RSSBriefs
Housing
County weighing new approach to housing
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is weighing a new approach to providing housing for homeless and low-income residents.
County staff, community leaders, advocacy groups and nonprofit agencies have been working collaboratively for several months to develop a new "housing blueprint," a draft of which was presented to the Board of Supervisors last week.
"I'm very pleased with what they've done," County Executive Anthony Griffin said. "This is a multi-focused policy whereas the policy we had before had a singular focus."
Overall goals guiding the blueprint are: ending homelessness in 10 years; providing affordable housing options to people with special needs; reducing the waiting lists for affordable housing by half in 10 years; and adding enough housing to accommodate projected job growth.
The plan would refocus existing resources to aid homeless and extremely low income people, as well as people with disabilities. The blueprint also proposes a new housing program that would provide a "bridge" for people until they can get into more stable housing by providing both long-term and short-term rental subsidies.
It would also focus on building the supply of "workforce" housing for moderate-income residents through land use policy and private sector partnerships, rather than direct funding.
Implementing the blueprint would cost more than $10 million in fiscal 2011, according to staff estimates, which presents a significant challenge given the county's $250 million projected budget shortfall.
Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said the board needs to discuss the plan and revise it to reflect the current budget shortfall, rather than shelving it until the county has more income. "We never have this discussion in light of the fiscal realities," he said.
Annandale
Ossian Hall Park improvements planned
The Fairfax County Park Authority will begin construction work at Ossian Hall Park in Annandale in February. The project includes a community plaza, two lighted basketball courts, a multi-use athletic field, two new playgrounds, trails and an enlarged parking lot.
The $2.8 million project, funded by a 2008 park bond, is expected to be complete in October.
Reston
RCA drums up support for 'Reston' license plate
The Reston Citizens Association has initiated a project with VDOT to make a Reston license plate available to any Reston resident who would like one.
In order to meet its goal, the Reston Citizens Association is actively collecting license plate registrations. VDOT will make the special Reston plates available once it gets 350 registrations. As of Friday, the group had 90.
The process to sign up requires completing the DMV License Plate Application Form, which can be obtained from RCA's Web site, restoncitizensassociation.org. The form, along with a $10 license plate fee, can be mailed to the Reston Citizens Association, P.O. Box 2851, Reston, VA 20195.
Dan McGuire, chairman of the RCA License Plate Committee, urges fellow Reston residents to sign up as soon as possible.
"It is truly a unique and beautiful plate that all Restonians will be very proud to have on their car," said McGuire, adding that Reston might be the only community in Virginia to have its own special license plate.
Springfield
Elected officials to host town hall meeting
From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Del. Mark Sickles (D-Springfield), Sen. George Barker (D-Springfield) and Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay will host a town hall meeting at the Snyder Center in Kingstowne, located at 6450 S. Van Dorn St. For information, call 804-698-1043.
Alexandria
Intel talent search picks 13 TJ students
Among the top 300 students to be named semifinalists winners in the national Intel Science Talent Search are 13 from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.
Contestants submitted research papers and resumes and were selected for demonstrating highly successful research skills, excellent knowledge in science, math and technology.
The 13 Jefferson students gaining semifinalist status were Temple Douglas, Stephani Gu, Aryan Khojandi, Allison Koenecke. Aaron Koenig, Greyson Lewis, Daniel Li, Kimberly Moore, Kushal Seetharam, Vishwajith Sridharan, Dennis Wang, Akshar Wunnava and Jason Ya.