Gross agrees to strengthen community input on land use issues
In advance of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ hearing on Fairfax Forward next week, representatives of the
Mason District Council of Community Associations (MDC) met with Mason Supervisor Penny Gross to express their concerns with potential changes to how
land use decisions are made.
Mason District Council of Community Associations (MDC) met with Mason Supervisor Penny Gross to express their concerns with potential changes to how
land use decisions are made.
Fairfax Forward revises the
procedures for updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan. The MDC wants to make
sure that the new processes ensure plenty of opportunities for citizen input and that Mason District is not overlooked in planning and development
activities.
procedures for updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan. The MDC wants to make
sure that the new processes ensure plenty of opportunities for citizen input and that Mason District is not overlooked in planning and development
activities.
The hearing on Fairfax Forward is
July 9, 4 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government
Center Parkway, Fairfax. Citizens who want to speak at the hearing need to
register in advance.
July 9, 4 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government
Center Parkway, Fairfax. Citizens who want to speak at the hearing need to
register in advance.
The meeting with Gross included
residents of the Parklawn, Lincolnia Hills/Heywood Glen, Hillbrook-Tall Oaks,
Ravenwood Park, Annandale Acres, and Sleepy Hollow communities. Following the
meeting, the MDC sent a letter to Gross June 27 outlining the issues discussed
and points of agreement.
The MDC representatives told Gross they were concerned that Mason
District is underrepresented on the current Fairfax Forward planning map and
appears to be neglected in the first several years of upcoming planning
activity.
District is underrepresented on the current Fairfax Forward planning map and
appears to be neglected in the first several years of upcoming planning
activity.
Gross told the neighborhood leaders they can recommend additional areas for review. As a
result of the meeting, the letter states, “We agreed that the
Mason District Council leadership will meet and decide whether to recommend a specific
area in Mason for immediate inclusion in the Fairfax Forward plan.” If
the MDC leadership decides to make such a recommendation, they agreed to put it
in writing before the July 9 hearing, so Gross can present it to the Board of
Supervisors and Fairfax Forward team.
result of the meeting, the letter states, “We agreed that the
Mason District Council leadership will meet and decide whether to recommend a specific
area in Mason for immediate inclusion in the Fairfax Forward plan.” If
the MDC leadership decides to make such a recommendation, they agreed to put it
in writing before the July 9 hearing, so Gross can present it to the Board of
Supervisors and Fairfax Forward team.
The
MDC also raised concerns about the future of the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC). Gross explained that the MDLUC will remain in place and will
primarily deal with special exceptions and rezoning—not the Comprehensive Plan—and therefore would not be affected by Fairfax Forward. Gross agreed to reach
out to the MDC in filling vacancies on the MDLUC and said she will consider appointing
people recommended by the MDC.
MDC also raised concerns about the future of the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC). Gross explained that the MDLUC will remain in place and will
primarily deal with special exceptions and rezoning—not the Comprehensive Plan—and therefore would not be affected by Fairfax Forward. Gross agreed to reach
out to the MDC in filling vacancies on the MDLUC and said she will consider appointing
people recommended by the MDC.
Gross
also agreed to consider names submitted by the MDC for filling slots on task
forces that might be organized to review land use proposals as part of Fairfax
Forward.
also agreed to consider names submitted by the MDC for filling slots on task
forces that might be organized to review land use proposals as part of Fairfax
Forward.
Several Mason residents have expressed concerns to the MDC
that the land use process seems weighted toward developers. The MDC strongly
believes that the communications process needs to be improved so residents have
timely information about requests for zoning changes and other development
proposals.
that the land use process seems weighted toward developers. The MDC strongly
believes that the communications process needs to be improved so residents have
timely information about requests for zoning changes and other development
proposals.
In response to those concerns, Gross agreed to develop
within in the next month a draft proposal, for discussion with MDC, on
strengthening communications.
within in the next month a draft proposal, for discussion with MDC, on
strengthening communications.
3 responses to “Gross agrees to strengthen community input on land use issues”
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Until the Mason District Land Use Committee has on board an architect or an urban planner, it will be business as usual.
The board needs to be composed of at least one person that has experience in the built environment.
The Mason District's downtrodden architectural make-up as well as its context has gone from arbitrary suburban planning to something out of a bad Home Depot commercial.
With changing economies, demographics and needs, we need to be smarter and more savvy as to how we plan for the District's future.
Nice thoughts!
@12:29 PM
Very well said.