Dear Neighbor,

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has released its Mid-Year Crime Report in coordination with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)'s National Violent Crime Survey. The report measures the total number of violent crimes from January 1 - June 30 of this year.

According to MCCA's data, Fairfax County remains the safest jurisdiction of its size in the nation, with a violent crime rate lower than our peer jurisdictions.

Consistent with national trends, we have seen an increase in retail shoplifting, but other crimes that had previously spiked, like theft of auto parts, decreased significantly. Read MCCA's report and FCPD's reports.

Burke Centre Festival

I hope you'll stop by and say hi at the Burke Centre Festival this weekend! The Braddock District office will have a booth with information, handouts, and even the opportunity to win a free t-shirt.

The festival is open from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

Festival attractions include an Arts and Crafts Show, Fairfax County's First Responder Vehicles, live performances, food, INOVA's Bloodmobile, amusement rides, community outreach booths, and a wine and beer garden (including an after-hours garden).

The festival grounds are at 6060 Burke Centre Parkway. Parking is available at Burke Centre Conservancy's community centers, and free shuttle service is available at stops along Burke Centre Parkway:

• Fairview Elementary School (5815 Ox Road)
• Oaks Community Center (5708 Oak Leather Drive)
• Landings Community Center (6001 Cove Landing Road)
• Burke Centre Conservancy Festival Grounds (6060 Burke Centre Parkway) 
• Ponds Community Center (9837 Burke Pond Lane)
• Burke School (9645 Burke Lake Rd)

For more information (including festival sponsors, how to sign up to donate blood, and shuttle information) visit the Burke Centre Festival website.

Climate Action Conference

In case you missed last week's Braddock Beacon, I announced my First Annual Climate Action Conference that will be held Saturday, September 30 at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

The conference will provide information about local incentives like our County property tax deduction for solar, energy rebate programs through your electric utility, and the new federal tax credits available thanks to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Our keynote speaker is Mr. Michael Forrester, Assistant Director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He will share how the IRA Tax Incentives can maximize your energy savings and reduce your federal tax bill!

Mr. Forrester works with state and local organizations to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies across the country, catalyze local economic development, and create new renewable energy jobs. He brings valuable experience to DOE as the former Director of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability (OES), where he led the installation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at city facilities, and efforts to electrify city vehicles. He also worked on climate equity projects through partnerships with two low-income energy efficiency programs in Cincinnati. 

You can meet Mr. Forrester and other climate action leaders at the conference.

Get your free ticket today!

Yours in service,

Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw

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Continue reading below for more information on:

• FCPA Hosts Dog Daze
• Crane Removal at One University
• Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink's Next Meeting
• KPW's Road Raiders Clean-Up
• Disability Voting Rights Week Event on George Mason Campus
• Fairfax Connector's New Stroller Policy
• September is National Preparedness Month
• "I Love My County" Art Contest
• Install Community EV Charging with Charge Up Fairfax Pilot Program
• Driveway Coverage Resources

FCPA Hosts Dog Daze

Does your dog need a pool day? Bring them to Dog Daze hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority this Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Water Mine at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston).

The cost is $10 per dog and benefits the Fairfax County Park Foundation. Read more or register now.

Crane Removal at One University

On Monday, September 11, beginning at 7:00 a.m., contractors will be removing the last crane from the One University building site adjacent to the George Mason University campus. This will have traffic impacts on the immediate area.

Weather permitting, the removal is expected to conclude by 7:00 p.m.

The removal will block the northern curb lane on University Drive just west of Route 123, near Mason’s Field House. Drivers should expect brief stoppages to allow sections of the crane to be safely loaded onto flatbed trucks. Flaggers will be present to help control traffic.  

Please prepare if you plan on traveling near Mason’s campus.

Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink's Next Meeting

The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink will hold its next meeting on Monday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room 11 at the Government Center. The agenda includes Park Authority's presentation on managed wetlands and consultant WSP/LimnoTech will be introduced.

Meetings are open to the public, and interested community members are welcome to attend to observe the Task Force's work or livestream the meeting on Channel 16. Recordings of previous meetings, meeting materials, minutes, and a full list of upcoming meetings of both the Task Force and subcommittees can be found on the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink webpage.

KPW's Road Raiders Clean-Up

The Kings Park West Road Raiders' Annual Clean-Up is this Saturday, September 9 from 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. They will meet on Commonwealth Boulevard near Roberts Road and the Kings Park West Civic Association Sign to clean up the area near Robinson Secondary School.

Email Tom McCook if you have questions or to join their listserv.

DisAbility Voting Rights Week Event on George Mason Campus

REV UP Virginia, a non-partisan voter education and engagement initiative aimed at increasing the power and influence of the disability vote, is taking action during Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), scheduled for September 11-15.

Through its participation in DVRW, REV UP Virginia is committed to empowering a substantial portion of Virginia's population – almost 25% or approximately 1.6 million adults with disabilities – by encouraging them to register and participate in the voting process.

REV UP Virginia has established collaborations with universities, colleges, local organizations, and nonprofits to host several events to educate potential voters and assist with voter registration, all while highlighting the growing influence of the disability vote.

REV UP's event on George Mason's campus is Thursday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

For more details, sign up for REV UP's emails or check out their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Fairfax Connector's New Stroller Policy

In a significant stride towards enhancing family travel experiences, Fairfax Connector has announced an innovative update to its boarding policies.

Effective immediately, adults boarding with a child in a stroller are no longer required to fold the stroller and hold the child in their lap. This family-friendly approach allows passengers to board Fairfax Connector buses with children comfortably secured in their strollers.

Fairfax Connector has seen a substantial increase in youth ridership since implementing free fares for children 12 and under with a paying adult in May 2023.

Fairfax Connector’s goal is to make it as convenient as possible for passengers to travel with their children on the bus system. Please note open strollers are permitted in the ADA-accessible seating area of the bus only when space is available. 

Visit the Stroller Policy webpage or read the update for information including complete terms and conditions. 

September is National

Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month occurs every September to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters. 2023's theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3".

This theme empowers everyone, especially older adults, to

1. Assess needs
2. Make a plan
3. Engage support networks to stay safe when disaster strikes

The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.

Every week this month, the National Preparedness Month campaign will also focus on a different aspect of preparedness for individuals, families, and communities. The Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security (DEMS) will use the Community Emergency Response Guide (CERG) Series to walk residents through the steps to prepare. 

• September 4-8: Hurricane Season Specific Preparedness
• September 11-15: Technology
• September 18-22: Emergency planning
• September 25-30: Have a plan for any occasion

Ready Fairfax has also launched the 2023 Emergency Preparedness Survey to assess the culture of personal disaster preparedness and resilience in Fairfax County. How prepared are you? Here is your chance to tell them!

Sign up for Fairfax Alerts or follow the County's Emergency Blog.

"I Love My County" Art Contest

In an effort to bolster civic education and educate communities on the role of county government, the National Association of Counties (NACo) is launching the 2023 “I Love My County Because…” Art Contest.

The program is sponsored by Americans for the Arts, one of the nation’s largest arts advocacy and research organizations. The deadline to enter is Friday, September 29 at 11:59 p.m.

You can learn more about the rules and eligibility, view past winners' work, or enter the contest on NACo's website.

Install Community EV Charging with Charge Up Fairfax Pilot Program

Is your homeowners’ or condominium owners’ association interested in installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations but not sure where to start? With more and more EVs on the road, Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) is launching the Charge Up Fairfax pilot program to make installing shared charging stations easier and more affordable for multi-family condo, cluster, and townhome communities.

HOA communities that are accepted into the Charge Up Fairfax program will receive a site visit and assessment from an engineering firm, paid for by the county. The HOA, if it decides to proceed with the project, would be responsible for the purchase and installation of Level 2 charging stations, including the necessary permitting, electrical upgrades, installation of equipment, and final inspection. However, HOAs that participate in the Charge Up Fairfax program can seek reimbursement for up to $10,000 of the installation costs.

The application period for the Charge Up Fairfax pilot program will close on November 12, 2023. 

Sign up for a webinar on Thursday, September 14 at 12:30 p.m. to learn more and how to apply. More information is available on the Charge Up Fairfax webpage.

Driveway Coverage Resources

Summer events and traditions like graduation parties, cook-outs, or students home from college – and the vehicles that come with them – may have had you thinking about the need or convenience of a driveway expansion. If so, please note your lot may be subject to Zoning Ordinance regulations that limit how big the driveway can be if:

• Your property is developed with a single-family detached dwelling
• Your lot size is 36,000 square feet or less
• Your property is zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, or R-4

If all of the above apply, the percentage of your front yard that can be surfaced area for vehicle or trailer parking is:

• R-1 or R-2 District: 25%
• R-3 or R-4 District: 30%

Lot and Yard Determination

Zoning Districts, Yards, and Setbacks

Residential Paving and Yard Coverage

The Department of Code Compliance (DCC) flyers above are available as resources for determining the zoning district for your lot, what counts as a surfaced area, and exceptions to these regulations.

How does DCC enforce?

• DCC Investigators inspect and photograph the property to determine if there is a violation and try to contact the property owner to discuss the nature of the complaint or violation
• If there is a violation, a Notice of Violation (NOV) is issued directing the property owner to resolve the violation
• The NOV provides the owner with a specific timeline to come into compliance
• DCC Investigators reinspect the property after the provided time to comply has expired, to determine whether the violation has been resolved
• Failure to comply with the NOV can result in the County taking legal action, such as seeking civil penalties or a court order to resolve the violation

DCC accepts complaints and concerns about potential violations on the DCC website, or by telephone at (703) 324-1300.