Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Herndon hires consultant to develop 2050 vision, economic development strategy

By Scott McCaffrey
Town of Herndon government offices (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Town of Herndon is moving forward with an update of its comprehensive plan.

Herndon Town Council members on Sept. 23 approved a consulting contract worth nearly $1.2 million to help guide upcoming planning and economic development initiatives.

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Push to replace Merrifield commercial complex with housing advances

By Scott McCaffrey
Prosperity Business Campus redevelopment parcel (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County took a step closer last week to opening up another commercial area in Merrifield to housing.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 11-0 on Sept. 17 to recommend approval of a comprehensive plan amendment that would allow future redevelopment of the 41-acre Prosperity Business Campus.

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Next phase of Reston Town Center expansion wins planning commission’s support

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of the proposed second phase of BXP's RTC Next development (via Gensler/Fairfax County)

An updated vision for the next phase of Reston Town Center’s expansion is starting to solidify.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 11-0 on Sept. 17 to support developer BXP’s requested revisions to its previously approved plan for the second phase of the project known informally as RTC Next.

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Dulles mobile lounges could last another two decades, airport officials say

By Scott McCaffrey
Dulles International Airport still uses mobile lounges, or people movers, to transport passengers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Some existing mobile lounges at Dulles International Airport have been operating since John F. Kennedy was president in the mid-20th century, and with proper care, airport officials hope to keep them in service until almost the middle of the 21st century.

The iconic transportation equipment is a critical part of airport operations and “will remain essential for the next 15 to 20 years,” Thomas Beatty, chief operations officer for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), told the agency’s board of directors last Wednesday (Sept. 17).

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News

First restaurant, retail tenants announced for future Concourse E at Dulles

By Scott McCaffrey
Bonchon is among new restaurant offerings coming to Dulles Airport (via MWAA)

With its opening just a year away, the first concessionaires have been announced for Dulles International Airport’s Concourse E.

The new food, beverage and retail stores “focus on brands that represent the regional D.C. experience,” said officials with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

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News

Program to boost energy-efficient homes wins praise, draws some concern from supervisors

By Scott McCaffrey
Solar panel roof installation (via Raze Solar/Unsplash)

Will Fairfax County’s latest energy-efficiency initiative deliver enough bang for the buck to make it viable in an era of constrained budgets?

County supervisors weren’t so sure, but the new Energy Compass initiative will have the coming year to prove its worth.

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News

Supervisors back VDOT on Southside Express Lanes, but Md. may have final say

By Scott McCaffrey
Proposed route of I-495 Southside Express Lanes project (via VDOT)

Fairfax supervisors on Tuesday (Sept. 16) informally confirmed their support of the Interstate 495 Southside Express Lanes project as it moves toward a make-or-break regional vote next month.

Despite concerns about specifics of the 11-mile-long toll-lanes proposal across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, even the most skeptical supervisors said they supported keeping the project moving through the review process.

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Falls Church leaders aim to collaborate with Fairfax on Beyer redevelopment

By Scott McCaffrey
Beyer site concept plan (via Fairfax County)

Falls Church city officials are hoping for a collaborative effort with their Fairfax County colleagues as redevelopment takes place in the Gordon Road Triangle straddling the two communities.

“We have demonstrated we can work well with Fairfax County,” Falls Church Vice Mayor Debora Schantz-Hiscott said as city leaders on Sept. 15 began planning for the 20-acre parcel located within the locality’s borders.

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County budget head says more ‘difficult choices’ loom as FY27 planning nears

By Scott McCaffrey
Department of Management and Budget director Philip Hagen (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Uncertainty remains as county leaders and budget staff begin looking toward the fiscal 2027 budget process.

“Overall, we’re kind of sitting in the same place,” said Philip Hagen, director of the county’s Department of Management and Budget. He was briefing members of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Policy Committee on Sept. 16.

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County board irked by sluggish pace of pedestrian, bicyclist improvements

By Scott McCaffrey
The Pedal with Petals Family Bike Ride returned to Tysons in 2024 for its second year (courtesy Tysons Community Alliance)

County supervisors reacted unhappily to how little of their approved funding for pedestrian and bicyclist improvements has filtered down to completed projects.

“How completely unacceptable — it has to change,” said Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman to the news that only about $12 million of the $82.1 million approved for improvements has been encumbered or spent.

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