Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Published March 1, 2024 at 11:00AM

Electric vehicle chargers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

To further its environmental goals, Fairfax County’s to-do list should include building an electric vehicle charging network, addressing “critical” staff shortages, and addressing development pressure, the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in a new report.

An employee compensation policy update to attract and retain workers in departments such as wastewater and solid waste was the top recommendation in the 2023 Annual Report on the Environment (ARE), EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza told the Board of Supervisors during its environmental committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 29).

Countywide

Fairfax County reports steady progress towards affordable housing target

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 1, 2024 at 9:30AM

Upcoming affordable housing projects include One University, a new development near George Mason University that's expected to finish this summer (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is moving steadily towards its target of building 10,000 net new affordable housing units by 2034.

The county has roughly 4,000 units built, planned or under construction that count towards the goal set in 2022, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Deputy Director of Real Estate Development and Finance Anna Shapiro told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

Countywide

Fairfax County sees rising eviction rates as pandemic-era funding dwindles

By James Jarvis

Published February 29, 2024 at 11:45AM

A notice of eviction (via Allan Vega on Unsplash)

Eviction cases continue to rise in Fairfax County as the millions of dollars in financial and legal support allocated during the pandemic run out, county staff say.

Without the nationwide eviction moratorium that ended in August 2021 and federal relief funds, the county’s eviction numbers could have been much higher during the pandemic, staff told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a housing committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 27).

News

County seeks to restrict mowing at Lorton landfill during bird nesting season

By James Jarvis

Published February 28, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated February 29, 2024 at 5:06PM

Fairfax County's I-95 Landfill Complex (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 5:05 p.m. on 2/29/2024) Fairfax County’s supervisors believe that grassland birds deserve a safe nesting ground, even if it’s atop a former landfill.

The Board of Supervisors directed county staff on Feb. 20 to work with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia to identify areas within the I-95 Landfill Complex (9850 Furnace Road) in Lorton where mowing can be minimized to protect grassland birds during their nesting season.

News

County board defers plan for affordable housing at Franconia Governmental Center

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 27, 2024 at 11:45AM

The current Franconia Governmental Center at 6121 Franconia Road (via Google Maps)

A plan to redevelop the site of the Franconia Governmental Center has been delayed again.

At Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 20, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk formally deferred a decision to convey a nearly 3-acre property at 6121 Franconia Road to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to May 21.

News

County to consider scaled-back vision for housing at Idylwood church site

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 22, 2024 at 12:15PM

St. Paul's Lutheran Church is seeking to sell part of its property in Idylwood, including a now-vacant building, to a housing developer so it can expand its sanctuary (via Google Maps)

Plans to build housing in front of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Idylwood have been resurrected.

After a previous attempt in 2019 sputtered out, the church has found a new developer partner to potentially buy vacant portions of its property at 7426 Idylwood Road and transform it with residential development.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes raising real estate tax rate to fund schools, staff compensation

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2024 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

As anticipated, Fairfax County is looking at a tight budget for the coming year that will once again lean primarily on residential property owners to offset a declining commercial tax base.

County Executive Bryan Hill has proposed a 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, even as he presented an advertised fiscal year 2025 budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday) that largely limits spending to obligations like public schools and employee compensation.

News

Fairfax County seeks commuter input on Route 29 corridor improvements

By James Jarvis

Published February 20, 2024 at 11:45AM

Aerial view of Route 29 corridor study area (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is asking commuters for feedback on changes they would like to see along the Route 29 corridor.

The department recently launched a survey asking commuters how often they travel Route 29, the duration of their travel, and the mode of transportation they use.

Countywide

County considers permits for residents to bypass cut-through traffic restrictions

By Acacia James

Published February 16, 2024 at 11:00AM

Traffic on Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) facing Seven Corners (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is continuing talks on a proposal that could allow some residents to better access their homes in areas with certain traffic restrictions.

Cut-through mitigation restrictions prohibit turns into neighborhoods from major transit corridors during rush hour. While the restrictions aim to prevent local roads from getting jammed by drivers trying to evade traffic, it can make it challenging for residents to legally access their homes on those streets.

News

Fairfax County to bring bicycle parking standards up to speed

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 14, 2024 at 3:30PM

The bike and ride facility at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s new bicycle parking standards are getting refined as part of a broad effort to ensure consistency across the county’s various transportation policies.

At a transportation committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed support for an update to the bicycle parking guidelines — although the guidelines were not yet available for review.