Community Notice from
Dranesville Supervisor John Foust
Dear Neighbor,

This email includes information about several upcoming meetings and ways to provide input on projects and studies that are underway. Due to the continuing coronavirus situation, these meetings will all be held virtually.

The McLean CBC Task Force will meet tonight, the West Falls Church Transit Station Area Task Force will meet tomorrow , and there are three opportunities to learn more about the proposed draft of a new, modernized County Zoning Ordinance this week. In addition, below you will find information about the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long-Term Planning Study and how to provide input.

I also want to note that the Board of Supervisors will meet tomorrow for a day of committee meetings, beginning with the Economic Advisory Commission at 9:30 a.m. Next, Environmental Committee will meet at 11:00 a.m., Public Safety at 1:30 p.m. and Land Use Policy at 2:30 p.m. These meetings will air live on Channel 16 (Cox Channel 1016; Verizon/Comcast Channel 16), stream live online, and will be available on demand following the meetings. Meeting agendas and materials are available at the links above.

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
McLean CBC Task Force Virtual Meeting
The County has been working on a study of the McLean Commercial Business Center (CBC), more commonly known as downtown McLean. The community-driven study will be used to update the Comprehensive Plan, which will guide future planning and development, including land uses, development intensities, transportation, public facilities, and design standards.
 
The study began in June 2018 with three well-attended community workshops conducted by Streetsense, the consultant hired by the County. The community's input from these three sessions shaped the draft plans that were presented at two open houses that fall. Additional community input on the draft plans was solicited at the open houses and a meeting on the Final Vision Plan was held in December 2018.

Since then, the study's task force, which is comprised of McLean residents and civic group representatives, has been working with County staff and the community to translate this vision into recommendations for changes to the Comprehensive Plan. The task force's monthly meetings are open to the public.

Meeting Details
Monday, July 20
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The task force will continue to discuss the draft Comprehensive Plan text. Login information to access the WebEx meeting is available online.

For more information about the McLean CBC Study, visit the project page.

Questions? Contact Ben Wiles in the office of Supervisor Foust at Benjamin.Wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-356-0551.
West Falls Church Transit Station Area Task Force Virtual Meeting
A planning study of proposals submitted by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Virginia Tech for portions of the West Falls Church Transit Station Area is underway. The proposals were submitted as part of the County's 2017 Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process.

In January 2019, a community meeting was held which included an overview of the Fairfax County planning and review process in addition to presentations by WMATA and Virginia Tech. Since then, a task force of area residents has been working with County staff to evaluate the proposals and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The task force had continued to meet regularly to discuss impacts relating to transportation, public facilities, schools, and the environment. Task force meetings are open to the public.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, West Falls Church Task Force meetings from March through May were cancelled. Since June, Task Force meetings have been held virtually using Webex Events. Currently there is no timeline for when in-person meetings will resume.

Meeting Details
Tuesday, July 21
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

View instructions for attending virtual meetings here. If you wish to dial in instead of using the videoconferencing service, call 408-418-9388. The access code is 129 655 5464.

Click here for more information about the study and other upcoming meetings.

Questions? Contact Ben Wiles in Supervisor Foust's office at Benjamin.Wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-356-0551.
Fairfax County Seeks Public Input on Proposed Modernized Zoning Ordinance
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 this 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.
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.
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.

Other questions or concerns? Contact Ben Wiles in Supervisor Foust's office at Benjamin.Wiles@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-356-0551.
Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long-Term Planning Study
Over the last two years, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has worked to identify current deficiencies and future needs along the 31-mile corridor that stretches from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) in Herndon to Route 1 (Richmond Highway) in Alexandria, propose improvement strategies, and develop and test the Preliminary Alternatives that will be presented this summer. The goals of the Study include creating a more efficient option for commuters while serving local residents, minimizing impacts to property owners and the environment, and optimizing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

FCDOT has held two rounds of community meetings with opportunities for feedback and public comment in person and through online surveys. The study team will once again gather feedback and develop and evaluate final recommendations in its transportation models to ensure that the recommended improvements address future demand and commuter needs. FCDOT will present the final recommendations to the Board of Supervisors this winter. Once the Board of Supervisors has endorsed the Study, FCDOT will begin the process of amending the Comprehensive Plan.

FCDOT will hold its third and final round of community meetings for the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield Parkways Alternatives Analysis and Long-Term Planning Study this summer. Three meetings have been set across two weeks in late July and early August to accommodate residents’ schedules. The meetings will be held virtually at the dates and times listed below:

Wednesday, July 29
11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Thursday, July 30, 2020
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 4
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

The meetings will include a presentation by the study team and time for questions and answers. Attendees must register with WebEx prior to the meeting using the link provided. FCDOT has put together step-by-step instructions for registration, logging in, and participating in the meeting.

Visit the project page for more information, including the presentation, display boards of maps and information, and study survey, which will be available soon. Comments and surveys will be accepted through Monday, August 31, 2020.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to utilize the resources listed below: