New Braddock supervisor outlines priorities

James Walkinshaw speaks at a Braddock District Council meeting.

A top priority for James Walkinshaw, the newly installed Braddock representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is getting the state government to contribute more money to the county.

As chair of the board’s Legislative Committee, Walkinshaw told the Braddock District Council (BDC) Jan. 8, “our focus is on bread-and-butter issues, like education funding and transportation funding.”

Fairfax County funds 72 percent of the school budget, with the rest coming from the state and federal governments. Noting that Virginia ranks 43 out of the 50 states in state funding for education, Walkinshaw said, “that’s not where we want to be.”

“I’m hopeful the state will make significant increases in education funding,” he told the community leaders at the BDC meeting.

Last year a regional funding deal shifted some funds to Metro, resulting in $102 million cut from other Northern Virginia transportation funds, which meant Fairfax County had to eliminate some projects from its list of transportation priorities and freeze funding for others.

Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed budget would restore about $65 million, but the county would still be $37 million short.

Fairfax County will urge the General Assembly to look at equalizing city and county taxing authority. It doesn’t make sense that the City of Fairfax has more taxing options than Fairfax County, Walkinshaw said. The current state tax code “is based on an archaic structure that views counties as rural and cities as urban.”

Related story: Supervisors approve funding plan for Lake Accotink

The Fairfax County executive will present a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 25, and the board is expected to adopt a budget on May 5.

Walkinshaw says the county expects an “anemic” 2 percent growth in revenue, and because school enrollment is expected to grow by 1,700, a $150 million shortfall is projected. Some of that shortfall could be offset by the governor’s proposed funding increase.

Walkingshaw agreed that the local composite index (LCI), a measure of wealth used to determine how much Virginia localities are expected to contribute to public education unfairly penalizes Fairfax County, but says it will be hard to change. The LCI is popular among small rural and lower-income jurisdictions that pay a proportionately smaller share.

Other issues addressed by Walkinshaw:

Lake Accotink – The board in 2018 approved a plan to save the lake by dredging material from the lake via pipeline to Wakefield Park where it will be dried, then transferred by truck to a quarry.

“There are legitimate concerns about what that pipeline will look like and the impact on trees,” Walkinshaw said.

Braddock Road – The county has contracted with the Virginia Department of Transportation to develop the design phase for the Braddock Road improvement project. This project involves 17 intersection improvements, the elimination of some left-turn lanes, and shared-use paths on both sides of the road.


Related Story: Final plan for Braddock Road improvements released

Erickson Senior Living – A senior housing complex with 1,100 units and 120 affordable units in a separate building was approved by the board in 2019 and is in the site planning phase, which should take a year. Walkinshaw wants to make sure open space and trees on the site will be preserved.

The property will include an “all-abilities recreation center.” The Erickson company agreed to give the county land and build a concrete pad for the center. The county will raise private funds to build it, then it will be turned over to the county.

Related story: Planning Commission endorses huge senior housing project on Braddock Road

Glass recycling – Walkinshaw will look into getting another bin for glass recycling in the Braddock  District, most likely at Wakefield Park.

Affordable housing – In Braddock, a household needs to earn $64,000 to be able to afford a market-rate one-bedroom apartment, Walkinshaw said.

There are some 400 affordable units in the pipeline in Braddock, he noted, including the One University project, Erickson Senior Living, and the Little River Glen Senior Center. All but 100 of those units are for seniors,

Walkinshaw would like to increase funding for the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, build affordable housing on underutilized county-owned land, and co-locate affordable units at new county facilities.

Zoning – Walkinshaw opposes the proposed bills in the General Assembly that would supersede local zoning ordinances to allow duplexes and accessory dwelling units on land zoned for single-family houses. “I don’t support doing land use from Richmond. That’s why we have a county government and Board of Supervisors,” he said.

Related story: Virginia delegate wants to allow denser housing on single-family lots

Personnel – Walkinshaw plans to appoint a new Braddock representative to the Planning Commission and is seeking people for various committee vacancies.

He also plans to continue the Neighborhood College, a series of educational sessions about the county government started by his predecessor, John Cook, for neighborhood and HOA leaders.

Walkinshaw’s staff is a mixture of holdovers and new appointees:
Frank Anderson – chief of staff.
Ann Sharp – senior staff assistant for constituent services.
Marcia Pape – senior legislative assistant for land use.
Linda Bufano – senior legislative assistant.
Brian Garcia – communications director.
Joon Park – staff aide.