District Accomplishments

2020 Major Accomplishments

Community Connections

• Made 1000’s of new connections with you
• Lorton 2040 Visioning
• COVID-19 outreach to all residents, non-profits and businesses
• Virtual and hybrid in-person outreach
• County Board electronic meetings
• Formal LatinX outreach

FY 2021 Budget

• Balanced budget and funded schools
• Supported residents, small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19
• Increased investments in social services, health services and environment

Public Safety

• Woodlawn fire station groundbreaking
• New South County Police Station and Animal Shelter design
• New Gunston fire boat launched
• Crime reduced another 1%

Transportation & Land Use

• Richmond Highway undergrounding funding advocacy
• BRT planning and Richmond Highway widening project funding
• Urban Design Guidelines for Richmond Highway
• GW Parkway Safety Study advocacy
• North Gateway Transportation Study
• Belle View ES, Silverbrook ES, Washington Mill ES and West Potomac HS renovations
• Trails, sidewalks and roads improved

Health, Housing and Human Services

• COVID-19 education and support
• Lorton Community Center and Library groundbreaking
• Original MVHS Teen/Senior Center
• The Arden and Residences at North Hill workforce housing groundbreakings

Economic Development

• Richmond Highway Corridor EDA market analysis
• Original MVHS revitalization architectural design
• Business retention and expansion
• Fort Belvoir partnership/liaison
• New Richmond Highway Economic Development Program

Environment and Parks

• County and community response to climate change accelerated
• Adaptation and resiliency planning funded
• Joint County/schools environmental recommendations
• My Fairfax Green Initiatives #2 adopted
• Laurel Hill Central Green Park opened
• Grist Mill Master planning
• Mount Vernon RECenter renovation bonding and approval
• Airplane noise advocacy
• Solar installation contract agreements

Hospitality and Tourism

• Cultural Corridor and Cultural Arts District strategic plan
• National Army Museum opened
• Lucy Burns Museum opened
• Turning Point Suffragist Memorial funded
• 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote celebration
• Fairfax Peak interim agreement

Actively Engage with District Residents

• Hosted or sponsored 30 events, plus countless community meetings
• Phone calls 11,000+
• Emails 30,000+
• Meetings 2,100+

2019 Major Accomplishments

• Opened Artemis House Region 1 Domestic Violence Shelter
• Initiated Fairfax Green Initiatives
• Launched CECAP and JET
• Advocated for new County Energy and Environment Department
• Completed the Huntington Levee
• Launched planning and design for Embark Richmond Highway
• Fully Funded BRT and held many community input meetings
• George Washington Parkway Safety Study Underway
• Launched Lorton 2040 Visioning Task Force
• Balanced budget with no tax rate increase and increased funding for environmental efforts
• Engaged in comprehensive County Strategic Planning
• Fully funded schools
• Completed zoning approval for Lorton Community Center & Library
• Adopted recommendations from Embark Housing Committee Report and the Affordable Housing Resource Panel
• Tourism Task Force collaboration and branding study
• Strategic Economic Development Task Force focused on bringing new development to the Richmond Highway Corridor

2019 Minor Accomplishments

• Renovated Cherry Arms Bus Stop
• Expanded Purple Bin Glass Recycling to MVDGC
• CRD Updates
• Presented Living in a Floodplain
• Kicked off Grist Mill Park master planning
• Held Successful Events – Town Meeting, Job Fairs, Ides of Bark

2018 Major Accomplishments

Community Connections

• Launched integrated District Economic Development Team
• Created interactive Embark Richmond Highway Corridor Presentation
• Developed new website, increased and improved all communication channels

FY 2019 Budget

• Adopted balanced budget and fully funded schools
• Increased teacher and police officer funding
• Audit Committee efficiency review

Public Safety

• Conducted the police body camera pilot at the Mount Vernon Station
• Completed community design outreach for future South County Police Station and Animal Shelter
• Hired 17 new police officers for future station

Transportation & Land Use

• Approved Embark Comprehensive Plan Amendment, leading the way for $1B+ investment in transportation and revitalization
• Secured $389M in NVTA funding for Richmond Highway widening, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and CSX/Route 1 replacement bridge
• Partnered with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and FCPS to establish community college classes at OMVHS
• Began Lorton 2040 Visioning
• Transitioned new Planning Commissioner, Walter Clarke
• Implemented short term lodging ordinances
• Supported renovation schedules for Stratford Landing ES, Hollin Meadows ES, Waynewood ES, Belle View ES, Newington Forest ES and Silverbrook ES
• Oversaw closure of Waste Management CDD Landfill
• Improved trails, sidewalks and roads throughout the District

Health & Human Services (HHS)

• Established new emergency housing and increased support for victims of domestic violence
• Championed additional affordable and workforce housing
• Completed community design outreach for new Lorton Community Center
• Drove development of North Hill work force housing
• Launched Embark Housing Advisory Group
• Community School at Whitman MS

Environment and Parks

• Created District Environmental Advisory Committee
• Hosted first Environment Expo and advocated for stronger County action
• Oversaw Fairchild property storm water management design completion
• Advocated to decrease airplane noise
• Initiated County-wide refocus on natural landscaping practices on County properties
• Implemented natural landscaping at Mt. Vernon Governmental Center

Hospitality and Tourism

• Launched Workhouse Arts Center Development Team and issued RFI to initiate new Campus investments
• Initiated Tourism Task Force
• Established Cultural Cultural Arts District between Workhouse Arts Center, Town of Occoquan and Occoquan Regional Park

Actively engaged with District Residents

• Hosted or sponsored 65 events, plus countless community meetings
• Phone calls 13,900+
• Emails 30,000+ 
• Meetings 1,100+

2017 Major Accomplishments

• Original Mount Vernon High School open and renovation planning started.
  • New Fire Marshal Office
  • New School Student Registration Office
  • Gymnasium open with organized youth activities
  • Community Steering Committee established to drive renewal
• Police Body Camera Pilot Program approved for Mount Vernon District Station.
• One Fairfax to promote social equity launched.
• Northern Virginia Cultural Arts District established around the Workhouse Arts Center.
• Fairfax County’s 275th Anniversary celebrated.
• First lease under the Resident Curator Program for the Lorton Stempson House.
• Major new redevelopment projects started, including: Lorton’s Liberty, Huntington Club, Novus Kings Crossing and Riverside Apartments.
• Multiple transportation initiatives achieved:
  • Comprehensive Plan language draft complete to enable future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Metrorail on the Richmond Highway Corridor
  • Richmond Highway widening from Jeff Todd Way to Telegraph Road
  • Lorton Road and Workhouse Way widenings completed
• District Domestic Violence Committee established to open a local shelter, while increasing awareness and support systems.
• South Flow Alliance created to advocate for and secure decreased airplane noise.
• Lorton Community Center and South County Police Station and Animal Shelter Community Steering Committees established.
• Covanta Fairfax Energy-from-Waste Facility reopened with improved safety features and an enhanced public communication plan.
• Actively engaged with District Residents
  • Hosted or sponsored 50 events, plus countless community meetings
  • Phone calls 12,500+
  • Emails 25,000+ 
  • Meetings 850+

Additional 2017 Accomplishments

Increased Connections

• Remote video testifying to Board.
• Video recording and streaming of all BoS public meetings.
• New website launched.

Balanced FY 2018 Budget

• Higher school funding to support teachers.
• Increased police funding for officers.
• More community development funding.

Public Safety

• Police Commission recommendations continued implementation.
• Independent Police Auditor hired.
• Police body cameras pilot at the Mount Vernon District Station approved.
• New South County Police Station on schedule.
• Hire 15 net new police officers for new station (5 hired in 2017, 20 planned for FY 2019).
• Police Civilian Review Panel appointed.

Land Use

• Development schedules still on track for:
  • Original MVHS occupancy and development planning
  • ESI Lorton CDD Landfill closing- 2018
  • North Hill opening- 2019
  • Richmond Hwy widening- 2025
  • Embark BRT operating- 2028
• Land Use Community Council engaged.
• Major initiative to modernize zoning ordinances (zMod) launched.
• Short term rental zoning ordinance review started.
• Huntington Levee groundbreaking.

Transportation

• Improved trails, sidewalks, and roads throughout the district.
• Mason Neck Trail new segment opened.
• Quander Road improvements started.

Schools

• South County High School Teen Job Fair highly successful with over attendees.
• Bucknell Elementary School renovation completed.
• Woodlawn Elementary School renovation completed.

Health & Human Services

• Increased County services in Mount Vernon District area, including local fire marshal office and new school student registration office.
• Increased support for domestic violence victims and families through local County support team.
• Enhanced senior independence, development and engagement through Senior Safety Summit.

Environment/Parks

• Renovate Fairchild property storm water management (ongoing).
• Belle View area sewer rehabilitation completed.
• Several storm water initiatives begun.
• Board Environmental Vision updated.
• Environmental Advisory Committee established.

Hospitality & Tourism

• Cultural Corridor planning underway.
• Mount Vernon Historical Society established.

2016 Major Accomplishments

• Built a responsive Mount Vernon District Team with new communication tools and increased outreach
  • Facebook
  • Monthly newsletter and public meeting reminders
  • Board meeting updates
  • Extended evening and weekend hours
• Initiated Legislative Roundtable with District elected representatives
• Initiated District County Boards, Authorities and Commissions appointees' Guidance and Expectations and annual meeting
• Approved FY 2017 Balanced Budget, fully funding schools
• Increased Police communications, transparency and civilian oversight
• Initiated spot improvements for District roads and trails
• Human Services Bond passed funding Lorton Community Center and Kennedy Homeless Shelter renovation
• Actively engaged with District Residents
  • Hosted or sponsored 40 events, plus countless community meetings
  • Phone calls 6,800+
  • Emails 18,500+ 
  • Meetings 700+
• Launched the Inaugural Tour de Mount Vernon – a 50 mile bike ride through the District