View as Webpage

January 14, 2026

Neighbors,

In his sermon “The Drum Major Instinct,” Revrend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”

This coming Monday we’ll honor Dr. King’s legacy of service, and this is why the holiday is also a National Day of Service. It’s a “day on, not a day off.”

Following his lead, there are opportunities this weekend to volunteer and give back to our community.

On Saturday, the Reston Community Center is partnering with Reston Association to offer community service projects. These projects will benefit the nonprofits Cornerstones and The Closet.

I’ll be joining Heritage Fellowship Church on Sunday to serve dinner for people experiencing homelessness. (As you may recall from reading this newsletter, the church is also partnering with my office on our coat drive for kids.)

On Monday, I’ll be participating in Reston Community Center’s MLK Keynote Address and Community Luncheon. This event features a speech by scholar, author and educator Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. (Among his many books, you can find his bestseller “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own” at the library.)

If you don’t already have tickets to this event, it’s sold out — but there still may be an opportunity to volunteer to help serve lunch.

For those who prefer to be outside, consider participating in the MLK Day Trail Clean Up Challenge.

Or you can join the Smithsonian’s effort to transcribe records from the more than 1.7 million images from the Freedman’s Bureau. (Congress established the bureau to assist in reconstruction after the Civil War.)

Whatever you do this holiday weekend, I hope we’ll all remember Dr. King’s commitment to racial equality and social and economic justice that’s made our community and nation a better place.

Regards,

Walter

• Board of Supervisor Update
• Ash Grove House Restoration Update
• Accessory Living Unit Zoning Changes
• Attend the Tech & Cyber Hiring Event Jan. 22
• Take a Survey on the Strategic Plan to End Homelessness
• Board of Equalization Seeks Members
• Upcoming Land Use Meetings
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

Honoring officers who responded to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday Jan. 13. You can watch the meeting and review the agenda and package.

Recognizing Fairfax County Police Officers Who Responded to the U.S. Capitol

on Jan. 6

Yesterday, the Board honored and recognized the Fairfax County Police officers who responded to the attack on the U.S. Capitol five years ago on Jan. 6. Following a mutual-aid request, the county sent our Civil Disturbance Unit to D.C. to help secure the Capitol, as well as assist fellow law enforcement officers. I thank them for answering the call to protect the rule of law and our democracy. 

McNair Farms Parking District Public Hearing Approved for Feb. 17

Following my request to create a parking district for the McNair Farms neighborhoods in Herndon, the Board approved advertising a public hearing on this proposed district on Feb. 17.

I heard from many neighbors and homeowners association representatives who voiced concerns about the boats parked — and stored — on the public streets in this area. The parking district will help alleviate the problems.

The new parking district would roughly encompass the roads to the east of Monroe Street, south of Sunrise Valley Drive, west of Centreville Road and north of McLearen Road. The district would expand the existing large area parking district that’s already in place for much of Reston (see map).

If you need help with parking problems or traffic calming in your neighborhood, please contact Shyamali Hauth in my office by email or call 703-478-0283.

Proposed Zoning Changes for Congregate Living Facilities. Greater Flexibility for Locating Permanent Supportive Housing



What’s happening: The Board approved advertising public hearings for proposed zoning changes to congregate living facilities. The changes would expand where these facilities may be located, allowing them in a wider range of commercial districts and some industrial districts with special exception approval. If located in these districts, they also would be required to be near transit, community services and employment areas.

The public hearing dates approved for advertisement are:

• Planning Commission: Feb. 25
• Board of Supervisors: March 17

I initiated the effort to make zoning changes through a joint motion with former Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust more than two years ago after hearing from several Hunter Mill residents, including volunteers from Reston Strong.

Why it matters: The changes have the potential to allow for greater flexibility to locate permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, as well as survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and child abuse.

By expanding the areas where they’re currently allowed, congregate living facilities could locate at sites that offer more land, more affordable land or vacant commercial buildings that can be adaptively reused.

Housing — often times with on-site services — is the solution for homelessness, and the proposed zoning changes make it easier in a small way to provide it.

To ensure congregate living facilities are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods, they would continue to require special exception approval. This process involves public hearings and ultimately Board approval.

Proposed changes: The changes would broaden the definition for these facilities, expand where they’re allowed and put in place development standards:

• Congregate living facilities are currently defined as housing in a supervised setting with on-site staff, including facilities for alcohol and addiction treatment and facilities for more than eight people with disabilities. Under a broadened definition, the people served would include those experiencing homelessness; survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse; youth in crisis; and patients or families experiencing medical crises.
• While these facilities are currently allowed in some commercial districts, the proposal would allow them in the C-5 to C-8 districts, as well as in the I-2 through I-4 districts (with some exceptions.)
• Facilities in commercial and industrial areas would be required to be located within a reasonable distance from transit, community services and employment areas. On-site staff and supportive services would also be required. 

What’s Ash Grove: It’s one of the few standing 18th century Virginia houses, and it was built by the Fairfax family. Located at 8881 Ashgrove House Lane, the 2.5-story house is about two-thirds of a mile from the Spring Hill Metro Station. It sits on an acre of land between the Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley and the Westwood Village townhomes.

Thomas Fairfax built the original portion of the house in 1790 and he inherited the property from his father Reverand Bryan Fairfax, 8th Lord Fairfax, who was appointed deputy clerk of Fairfax County and rector for Christ Church in Alexandria.

Resident Curator Program: It preserves historic properties owned or leased by the county. It offers individuals or organizations rent-free, long-term leases of these properties in exchange for rehabilitating and maintaining them.

Proposed Zoning Changes for Accessory Living Units. Attend Community Meetings

on Jan. 20 or 21

What’s happening: Attend a virtual community meeting about proposed zoning changes to streamline and clarify rules for accessory living units on either:

• Tuesday, Jan. 20 at noon
• Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.

Find meeting links here. If you can’t participate, the meetings also will be recorded and posted online. For questions or more information, email Casey Judge or call 703-324-1314.

Often called in-law suites, accessory living units — or ALUs for short — are only allowed in conjunction with single family detached homes. They may be within a home’s interior — such as a basement or an addition — or they may be separate detached buildings. In the Hunter Mill District, there have only been 12 approved since the current rules took effect in 2021.

Why it matters: The idea is that the county can ease the difficulty and confusion for homeowners, provide additional housing options, and increase the overall housing supply. Possible concerns include impacts on neighbors and community facilities, including parking.

• Under the current rules, homeowners who add a second kitchen or wet bar for entertainment purposes often must get a zoning interpretation to determine that their renovation doesn’t count as an accessory living unit. Clarifying the rules will ease the burden for homeowners and reduce the need for case-by-case interpretations by staff.
• Some homeowners wish to add a semi-detached unit that’s connected by a breezeway or skybridge, for example. However, the current zoning rules make it difficult to determine whether the unit is considered an interior or detached ALU.
• Other homeowners may wish to add a detached ALU on properties that don’t meet the current two-acre lot size requirement.

Current rules: Currently, ALUs must meet the following requirements:

• They’re only allowed in conjunction with a single-family detached home. They’re not permitted with duplexes, townhouses or other attached housing.
• They must have all the provisions for living, such as a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
• They are limited to two people and two bedrooms with a maximum size of 800 to 1,200 square feet, depending on the type of unit.
• They must be occupied by someone as their principal residence, such as in-laws, au pairs or renters.
• They must provide an additional off-street parking space.

Proposed changes: County staff are considering a variety of possible changes, including:

• Clarifying when a second kitchen or wet bar is for entertainment purposes, not for an ALU.
• Clarifying language for semi-detached ALUs
• Considering situations when ALUs could be larger than currently allowed, such as based on a property or home’s size.
• Considering a reduced lot size requirement for detached ALUs
• Allowing ALUs with attached homes, such as townhouses or duplexes

Learn more about the proposed changes to ALU regulations.

What’s next: County staff will continue to seek community feedback this year to tailor any proposed changes, including the two upcoming meetings next week. It’s anticipated that proposed changes will be presented to the Board of Supervisors this fall or winter.

What’s happening: Looking for a new job in the new year? Attend the free Tech and Cyber hiring event on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Capital One Hall. Registration is encouraged.

Meet more than 40 employers and learn about thousands of open roles across a wide range of industries at this event sponsored by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

This hiring and networking event is for job seekers of all backgrounds, including transitioning federal workers, cleared professionals, veterans, students, and experienced professionals.

Employers: Check out the event site since new employers are being added daily, but companies include:

• Peraton (headquartered in Reston)
• Hexawire (with offices in Herndon)
• Sosi (headquartered in Reston)
• Xcerlerate Solutions (Tysons)

What else to know: You’ll get complementary parking if you attend, and professional photographers will offer free headshots to all attendees.

What’s happening: Take an online survey to help the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness inform its next Strategic Plan.

Why it matters: The survey collects community feedback on Fairfax County’s current homelessness response:

• What’s working
• What’s not
• What needs to improve

Your responses will help guide the next steps in the strategic planning process. This effort aims to agree on clear priorities and make better decisions about programs, policies, and funding. 

What’s happening: Do you have a professional background or knowledge of residential or commercial real estate? Serve on the Board of Equalization for Real Estate Assessments which is seeking new members. To apply, email Gwenn Minton in my office or call 703-478-0283.

What’s the Board? Appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the Board of Equalization is an independent body that reviews individual property real estate tax assessments, and it has the power to increase, decrease, or keep assessments the same upon its review.

What you’ll do: As a member, you’ll normally meet three to four times a week from June through March, although the board’s work usually ends in November or December. You’ll typically consider four to six cases per meeting when you’ll hear oral testimony and review applicable documentation and evidence presented by the taxpayer/taxpayer representative and the Department of Tax Administration regarding a property’s current year assessment.

Learn more about the member qualifications and duties.

Reston Planning & Zoning Jan. 26

Attend the virtual meeting on Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Click here to join. To attend by phone, dial 571-429-5982 and enter meeting ID 693 626 456#

Agenda:

• Reston Station/Reston Row Sign Plan SE-2025-HM-00001
• TBD 

Hunter Mill Land Use Committee Jan. 20 Meeting Canceled

The committee’s meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20 has been *canceled* because there are no applications to review. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 17.

“The American Revolution” Virtual Discussion Series

Did watching Ken Burns’ documentary “The American Revolution” leave you with questions or spark curiosities about the Revolutionary War? Sign up by email for the virtual discussions on Tuesdays with the ViennaVA250 committee and local historians:

• Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. (episodes 3 and 4), moderated by Vienna historian Greg Weaver.
• Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. (episodes 5 and 6), moderated by local history author Derek Baxter. 

You’re encouraged to watch the episodes before participating in the discussions. If you haven’t seen them yet, WETA is currently rebroadcasting the series on TV. Or, you can watch any of the episodes on-demand through free video streaming on WETA+.

As part of a partnership with WETA, the Fairfax County Library is also offering specially curated book recommendations to go along with the documentary, as well as some of the other programming on WETA+.

Buy Tickets for “The Sunshine Boys” Now

The curtain opens on Vienna Theatre Company's production of “The Sunshine Boys" on Friday, Jan. 23. Follow Niel Simon’s story of a theatrical agent as he tries to re-unite his elderly uncle with his long-time stage partner for a TV reunion after not speaking for twelve years. Shows run through Feb. 8 and tickets are on sale now online, at the Vienna Community Center or at the door before showtime, if still available.

‍🚶‍♀️‍Find secret and not-so-secret places to hike during a Jan. 16 talk at Arbor Row Center.

💬 Join former U.S. ambassador to Estonia for a talk and discussion on “Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy” on Jan. 16 at Reston Regional Library.

🧘🏽Take part in a Winter Fitness Festival with free intro classes in parkour, aerial silks, dance, yoga, and more on Jan. 17 at Mindshift Gym.

🎭 Watch the comedic play “She Kills Monsters” by the Reston Community Players starting Jan. 16 at Reston Community Center.

🙋🏽Take part in community service projects on Jan. 17 at Reston Association in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

🎼 Listen to the musical “Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” on Jan. 17 performed by the Reston Community Orchestra and opera singer Alia Waheed.

🎤 Listen to jazz vocalist Akua Allrich on Jan. 18 at Reston Community Center.

🚮Volunteer for the MLK Trail Clean Up Challenge starting Jan. 19 and win prizes like tickets to Meadowlark Gardens or a bike tuneup from The Bike Lane.

🖼️ See Syrian artist Abdulrahman Naanseh reimagining of classical Arabic calligraphy through Feb. 14 at Tephra ICA.

🎤 Listen to “Girlfriend in a Coma,” a tribute to Morrissey and The Smiths, on Jan. 23 at Capital One Hall.

🎭 South Lakes High School Chorus presents Broadway Night on Jan. 23-24. 

🤣 Enjoy six hours of non-stop laughter on Jan. 24 with Resonance Improv’s Lights of Laughter at 1^st Stage.

🧊 Attend Ice-Travaganza on Jan. 24 at Reston Town Center to see ice sculptures, ice carving and more.

🎞️ Watch the Crawley family’s adventures in “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” on Jan. 28 at Reston Town Center.

🎭 Watch comedy-horror play “Drowner” starting Jan. 29 at Next Stop Theater.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.