Fairfax County officials are asking the Spanberger administration to make the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) more responsive to housing developments it must review.
In a letter to three new Virginia cabinet secretaries, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay expressed concern that current VDOT review process for new housing has placed roadblocks in the way of adding both market-rate and committed-affordable units:
Fairfax County’s independent police auditor has recommended that the role of police officers on mental health crisis-related calls be reconsidered.
Richard Schott, who has served as the police auditor since the role was created in 2017, suggested the county reevaluate how it approaches behavioral health calls as part of his review of a fatal shooting by police in Reston in September 2024.
Fairfax County supervisors in coming days will be compiling a list of positives and negatives related to the local and state response to late January’s crippling snow and ice storm.
Their comments and questions will then be forwarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and other agencies responsible for clearing snow.
Scott’s Run Nature Preserve will be off limits to visitors for a third consecutive spring to allow more sewer upgrades.
The park at 7400 Georgetown Pike in McLean is scheduled to close on Monday, Feb. 16 for an “urgent” project to rehabilitate a siphon facility that carries wastewater across the Potomac River to D.C. Water’s Potomac Interceptor in Maryland, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
No Heat at Annandale Apartments — “With outdoor temperatures in the 20s, hundreds of tenants at the Wedgewood in Annandale have been struggling to stay warm over the past two days without heat or hot water.” The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which owns the property, said water temperatures have been “partially restored,” but as of yesterday (Tuesday), repairs were still in the works for the heating system. [Annandale Today]
Redistricting Push Stalled by Infighting — “A disagreement between Democrats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates has upended plans to redraw the state’s congressional map. Democrats in both chambers want a 10D-1R map, but they disagree on what that map looks like and blew past their self-imposed deadline last week to release a proposal.” [Punchbowl News]
Metro Honors Rosa Parks — “On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Metro is honoring civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks on her birthday by reserving a seat for her on every bus and train across the system. To commemorate the day, Metro is placing signs on trains and buses, reserving a single seat in recognition of Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus and subsequent arrest in 1955.” [WMATA]
Demand High at Shelter Amid Cold Weather — “A hot meal on a cold day is just one of many ways FACETS provides for people seeking refuge at Fairfax County’s Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. This shelter typically serves 18 people in what’s known as permanent supportive housing and about 52 overnight guests. But when the snow and sleet came and temperatures plunged, dozens more came through the doors.” [NBC4]
Bill Would Allow Cell Phones in Courthouses — “Senator Saddam Salim is a Democrat from Fairfax County and is advocating for his bill that would bring courthouses into the 21st century by allowing visitors to bring cell phones … A Senate panel approved Salim’s bill on cell phones this week.” [WVTF]
Falls Church Grocery Store Opening — “A discount grocery store coming to Falls Church plans to mark its grand opening next week with money-saving festivities. Grocery Outlet Bargain Market intends to open its doors at 500 S. Washington Street at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, offering gift cards worth varying amounts to the first 100 customers.” [ARLnow]
New Vienna Police Chief Takes Office — “The Town of Vienna Police Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Janickey as its new Chief of Police, effective February 1st, 2026. Chief Janickey brings decades of law enforcement experience, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to officer wellness and community service to the role.” [Town of Vienna Police]
How Local Wildlife Is Handling Winter Weather — “If you’re wondering whether you should feed the wild animals you see wandering over the icy snow in your yard, the answer is no.” Fairfax County Park Authority’s natural resources branch manager, John Burke, says the desire to support wildlife is understandable, but squirrels, birds and other creatures “are well adapted to survive in the conditions that we’re experiencing now, and sometimes much colder.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 33 degrees with a north wind at 9 mph. Night brings a 20% chance of snow before 10 pm, followed by mostly cloudy skies that will gradually clear up. The low temperature will be around 17 degrees. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools will start classes on a two-hour delay tomorrow (Wednesday), as the region continues its slow recovery from the Jan. 25 winter storm.
Like they did today (Tuesday), school and administrative offices will open on time, as will afternoon preschool and adult education classes.
A New York dance company that recently nixed scheduled appearances at the Kennedy Center is coming to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts instead.
Doug Varone and Dancers will visit the Fairfax performing arts venue (4373 Mason Pond Drive) on Saturday, April 25 for a free show in the concert hall, the Center for the Arts announced today.
A lengthy approval process for an affordable townhouse development motivated Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read to testify in support of state legislation eliminating a key hurdle to affordable housing on church-owned properties.
State Sen. Jeremy McPike’s (D-29) Senate Bill 388 would let religious organizations develop housing on their land by right, without needing to go through a special exception, special use or conditional use permit or rezoning process that requires public hearings and votes.
After months of negotiations and pressure from both elected officials and community members, Dominion Energy and NOVA Parks have settled on a new path forward for managing trees near power lines along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park.
Dominion and the regional park authority, which owns and manages the 45-mile-long W&OD Trail, have reached an agreement governing vegetation management activities that, among other provisions, requires the utility to provide advanced notice of any major maintenance work and to plant native species in affected areas when possible.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is moving forward with plans to transform two mostly vacant sites into affordable housing after identifying potential partners for both projects.
The authority approved an interim agreement at its Jan. 22 meeting with True Ground Housing Partners allowing it to commence “pre-development activities” for a 9.6-acre property at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive near the Innovation Center Metro station in Herndon. The process will include a physical site review, community engagement and a financial feasibility assessment.
