Messages
from Supervisor McKay
Quality
of life—hard to describe when it’s good
but you know it when it’s bad. When the property
next door or down the block has a front yard jungle
that defies a lawnmower to get through, you can’t
ignore the community impact. Most of us work hard to
be good neighbors and we expect that those around us
will share our sense of community. Sometimes, though,
whether because of illness, age, geographic distance,
or just plain irresponsibility, owners let their properties
decline.
That’s where government
needs to step in and lend a hand. At the January 28
Board of Supervisors meeting, Chairman Connolly and
I introduced a Board Matter asking County staff to act
on code amendments that would streamline our grass enforcement
process. We held a public hearing and subsequently approved
the proposed amendments on April 28.
Grass is in violation of County code when it is over
12 inches high on a lot of a half acre or less. We streamlined
our enforcement process so that compliance time is now
reduced to 14 days. Before these amendments, the process
was open ended with multiple notices of violation sent
to the property owner over a period of 60 to 90 days.
Only one notice is served, either
in person or by posting it on the property. You can’t
miss the notice—it’s an 8 ½ x 11
neon green sheet of paper. If the property appears to
be vacant, the notice is also sent by registered mail
to the owner’s last known address.
If the property owner does not
cut the grass, then, after 14 days, the County will.
(Should the property owner file an appeal, the process
will take longer.)
The cost of cutting the grass
is charged to the property owner and collected in the
same way that property taxes are collected. In most
cases, the minimum cost for the County to cut the grass
on a half-acre lot is $250.
If you would like copies of
these Board Matters, please contact my office at 703-971-6262
or leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov. Keeping our neighborhoods
healthy is as important to me as it is to you so please
don’t hesitate to call my office if you have any
concerns about overcrowding, zoning violations, or neglect.
I look forward to the day when these problems are rare—in
the meantime, my staff and I will ensure that the county
investigates and acts.
Summer in Lee District
We hear a lot these days about
how important a sense of place is to a community. While
many different things go into creating a sense of place,
interesting places to go and things to do are certainly
part of it. I hope you’ll take advantage of some
of the things this summer that make Lee District special.
Lee
District Nights
You can relax and enjoy free concerts al fresco at 7:30
pm every Wednesday from June 4 through August 27 in
the amphitheater at Lee District Park.
We’ve got music covered on Saturdays, too. Our
Kingstowne Nights concerts have changed day and location—look
for them at Hayfield Elementary School at 7:30 pm every
Saturday evening from June 7 through August 30.
You’ll find the full schedule at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/downloads/08LeeDistWeb.pdf
Farmers
Markets
Enjoy fresh produce and help to support local producers
by shopping at the Kingstowne Farmers Market every Friday
from 4-7 pm. The market is located in the Kingstowne
Giant shopping center near the Sunoco Gas Station and
will be open through October 24.
You can also shop at other farmers’ markets near
Lee District—check the County’s Park Authority
website for details at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/farm-mkt.htm
Huntley
Meadows Park
Often called the jewel of the Fairfax County park system,
this 1,425 acre park includes forests, meadows, and
wetlands. Huntley Meadows is a prime birding spot with
more than 200 species identified in the park. For more
information, including visitor center hours, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/
or call 703-768-2525.
Historic
Huntley
This federal period villa on Harrrison Lane near Huntley
Meadows Park was built in 1825 and was acquired by the
Park Authority in 1989. The site is open for school
or scout tours and during semiannual events. Call Huntley
Meadows Park at 703-768-2525 to arrange a tour for your
school or scout group. Additional information about
Historic Huntley is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/histhunt/.
Franconia
Museum
Located in the Franconia Governmental Center at 6121
Franconia Road, this museum celebrates local history.
Did you know that Franconia was the birthplace of the
first Virginia governor from northern Virginia, witness
to a Mosby raid, and the home of a thriving Afro-American
community called Carrolltown?
More information about the museum, programs, and hours
of operation are available at its website at http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Franconia/Franconia_Main.html
or send an email to Franconiamuseum@yahoo.com
Kingstowne
Center for Active Adults
If you’re retired and looking for interesting
things to do, check out Lee District’s newest
center for active adults. It’s most definitely
not your father’s senior center. Located next
to the library at 6488 Landsdowne Center, it’s
open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. Check
out www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec/senior_ctr/kingstowne.htm
or call 703-550-0134 for a detailed list of activities.
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