Dear Neighbors,
At Tuesday's meeting, the Board approved the County and Schools' FY 2022 Carryover Review and subsequent FY 2023 Revised Budget Plan. Additional items receiving funding as part of this budget review include:
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Permanent restroom facilities at 15 high school stadiums, including Mount Vernon, West Potomac and Edison High Schools and Hayfield Secondary School. South County High School was done when the school was built.
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Trail connections to the Gum Springs Community (requested by me).
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Improvements to buildings at the Workhouse Arts Center to further activate the campus by attracting restaurants or breweries along Ox Road.
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Huntley Meadows Park entrance sidewalks.
I am pleased that I was able to bring forward and secure Board support to provide funding for trail connections for the Gum Springs community, the oldest African American community in Fairfax County. Residents have long been advocating for equitable water access to Little Hunting Creek from the nearby Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Thank you to the New Gum Springs Civic Association, Friends of Little Hunting Creek, Audubon Naturalist Society and the County Park Authority for advocating for these trail enhancements to provide access and educational opportunities for children and residents on park land.
The Board approved a letter to Governor Youngkin regarding the state's budget surplus and budget planning. It detailed the funding priorities of the County and requested that a larger percentage of the taxes the region pays into the state budget be returned to us. Specific requests included additional K-12 and affordable housing funding, as well as state car tax relief, similar to the 15% reduction the County Board provided to residents this year.
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Other meeting highlights:
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Received an update on the Chairman's Task Force on Equity and Inclusion and the opportunites to move us forward.
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Approved waiving permit fees for the installation of electric vechicle charging stations for a trial period of 18-months to help expedite these installations.
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Recognized five outstanding County employees with the A. Heath Onthank Awards. Read about their accomplishments...
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Also at Tuesday's meeting, I recognized Ed Barnes who passed recently. Ed was a long time resident of Mason Neck and the husband of Anne Barnes, who represents the Mount Vernon District on the History Commission and the 250th Commission. Ed was actively engaged in his community and church and could always be heard saying "God is good."
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, unfortunately, there was a shooting and death in our community on October 2. Most of our recent shootings have been domestic violence related. I will be hosting a community meeting next month with Police Chief Kevin Davis. Stay tuned for more information.
Domestic violence is a family, community and public health issue with widespread ripple effects that impact all parts of our community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men will experience contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lives. There are many resources available for those who need assistance and we need to end it in our neighborhoods. We can all act to make this difference. Learn more...
Respectfully yours in public service,
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Dan Storck
Supervisor, Mount Vernon District
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Para recibir la información de nuestro boletín electrónico en español, o para hablar con un hispanohablante, comuníquese con Madeleine Carcamo Reyes a su preferencia, por teléfono al (703) 780-7518 o por correo electrónico: Madeleine.CarcamoReyes@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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To view the October 11, 2022 Board Package click here.
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Proclamations and Recognitions |
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September 15 - October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month |
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October 9 - 15 as Fire Prevention Week |
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Adoption of Auditor of the Board’s September 2022 Quarterly Report
As Audit Committee Chairman, I presented the Audit Committee's recommendation for full Board approval of the Auditor of the Board’s Quarterly Report for September 2022. The report included study areas, recommendations, and managements’ concurrence.
Action
Adopted the Auditor of the Board’s September 2022 Quarterly Report.
Fairfax County Recycles Day - Joint with Supervisors Pat Herrity and Penny Gross
America Recycles Day takes place each year in November and is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Nationally, thousands of organizations, including our neighboring jurisdictions, hold events to educate people about recycling resources in their community. In the past couple years, Fairfax County Recycles Day has included informational webinars, the openings of new glass recycling bins and composting stations, recycling poster design competition, and touch-a-truck at the main government center.
This year there will be multiple ways for residents to engage in America Recycles Day as we encourage everyone to increase their recycling at home, at school, in the office and in the community. Our Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) will be hosting two ribbon cuttings for new purple glass recycling bins, launching the Recollect app to help residents recycle, and a recycling photo contest. The ribbon cutting events for the new purple glass recycling bins will be at the Saratoga Park and Ride and the Burke VRE. More details on these Recycles Day opportunities will be publicized soon.
In addition, this year my office is working with SWMP staff and the student-run organization, Glass Recycling Network, to draw more engagement from our students on Recycles Day. Caroline Sieber, student co-founder of Glass Recycling Network, will be hosting an interactive webinar to teach students about how they can recycle and help their neighbors recycle too.
Each year our staff do a fantastic job helping residents find ways to recycle. By declaring a “Fairfax County Recycles Day,” we can build on this success and continue to highlight the benefits of recycling as well as help our residents recycle more.
Action
- Declared November 15, Fairfax County Recycles Day, in alignment with the national initiative to better promote our local efforts to recycle and asked OPA to publicize.
- Directed preparation of a proclamation recognizing Fairfax County Recycles Day to be presented to the Director of the Solid Waste Division and members of the recycling team at our November Board meeting.
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Olde Towne Pet Resort
Deferred the public hearing at the request of the owners and due to the Planning Commission hearing being deferred to permit the existing outdoor components associated with an existing indoor kennel at 8101 Alban Road, Springfield. The Planning Commission public hearing will be November 16 and the new Board public hearing date will be December 6 at 3:30 p.m. The full item can be read on page 209 - 209 of the Board Package.
Elimination of the Fee for Installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment
Approved amendments County Code regarding elimination of the fee for installation of electric vehicle charging equipment for a trial period of eighteen months. The action was taken to encourage more rapid adoption of electric vehicles and necessary charging infrastructure in our communities to meet our agressive Communitywide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) goals to be carbon neutral by 2050. The Board will receive an update on the success of this trial period to determine if it was successful and if it should be continued. The full item can be read on page 217 - 224 of the Board Package.
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Board of Zoning Appeals
October 19
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SP-2021-MV-00053: Decision Only: Ethiopian Orthodox Church (9290 Windrush Dr., Lorton). Special permit to permit religious assembly.
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District Information & Upcoming Events |
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The Residences at North Hill Now Leasing
Residences at North Hill is a brand new family and senior rental community currently under construction. The 279-unit development will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes. Apartments will be affordable at a variety of income tiers, and will include a modern living space and kitchen. The North Hill development includes:
- 216 Affordable Multifamily Apartments
- 63 Affordable Senior Independent Living Apartments
- 175 Market Rate Townhomes
- 12-acre Public Park
The One - BRT Station Naming Discussion
As a way to refine the plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and respond to community ideas about better ways to reflect station location and community character, FCDOT is revisiting station names for three of the nine stations. An open house was held on October 12 to gather input and share more information. A survey is also open to gather more feedback through November 4. Learn more...
Why are My Oaks Dying...and What can I do about It?
Have you noticed oak trees that appear to die suddenly without explanation? Are you concerned about your oaks dying and want to know what you can do to keep them healthy?
Please join us on October 19 at 7 p.m. to learn about Oak Decline Syndrome, a combination of environmental and biological factors that slowly weaken and eventually result in the death of vulnerable oak trees. Oak Decline Syndrome has been studied by the US Forest Service since the 1940’s and has not been linked with any specific insects or pathogens. This webinar will include a general overview of the history, symptoms and management strategies for oak decline in Fairfax County. Learn more and register today...
Huntington Metro Station Plan Amendment SSPA 2021-IV-3MV
The County has taken another important step forward to achieving the long term vision of a mixed use, vibrant transit-oriented community in the Huntington Metro Area. The Staff Report for the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Huntington Metro parcel is now available for the public to view here.
As a reminder, in 2021 the Board authorized staff to evaluate a plan option for mixed-use development up to 1.5 Floor Area Ratio (FAR), or approximately 1.8 million square feet, consisting of public facilities, up to 382,000 square feet of nonresidential uses, and up to 1,500 residential units. This was the result of the 2020 Site Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process and countless engagements with the Mount Vernon SSPA task force. Learn more...
Projected public hearing dates:
Business Preparedness Workshop--October 25
Join the Department of Emergency Management and Security to learn how to prepare your business in the event you are ever affected by an emergency or disaster. The Fairfax County Business Disaster Resilience Guide provides an easy to use guidance tool to assist businesses in building resilience for disasters. Learn more...
Civilian Response to Active Violence (CRASE) Training
While we all hope it never happens, an active violence event can take place anywhere in the world. The community needs to be prepared with how to respond, and we are here to help with that training. This hour and a half lecture, on Wednesday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m. will help participants learn about attackers, disaster response, and how to prepare for and respond to being trapped in a building during an active violence event. We will review past events; the steps law enforcement will take to assist and limit casualties and be there to answer your questions. This training is open to anyone in the community, but some of the material may be disturbing. Use the Zoom link to attend the training. If you have questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at the West Springfield District Station at 703-277-2363.
Provide Public Input on the County's Affordable Housing Preservation Comprehensive Plan Policy
Do you have thoughts on the county’s new, proposed Affordable Housing Preservation Comprehensive Plan policy? If so, remember to submit your comments by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. The proposed policy was drafted to help preserve existing affordable rental housing, throughout the County and seeks one-for-one replacement of existing affordable units in locations where redevelopment occurs. We encourage you to review the proposed Affordable Housing Preservation policy and submit your feedback through the online comment form. Learn more...
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services is proud to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to recognize the essential role people with disabilities play in our nation’s economic success through employment. This year’s theme, "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation," recognizes the vital role people with disabilities play in making the nation's workforce diverse and inclusive. Learn more...
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Mount Vernon District Office | 703-780-7518
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