Lee District Monthly Newsletter

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Edition 5 
June 2014 
 
The McKay Messenger
  
Huntley Meadows Wetland Restored

 
After years of planning and public meetings, the wetland at Huntley Meadows Park has been restored. Last month's ribbon cutting of the $3 million restoration project was a chance to touch base with all those who have worked so hard on this project. The restored wetland will provide a long-term habitat for a community of locally rare plants and animals and restore the wetland to its 1980s condition. Five deeper habitat ponds will support acquatic wildlife and a water control structure will manage seasonally fluctuating water levels.

Spring is for Filling Potholes  

We're still living with the-winter-that-wouldn't-end and its heavy crop of potholes. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), responsible for maintaing most of our roads, has made great strides in permanent pothole repairs--almost 80,000 of them in Northern Virginia. If you'd like to report a pothole, you can call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) or just call my office. You can also report potholes here.

 

I get a lot of questions about why potholes that were repaired earlier this year need to be repaired again. We see potholes form when water inside the pavement freezes and expands in cold conditions and thaws in warm conditions. Most pothole repairs made during the winter and early spring are temporary. The material used to patch them does not hold up well during cold or wet conditions.

 

While potholes can be just an annoyance, sometimes hitting one can cause serious vehicle damage. In that case, you can submit a damage claim to VDOT's Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-367-7623.

Springfield Days and Celebrate Fairfax: The Official Start of Summer
Supervisor McKay and his rescue greyhound Vera, join Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and Sheriff's Deputy Sureyya Kanli.
For 26 years, Springfield Days has been the kick-off summer event for South County. This year, I again ran in the 5K, then got home as fast as I could to pick up Vera, our rescue greyhound, and head over to the PetFest at the South County RECenter. There were so many happy dogs and their families enjoying the fabulous weather, doggie treats, and of course the famous Paws on Parade, led this year by Grand Marshall Annie Yu of Fox 5 D.C.

 

I'd also like to congratulate George Towery and Tawny Hammond, our Lee District Lord and Lady Fairfax.

 

Almost three years ago, George retired after 30 years as the principal of Cameron Elementary School.  He's an active member of the Springfield Civic Association and volunteers at both T.C. Williams High School and Cameron Elementary School.

 

George is also an author. Touched by a Child: A Principal's Story is one of the most moving books about education and children that you'll ever read.

 

Tawny Hammond is a force of nature. She headed the Springfield Civic Association for 10 years, during which time the organization became one of the most active and engaged local organizations in Lee District. As president, Tawny built relationships among residents, the business community, and elected officials. Those relationships still flourish today, the civic association membership continues to grow, and Tawny is still an active and engaged member of the community--as well as the Director of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

 

Tawny has been one of the key organizers of Springfield Days where, among other activities, she built lasting partnerships between the event and the local business community.

Penn Daw Transportation Update

As a result of the three new developments coming online in the Penn Daw area, I have been working with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation on options for the realignment of North Kings Highway and School Street/ Shields Avenue.

 

There will be a public meeting on June 24 to gather community feedback at Mount Eagle Elementary from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The goal of these new options is to improve traffic flow in the area with funding provided in part by the Grande at Huntington (Fast Eddie's site), The Shelby (Insight project), and the Penn Daw Plaza (owned by Combined properties).

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I hope these updates will keep you in the loop with some of the major events in our District.

If you'd like to learn more about something in the newsletter or have an idea for a future edition, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff.
  
Sincerely,

Jeffrey C. McKay

Lee District Supervisor

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

703-971-6262
Jeffrey C. McKay
 
Supervisor McKay has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2007.  
Did You Know?
Question: What happened to that proposal to limit gatherings at private homes?

 

Answer: The Board of Supervisors has spent many hours hearing from County residents about group assembly in private homes. The proposal was circulated as a draft to get as much public comment as possible.

  

And public comment it did produce! My colleagues and I heard from many constituents concerned about the possible ramifications on their own gatherings and communities. While others thought the problem we were trying to solve was real, they did not agree with the proposed solution. 

 

This proposal was not intended to prevent residents from hosting peaceful, regular gatherings in their homes. The intent was to limit gatherings that are repetitive and disruptive to the character of the surrounding community. These create real noise, parking, and traffic problems. 

  

At the June 10 Development Process Committee meeting, Chairman Bulova withdrew the proposal. I hope that County staff can craft a new proposal that gets more community support.

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