The future of data center development in Fairfax County remains in limbo after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last night (Tuesday) to delay their decision on a contentious zoning amendment another two weeks.
The supervisors said they needed more time to consider the input provided by 65 residents, attorneys, environmental activists and other community members during a public hearing that lasted nearly five hours.
With development continuing to emerge around Reston Town Center, Fairfax County is making a new push to obtain funding for a long-planned extension of the Town Center Parkway.
The proposed Dulles Toll Road underpass, which will connect Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road, is one of four major projects that the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) plans to submit for state funding from Virginia’s FY 2026- FY2031 Smart Scale Program.
One of the best brews in the country can be found right in Fairfax County at Caboose Brewing Company, according to the judges of the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship.
The brewery, which owns and operates Caboose Tavern (520 Mill Street) in Vienna and Caboose Commons (2918 Eskridge Road) near the Mosaic District in Merrifield, won a gold medal at the national competition, which announced winners in dozens of categories on July 9.
After a several-month-long search, the Reston Museum Board of Directors announced that Lisa Watts will be its new executive director starting this month.
Watts, previously a Recreational Program Manager at Bull Run Academy of Gymnastics, will succeed Alex Campbell, the museum’s previous executive director.
In a bid to cut energy costs by tens of thousands of dollars, the Fairfax County School Board finalized a deal with a local solar developer last month to outfit nine elementary schools across the county with 250-kilowatt (kW) solar panels.
The solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) comes years after the school board approved a series of much larger solar projects that were halted after Dominion Energy introduced new interconnection rules that substantially increased project costs, rendering the projects economically unfeasible.
When the 2024 Olympic Games begin in Paris, France, next week, there will be a few athletes competing to bring a medal back to their homes in Fairfax County.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced on July 10 that 529 athletes have qualified to represent Team USA at the Olympics, including McLean rower Claire Collins, Clifton soccer player Griffin Yow, and diver Greg Duncan and fencer Hadley Husisian, who are both from Oakton.
County Activates Heat Plan — With a Heat Advisory issued for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., “Fairfax County has activated its Heat Plan for Wednesday, July 17. When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours for individuals needing relief from the heat.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Police Department Shares Quarterly Crime Report — The Fairfax County Police Department has issued its First Quarter 2024 Crime Report for the period from Jan. 1 through March 31. Notable findings include an increase in traffic fatalities, declines in motor vehicle part thefts and carjackings, and an uptick in assaults. [FCPD]
Youngkin Speaks at Republican Convention — “With the 2024 talk fully behind him, the 74th governor of Virginia started anew — by appearing to lay the groundwork for a potential run in 2028. At least that’s how political analysts saw his speeches Tuesday to party activists in South Carolina and California over breakfast at their suburban Milwaukee hotels.” [Washington Post]
Virginia Backs Challenge to Transgender Rights — “Attorney General Jason Miyares is spearheading an amicus brief requesting the U.S. Supreme Court hear a case centered on protecting parental rights to ‘make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of their children.'” A group of Wisconsin parents filed the lawsuit in a bid to overturn a school division’s policy “allowing students to change their gender identity at school without parental consent or notification.” [Virginia Mercury]
Route 28 Project Gets More Funding — “Transportation planners have approved a second round of funding in long-range plans to improve the commute on Virginia Route 28 between Manassas Park and Fairfax County.” The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has allocated $40 million for road improvements between Manassas and Yorkshire. [WTOP]
County’s First Black High School Marks 70th Anniversary — “Reaves and Taylor were among the alumni who came to Luther Jackson Middle School on July 14 for the school’s 70th anniversary celebration.” The occasion featured a “living wax museum,” a student art exhibit, music, games and “discussions of the school’s history.” [Annandale Today]
Langley HS Hires New Baseball Coach — Rob Hahne, who led the Westfield Bulldogs to a regional championship last year, was hired on July 11 as the new head coach for Langley High School’s baseball team. “Hahne had unique interest in the position because he graduated from Langley in 1987, where he was a standout player, plus he grew up in that neighborhood.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms starting at noon, with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 107. At night, the low will be around 74, with southwest winds at 5-7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. [NWS]
Hahne played for the Saxons and for local youth-league teams
Rob Hahne had not planned to return to coaching high-school baseball so soon, if at all. But plans changed when the only position he said he’d consider making such a quick comeback for became vacant in recent weeks.
The price of taking Fairfax Connector is officially going up.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the bus system’s first fare increase in seven years without discussion at a meeting today (Tuesday). Starting on July 29, fares will jump about 12% from $2 to $2.25 for the base rate and from $4.25 to $4.80 for express fares.
The ballot is set for the Town of Herndon’s upcoming mayoral and town council elections.
Current council members Keven LeBlanc and Pradip Dhakal will face off on Nov. 5 to succeed Mayor Sheila Olem, who won’t seek reelection after two terms as mayor and more than a decade on the town council.
