Proposed Zoning Changes Could Impact Your Neighborhood

February 6th, 2020

In This Issue:

Proposed Zoning Changes Could Impact Your Neighborhood - County staff is proposing some zoning changes that could significantly impact the character of our residential neighborhoods. Please join me at a community meeting on February 19^th at 7:30 pm at Clifton Town Hall to learn more and share your thoughts on these proposed changes.

Announcements & Events

Ramp from Route 29 North To I-66 East in Centreville Will be Closed for Approximately Four Months
Waples Mill Road Over I-66 Reduced to One Lane for approximately Six Months
2020 U.S. Census Information
Stuff the Bus- Help Stock Food Pantry Shelves this Winter
2020 Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Native Seedling Sale
WSHS Safe Graduation Night FUNdraiser - Capitol Steps - February 20th

Proposed Zoning Changes Could Impact Your Neighborhood

County staff is proposing some zoning changes that could significantly impact the character of our residential neighborhoods. These changes include revising the zoning ordinance to address agritourism, adding the ability to do a "Rural Resort," and significantly reducing the requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Because of the potentially significant impacts to our residential neighborhoods, especially in the Occoquan Watershed, I am holding a community meeting on Wednesday, February 19, at 7:30 pm at the Clifton Town Hall at 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. The purpose of the meeting is to inform residents and obtain feedback on these proposed zoning changes.

The Code of Virginia permits agritourism by-right when associated with an agricultural operation. However, localities may regulate agritourism activities when there is a significant impact to the health, safety, or general welfare of the public. Agritourism activities are carried out on a farm for recreational, entertainment, or educational purposes. County staff has proposed definitions for agritourism and use limitations to provide thresholds for a predictable and consistent path for future agritourism activities.

The County is also considering a new land use, "Rural Resort" as a special exception use in certain zoning districts on 20 acres or more. This would allow for the hosting of events such as weddings and corporate retreats on rural properties. I have significant concerns with the proposed Rural Resort use especially in the Occoquan Watershed (R-C).

Staff is also proposing revisions to standards for ADUs. Currently, all ADUs require special permit review before the Board of Zoning Appeals. Staff is proposing a more streamlined process that would allow administrative approval of an ADU when located within the principal dwelling. Staff is also proposing to limit the size to 1200 square feet. Currently, an ADU is only allowed if someone on the property meets certain age or disability restrictions, but the Board and staff are looking to delete those constraints which may result in an increase of these units in our residential neighborhoods. While I support easing the requirements for ADUs with the current age and disability restrictions, I oppose eliminating these restrictions. Removal of these restrictions would give most residential housing the ability to add an additional dwelling unit and has the potential to significantly increase the density in our residential neighborhoods.

The details of these proposals will be shared at the community meeting. Staff will be making a brief presentation on these proposals followed by a question and answer session and an opportunity for citizens to provide feedback.

Please click below for further details:

ADUs

Agritourism & Rural Resort

Announcements & Events

Ramp from Route 29 North To I-66 East In Centreville will be Closed for approximately Four Months

The left-turn lane and ramp from northbound Route 29 to I-66 East in Centreville closed on January 16 and will be closed for approximately four months. Drivers on Route 29 North will be directed to stay to the left and continue to the intersection at Trinity Parkway/Machen Road. At the traffic signal, drivers will use the left-most turn lane only to make a U-turn onto Route 29 South, then stay to the right and follow signs to I-66 East.

As an alternate route, drivers can also continue north on Route 29 to Route 28 North, stay to the right and follow signs to I-66 East.

The closure is needed for Transform 66 Project construction that will widen, lengthen, and raise the I-66 bridges over Route 29 to accommodate future transportation improvements at the interchange. Drivers should expect additional construction-related detours and traffic changes as work progresses at the Route 29/I-66 Interchange.

Waples Mill Road Over I-66 Reduced to One Lane for approximately Six Months

Waples Mill Road over I-66 has been reduced to a single lane and traffic on the bridge will alternate directions and be controlled by a temporary traffic signal. This new, temporary traffic pattern on Waples Mill Road will remain in place for approximately six months while the Waples Mill Road bridge is partially demolished and a new bridge is constructed.

During demolition and construction of the new bridge, posted travel speeds on Waples Mill Road over I-66 will be reduced to 25 mph.The existing sidewalk on the east side of the bridge will remain open.

2020 U.S. Census Information
The 2020 U.S. Census is right around the corner. For every Northern Virginia resident who is not counted, our community potentially loses $12,000 over 10 years in federal funding. As we move forward though the census timeline, my office will continue to provide updates. Below is a video from the Census Bureau with some facts everyone should know:

2020 Census PSA: Census Made Simple

Stuff the Bus - Help Stock Food Pantry Shelves this Winter

Food Pantries are full at holidays, with giving at its peak as people celebrate the season. However, after the New Year "giving fatigue" has set in and most pantries' supplies run low. To help, Fairfax County runs the "Stuff the Bus" program, a food pantry giving campaign that partners with nonprofits, grocery stores and MV Transportation to restock depleted shelves. Stuff the Bus runs from Martin Luther King weekend through Presidents' Day at fourteen local Giant and Shoppers Food and Pharmacy stores where volunteers from local nonprofit food pantries collect donated food from local shoppers. The food is then placed in an MV Transportation FASTRAN bus, and when it's full, the bus delivers the food to the food pantry.

Please join me at the West Springfield Giant on Saturday, February 15^th. The bus will be there from 9:30 to 3:30.

100% of donations go directly to the nonprofit to feed Fairfax families. Please stop by, donate online or share this on social media. Every bit helps! For a full list of dates, times, and locations, click here.

2020 Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Annual Native Seedling Sale

On February 4th, the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District began accepting orders through its annual seedling sale that provides a low-cost source of native trees and shrubs for Fairfax County residents.

All seedlings are native to Northern Virginia and were selected with advice from our friends at the Fairfax County Urban Forestry Management Division and Virginia Department of Forestry. This year, our selected species will support residents, enhance our urban forest understory and edges, and promote natives on smaller lot sizes.

Seedlings can be ordered here .

Safe Graduation Night FUNdraiser