Supervisors approve Justice HS addition

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2 approved a rezoning and a series of proffers to allow the expansion of Justice High School with a parking reduction.

The project includes a three-story addition on the existing parking lot with classrooms and labs, an expansion of the cafeteria, other building improvements, a sidewalk on Peace Valley Lane, and underground stormwater facilities.

Construction is expected to start next summer, and the project is scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.

The biggest challenge is the parking reduction. Fairfax County Public Schools is requesting a waiver to allow 340 parking spaces, while the county’s rules require 750 to handle the projected increases in enrollment. There are currently 329 spaces.

Justice High School has the smallest land area of any public school in Fairfax County, FCPS’s attorney, John McGranahan, told the board. There is no way to fit more parking spaces on the property,

One of the proffers approved by the supervisors calls for FCPS to convene a working group to consider parking alternatives. The working group will consist of representatives from the school, nearby community associations, and other stakeholders. FCPS agreed to work with Mason Supervisor Penny Gross to appoint members. Board chair Jeffrey McKay said it’s important to include students.

Related story: Planning Commission endorses Justice HS expansion with limited parking

The school addition also includes the installation of infrastructure on the roof to accommodate solar panels for hot water “to the extent it can be incorporated into the project.”

McGranahan clarified that additional funding will be needed for solar, so FCPS “doesn’t want to make a commitment that can’t be rolled into the budget. We expect it can be, and this will happen.”

He noted Justice High School is also in a separate pilot program for a broader solar energy commitment throughout the school system.

During the hearing, Justice PTSA President Kim Lanoue urged the BoS not to approve the application until there is a clearer mandate and description of the parking alternatives working group.

Kathleen Brown, president of the Ravenwood Citizens Association and a member of the Justice PTSA executive committee, and Ravenwood Park resident Mark Doehnert, both spoke in favor of the rezoning and parking reduction.

Brown, a leading advocate in the fight against FCPS’s earlier proposal to use Justice Park for overflow parking, called for the working group to consider infrastructure improvements – such as crosswalks, sidewalk connectivity, and flashing beacons – to discourage students from driving to school. She suggested free parking passes for seniors who carpool and adding safe street advocates to the working group.