We also recognized the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) for their 30 years of service to Northern Virginia. On this 30th Anniversary, we looked back on the challenges it took to get this new transit system up and running, as well as all that VRE has provided for our community and how much it has grown over the years. Like "The Little Engine that Could", the VRE continued to chug and chug up the hill and is now a thriving, viable transit option for thousands in our community.

Respectfully yours in public service,

Dan Storck

The following are highlights from the Board of Supervisors July 19, 2022 meeting, including items of particular interest to Mount Vernon residents. For additional information, please go to the County’s Board Agenda and Meeting Schedule. The clerk to the board's official Summary of Board Actions is available the week following each meeting. Information is also available by a video linked to the board agenda and the Board of Supervisors Highlights podcast. 

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: [email protected].

To view the July 19, 2022 Board Package click here.

Item 2: Approved the installation of three speed humps on Memorial Street, as requested by neighborhood residents, as part of the Residential Traffic Administration Program (RTAP). The full item can be read on pages 10 - 13 of the Board Package.

Item 5: Authorized the Police Department to apply for and accept $215,000 in grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a threat assessment and management (TAM) team, based on national best practices, made up of law enforcement, mental health and community services personnel for the Northern Virginia region. The full item can be read on pages 18 - 21 of the Board Package.

Item 6: Authorized the Police Department to apply for and accept $1M in grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to enhance an established program for sharing digital evidence with the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (Commonwealth’s Office) for use in criminal prosecution. The full item can be read on pages 22 - 27 of the Board Package.

Item 10: Approved a resolution endorsing Fairfax County projects for consideration in the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s (CTB) FY2024–FY2029 Smart Scale Program, including $35M for the Richmond Highway widening project from Mount Vernon Memorial Highway to Sherwood Hall Lane. The full item can be read on pages 204 - 209 of the Board Package.

Item 11: Approved County comments to be submitted to VDOT regarding the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study. The study is important to mobility in our area and is examining a proposed 11-mile extension of the I495 Express Lanes from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495), across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, MD. The full item can be read on pages 210 - 216 of the Board Package.

Approved modifications to the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) Process, following an extensive public engagement process. Modifications include:

Approved the acquisition of land for the construction of crosswalk improvements at the intersection of Pole Road and Sacramento Drive, at the request of the neighborhood residents. Improvements include adding three high visibility crosswalks, modifications to an existing pedestrian refuge island to provide a cut through to the crosswalk, new or rebuilt curb ramps at the northeast, southeast and southwest quadrants, and a sidewalk connection across the median between Pole Road and the Pinewood Lawns Condominiums access road. The design will also include adding advanced/enhanced pedestrian warning signage for the Pole Road crosswalk. The full item can be read on pages 368 - 375 of the Board Package.

The Fairfax Health County Health Department continues to provide monkeypox vaccinations for individuals who have a known exposure to a confirmed case and is now providing screening to other individuals to assess risk. If you believe you have, or were exposed to the Monkeypox virus, please call 703-267-3511 or email [email protected] to conduct a screening with a public health staff member. Learn more...

Looking for ways to stay cool? The County has many options for “cooling centers.” All public buildings (such as homeless shelters and drop-in centers, libraries, REC Centers, government centers, and community centers) are open to the public (during normal operating hours) for the purposes of getting in out of the heat in extreme weather. We also highly encourage residents to also consider other public locations and indoor activities, such as shopping malls, where they can find respite from the heat. Learn more...

Neighborhood and Community Services is looking to hire community members for the following programs: Library, School Age Childcare, and the Teen/Senior Center. Open hire events are scheduled for July 23 and 26. Learn more...

Calling all Exceptional Designs! Fairfax County is now accepting submissions for the James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards. Superior works of architecture, site design and landscaping, and green building projects completed in Fairfax County since January 1, 2017 are eligible for nomination. The awards aim to celebrate and raise awareness of outstanding planning and design projects among design professionals and the general public. Submissions must be sent by email or mail by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022. Learn more...

The second virtual public information meeting to present recommendations will be held Wednesday, July 20 (in case an alternate date is needed, the meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21) at 7 p.m. This study is assessing the 45 MPH speed limit on about eight miles of Richmond Highway (Route 1) between Belvoir Road/Meade Road and I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway) to improve safety for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit users. Richmond Highway averages about 55,000 vehicles a day within the study limits based on 2019 data. Learn more...

Community engagement opportunities for the Parking Reimagined project are coming up this summer, as the project team continues to review and in-depth analysis of the county’s off-street parking and loading rates and regulations, located in Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance. Three virtual Open Houses are scheduled for July 20, August 10 and August 27. During these meetings, staff will provide an update on the Parking Reimagined project, including a presentation highlighting a revised regulatory framework, and proposed minimum parking requirements. Further explanation of the proposed regulatory framework can be found in the information white paper which was presented to the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee on June 14, 2022. Details for each of these events is available on the Parking Reimagined webpage, where you can also find the most recent project updates, under the Related Resources tab.

To stay informed about the Parking Reimagined project, subscribe to email updates by selecting ‘Off-Street Parking and Loading ZOA’ on the county’s email subscriptions page. 

The Arden—a 126-unit affordable housing community developed, owned, and operated by Wesley Housing—is nearing completion and leasing activities have just begun! Apartment homes at The Arden will be available for applicants earning between 40 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Learn more... For information about Area Media Income levels, click here.

The County partners closely with FCPS to ensure students and other young children are supported throughout the year, regardless of whether school is in session. Here are a few important resources for you or any family who may need support:

The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir hereby gives Notice of the Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of a distribution center on Fort Belvoir’s North Area (FBNA). The purpose of this project is to construct and operate an approximately 525,000 square foot warehouse and administrative building with associated parking and covered storage at FBNA for approximately 600 personnel.

The Draft EA is available to view in printed form at the Fort Belvoir Library; at the Richard Byrd Branch, Kingstowne Branch, and Sherwood Regional Branch; or for view/download electronically at the project website.

Comments or questions on the Draft EA may be submitted to the project website above, by email to [email protected], or by mail to Fort Belvoir Environmental Division, Directorate of Public Works, Building 1442, 9430 Jackson Loop, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, or by phone to the Fort Belvoir Directorate of Public Works-Environmental Division at (703) 806-3193 or (703) 806-0020. Comments are requested to be received no later than 30 days after publication of this NOA. The publication date of this NOA is June 30, 2022, and the comment period closes on July 29, 2022.