<sh>Board Moves on Affordable Housing
<bt>The Board of Supervisors Monday approved a half dozen proposals that together will provide 143 new affordable housing units as well as $8.75 million in aid to homebuyers.
When the current board took office at the beginning of the year, supervisors vowed to make affordable housing a priority. Monday’s actions are an indication that the board is working to keep its promise, said Board Chairman Gerry Connolly (D).
“We’re moving with all deliberate speed,” he said.
Connolly said the board had adopted the goal of preserving 200 affordable housing units a year from being redeveloped into more expensive units. Already, the county has been able to preserve 246 units, he said.
“We’re ahead of our schedule,” he said.
Almost all of the new units approved at the board’s meeting will be reserved for low-income seniors. Sixty of those units will be built at the Little River Glen II facility in Fairfax after supervisors signed off on an unsolicited proposal from a private builder. The 60 units will cost about $12.58 million to build and the board is seeking a $500,000 grant from the state to help defray the costs.
The board also agreed to spend $575,000 to build an additional 77 units at the Birmingham Green Adult Care Residences in Manassas. Although Birmingham Green is in Prince William County, its 180-bed nursing home and 64-bed assisted care facility are jointly owned by five Northern Virginia jurisdictions and 60 percent of its residents come from Fairfax County.
A $565,000 loan from the Virginia Housing Development Authority will also allow the county’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority to buy six new townhouses in Fairfax.
The Board of Supervisors also decided to apply for two state grants totaling $8.75 million to help first-time homebuyers and public servants.
<sh>Home Security Fair in McLean
<bt>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) will be hosting a free community preparedness fair, "Homeland Security Begins at Home," on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at the LDS Church on Idylwood Road and Great Falls Street in McLean.
Home Security professionals will make presentations on a variety of subjects, including family communications plans; emergency supply kits; financial planning and investments; wills and trusts; gardening and food storage; water purification and storage; and nutrition, health and first aid.
Classes will be from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and classes in Spanish take place 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. For more information, call 703-538-4172, ext. 9554.
<sh>Correction
<bt>In the story "Less Dense, Less Dense, Less Dense," which ran on Page 3 of the Nov. 10 issue, the change that was recommended to the Wedderburn Property was a “downplanning,” not a “downzoning.”
The property is currently zoned for one house per acre which it could develop by right; that will not change. The downplanning removes the landowner's ability to apply for the privilege of developing at a higher density, which is permitted by the current plan.
<sh>Clarification
<bt>In the story "Fasting Not Just about Food," which ran on Page 4 of the Nov. 10 issue, the impression may have been given that Mohammed received the Quran in its entirety during the month of Ramadan. Many Muslims believe that he actually received the revelations over a period of years.
<sh>County Begins Dispensing Flu Shots
<bt>The Fairfax County Health Department began handing out 6,500 doses of flu vaccine on Monday, part of the county’s supply of 10,845 doses received from the Virginia Department of Health. People who are at high-risk for flu should call 703-246-2411 to make an appointment to get a flu shot. The health department will give shots at its Falls Church, Reston, Fairfax City, Mount Vernon and Springfield locations. Some private physicians have also received doses of flu vaccine. More doses are on the way, according to the health department.
<sh>Connolly Named President of VACO
<bt>Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) became the president of the Virginia Association of Counties on Nov. 9. The association advocates and lobbies on behalf of the state's local governments. Connolly's term is for two years.
At an induction ceremony in Bath County, Connolly promised to work towards the repeal of the Dillon Rule, which prohibits local governments from taking any action that has not been approved by the General Assembly.
"The time has come for a new compact between the state and local governments in Virginia — a compact that delineates where the state's responsibilities end and our begin," Connolly said in his remarks. "The era in which Richmond knows best is over."
<sh>New Christmas Tree Laws This Year
<bt>Natural cut Christmas trees will be allowed this year in places of worship, apartments and condominiums even if they do not have a sprinkler system. The General Assembly this year approved legislation allowing the trees after residents of multi-family dwelling units objected to the prohibition on natural cut Christmas trees last year. Christmas trees are still not allowed in the common areas of apartment and condominium buildings as well as in hospitals, nursing homes or jails whether or not they have a sprinkler system. Residents of single family homes, townhouses or duplexes are not affected by the legislation and may still have natural cut trees.