After a lengthy and contentious debate, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a revised zoning ordinance that imposes strict regulations on data center development in the county.
Yesterday’s 8-2 vote followed over a year of community input and revisions to the proposed ordinance, which tightens restrictions on where and how data centers can be built in Fairfax County.
Person Rescued From Sewer — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was called to the 4100 block of Wadsworth Court in the Annandale area around noon yesterday (Tuesday) after a person “fell 15-feet down a storm sewer. Technical rescue resources have successfully packaged and extricated the patient.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Where to Commemorate 9/11 in N. Va. — “A number of events are planned around Northern Virginia to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.” In Fairfax County, there are ceremonies this morning in Great Falls, Vienna, Fort Belvoir and Legato. [Inside NoVA]
Fairfax City Man Charged with Abduction — A 54-year-old Fairfax City man was charged with abduction after City of Fairfax police got a report around 6:53 a.m. on Sept. 5 for “a man acting erratically in the common area in the 10200 block of Aspen Willow Drive.” A person who was at the man’s home when police knocked later said “they were intimidated by the suspect, who told them to not answer it.” [Patch]
Fairfax City Extends Restaurant Week — “The city’s Restaurant Week has been extended until Sunday, Sept. 15 with 20 eateries and options to choose from.” The promotional campaign’s popularity inspired Fairfax City Economic Development and other organizers to continue it beyond its original end date of last Sunday (Sept. 8). [DC News Now]
Vienna Students Surprise Custodian With Car — “A group of sophomore students at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, stunned their beloved school custodian Monday afternoon, by presenting him with something he’s dreamed about — a Jeep Wrangler.” Francis Apraku was greeted with the vehicle, which was made possible through community fundraising, at Vienna Inn. [WTOP]
New Film Festival to Offer Free Screenings — “In commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the National Park Service plans to screen several movies at Fort Hunt Park next month involving World War II and featuring characters with disabilities.” [On the MoVe]
Sign Unveiled for 50 Years of W&OD Trail — “September 1974 also brought the opening of the first segment of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail. To mark the occasion, NOVA Parks (the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) held a special event Sept. 7, unveiling a permanent sign about the history of the W&OD Trail and its many enhancements over its first half-century.” [Gazette Leader]
Moon Gate Completed in Lincolnia Park — Construction a new moon gate, a circular stone structure, was completed at Green Spring Gardens in August. Conceived in 2020 to mark the park’s 20th anniversary, “the rest of the project – including a permanent path, an Asian-inspired garden, a bench, and plaques – is under development.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine and a high of 84 during the day, with light winds turning east at 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of 62. [NWS]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted today (Tuesday) to authorize consideration of an amended interim land swap agreement with Inova Health System for the redevelopment of Reston Town Center North.
Under the agreement, the county will acquire the land under the North County Governmental Center, which is currently owned by Inova, in exchange for a wooded area that has hosted the county’s largest homeless encampment — until today.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an apparent challenge last week to Fairfax County and other localities over their policies on cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
In a response to an inquiry from Bedford County Sheriff Michael Miller, Miyares released an opinion last Thursday (Sept. 5) confirming that local sheriffs have the authority to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when someone wanted for deportation proceedings is scheduled to be released.
Fairfax County is giving financial boosts to several local startups that are developing technology to improve communications, make agriculture more efficient and more.
The county’s Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) announced last Thursday (Sept. 5) that it has selected eight companies for the second round of its Fairfax Founders Fund (FFF), which provides up to $50,000 in grant funding and technical assistance to “promising, early-stage startups” that could “disrupt industries” and create new jobs.
Construction Begins on Pickleball Facility — “Construction has started on the Down the Line indoor pickleball center in the long-vacant Kid’s Choice building. The facility, at 4317 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, will have 18 full-size pickleball courts, seven state-of-the-art golf simulators, and a sports bar, says developer Jenni Bae. She anticipates opening in 2025.” [Annandale Today]
Poll Shows Support for Nonpartisan Fairfax City Elections — “Fairfax Commonsense PAC, a political action committee formed in 2021 by former Democratic State Sen. Chap Petersen, commissioned the poll to determine how much support there was for the city to continue its tradition of nonpartisan elections.” Most respondents (67%) said city elections should stay nonpartisan. [Patch]
Lawmakers Divided Over Dulles Greenway’s Future — “Greenway critics, including former Republican state delegate David Ramadan and current Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Loudoun), now want to push the SCC to force Greenway tolls down and ideally force its owners to sell the road to the commonwealth.” [Washington Post]
Tysons Play Among D.C. Theatre Week Options — “Theatre Week brings shows by more than DC-area companies under their umbrella with discounted prices” from Sept. 26 through Oct. 13. Ticket sales began yesterday (Monday), including “The Waverly Gallery” from the Tysons-based company 1st Stage. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Flooring Stores Might Stay Open After All — “Richmond, Virginia-based LL Flooring, the former Lumber Liquidators, which announced plans to liquidate and close all stores last week, has agreed to a last minute deal that will save thousands of jobs and keep hundreds of its stores open.” The private equity firm F9 Investments will buy 219 stores, their inventory and a distribution center. [WTOP]
Sculpture Exhibition Coming to McLean — “The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) and Washington Sculpture Group are collaborating on the upcoming ‘Sculpture NOW 2024’ exhibition, to be held Sept. 12 to Oct. 26″ inside the McLean Community Center.” The exhibit will feature works finished within the past two years by over 60 sculptors. [Gazette Leader]
Oktoberfest Celebrations Along Richmond Highway –“In two weeks, the 189th Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich, Germany. Around the Richmond Highway Corridor meanwhile, preparations are underway for several local celebrations. Following are some details on the festivities, listed in order by date.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature close to 85 degrees. Night will be mostly clear with a low temperature near 59 degrees; the northeast wind at approximately 5 mph will become calm during the evening. [NWS]
Fairfax County school officials fear Virginia’s new accreditation system could disproportionately harm schools with large populations of English learners and students with disabilities.
Adopted last month by the Virginia Board of Education, the School Performance and Support Framework places more weight on standardized test scores and graduation rates — a move state officials argue will hold schools to higher educational standards and improve accountability.
The former Fairfax County Police Department officer who fatally shot a D.C. man suspected of shoplifting two pairs of sunglasses from Nordstrom at Tysons Corner Center might not face a trial after all.
Defense attorneys for Wesley Shifflett filed a motion in Fairfax County Circuit Court on Friday (Sept. 6) seeking to “quash” the grand jury indictment that charged the former police sergeant with involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm for killing Timothy Johnson on Feb. 22, 2023.
Fairfax County let loose its archery program aimed at controlling the local white-tailed deer population this past Saturday (Sept. 7).
The Fairfax County Deer Management Archery Program allows qualified bowhunters to hunt deer in areas where firearm use is restricted or not an effective or sustainable method. The program started in 2010 to minimize the impacts of an overabundance of deer.
Fairfax County police have identified a man who allegedly exposed himself in public at two different Tysons shopping centers.
The 22-year-old McLean resident was arrested last Tuesday (Sept. 3) for reportedly “exposing himself and attempting to touch customers inappropriately” in Tysons West (1500 Cornerside Blvd) earlier that day, the Fairfax County Police Department said on Friday (Sept. 6).
