Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

County board approves office-to-condo swap at Tysons’ Arbor Row

Published May 29, 2024 at 10:30AM

A rendering of Renaissance Centro's planned condominium building in Arbor Row, Cityline Partners' development in Tysons (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave developers the go-ahead last Tuesday (May 21) to build a condominium high-rise in Tysons’ Arbor Row neighborhood in place of a previously approved office building.

Even as they gave their approval on an 8-1-1 vote, some supervisors conceded county staff were “right” to recommend denial of the application based mostly on prospective condo developer Renaissance Centro’s plan to provide cash or off-site workforce housing in lieu of on-site affordable units.

Countywide

School board approves budget with pay raises for all FCPS workers

By James Jarvis

Published May 29, 2024 at 9:30AM

FCPS Central Office in Merrifield (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Despite calls for targeted raises for teachers and support staff, the Fairfax County School Board has approved 4% pay raises for all school employees as part of its adopted fiscal year 2025 budget.

The decision, voted on last Thursday (May 23), came after the Virginia General Assembly allocated an additional $35.5 million to Fairfax County Public Schools, allowing Superintendent Michelle Reid to increase employee pay raises from 3% to 4%.

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors balk at cost of flood prevention programs amid budget constraints

By James Jarvis

Published May 28, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated July 12, 2024 at 11:20AM

Wolftrap Creek frequently floods Old Courthouse Road at Besley Road (file photo)

Fairfax County staff are seeking additional funding to hire more personnel who could help expedite ongoing and future flood mitigation projects across the county.

However, with the county facing increasing financial challenges, worsened by inflation and reduced commercial tax revenue, some members of the Board of Supervisors said at a recent land use committee meeting that they are reluctant to commit to expanding the budget’s list of indefinite expenditures.

News

Costs drop for Route 29 widening project, completion set for 2026

By James Jarvis

Published May 23, 2024 at 3:30PM

Route 29 is being widened to six lanes between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive (via VDOT)

The price tag for the ongoing project to widen Route 29 just east of Centreville has dropped.

The project, which started construction over a year ago, will add two lanes to a 1.5-mile segment of the road between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive, expanding it from four lanes to six.

Countywide

Meals tax back on the menu as Fairfax County seeks new revenue options

By James Jarvis

Published May 22, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated July 31, 2024 at 10:39AM

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 23. 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County is once again chewing on the possibility of a meals tax — and this time, it won’t need a public vote for approval.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 yesterday (Tuesday) to instruct County Executive Bryan Hill and his staff to develop strategies for broadening the county’s revenue sources as it seeks to reduce the growing tax burden on homeowners. One option could be a tax on food and drink sales.

Countywide

Fairfax County explores options for reducing how much trash it burns

By Acacia James

Published May 21, 2024 at 1:30PM

A Fairfax County solid waste management truck at the I-66 Transfer Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is working to develop a new 20-year plan for managing solid waste.

The county produces roughly 1.2 million tons of trash every year, processing about 630,000 tons as municipal solid waste (MSW). Currently, about 43.9% of waste is diverted from incineration. However, the county adopted a Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) that set a goal of 90% diversion by 2040.

Countywide

County requests federal funding for hybrid and diesel Fairfax Connector buses

By James Jarvis

Published May 17, 2024 at 11:30AM

Fairfax Connector (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has the green light to apply for a federal grant to replace dozens of buses in its Fairfax Connector fleet.

However, none of the new buses will be all-electric, despite the county’s earlier pledges to electrify its fleet of vehicles.

News

County board allows fewer parking spots at Reston Town Center expansion

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2024 at 2:30PM

The Reston Town Center expansion seen from the Dulles Access Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fewer parking spaces will be required in the expansion of Reston Town Center than previously anticipated.

During its May 7 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed to vacate the parking reduction that it granted developer Boston Properties (BXP) when the project known as RTC Next was originally approved in 2018.

News

Fairfax County seeks help relocating sewers affected by Franconia-Lorton rail project

By James Jarvis

Published May 13, 2024 at 2:30PM

Sanitary sewers that would be impacted by a third VRE rail line between Franconia and Lorton (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has asked CSX Transportation to share the load when it comes to moving sewer infrastructure affected by its plans for a third passenger rail line connecting Franconia and Lorton.

Last week, the board unanimously approved a letter to the North American rail company urging it to assist with relocating several sanitary sewers at risk of contamination during the construction of the Virginia Railway Express rail line.

News

Fairfax County board greenlights shared-use path construction on Shreve Road

By James Jarvis

Published May 10, 2024 at 2:30PM

Shreve Road in Falls Church (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County leaders have given the go-ahead for a new shared-use path and planting strip along Shreve Road at the Falls Church border.

On Tuesday (May 7), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to begin the project’s design, land acquisition, and construction that will extend from the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail to Route 7 in Idylwood.