Fairfax County’s efforts to establish more regulations for data centers are heating up.
With the industry continuing to grow in Northern Virginia, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) presented guidelines on issues like noise, water and air quality, energy demand and aesthetics to the Board of Supervisors’ land use policy committee on Tuesday (Oct. 17).
As Virginia Commonwealth University rolls out a program that grants admission to any high school senior with a certain GPA, it’s the latest school to face challenges ensuring its facilities and infrastructure can keep up with the influx of students.
VCU, along with George Mason University and at least four other Virginia universities, have begun offering guaranteed admissions to address declining enrollment numbers and help bolster populations of underrepresented students.
County VolunteerFest Returns This Saturday — “Hundreds of area residents will be out and about ‘doing good’ on Saturday, October 21, 2023, as part of VolunteerFest, a county-wide day of service. VolunteerFest is held every year in the fall and encourages anyone interested in volunteerism to get out and make a connection with a local organization.” [Volunteer Fairfax]
D.C. Area Economy Stagnating, GMU Researcher Says — “Issues that have been haunting the Washington region for years — slower economic growth, a high cost of living and regional outmigration — are solidifying into a concerning new normal. That’s the conclusion of Terry Clower, director of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis,” who pointed to a declining federal workforce as one factor. [Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax County is ramping up its efforts to help homeowners’ associations and other resident groups bring electric vehicle chargers to their communities.
The county’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is now accepting applications for the second phase of its Charge Up Fairfax pilot program, which provides technical and financial assistance to organizations looking to add charging stations in common areas.
Rabid Animal Incidents Alarm Health Department — “After identifying a rabid raccoon and skunk within a mile of each other over the last 25 days, the Fairfax County Health Department is asking residents in the Centreville/Bull Run area to steer clear of wild animals and to report any animal attacks right away…To date, 22 animals have been diagnosed with rabies in the Fairfax Health District in 2023.” [FCHD]
Reston Man Charged With Sex Crimes Against Teen — “A 21-year-old Reston man is facing charges after a sex crimes investigation involving victims under the age of 18. The charges stem from ‘criminal incidents that occurred in 2020,’ Arlington County police said. ACPD says they’re now seeking other potential victims of the suspect.” [ARLnow]
Deadline Extended for Input on Pedestrian/Bicycle Projects — Initially set to close yesterday (Monday), the deadline for community members to take Fairfax County’s Active Transportation Project Funding Survey has now been moved to midnight on Thursday (Oct. 19). The survey will narrow down a list of proposed pedestrian and bicycle projects up for $100 million allocated by the county board. [FCDOT]
Groveton Neighborhood Named a Historic Site — “Randall Estates looks like so many Fairfax County subdivisions built in the early 1960s…But its development — undertaken by a Black public-school teacher to provide homes for African American professionals who had few opportunities for home ownership during Jim Crow in Virginia — was recently recognized by the Fairfax County Registry of Historic Sites.” [On the MoVe]
The continuation of higher mortgage rates put a damper on Northern Virginia home sales in September, which were down 18.2% compared to a year earlier, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.
That decline was worse that August’s year-over-year decline of just 12.4% and reversed a trend of an improving market that had been seen since the spring.
Driver Injured in Chantilly Crash — “Officers are investigating a single-vehicle crash at Walney Rd and Poplar Tree Rd in Chantilly.” The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries initially considered life-threatening. Their condition was later upgraded, but they remain hospitalized. [FCPD/Twitter]
Antisemitic Flyers Reported in Wolf Trap — “Fairfax County police are trying to find out who left anti-Semitic flyers in a neighborhood near Wolf Trap. Police said at least four or five of the flyers were left in and around driveways, and there may be more they are not aware of yet.” The area was previously targeted by dozens of flyers last year. [WJLA]
Reston Man Worried About Sister in Gaza — “When Emilie Rauchenberger…traveled to the Gaza Strip with her five children to visit her husband’s olive tree farm, she never imagined she’d feel so trapped. Now, she’s holed up in an apartment with 30 relatives and clinging to hope that her family can go home. In Reston, across the Atlantic Ocean, her brother Joe Rauchenberger waits for intermittent updates.” [DC News Now]
Police Investigate Carjacking in Tysons Mall — “Officers on scene of a carjacking in the 7900 block of Tysons Corner Center in McLean. 2 suspects took victim’s keys, threw an [unknown] liquid on him, and fled the scene in victim’s 2022 Blue BMW X5. Liquid does not appear to be caustic. No injuries sustained.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Fairfax County wants to know what trash collectors are telling residents about recycling.
In anticipation of Fairfax Recycles Day, which will fall on Nov. 15, the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is surveying residents throughout October about whether their hauler is sharing educational materials on recycling.
