Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Housing with self-storage facility approved for final Woodland Park parcel in Herndon

Published October 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

The planned mixed-use residential development with self-storage at Woodland Park East in Herndon (via SK+I Architecture/Fairfax County)

The last undeveloped parcel in the Woodland Park East development near the Herndon Metro station will move forward with multifamily residential units and a self-storage facility, rather than the previously proposed twin office buildings.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday (Oct. 14) to support developer Trammell Crow Residential’s request for zoning changes on “Block E,” a 3.3-acre parcel on the northeast portion of the 32-acre Woodland Park property. It is located between the Dulles Access Road to the north and Woodland Park Drive to the south and Monroe Street to the east and Corporate Park Drive to the west.

Countywide

Fairfax board fears trickle-down impact of planned federal homeland security grant cuts

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 15, 2025 at 10:00AM

Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County leaders are voicing concern that proposed Trump administration’s cuts in homeland security grants could have a major local impact.

“It is a significant hit to our public safety agencies,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the board’s meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 14). “We will be very loud and outspoken about it.”

News

Fairfax County seeks land rights for pedestrian safety project on Columbia Pike

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 15, 2025 at 8:30AM

Columbia Pike improvements, in red, and affected properties, bordered in blue (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is considering exercising its eminent domain powers to advance a sidewalk project on Columbia Pike.

During its meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors authorized a Nov. 18 public hearing to acquire easements to property needed to make the improvements on a stretch of Columbia Pike in Annandale.

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders to fight any state bills diluting local authority to regulate housing

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 10, 2025 at 1:45PM

One University affordable housing development in Fairfax (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County leaders appear ready to battle any efforts in the 2026 General Assembly session to strip powers of local government to regulate creation of new housing.

“We want affordable housing,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said, but the county’s lobbying efforts in Richmond would be focused on “making sure the General Assembly doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all” approach that erases local decision-making powers.

Countywide

Shutdown impacts add uncertainty to Fairfax leaders’ priorities for Congress

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 8, 2025 at 1:45PM

Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez now heads the legislative committee (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Like everyone else, Fairfax County leaders remain in wait-and-see mode to determine the short-term and potential long-term implications of the federal government’s ongoing shutdown.

“It really depends on the length,” said Jennifer Imo, managing partner of client services for Ferguson Group, a lobbying organization hired by Fairfax County to represent its interests on Capitol Hill.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes fees to sustain after-school program for middle-schoolers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 8, 2025 at 9:15AM

Glasgow Middle School students learn cooking skills in an after-school program (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County supervisors are not sold on a staff proposal to revamp the Middle School After-School (MSAS) program, which would impose a new fee on parents of participants to offset taxpayer costs.

Though expressing support for the effort’s intent, the elected officials raised questions about its relative effectiveness, and why it attracts many more students at some schools than at others.

News

County to seek $463 million in regional funds to boost Route 1 bus project

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:45PM

Residents attend an in-person update on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at the Gerry South Hyland Government Center on Jan. 15, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a number of procedural steps last Tuesday (Sept. 30) to advance plans for the nearly billion-dollar Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) initiative known as The One.

In actions combined into a larger consent agenda approval, supervisors formally requested Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) funding to support the project and scheduled an upcoming public hearing to address the acquisition of easements from property owners along the route.

Countywide

Fairfax car tax deadline delayed a month to accommodate furloughed federal workers

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 7, 2025 at 2:45PM

Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration drop box (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at a special meeting today (Tuesday) to retroactively extend the deadline for car tax payments from yesterday (Monday) to Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The temporary relief was granted in response to the current federal government shutdown, which is adding to economic challenges already facing county residents and the D.C. region as a whole.

News

County board renews call for more action on impacts of National Airport aircraft noise

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 6, 2025 at 3:45PM

An American Airlines jet takes off from National Airport (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County leaders continue to push the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to fund an outside analysis of aircraft noise’s impact on neighborhoods along the flight path at Reagan National Airport.

“This is merely asking MWAA to do what a whole lot of other airports across the country have done,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said on Sept. 30, when supervisors unanimously approved making the request of MWAA CEO Jack Potter.

News

Plan to renovate Willow Springs school granted more time for review

By Nolan Stout

Published October 6, 2025 at 9:15AM

Willow Springs Elementary School renovation rendering (via FCPS)

A planned renovation of Willow Springs Elementary School is still on track, as Fairfax County officials extend a review period for the project.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted last Tuesday (Sept. 30) to extend the deadline for county review of the proposal to May 27, 2026. The board approved the extension as part of its administrative items with no discussion.