Public Affairs

Fairfax County Deputy County Executive for Public Safety Dave Rohrer today issued a report on his review of allegations made by Fire and Rescue Department Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley in her Jan. 29 resignation as interim Women's Program Officer for the department. The review was conducted at the request of County Executive Bryan Hill.

Rohrer examined the specific complaints and allegations made by Stanley to determine whether they had been reported, investigated and reviewed in accordance with county policies and procedures. As part of the review, Rohrer and the human resources director met with Stanley to discuss the allegations and her concerns.

In cases where the review determined complaints or allegations had not been previously reported, they were assigned for immediate appropriate action. In other cases, the review determined that the allegations had already been appropriately investigated by the county’s Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs. Of those complaints reviewed by OHREP, some were substantiated while others were not.

“The county and FRD are committed to making improvements and change to benefit all FRD members, whether uniformed, volunteer or civilian,” Rohrer noted. “We need to acknowledge that change is not always readily accepted and the change process can be hard, but we have to be committed and consistent in our approach. We do need, however, to be more strategic in change management and communication. We must communicate more broadly a sense of both purpose and urgency."

Hill and senior leadership have met with representatives from all 10 of the work groups charged with implementing the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Organizational Climate Review Action Plan. That plan was created in response to an independent cultural assessment that identified challenges related to leadership, dedication, perceptions of bullying and harassment, hiring and promotions and conflict management.

“The cultural concerns in the Fire and Rescue Department stem from varied issues,” Hill wrote in a memo to the Board of Supervisors. “Our goal now is to understand these concerns as we move our great department forward. As I have begun my tenure in Fairfax County, our ultimate goal is to understand the past to effectuate the needed change for our future as our community deserves our best.”

Related Items

• Report on Review of Allegations from Deputy County Executive Dave Rohrer
• Memo to the Board of Supervisors from County Executive Bryan Hill
• Statement from Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova:
  “I am grateful to our county executive for working to better understand and further address cultural concerns that have been raised within the Fire and Rescue Department. Fairfax County is committed to continuing to move the department forward to ensure a healthy work environment, effective internal communication and equal opportunities for professional development and leadership advancement.”

The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval on Feb. 22 for the proposed, new land use plan that supports walking, biking, and a bus rapid transit system on Richmond Highway.

Commissioners adopted 83 changes to the county’s original draft of the land use plan. More than 70 of these revisions were requested by the 14 community, environmental and historical groups that testified on the proposal.

For the past two years, county officials have been working to update the land use plan for the 7.5-mile corridor as a first needed step towards building the future bus system.

The proposal also supports two future Metro stations along the highway, extending the rail system’s Yellow line to Hybla Valley.

Overall, the plan calls for concentrating more mixed use development, especially residential, within a half mile around the nine bus rapid transit—or BRT—stations. It also envisions new ways to get around, providing continuous walking and bike paths along the corridor as well as the BRT system.

While the total amount of new development proposed isn’t significantly more than the current land use plan, the proposal calls for more residential development. In total, the plan foresees a maximum of 18,000 housing units and 8.5 million square feet in non-residential development.

New, interconnected park spaces are envisioned along the corridor. The parks will be strategically located at each of the BRT stations and distributed throughout the station areas, providing places for people to recreate and enjoy nature and opportunities to reference historic resources through their design. The proposal also features two new, innovative concepts for open space called livability and ecological spines. These spines are continuous park spaces that are integrated with streets and buildings.

Livability spines act as alternative main streets to Richmond Highway, creating destinations for shopping, recreation and gathering outdoors. These spines integrate local streets with pedestrian and bike paths, linear parks, plazas and retail and restaurants.

Ecological spines highlight the streams that were diverted into channels or underground tunnels before modern environmental regulations. Many of these currently hidden streams will be “daylighted,” incorporating them into the street design. These spines could offer boardwalks, seating, gathering areas, trails, fitness equipment and other passive recreation spaces, as well as help make connections to existing residential neighborhoods.

The corridor is home to six community business centers, areas planned for future development.The proposal concentrates most of the future growth into four of these centers: Penn Daw, Beacon/Groveton, Hybla Valley/Gum Springs and Woodlawn. The densest development would be focused in Beacon/Groveton and Hybla Valley, the locations for the two future Metro stations.

Today, the four centers are dominated by suburban retail and strip malls. Under the plan, they would be transformed into places with distinct characters and identities:

• Penn Daw: Encompassing the crossroads where North and South Kings Highways meet Richmond Highway, this center is planned as a transit gateway due to its proximity to the Huntington Metro. It is planned for 2,910 housing units, 2,663 jobs and 915,000 square feet in non-residential development. Buildings will reach up to 15 stories along the highway closest to the BRT station. This center will feature a livability spine on the east side of the highway.
• Beacon/Groveton: It is envisioned as the urban town center and focal point or the entire corridor. Beacon/Groveton is planned for approximately 1.3 million square feet in non-residential development, 4,200 housing units and 3,560 jobs. With a Metro station, the plan allows for an additional 1.8 million square feet in non-residential development. Because it is a town center, Beacon Groveton is planned to have the tallest buildings along the corridor, reaching up to 22 stories closest to the BRT station, taking advantage of the potential views to Old Town Alexandria and Washington D.C. On the west side of the Richmond Highway, a central civic plaza will connect to the BRT station, and this plaza is intended to host large community events like festivals, farmers markets and outdoor performances. The plaza will also link to a livability spine.
• Hybla Valley/Gum Springs: This center contains ecological resources, including streams that connect to Huntley Meadows Park, and a rich historical legacy, including the Gum Springs community. At more than 1.25 miles long, it’s also the longest center in the corridor, and it is planned for three BRT stations and a future Metro station. The center will feature three ecological spines. Two will incorporate local roads and the third will not, primarily designed as a waterway and walking and biking path located between residential uses. In total, Hybla Valley is planned for 2.4 million square feet of non-residential development, 3,400 dwelling units and 6,460 jobs. With the construction of a Metro station, the plan permits an additional 910,000 square feet in non-residential development.
• Woodlawn: Because it located near major historic sites, including Mount Vernon, Washington’s Grist Mill, Woodlawn and PopeLeighey House, this center is imagined as a mixed-use neighborhood and tourist hub. A central feature for this center is a network of shared walking and biking paths that lead from this center to the area’s historic attractions. To support tourism, the plans envisions a hotel with conference center to be located near the BRT station and center’s livability spine. The plan calls for a maximum of 786,000 square feet in non-residential development, 1,020 housing units and 2,281 jobs.

The new land use plan for the corridor must ultimately be approved by the Board of Supervisors. The board is currently scheduled to hold a public hearing on the plan at its March 20 meeting.

The county began its efforts to update to this plan in May 2015, following the board’s authorization to look at land uses within half a mile of proposed BRT stations. The planning efforts were aided by a 13-member advisory group, and six major community meetings and numerous neighborhood meetings over two years to help gather public feedback.

The future bus rapid transit system will run primarily in the median from the Huntington Metro station to Fort Belvoir, and eventually extend to the countyline at the Occoquan River. Buses are expected to run between every six to 10 minutes between the nine BRT stations planned along the corridor.

Embark Richmond Highway is the overall project to revamp the corridor’s land use plan, widen the highway to six lanes along the entire corridor, provide continuous sidewalk and bicycle facilities and build a BRT system.

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When Fairfax County first wrote its zoning rules for restaurants 36 years ago, fast casual eateries like Panera, Elevation Burger or Pei Wei didn’t exist.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors took action to modernize its zoning definitions for restaurants.

The changes are important because the outdated regulations created challenges for many restaurants that are a growing segment of, and vital to, the county’s retail economy. Fast casual restaurants, for example, have had sales growth that topped 12 and 13 percent nationwide in the last two years, according to Technomic, a research firm that tracks the restaurant industry.

The update simplifies and clarifies the definitions for restaurants and where they can locate, making them more flexible and adaptable to any future changes in the industry.

Until now, the county defined restaurants based on how they operate, using these characteristics to distinguish between traditional sit-down and fast food restaurants. The classifications considered whether employees bring food is to a customer’s table, individual menus are given out or whether disposable plates and silverware are used. Fast casual restaurants have blurred these distinctions, and some traditional sit down restaurants and fast food restaurants are changing their models consistent with this trend.

As a result, the county streamlined and simplified its zoning definitions into three categories: one for restaurants, one for restaurants with drive-through service and one for carryout restaurants.

The zoning changes also removed some of the use limitations. For example, the previous rules restricted the size or number of restaurants allowed in a shopping center based on their square footage, percentage of the building or the number of other uses. These limitations presented an unnecessary obstacle to filling vacant retail space in shopping centers at a time when many other retailers are closing their brick-and-mortar stores.

The new rules also ended the restrictions on where restaurants and carryouts could locate in office districts. The previous rules limited restaurants to office buildings with a minimum of 90,000 or 100,000 square feet depending on the zoning district. By removing this building size restriction, this could help smaller office buildings revitalize and offer existing tenants in those buildings new customer opportunities.

The changes also allow for restaurants to add limited outdoor seating without requiring additional parking like some neighboring jurisdictions. Outdoor seating is important because it helps to contribute a location’s vibrancy, character and sense of place.

To craft it’s new zoning rule for restaurants, county staff and officials sought public input from residents and industry representatives.

The update makes up part of the county’s overall project to modernize its zoning ordinance, known as zMod. Officials are working to update specific, key zoning provisions, like the recent changes to allow greater flexibility to make minor modifications to approved rezonings, and the county just launched its effort to make the ordinance more user-friendly.

Residents are encouraged to attend a Jan. 24 community meeting to learn more about the zMod project, as well as take an online survey that will be available through Feb. 14.

For more information, contact the Fairfax County Zoning Administration Division at 703-324-1314, TTY 711.

Following a recent change to more easily allow empty office buildings in mixed use and industrial areas to be converted into other uses, Fairfax County officials are looking to expand this flexibility to offices in suburban neighborhoods.

To introduce this proposal, the county will hold a community meeting on Monday, January 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, conference rooms 9 and 10, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.

At this meeting, county planners will seek public feedback on what kinds of conversions to allow and the criteria and conditions for offices to be eligible for conversion, such as ensuring they are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods.

The proposal would allow vacant or partially vacant offices to be turned into other uses without requiring a site-specific change to the land use plan, known as the Comprehensive Plan. This could give these offices new life as apartments, schools, co-working spaces, maker spaces or food incubators. As an example, a former, five-story brick office building across from the Seven Corners Shopping Center was converted into Bailey's Upper Elementary, the county's first "high rise" school.

Even if this proposal is adopted, most eligible office buildings would still need to go through a rezoning process. This process offers many opportunities for community input, including public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

Officials want to expand the conversion provisions to suburban office buildings as a way to deal with the more than 18 million square feet in vacant office space countywide.

The Planning Commission is currently scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposal on March 22, and the Board of Supervisors, which must ultimately approve it, plans to hold its public hearing on May 1.

Last December, the board directed county planners to move forward with this proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment.

A new, modern, resident-focused website is critical for Fairfax County Government’s digital business and informational future.

After many months of work, here is the initial version of a new county government website at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Fairfax County Fire Chief Richard Bowers, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and county staff, has released the “Organizational Climate Review Action Plan,” developed in response to issues identified in an organizational assessment of the department completed earlier this year by the Titan Group, a human resources consulting firm.

“This action plan presents the men and women of the Fire and Rescue Department with the opportunity to strengthen our organization. Accomplishing the goals and initiatives presented will take hard work and determination and we will not accomplish them overnight," said Bowers. "However, I know that we are up to the task and committed to making a lasting positive imprint that will serve our department today and into the future.”

The organizational assessment was based on the perceptions of FRD members who participated and it identified five core themes of the department’s culture: dedication; leadership; bullying/harassment/discrimination; conflict management; and hiring/promotions.

The action plan focuses on the organizational climate and cultural change, centered around five corresponding goals: enhancing and sustaining dedication and creating a safe, positive and welcoming workplace environment; enhancing and sustaining effective leadership and professional development; reviewing and enhancing policies, education, training, reporting, compliance and investigative/accountability practices to ensure zero tolerance of bullying, harassment, discrimination and retaliation; developing, enhancing and providing effective human relations and conflict resolution training, policies and strategies; and reviewing and ensuring effective, fair and equitable hiring, retention and promotional opportunities, processes and practices.

The plan is intended to be a “living document” and will require revisions as work progresses.

Preliminary objectives and initiatives have been developed for each goal through a collaboration among Bowers, FRD senior staff, topic-specific workgroups and an Executive Review Committee including Fairfax County Executive Ed Long and Deputy County Executive for Public Safety Dave Rohrer along with representatives from various county agencies including Human Resources, Human Rights and Equity Programs and the County Attorney’s Office.

Fairfax County Executive Ed Long has presented an organizational assessment of the county’s Fire and Rescue Department, produced by the Titan Group, a division of Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., to the Board of Supervisors.

The report covered discrimination, harassment, retaliation and bullying, as well as equal employment issues, workforce morale, internal communications, leadership, and the sufficiency and effectiveness of existing Fire Department and county complaint and grievance procedures.

“I am very proud of our Fire and Rescue Department. These individuals risk their lives for our safety every day,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “The county and Fire Chief Richard Bowers requested this study to help us identify those areas needing improvement. The findings in this report have brought some important issues to our attention that must be addressed. It is critical that every member of the Fire and Rescue Department is treated with dignity and respect.”

The cultural assessment report was based on the perceptions of department members who participated and it identified five core themes of the department’s culture based on the most prevalent responses and comments from participants.

• Dedication – Noted to be high across the department. A low attrition rate was noted with a high number of respondents acknowledging job security.
• Leadership – Generally positive comments were given about station level commanders and civilian supervisors, but concerns were raised about senior management including a lack of trust and accountability, as well as a fear of retaliation.
• Bullying/Harassment/Discrimination – There is a perception that these issues do exist in some areas of the department and need to be proactively addressed to change the current culture.
• Conflict Management – A lack of trust in senior management and a lack of understanding of the department and county grievance process, and perception that discipline is unfair and not applied consistently.
• Hiring/Promotions – Members expressed concerns that the department hires applicants who do not have the necessary experience, motivation and skills, and that competitive selection processes for staff positions and promotions are perceived as unfair and not equitable.

These themes were identified from the responses to an online survey of uniformed, volunteer and civilian members of the department. This survey was distributed to department members by email, kept open for three weeks, and had a 62 percent response rate. In addition, 65 one-on-one interviews were conducted and 33 members participated in focus groups. Personnel were selected randomly for the interviews and focus groups. Additional one-on-one interviews were conducted with personnel who specifically requested to be interviewed. Also, 16 members of the department who had previously filed a grievance or complaint were asked to be interviewed, and eight agreed to participate.

In addition to identifying these core theme areas, the report also included recommendations for future action. The county executive has established an Executive Review Committee, which will oversee the implementation of changes and improvements made in response to the report. 

“It is clear from the results of the cultural assessment of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department that we have some challenges ahead. I take these results very seriously. Under my leadership, and with the support of my senior management team and county leadership, we have the opportunity to strengthen the department as we move forward. The issues will not be solved overnight and with any cultural shift, it will take time and hard work to bring about the necessary transformation, which I am committed to doing,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers.

“My responsibilities will be to review the assessment in detail, form work groups to include representatives from various stakeholders, including employee groups, diverse department members, and partners such as the Department of Human Resources and the Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs, and develop an action plan for the Executive Review Committee by May 1, 2017.”

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David A. Oblon will be presented his official commission as a Fairfax Circuit Court judge on Friday, Jan. 5, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse, Courtroom 5J, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony. (The “snow date” for the ceremony is Friday, Jan. 19).

At the ceremony, Delegate Richard C. (Rip) Sullivan Jr. will present Oblon with his official commission and Oblon’s law school friend, 17th Judicial Circuit Clerk of Court Paul F. Ferguson, will ceremoniously administer the oath. Oblon previously took his oath of office on Dec. 21. State Senator Scott A. Surovell and retiring Delegate David B. Albo will make some remarks. 

Before joining the Circuit Court, Oblon served almost a decade as a substitute judge for the General District Courts while engaged in private practice with the law firm Albo & Oblon, L.L.P.

Oblon earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University and his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law (now the Antonin Scalia Law School).

For more information and reasonable ADA accommodations, contact Kim Callahan, Fairfax County Circuit Court, at 703-246-4166, TTY 711.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Bryan Hill as county executive, effective Jan. 2, 2018. Hill is currently the James City County, Va., administrator and clerk to its Board of Supervisors. He replaces Edward L. Long, who retired in September. Kirk Kincannon is currently serving as acting county executive.

“The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is pleased to welcome Bryan Hill to Team Fairfax,” says Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “Bryan brings impressive leadership, management, communications and budget experience to the table, and we look forward to working alongside him. Fairfax County is on a great track, and we are confident Bryan will continue to build upon a foundation of excellence for both our workforce and county residents.”

Hill has been with James City County since 2014, and he previously spent seven years with Beaufort County, S.C. as deputy county administrator.

At James City County, Hill is responsible for oversight of staff, major infrastructure projects, economic development, transportation initiatives and the development and implementation of the county’s first strategic plan. He recently led the realignment of the county’s debt portfolio, which resulted in AAA ratings from each of the three major bond rating agencies.

“Bryan was an asset to our county and we are very proud of his outstanding accomplishments,” says Kevin Onizuk, chairman of the James City County Board of Supervisors. “I am confident his hard charging leadership, finance and budget expertise and forward thinking will build upon Fairfax County’s already excellent foundation. We will certainly miss Bryan’s teamwork, outstanding personal integrity and strong character. Fairfax is lucky to have him and we wish him great success for years to come in his new position.”

Hill also has served as the vice chancellor for finance and operations at the University of South Carolina's Beaufort/Bluffton Campus, and as the director of finance for the University of Maryland’s Office of Information and Technology as well as director of administration for the Department of Aerospace Engineering

“Selecting a county executive is the most important hire the Board of Supervisors undertakes,” says Board Vice Chairman Penny Gross. “Working with a consultant, the board reviewed dozens of applications, selected several talented candidates for interviews and fully participated in the lengthy selection process. As Personnel Chair, I especially look forward to working with Bryan Hill on issues of importance to our county workforce.”

Hill is the recipient of an award for academic excellence from the American Association of Budget and Program Analysts, and while at the University of Maryland, he earned the A. James Clark School of Engineering Staff Award and a commendation from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at its 50th anniversary celebration.

He has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Alfred University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. Hill will receive an annual salary of $250,000.

Bulova also applauded Kincannon for his work. “I would like to thank our acting county executive for his fantastic work and support over the past few months while the Board of Supervisors and Human Resources Department underwent the county executive search and hiring process,” she says.  

News Highlights

• Fairfax County updated its zoning rules to allow homeowners and other property owners to make minor modifications to previously approved developments.
• The proposed change is part of the effort called zMod to modernize the county's Zoning Ordinance.

Fairfax County approved a change to its zoning rules to allow homeowners and building owners to make minor modifications to previously approved developments. The Board of Supervisors signed off on the changes at their Nov. 21, 2017 meeting.

The change will make it faster and easier for property and building owners to react to changing market or site conditions while retaining the protections embodied in a zoning approval and expected by the community.

The revision is needed to make the Fairfax’s zoning rules more responsive and user friendly to current conditions, said Barbara Byron, Director for the Fairfax County Office for Community Revitalization. The “minor modification” amendment is one of the changes that make up the county’s multi-year zoning modernization project dubbed "zMod".

Typically, land use actions are approved with a set of proffers or development conditions to address site specific and/or operational aspects of a development proposal. It is frequently the case that modifications to an approval are subsequently requested, either based on detailed design and engineering done at the time of construction, or because needs have changed over time. The zoning ordinance allows what are called “minor modifications” to be approved by the zoning administrator to address these issues.  Zoning rules have allowed this authority for the past 30 years; the new changes modestly expand this authority.

The changes add flexibility to existing provisions in four areas:

• Allowing rooftop solar panels or other innovative energy and environmental technologies that are less than 10 feet tall.
• Excluding from the definition of gross floor area, any incidental increase in interior space created by the replacement of a façade material on an existing building.
• Allowing a change in the color of signs and typeface provided they do not change the character of the approved sign.
• Making the current provisions regarding minor building additions consistent for all types of uses up to 250,000 square feet, at an amount of up to 5 percent of the approved floor area up to a maximum of 2500 square feet; or up to 1 percent for all uses above 250,000 square feet.
• Permit modifications that reduce setback dimensions up to 10% from that shown on an approved development plan.

This administrative authority is limited in nature and requires that any changes substantially conform with the approved proffers or conditions and do not materially alter the character of the approved development, reduce the effectiveness of landscape or screening, or adversely impact the relationship of an approved development to the adjacent properties.

These specific changes were proposed due to recent circumstances encountered by county zoning staff.

For example, Metro Park, an office park about two miles from the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station, wanted to install solar panels on the roof of one of its buildings to achieve a LEED platinum rating, the highest possible under this green building certification. The panels supported the county’s policy goal to encourage green building and environmental sustainability, yet they exceeded the proffered building height and therefore could not be approved administratively and required the filing and approval of a Proffered Condition Amendment application.

More recently, the Silverline Center’s owners sought to modernize their 44-year old, office building in Tysons. The upgrades were needed in order to keep the building competitive with higher class, new office space being built near the Metro stations.  The owners replaced the office’s old concrete façade with floor-to-ceiling glass. Because glass is thinner than the old panels, the building’s overall square footage would have exceeded the maximum permitted. To address this, the interior lobby and other spaces needed to be decreased in size. The Silverline Center’s successful transformation helped to advance the county’s plan to redevelop Tysons and encourage the repositioning or reuse of older office buildings.

The zoning ordinance amendment also would allow the Board of Supervisors to approve certain requests for minor variations to proffers, as action items with public notice:

• The addition or modification of a use which is not specifically precluded by proffers or conditions, if the new use does not have a greater land use impact than the approved uses would, based on factors such asparking, trip generation, vehicular circulation, or hours of operation. This would grant flexibility to allow for new uses in places such as shopping centers.
• An increase in building height based upon final engineering or design issues, provided the resultant height does not exceed 15 feet or 15% of the approved height, whichever is less,  exceed the maximum height of the zoning district, or have a materially adverse impact on adjacent properties.
• A modification to minimum yard dimensions, building setbacks or distances from peripheral lot lines, but only if the modified dimensions would not have a materially adverse impact on adjacent properties or other proffered conditions.
• The addition, modification or deletion of active or passive recreation uses at the request of the property owner or owners association, if the request is consistent with the objectives of the original zoning approval; does not reduce the recreational or open space below the minimum required for the zoning district or otherwise required by the Zoning Ordinance; and does not delete an approved but unbuilt facility.
• The modification of proffer commitments to technologies (such as computer business centers) or services (such as transportation shuttles) that are underutilized or have become ineffective or obsolete as circumstances have change
• Modification of architectural design, character, color, features, or materials for buildings and signs provided such modifications are of equivalent quality and do not have a materially adverse impact on adjacent properties.

The county’s parking garage at the Innovation Center Metro Station is an example of why officials are recommending the provision to allow for a small increase in building height. This garage that will serve SilverLine Metro riders was approved to be 50 feet tall. However, bedrock was found on that site, which would be very expensive to remove. As result, the county sought to raise the building’s height by eight feet, requiring the submission and approval of a Proffered Condition Amendment application, which added time and expense to the project.

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