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What Communities Said in February 2021
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Clarion Associates Consultant Don Elliott Comments
to Planning Commission on zMOD Update 2/3/2021
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Planning Commissioners Response to Clarion Associates Consultant
Don Elliott Comments on zMOD Update 2/3/2021
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​
Hart Letter to Planning Commission Chair 2/4/2021:
​
"Clarion is supposed to be working for Fairfax County. Maybe the consultants’ top priority at this stage is to sidestep the controversy, just finish up, reap praise and acclaim from the Board for their outstanding work. But the tone-deaf display last night was a sad insult to many civic minded citizens who have tried to contribute in a positive way to this difficult process."
Former Braddock District Planning Commissioner (Jan 2013-Jan 2020) Nell Hurley:
​
"During the years that this long and tedious "house cleaning" was underway, a few zoning updates did proceed individually thorugh the normal vetting process. We were assured that most difficult and contentious issues would come later and specifically NOT be part of zMod Phase One. However, the current zMOD iteration does contain some significant substantive changes that have not received the normal public vetting. Here are several among the details that should be clarified and resolved prior to the Planning Commission vote on zMOD."
Hart Letter to Planning Commission Chair 2/4/2021:
​
"Citizens expect Fairfax County's zoning ordinance to reflect painstaking excellence in drafting. Patient proofreading, and accurate cross-checking of statutory references, are essential steps to reach that goal. If ZMOD is going forward on Wednesday, unfortunately there remains little opportunity for a more careful review of the entire revised text, to get your recommendation done "right" rather and merely "fast."
Miller Comments on Planning Commission zMOD Q&A Session
with Staff on 3 Feb 2021:
​
"On 3 Feb, the Planning Commission conducted apublic !&A sessopm wotj staff as a follow up to the 28 Jan zMOD hearing. The 28 Jan hearing was limited to a staff presentation and public comments. Commissioners were not offered an opportunity to ask their questions, and residents were not allowed to comment on the staff's answers to those questions. The purpose of this paper is to comment on te information provided by staff to commissioner's questions during the 3 Feb session."
Johnston - Virginia Run Letter to Supervisor Smith
and Planning Commissioner Spain:
​
"However, there are several major policy changes for both Accessory Living Units (ALUs) and Home-Based Businesses (HBBs) have direct infrastructure impacts - such as on over-crowding in schools, over-taxed infrastructure, traffic congestion, and the potential negative impacts to water quality and storm water management, etc. - that have not been adequately considered by staff and the Clarion and Gartner consultants who advised the county on zMOD."
MacArthur Letter to Planning commissioner Niedzielski-Eichner
​
"Premature approval, I think, will have lasting, negative, repercussions not least of which will be citizen trust of and faith in our local governance. Now more than ever, we don't need that. Hit the pause button on zMOD."
Miller Submission of Additional Comments to Board of Supervisors
and Planning Commission
​
"The purpose of this paper is to address three additional issues discussed during the Q&A. Hopefully, commissioners can agree that the changes proposed by zMOD to P-district regulations and to regulations for cluster subdivision open space should not be adopted. The third topic addressed is prospects for limiting the density of HBBs and ALUs in neighborhoods."
Koerner Comments to Planning Commissioner Chair Pete Murphy
​
"The complexity shows that by-right ALU and HBB are not good ideas. Each property is unique and the specific circumstance must be considered. Public hearings to give neighbors a chance to provide input must be included. Please vote at least to separate these two issues from the rest of the ZMOD streamlining. Significantly more thought is required to keep us all safe."
Miller Comments on zMOD Proposed Flags and Flagpoles Ordinance Changes:
​
"Sign permits should be requried for all flags displayed held-open. In addition, administrative permits should be required for freestanding flagpoles. In the previous signs ordinance, permits were not required to display U.S., state, civic association, etc. flags. But content neutrality prohibits those exceptions today, and every flag held-open and every flagpole effectively is either a sign or waiting to be a sign."
Connection Newspapers Article on zMOD 2/10/2021
​
"GFCA opposed removing the permanent zoning district because that would eliminat a mechanism to preserve open and undeveloped spaces. This wold lead to increases in commuter traffic, possible impact on the water table, important given the use of wells in Great Falls, a more significant effect on school capacities and increased threats to the environment."
Johnston Letter to Planning Commission:
​
"There are many throughout the County who were disenchanged by the outrageous conduct and comments of Don Elliott. His attitude toward the citizens of Fairfax County confirmed my worst fears as displayed by his arrogance and anti-citizen attitude perspective, especially coming from one of our paid consultants, namely Clarion."
Former Braddock District Planning Commissioner (Jan 2013-Jan2020)
Nell Hurley Comments to Planning Commission on Flags:
​
"Doesn't US code supersede anything in our zoning laws? I strongly recommend the Planning
Commission check with the County Attorney re: "4 USC : Ch. 1 THE FLAG."
Former Braddock District Planning Commissioner (Jan 2013-Jan2020)
Nell Hurley Comments to Planning Commission on Flags:
​
"Doesn't US code supersede anything in our zoning laws? I strongly recommend the Planning
Commission check with the County Attorney re: "4 USC : Ch. 1 THE FLAG."
Click $ to reveal
Clarion Associates Consultant Don Elliott Comments
to Planning Commission on zMOD Update 2/3/2021
​
​
Planning Commissioners Response to Clarion Associates Consultant
Don Elliott Comments on zMOD Update 2/3/2021
​
​
Hart Letter to Planning Commission Chair 2/4/2021:
​
"Clarion is supposed to be working for Fairfax County. Maybe the consultants’ top priority at this stage is to sidestep the controversy, just finish up, reap praise and acclaim from the Board for their outstanding work. But the tone-deaf display last night was a sad insult to many civic minded citizens who have tried to contribute in a positive way to this difficult process."
Former Braddock District Planning Commissioner (Jan 2013-Jan 2020) Nell Hurley:
​
"During the years that this long and tedious "house cleaning" was underway, a few zoning updates did proceed individually through the normal vetting process. We were assured that most the difficult and contentious issues would come later and specifically NOT be part of zMod Phase One. However, the current zMOD iteration does contain some significant substantive changes that have not received the normal public vetting. Here are several among the details that should be clarified and resolved prior to the Planning Commission vote on zMOD."
Hart Letter to Planning Commission Chair 2/4/2021:
​
"Citizens expect Fairfax County's zoning ordinance to reflect painstaking excellence in drafting. Patient proofreading, and accurate cross-checking of statutory references, are essential steps to reach that goal. If ZMOD is going forward on Wednesday, unfortunately there remains little opportunity for a more careful review of the entire revised text, to get your recommendation done "right" rather than merely "fast."
Miller Comments on Planning Commission zMOD Q&A Session
with Staff on 3 Feb 2021:
​
"On 3 Feb, the Planning Commission conducted a public Q&A session with staff as a follow up to the 28 Jan zMOD hearing. The 28 Jan hearing was limited to a staff presentation and public comments. Commissioners were not offered an opportunity to ask their questions, and residents were not allowed to comment on the staff's answers to those questions. The purpose of this paper is to comment on the information provided by staff to commissioner's questions during the 3 Feb session."
Johnston - Virginia Run Letter to Supervisor Smith
and Planning Commissioner Spain:
​
"However, there are several major policy changes for both Accessory Living Units (ALUs) and Home-Based Businesses (HBBs) have direct infrastructure impacts - such as on over-crowding in schools, over-taxed infrastructure, traffic congestion, and the potential negative impacts to water quality and storm water management, etc. - that have not been adequately considered by staff and the Clarion and Gartner consultants who advised the county on zMOD."
MacArthur Letter to Planning commissioner Niedzielski-Eichner
​
"Premature approval, I think, will have lasting, negative, repercussions not least of which will be citizen trust of and faith in our local governance. Now more than ever, we don't need that. Hit the pause button on zMOD."
Miller Submission of Additional Comments to Board of Supervisors
and Planning Commission
​
"The purpose of this paper is to address three additional issues discussed during the Q&A. Hopefully, commissioners can agree that the changes proposed by zMOD to P-district regulations and to regulations for cluster subdivision open space should not be adopted. The third topic addressed is prospects for limiting the density of HBBs and ALUs in neighborhoods."
Koerner Comments to Planning Commissioner Chair Pete Murphy
​
"The complexity shows that by-right ALU and HBB are not good ideas. Each property is unique, and the specific circumstances must be considered. Public hearings to give neighbors a chance to provide input must be included. Please vote at least to separate these two issues from the rest of the ZMOD streamlining. Significantly more thought is required to keep us all safe."
Miller Comments on zMOD Proposed Flags and Flagpoles Ordinance Changes:
​
"Sign permits should be requried for all flags displayed held-open. In addition, administrative permits should be required for freestanding flagpoles. In the previous signs ordinance, permits were not required to display U.S., state, civic association, etc. flags. But content neutrality prohibits those exceptions today, and every flag held-open and every flagpole effectively is either a sign or waiting to be a sign."
Connection Newspapers Article on zMOD 2/10/2021
​
"GFCA opposed removing the permanent zoning district because that would eliminate a mechanism to preserve open and undeveloped spaces. This would lead to increases in commuter traffic, possible impact on the water table, important given the use of wells in Great Falls, a more significant effect on school capacities and increased threats to the environment."
Johnston Letter to Planning Commission:
​
"There are many throughout the County who were disenchanged by the outrageous conduct and comments of Don Elliott. His attitude toward the citizens of Fairfax County confirmed my worst fears as displayed by his arrogance and anti-citizen attitude perspective, especially coming from one of our paid consultants, namely Clarion."
BZA Member Max Beard's Farewell Comments on zMOD 2/10/2021:
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​
Former Braddock District Planning Commissioner (Jan 2013-Jan 2020)
Nell Hurley Comments to Planning Commission on Flags:
​
"Doesn't US code supersede anything in our zoning laws? I strongly recommend the Planning
Commission check with the County Attorney re: "4 USC : Ch. 1 THE FLAG."
Great Falls Dispatch: Great Falls community voices concerns over portions of proposed zoning changes
​
"Opposes the removal of the Residential-Preservation [zoning] District as it would eliminate a mechanism to preserve open and undeveloped spaces within the county. While the county has assumed that this zoning designation is unlikely to be sought in the future, there are properties that could still be zoned this way. Open spaces help to protect the environment, including water tables and wells, and better ensure that roads and school capacities are not adversely affected by increasing density."
The Fairfax County Times: For the first time in 42 years, Fairfax County is seeking to modernize zoning ordinances 1/19/2021
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"At the January 28 Board of Supervisors Planning meeting, over forty citizens spoke against ZMOD, with fewer than five speaking in favor. Many of the concerns about zMOD centered around the proposed changes to accessory living units and single family zoned houses."
Great Falls Dispatch: Great Falls Citizenss Association Opposes Flag Restrictions
​
"While it, (zMOD) was intended to streamline the Zinong Ordinance to make it easier for citizens to read and intrepret its content, the County has taken it several steps further by including changes to contents of current regulation and adding new requirements," said a spokesperson for GFCA."