walking simulations.
I want to thank the judges for this year’s competition: Pete Lamont with INTEGRITYOne Partners; Tiffany O’Neal with AIM-VA; Ronaldo Muradez and Ramin Ghodoumipour, tech educators with the county’s Neighborhood and Community Services; and Amanda Smedley with ServiceSource. A big thanks to Pete for his company’s continued support for the prizes.
Regards,
Walter
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- Board of Supervisors Update
- Reston Town Center North Rezoning Plan Submitted
- Bike to Work Day May 15
- Lake Anne Signage Strategy Meeting
- Exchange a Gas-Powered Lawn Tool for a Free Electric One
- Pet Supply Drive Through May 24
- Upcoming Land Use Meetings
- What's News in Vienna
- Events and Activities
| | Board of Supervisors Update | | |
The Board of Supervisors met yesterday May 13. You can watch the meeting and review the agenda and package.
We adopted the FY’26 Budget Plan without any changes from the Markup package which the Board approved on May 6.
South Lakes Boys Basketball Team Honored
The South Lakes High School boys basketball team was recognized for winning their second, back-to-back state championship. The Seahawks bested C.G. Woodson, and they finished this past season with a 24-4 record. Congratulations to the players, their parents and Head Coach Mike Desmond, Principal Carlos Seward and faculty. Go Seahawks!
We also honored the South Lakes girls track team for winning the indoor track and field state championships for first time since 1988. The team shattered the 4 x 800 Meter Relay record and Caroline Elliot won the 1,000-meter race in record time, as well as took first place in the 1,600. Finn Middleton secured the top place in the 55 Meter Hurdles.
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Colvin Run and Old Courthouse Stream Restoration Grant Funds
The Board accepted more than $3.4 million in state grant funds for two stream restoration projects in the Hunter Mill District.
For the ongoing Old Courthouse Spring Branch Phase II at Ashgrove Historic Park Stream Restoration project, the county received $1.2 million in state money. This project will restore about 2,000 linear feet of natural stream channel, replace the culvert under Ashgrove Lane and repair the trail. (For those who live near this stream valley that runs south of the Dulles Toll Road to Ashgrove Lane, please attend my Sunday, May 18 town hall meeting at Westbriar Elementary School at 3 p.m. to learn more about this project, along with other topics of neighborhood interest.)
We also accepted $2.2 million for the second phase of the Colvin Run Phase II at Lake Fairfax Park Stream Restoration project. Completed in April, the project’s improvements will protect water quality, reduce streambank erosion and create a riparian buffer of native plants.
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New Reston Voting Precinct Proposed
The Board authorized a June 24 public hearing to create a new voting precinct called Reston #4. It would be created by dividing the existing Cameron Glen Precinct, along with adjusting the boundary for the Reston #1 Precinct. By creating this new precinct, the Cameron Glen and Reston #1 will be reduced in size since both currently have more than 5,100 registered voters.
Although the precinct boundaries for Cameron Glen and Reston #1 will change, their polling places will remain the same. Reston #4’s polling place would be the Reston Teen Center.
If approved, these proposed changes would be in effect for the November general election, and the Office of Elections will notify affected voters by mail.
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Reston Town Center North
Rezoning Plan Submitted
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After a decade in the making, the Reston Town Center North redevelopment plan is finally moving forward. Inova and the county recently submitted their joint rezoning application that will lead to the community finally getting a new Reston library, homeless shelter and central green.
The 47-acre site sits between Baron Cameron Avenue, Town Center Parkway and New Dominion Parkway, and the site includes properties owned by both the county and Inova.
First proposed in the 2014 Comprehensive Plan, this project has evolved over the years in response to community input. This included good work by a couple of task forces – first the Reston Comprehensive Plan Task Force (2020-2023) which clarified that county property should focus on providing public facilities (and what specific public facilities are needed), and the subsequent task force of surrounding neighbors I established in 2023 to recommend where the county facilities specified in the Reston Comprehensive Plan should be located.
Proposed Redevelopment Plan
The submitted application calls for eight new blocks and a grid of streets organized around a central green. Although the current application only details the central green and the size/shape of the other blocks, subsequent development plans will propose detailed designs for the following:
- A new Reston Regional Library (located on Block 3)
- A new Embry Rucker Shelter with permanent supportive housing (block 5)
- A U13 soccer athletic field (block 7)
- A recreation center (block 8)
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A roughly 3.5-acre Central Green that offers opportunities for both public gatherings and more quiet respite. Based on community input, the green includes a plaza for events, a large lawn or common green that would allow for even larger events or serve as a place for outdoor activities, smaller open lawns, shaded walkways, a public restroom, a playground area, lots of trees between different parts of the central green, and a bike share station.
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On Inova’s properties, consistent with the adopted Reston Comprehensive Plan the current application shows the block locations for the following uses that would all require a subsequent zoning approval before being cleared for development: a 590-unit apartment building (block 6), a 320-unit apartment building (block 4) and either up to a 300-unit apartment building or up to 90 townhouses (block 2). These blocks could also include up to 150,000 square feet of non-residential development, including medical, institutional, retail or commercial uses. Or alternatively, these blocks may only be developed with these non-residential uses.
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Next Steps
The Planning Commission is anticipated to hold a public hearing on this rezoning application next spring, and after this step, the county and Inova will conduct a land exchange needed to move forward with redevelopment of the individual blocks. Likely later in 2026, the Board of Supervisors will hold its public hearing on the proposal. The submission of the rezoning application marks a major milestone with more to come in the months ahead.
| | Lake Anne Signage Strategy Meeting | | Join a virtual meeting on Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. to discuss potential signage and wayfinding strategies to help visitors and shoppers find and navigate the Lake Anne Village Center and surrounding area. This study is a follow-up to the Lake Anne Economic Visioning Study that was completed last fall. To get the link for the Zoom meeting, email Daquan Zhou or call 703-324-9300. | | Join me for Bike to Work Day this Thursday, May 15. I’ll be stopping by the pit stops at the Vienna Town Green, the Spring Hill Metro Station in Tysons and The Bike Lane in Reston. Snacks and beverages will be provided at the pit stops. | |
Trade in Your Gas-Powered
Lawn Tool for a Free Electric One
| | Register to exchange your gas-powered lawn tool for a free electric version (while supplies last). You’ll help protect air quality while keeping your garden green. Also visit the Reston Farmers Market this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Get air quality aware lawn care tips from Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination and Clean Air Partners. | | Pet Supply Drive Through May 24 | | For people facing financial hardship, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s Pet Pantry helps pets remain with the people they love, offering free food and other supplies. Help support this pantry by donating to the Department of Family Services’ pet supply drive through Saturday, May 24. Donations may be dropped off at 11484 Washington Plaza West at Lake Anne on Mondays to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | | Upcoming Land Use Meetings | | |
Reston Planning & Zoning May 19
This virtual meeting is Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. Use this link to attend. To participate by phone, call 571-429-5982 and use conference ID 693 893 059#
Hunter Mill Land Use Committee May 20
This virtual meeting is Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.. Use this link to attend. To participate by phone, call 571-429-5982 and use conference ID 160 792 845#
For more information, email Mark Goldberg-Foss, call 703-478-5123, or visit the Hunter Mill District Land Use and Zoning webpage.
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Big Screen on the Green May 16
Watch “Moana 2” under the stars at the first Big Screen on the Green event of the year. Head to the Town Green this Friday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. to enjoy music, games and Moana trivia. Then starting at 8 p.m., watch "Moana 2" with free popcorn and water provided (while supplies last).
Register for Vienna Parks and Recreation Summer Programs
Registration is now open for the town’s summer programs. From robotics to yoga, there's something to keep the whole family entertained, active and engaged this summer. Check out the 2025 Parks and Recreation Summer Program and Events Guide. Then register for classes and programs online.
| | Stay Informed and In Touch | |
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn
703-478-0283, TTY 711
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