Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
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Dear Neighbor,
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve and impact our community, I will continue to highlight resources and updates that I hope you will find helpful. In addition
, these messages will include
more "regular programming," such as information about upcoming meetings, ways to provide input, and County programs, as you will see below.
This email includes information on how to provide input on the County's proposed modernized zoning ordinance, the Route 28 and Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Greenway study, and a pandemic response survey from the Tysons Partnership. Information about an upcoming virtual concert series and new satellite voting locations for the November 3 general election, as well as a few other items for businesses and job seekers, is also included below.
Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
Sincerely,
John
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Fairfax County Seeks Public Input on Proposed Modernized Zoning Ordinance
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Following more than two years of effort, Fairfax County has released a
consolidated draft for a proposed new and modernized Zoning Ordinance.
This document represents a major milestone in the County’s zoning modernization project, zMOD. The proposed new ordinance consolidates the current 20 articles and six appendices into nine articles and one appendix. It also includes substantive revisions to the uses, including adding new use names; consolidating uses; creating new uses where appropriate; developing new definitions; and revising use regulations.
The consolidated draft resulted from extensive public outreach during the past two years, including over 65 public meetings and multiple public surveys to gather stakeholder input.
The zMOD project aims to:
- Modernize the permitted uses and their regulations.
- Make the Zoning Ordinance easier to understand.
- Remove gaps and inconsistencies,
- Create a streamlined, user-friendly document.
- Utilize more tables, graphics, and hyperlinks.
The draft will be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission next week, and it is anticipated that the Board will hold public hearings on the modernized ordinance this winter. The public is encouraged to tune in to either of these meetings or to attend an upcoming virtual meeting where County staff and consultant Clarion Associates will present an overview of the draft. Details below.
Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee
Tuesday, July 21 at 2:30 p.m.
Location: View on Channel 16 or watch
online
zMOD Community Outreach Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Call In: +1-408-418-9388
Access Code: 129 909 8166
Planning Commission Land Use Process Review Committee
Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: View on Channel 16 or watch
online
Recordings will be available to view
on demand after the meetings. Following these outreach meetings, staff will continue to present the Consolidated Draft throughout the County.
County zoning officials are seeking public input on this draft as it is refined for the Board to consider adopting this winter. Residents can submit comments by
email.
For more information, visit the
zMOD webpages. Contact the Department of Planning and Development’s
Zoning Administration Division at 703-324-1314, TTY 711, or by
email, for questions, feedback, and requests for reasonable ADA accommodations.
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Provide Input on the Route 28 and Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Greenway Study
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This study will assess traffic operations and safety and develop mitigation measures for the Route 28 corridor in the vicinity of the Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Greenway interchange, from Route 665 (Frying Pan Road) in Fairfax County to Route 846 (Sterling Boulevard) in Loudoun County. The study will identify safety and operational improvements, both short- and long-term, recognizing the complexity of this area, the multimodal nature of the corridors, the closely spaced interchanges, and the mutual interests of all parties to improve travel through this area in a safe and efficient manner.
The study is being conducted with technical and financial participation from Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), and Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II).
At the interchange, Route 28 averages 155,000 vehicles a day, the Dulles Toll Road averages 83,000 and the Dulles Greenway averages 46,000.
Learn About the Study’s Proposed Improvements and Provide Your Input
Want to learn more and provide feedback about the alternatives that were identified to address the challenges facing the Route 28 and Dulles Toll Road/Greenway area? Participate in VDOT’s Virtual Public Meeting by viewing the online presentation, reviewing supporting materials and maps, and providing your input by completing an online survey by August 3, 2020.
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Tysons Partnership Pandemic Response Survey
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The
Tysons Partnership is seeking input on how you are feeling about working from home (or going back to an office), getting around, and living in general. The online survey takes less than five minutes.
Survey responses and insight will help shape the Partnership's focus now and in the future. Results will be shared with business and community leaders so they can reopen in ways that best serve the community.
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Summer Entertainment Series
In-Person Concerts Canceled
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Due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fairfax County Park Authority’s 2020 Summer Entertainment Series in-person events will be canceled.
Instead, virtual concerts will be held Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., and children’s shows will be held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. A schedule of virtual events will be released later this month.
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Fairfax County to Offer 14 Satellite Absentee Voting Locations for the November 2020 Election
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The Board of Supervisors established these locations during its July 14 meeting.
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For the 2020 presidential election, the County is increasing its absentee voting locations compared to the nine that were available in 2016. Election officials called for added locations because they are anticipating a high turnout —especially with the new state law that allows “no-excuse” absentee voting. Until now, voters were required to have a reason to vote absentee.
The following 14 satellite locations will be open for in-person absentee voting starting on October 14. Locations marked with an asterisk (*) are located within the Dranesville District.
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- Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive, Centreville
- Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria
- Great Falls Library 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls*
- Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center Street, Herndon*
- Laurel Hill Golf Club, 8701 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton
- Mason Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale
- McLean Governmental Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean*
- Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
- North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
- Providence Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax
- Sully Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly
- Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church
- Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church*
- West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield
These locations are currently proposed to be open for in-person absentee voting weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, the Fairfax County Electoral Board may decide to adjust these hours later this summer based on the interest in absentee voting by mail.
The 14 satellite locations above are in addition to the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax) which will also be open for absentee voting.
Apply online now to absentee vote by mail, and you will receive your ballot after Friday September 18, the official start for absentee voting by mail. County election officials are strongly encouraging absentee voting as the safest, quickest option during the ongoing pandemic.
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Fairfax County Increases Funding for Fairfax RISE: Small Business and Nonprofit Relief Grant Program
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On July 14, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to add $20 million in funding to the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (RISE) program, bringing total program funding to $46 million.
Fairfax RISE assists small businesses and nonprofits affected by COVID-19. The additional funding will come from the County’s portion of federal CARES Act funds.
The RISE grant program is intended to help address funding gaps that may exist among complementary programs at the state and federal levels and provides relief to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fairfax RISE grants do not have to be repaid. A minimum of 30% of the program’s funding is allocated for minority-, veteran- and women-owned businesses. More than two-thirds of the businesses who applied for RISE grants fall within those categories.
Over 2,000 of the original 6,100 applicants were offered grants. The additional funding, along with $1 million from the Town of Vienna, will allow the program to serve at least 4,000 total applicants. At this time, no new applications will be accepted. All grants will be offered to the initial applicants who applied but were unable to be funded due to the volume of requests.
The Department of Economic Initiatives will continue to oversee and monitor the Fairfax RISE grant program. For more information about the program, click
here, email
Economicinitiatives@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 703-324-5171.
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Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia Offers Area Businesses Free Facilitated Support Group Sessions
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As companies develop their potential reopening plans, it is important to gauge the mental state of employees related to the pandemic and returning to the workplace. Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia (RPSV) now offers customized virtual support sessions designed specifically for area businesses. The sessions are facilitated by peer specialists who will help team members work through the concerns they are having individually and as a collective. RPSV’s services are free to the public.
Individuals are invited to join any of RPSV’s existing virtual support groups. RPSV can also work with businesses to customize a program for their team members, such as joining an existing virtual meeting or designing sessions to address specific needs.
For more information on RPSV’s current programming, visit
rpsva.org. To arrange a customized support group session for you and your team members, contact Monika Taylor at 240-498-9685 or via email at
mtaylor@recoveryprograms.us.
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Virginia Transportation Construction Job Board
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), along with its partners in the transportation construction industry – including the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA) and the Virginia Asphalt Association (VAA) – announced an initiative to connect Virginians with available jobs through the
Virginia Transportation Construction Job Board.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to economic challenges and job losses for many Virginians. The Virginia Transportation Construction Job Board provides information and links to jobs across the Commonwealth, covering a wide range of skill sets – some of which require little or no prior experience. The interface was designed to target the transportation construction industry, where employees are critically needed during this time of peak construction. The Board is flexible for both employers and employees to easily distribute and receive information. There are currently more than 200 available positions posted on the job board, and more are added every week.
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Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below:
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