New Virginia Law to Crack Down on Illegal Boarding Houses

Sen. Chap Petersen (Fairfax City) introduced the bill, which will make it easier for local officials to enforce a growing number of zoning violations across Fairfax County.

A new Virginia law will make it easier for localities to prosecute the renters behind illegal boarding houses. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the bill, SB 894, into law in March, giving local officials the power to issue summons and fines directly to renters, leasers or subleasers for zoning violations. Sen. Chap Petersen introduced the bill.  "Unfortunately illegal boarding houses have become a problem in Virginia,” Petersen said in a statement. “What this law means is that if you have an illegal boarding house in your community, law enforcement can go directly to the person living in that home and breaking the law." In Virginia, no more than four unrelated people are legally allowed to live in a single-family home. In an email to Patch, …

• Photos (1)

VIDEO: Local Officials Share What They're Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, Fire Chief Ronald L. Mastin of Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and Captain Randy Joyce, commander of Mount Vernon Police District, share what they're looking forward to during the holiday season.

Some of your local officials share what they're thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. Upload your videos, photos and comments about what you're thankful for and your favorite part of the holiday season.

•  3 Comments
• Videos (1)

Supervisor Herrity to Discuss Fairfax County Parkway Improvements

Herrity and members of the Springfield District Council will discuss improvements along Fairfax County Parkway and how it's affecting traffic.

Supervisor Pat Herrity, the Springfield District Council, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation will discuss the improvements taking place along Fairfax County Parkway during a town meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m.  at Robinson Secondary School. Although there are some successes with the improvements along this major road, it has caused significant congestion. The town meeting will take place to "get in front of the problem and establish a vision for its long-term future before we wake up and find the Parkway as congested as I-66," according to a recent news release. The following will be discussed during Tuesday's meeting:

• Photos (1)

Richmond Not Likely to Help Transportation Funding Gap

State senator weighs in as Fairfax County kicks off public meetings about $3 billion shortfall.

Though state-level taxes are among the ways Fairfax County could help close a 10-year, $3 billion shortfall in transportation funding, Va. Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37) said in a community outreach meeting Tuesday he wasn't confident help from Richmond was coming. “It’s just very, very difficult in this climate in this country right now to raise taxes,” Marsden said. The remarks came as Fairfax County officials kicked off a series of public outreach meetings Tuesday in Springfield to gather input on how to address the shortfall. From now until fiscal year 2021, the county has $8.1 billion in needs but anticipates only $5.1 billion in revenues. That gap leaves a $3 billion deficit over 10 years, or $300 million per year. Tom Biesiadne, county …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Navid Roshan

12:38 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012

The problem becomes at the same time as wanting the public private partnership they are demonized as they have been in Tysons for "profiting developers" They profit everyone, and yes developers will make money but that is capitalism. At the end of the day everyone benefits. I think one of the bigger issues we need to look at here is what exactly are ALL of the projects and who do they really …   more ›

Defense Cuts, Washington Gridlock Focal Points of Kaine-Allen Debate

The two U.S. Senate candidates talked about sequestration and the economy in McLean Thursday.

MCLEAN — The potential $500 billion in defense cuts looming in Washington took center stage Thursday at the Capital One Conference Center during the first of three debates between U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen. The cuts — $1 trillion in total under the banner of "sequestration" — could cost the Old Dominion thousands of jobs, particularly in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Once meant as a stopgap measure, the continuing partisan divide in Washington has transformed them into a real threat. Kaine, a Democrat and former governor, presented his plan to solve the problem, which largely revolves around ending Bush-era tax cuts to individuals making more than $500,000 annually and cutting subsidies to the five largest …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Photo Gallery

Photos: Eleventh Annual Springfield BridgeWalk

Community, Fort Belvoir Reaffirm Partnership at Springfield BridgeWalk

Fort Belvoir soldiers, Springfield-area business owners, local politicians, school groups and citizens marched across Veterans Bridge Tuesday evening for the 11th annual Springfield BridgeWalk. Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay organizes the event each year to affirm the support of the local community for those who serve in the military, especially those at Fort Belvoir and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir North. The BridgeWalk began in 2002 to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11 and to thank the men and women of the armed forces, he said. The Kings Park Concert Band played marches and patriotic tunes, as those who marched then gathered at American Legion Post 176 for the annual signing of the Army Community …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (19)

Republicans to Open Victory Office Saturday in Springfield

GOP headquarters in Springfield designed to help elect Mitt Romney, George Allen, Frank Wolf, Chris Perkins and Patrick Murray

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity and former first lady Susan Allen will be on hand Saturday to help open a Republican campaign headquarters in Springfield. Herrity and Allen will participate in the grand opening of the office at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at 6320 Augusta Drive, Suite 900. The office, dubbed the Springfield Victory Office, will be a local headquarters for election efforts to help GOP candidates: Campaign donors in and around Springfield ZIP codes are giving to both presidential candidates, according to the Virginia Public Access Project: Elections are scheduled for Nov. 6.

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

MizScarlettsMammy

11:07 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012

Oh, I think not!   more ›