As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on some of what we’ve accomplished by working together in Lee District during 2006. 

County Budget:  Along with other localities in the country, we are hit hard by the national and state economic crisis.  Every County agency has been directed to roll back its budget by more than 15 percent; we have a hiring freeze and staff furloughs.  I’ve convened a budget advisory group to sift through the county Lines of Business and programs, looking for the must-saves, duplications, and live-withouts.  The goal is to save as much of the county services and quality of life as possible within our fiscal constraints.

Zoning and Code Enforcement:  I’ve pushed hard for the County to take a common sense approach to neighborhood issues.  The Strike Team received an additional $1.25 million, putting an additional coordinated enforcement team on the streets.  We’ve reduced the enforcement time on illegal uses for single family homes, uncut grass, and we’re now tracking foreclosed and vacant properties and sharing that information with police and fire to ensure community safety.

Transportation:  The missing segment of the Fairfax County Parkway from Rolling Road to Fullerton Road is finally under construction with completion expected in late 2010.  Additionally, Mulligan Road that will restore the connection to Route One, terminated when the Army closed Woodlawn road through Fort Belvoir after 9/11, will have preliminary design plans in early 2009.

Construction on the South Van Dorn pedestrian walkway linking the west side of South Van Dorn from Greendale village Drive to Telegraph Road is expected to be completed in late spring 2009.

Springfield Mall: Redevelopment of the mall is a major priority for me.  We have been successful in working with the mall owner in planning a complete transformation into a modern, pedestrian-oriented mixed-use town center.  Construction on the first phase—primarily upgrades to the existing mall—should begin in spring 2009.  The plan amendment for the second phase was approved in mid-November and the necessary rezoning is expected to go to the Board of Supervisors in early 2009.

Parks:  This fall, we completed our first rectangular synthetic turf field at Franconia Park.  Synthetic turf fields allow us to stretch our limited park dollars by increasing field capacity and tolerating higher use than natural turf fields.  They require no mowing, fertilizing or re-seeding, thus lowering maintenance costs.

Supervisor McKay Annual Open House
Saturday, January 31, 2009, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Community Room
Franconia Governmental Center
6121 Franconia Road
Alexandria, VA 22310
map: http://tinyurl.com/franconia-gc