Affordable housing has been a priority for this Board of Supervisors and I am proud that we now have more than 2,000 additional units countywide put into the pipeline during the past two years. However, there is still much work to be done! In 2019 the county's Affordable Housing Resources Panel identified the need for 15,000 additional units. 

For additional information, you can also take a look at the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Dashboard.

You can read the affordable housing chapter in the task force's interim recommendations

Stay tuned for more announcements on affordable housing in Hunter Mill District. If you have any questions, please email my office.

Walter 

College Intern Search: I am looking for an exceptional college student with a passion for public service for a paid internship in my office this summer. This internship provides the opportunity to get hands-on experience in local government. Interviews will be virtual. Deadline to apply is March 31. Learn more.

Get more details and six more tips here.

Congressman Gerry Connolly will be hosting a Women’s Health Roundtable this Friday March 25 at 3 p.m. to discuss maternal health, reproductive health, and inequities in healthcare. The purpose of the discussion is to bring attention and awareness to the disparities that women, and especially women of color, experience when it comes to health and access to care. It is also an opportunity for residents to provide insight that could help shape policies or legislation in the women’s health space.

The town hall will be hosted on the Webex platform. Representatives from the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget and Department of Tax Administration will also be participating. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. To listen to the meeting on your phone, call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 2334 051 4882. You also can watch the meeting on YouTube Live.

More information can also be found in the Feb. 23 newsletter. The FY 2023 Budget becomes effective July 1, 2022.

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, March 22. You can review the meeting package here and watch the meeting here.

A vote that had a lot of interest from Hunter Mill District residents was the Approval of Running Bamboo Ordinance Amendment, effective Jan. 1, 2023: Running bamboo is an invasive species to Virginia that is characterized by aggressive spreading behavior. Virginia Code § 15.2-901.1 authorizes Fairfax County to adopt an ordinance to require property owners to contain running bamboo on their property and to impose civil penalties on property owners who allow running bamboo to spread to adjacent properties or any public right-of-way. Under this amendment, the Department of Code Compliance will be responsible for investigating complaints of uncontained running bamboo and seeking civil penalties against property owners who fail to contain their running bamboo within 30 days after receiving notice of the violation. To use a Cold War analogy, this new ordinance will not roll back the tide of running bamboo but will seek to contain its spread – basically a détente with running bamboo, which for us is a good step forward. County staff will implement a comprehensive communications campaign to ensure that residents are aware of this amendment prior to it becoming effective next year.

The first phase of community outreach of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study is underway. These interim recommendations are undergoing a comprehensive review by county staff. Their input is expected by spring/early summer and community outreach will continue through the summer. Several presentations have already been made by task force members to community stakeholders with more to be scheduled. To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the Task Force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The archive of meeting details and agendas is here. The video archive of all past task force meetings can be found on my YouTube page. If you have questions or would like to provide input, please email [email protected]

Public Works crews flush water mains every spring to help maintain a high standard of water quality and to ensure fire hydrants operate properly. The work this year begins on Thursday, March 24 and goes until May 12 or until all mains have been flushed. The work will take place from 10:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. Learn more.

This week the Vienna Town Council adopted the portion of the code dealing with front porch projections, allowing homeowners with homes built at or near the front setback line to construct a covered front porch on their property. The new structure still must conform with strict size requirements, but the added space offers an enjoyable option for outdoor living. For the latest information on the Town zoning code updates, visit www.codecreatevienna.com.

Affected voters will receive information on new poll locations from the county's Office of Elections prior to the June primaries. You can also review the details and maps, pages 228-234.

The Park Authority recently announced that early April through the end of May (weather permitting), a Park Authority contractor will be performing maintenance work on the principle spillway at the Lake Fairfax Dam. Prior to starting the work, the lake water level will be reduced about 1.5 feet by staff as required for the maintenance. Residents should be aware that there will be noticeable activity on the spillway while the maintenance work is performed. Safety measures will be in place and pedestrian access to the trails and pedestrian bridge above the dam will be maintained at all times. If you have any questions or concerns contact my office at [email protected].

Several local jurisdictions, including Fairfax County and the Town of Vienna are coordinating a three-week effort to collect donations for the people of Ukraine. You can drop off donations for refugees at more than 30 locations across Northern Virginia until April 15, including my office at 1801 Cameron Glen Dr. in Reston.

It is with a (cautionary) sigh of relief that I am able to get back out in the community and meet face to face with residents! It is especially exciting to be able to interact with our young residents who have shown so much resilience during the last two years. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with Boy Scout Troop 1577, visiting South Lakes High School's job fair and honoring James Madison High School's several state championship teams, including the Marching Ensemble.