Fairfax County government | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published March 25, 2022 at 7:30AM

Cherry blossoms in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

New Issues Hamper Silver Line Phase 2 — While a summer opening is still possible, don’t expect the Silver Line extension from Reston into Loudoun County before July 1, Metro officials said yesterday (Thursday), citing waterproofing and insulation issues around power cable connections. Past problems with “the orange boot” have caused fire and smoke incidents. [DCist]

County Residents Report Lags in Rent Assistance — “Sarah Allen, regional director of Fairfax County Human Services, told InsideNoVa in October the county was rolling out a separate online portal that tenants could also use to apply for assistance. The online portal has yet to launch, according to a county spokesperson who said it’s still in development.” [Inside NoVA]

Countywide

County board tells Metro to limit impact of planned Yellow Line pause

By David Taube

Published March 23, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated March 24, 2022 at 12:34PM

Yellow Line tunnel and bridge over the Potomac River (via WMATA)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and other Northern Virginia officials are looking for ways to help commuters during a lengthy planned shutdown of Metro’s Yellow Line for rehabilitation work.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will stop service on a key section of the line for seven to eight months to repair a Yellow Line bridge over the Potomac River and tunnels that are over 40 years old.

Countywide

Fairfax County approves fines for running bamboo, starting next year

By David Taube

Published March 23, 2022 at 12:45PM

Bamboo (photo via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County will soon require property owners and residents to prevent running bamboo from spreading and take steps to contain it.

After holding a public hearing in February, the Board of Supervisors approved the new ordinance yesterday (Tuesday), but officials reiterated that county staff will first seek to educate community members and let them correct issues voluntarily before fines are imposed.

Countywide

More homes could replace Reston office buildings on Sunset Hills Road

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 23, 2022 at 11:15AM | Updated July 23, 2025 at 3:12PM

Pulte plans to build 100 multi-family units and 90 stacked townhouses on the site. (via Fairfax County Government/handout)

Pulte Homes wants to replace three office buildings built in the early 1980s on Sunset Hills Road with a new residential development.

The Georgia-based company submitted an application to Fairfax County on March 16 to build 100 multi-family residential units and 90 stacked for-sale townhouses at 11111 Sunset Hills Road.

Countywide

County’s limited funding for parks is an equity issue, advocates say

By David Taube

Published March 18, 2022 at 11:15AM | Updated May 26, 2022 at 9:13AM

Kids play soccer on a synthetic turf (via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Fairfax County Park Authority officials and others are calling for changes in funding to ensure people are able to access recreational amenities and address repairs.

Staff and community groups like the Fairfax County NAACP say the upcoming budget being considered by the county Board of Supervisors is inadequate for addressing the park system’s needs. It could even take longer to take care of those needs with a proposal to lengthen the amount of time between bond votes.

Countywide

Change in data center values has implications for Fairfax County Route 28 taxpayers

By David Taube

Published March 17, 2022 at 3:00PM

Route 28 by the Frying Pan Road interchange (via Google Maps)

With property tax assessments skyrocketing, Virginia lawmakers passed a bill this year to change how data centers are valued, which could influence how quickly a local tax district can repay debt for projects that widened Route 28.

The Route 28 Highway Transportation Improvement District’s Fairfax County portion consists of over 1,000 parcels south of the Dulles Toll Road. New assessments for commercial and industrial properties in that area are relatively in line with increases seen in previous years.

Countywide

Aging Mt. Vernon RECenter could close for 2 years for expansion

By David Taube

Published March 17, 2022 at 12:45PM

Rendering shows an expansion and a renovation for the Mount Vernon RECenter (via Fairfax County)

The Mount Vernon RECenter could shutter for two years as part of a multi-phase expansion and renovation worth tens of millions of dollars.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is expected to vote Wednesday (March 23) on a staff proposal that recommended the temporary closing. If approved, the facility would close starting in early 2023, the authority told FFXnow.

Countywide

Fairfax County police union calls 10% raise proposal ‘a good start’

By David Taube

Published March 15, 2022 at 2:15PM

Fairfax County police badge (via FCPD/Facebook)

The head of the Fairfax County Police Department’s largest union says a bigger pay increase could help recruit and retain officers, but there’s a lack of parity between experienced officers and new recruits.

Ali Soheilian, president of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association Fairfax County chapter, which has over 700 members, says experienced officers have missed out on several 5% merit increases.

Countywide

County officials urge Youngkin to ensure transportation funding if grocery tax is repealed

By David Taube

Published March 14, 2022 at 3:45PM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and many Northern Virginia officials disagree over whether a repeal in the 2.5% grocery sales tax will adversely affect transit or not.

The governor has made eliminating the tax a priority, but proponents and opponents are painting vastly different portraits of how a repeal could affect transportation funding.

Countywide

Despite delays, Silver Line Phase 2 tax rakes in money

By David Taube

Published March 11, 2022 at 3:00PM

The extension could open in time for Thanksgiving travel.

A property tax paid by businesses in the Silver Line Phase 2 corridor has been helping to fund the infrastructure upgrades, even as delays have repeatedly stalled the Metrorail expansion.

The special tax has been 20 cents per $100 of assessed property value for nearly a decade and applies to commercial and industrial real estate. It can be used to pay up to $330 million of Fairfax County’s $527.3 million obligation for the project, which will extend the Silver Line from Reston to Ashburn.