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.

Countywide

Fairfax home sales, prices went up from 2023 to 2024

By Scott McCaffrey
A row of townhouses in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s homes market saw year-over-year upticks in sales and prices in 2024.

A total of 11,787 properties changed hands during the year, according to preliminary figures reported by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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Countywide

Now more experienced, Fairfax County casino opponents resume lobbying efforts

By Scott McCaffrey
The No Casino Coalition with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn in 2025 (courtesy Hunter Mill District Office)

As the No Casino Coalition embarks on its second year of lobbying, it has learned some lessons in political realities.

Among them: Be careful when accepting help from anonymous sources.

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Countywide

VDOT’s snowstorm cleanup gets critical reviews from Fairfax County board

By Scott McCaffrey
Snow and ice cover Rupert Street in McLean on Jan. 8, 2025 (courtesy Jennifer Myers)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking answers to what it feels was an inadequate response to last week’s Jan. 6 snowstorm by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

“Planning, execution and communication fell far short of the service level that our residents demand and deserve,” supervisors said in a joint board matter adopted at the governing body’s meeting today (Tuesday).

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Countywide

Senate majority leader to champion Tysons casino bill in Richmond

By Scott McCaffrey and Angela Woolsey
A lobbying flyer shared with state lawmakers in January 2025 includes a rendering of Comstock's envisioned casino development in Tysons (via Access Point Public Affairs)

Advocates for a referendum to allow a casino in Tysons have a formidable ally in the General Assembly this year.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) is carrying the 2025 bill to add Fairfax County to Virginia’s short list of casino-eligible localities, taking over from Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35), who introduced legislation in 2023 and 2024.

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News

Proposed housing projects near Jermantown Road win planning commission support

By Scott McCaffrey
A&A Flint Hill development proposal (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its blessing last Wednesday (Jan. 8) to two proposed projects that could replace aging commercial buildings with housing on adjacent Oakton parcels.

The proposals to redevelop Redwood Plaza (10600 Arrowhead Drive) and a portion of the Flint Hill Office Park (10530 Rosehaven Street) will now go to the Board of Supervisors. A similar request for a parcel immediately to the north is in the pipeline and will be considered later this year.

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Countywide

Planning Commission defers vote on revised rules for special events, food trucks

By Scott McCaffrey
Stands serve food at the 2024 Mosaic District Fall Festival (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Proposals to streamline the process of applying for community special event permits from the county government won the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s general support on Wednesday (Jan. 8).

However, with a number of details left unresolved, members deferred final action on whether to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the changes to next Wednesday, Jan. 15.

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Countywide

Voting rights bill for adults in guardianships gets support from local residents

By Scott McCaffrey
Conner Cummings speaks to the Fairfax delegation to the General Assembly (via Channel 16 screenshot)

Under current Virginia law, adults placed into a guardianship or conservatorship are automatically deemed ineligible to vote. One Northern Virginia legislator, backed by a key advocacy group and a number of affected individuals, is working to change that.

State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) has introduced legislation that would eliminate the automatic stripping of voting rights of those who come under a guardianship.

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Countywide

NEW: Potential developer makes case for Tysons casino and entertainment district

By Scott McCaffrey
Comstock is proposing to build a casino-anchored entertainment district on a vacant lot near the Adaire Apartments and Spring Hill Metro Station in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Almost two years after talks of a casino in Fairfax County’s Silver Line corridor emerged, prospective developer Comstock Companies has publicly commented for the first time on its plan for a gaming and entertainment hub in Tysons.

The proposal represents “an opportunity to bring an entertainment anchor” to Tysons, Comstock Executive Vice President for Development John Harrison told community members Tuesday (Jan. 7) at an online forum hosted by the Fairfax County NAACP.

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Countywide

Casino, budget priorities dominate annual hearing for Fairfax County’s state legislators

By Scott McCaffrey
Del. Vivian Watts (via Channel 16 screenshot)

A proposed casino in Tysons and calls for the state to provide more money for education and social services dominated a 3.5-hour public hearing hosted Saturday (Jan. 4) by Fairfax County’s delegation to the Virginia General Assembly.

About 70 people, speaking for themselves or on behalf of organizations, each had three minutes to make their case for priorities in the 2025 legislative session, which convenes tomorrow (Wednesday).

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Countywide

Fairfax environmental council worried about data centers’ impact on local water supply

By Scott McCaffrey
A person fills a glass with tap water (photo by Eric Vance/U.S. EPA)

Northern Virginia’s wary embrace of data centers could have major long-term impacts on both water consumption and wastewater treatment across the region, the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in its annual report for 2024.

The 134-page document offers a status update and recommendations on environmental issues, including land use, air and water quality, transportation, waste management, climate change and ecological conservation.

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