Sully District Council of Citizens Associations

P.O. Box 230042
Sully Station, VA 20120-0042

Agenda for 25 September 2024 Sully District Council Meeting
by Jeff Parnes

1. The Sully District Council of Citizen Associations will meet meet in person at 7:00 p.m. on 25 September 2024 at the Sully Government Facility front Meeting Room, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA, 20151. We will also have a WebEx link so you will be able to join us virtually
Meeting Information:
The Sully District Council requires each participant in our online meetings to identify themselves. If your screen name does not provide enough information to identify yourself, or you are a call-in participant, you will be asked to to identify yourself. If after repeated requests, you choose not to do so, you will be disconnected from the meeting.
• Meeting link: https://webmaster2020.my.webex.com/webmaster2020.my/j.php?MTID=m5d7f328d4011419b6851efcdf8173456
• Meeting number: 798 657 178
• Password: pKKWb3X3QZ2
• Join by phone: +1-408-418-9388 (Access code: 798 657 178)


2. Time to renew your association's membership in the Sully District Council. Our membership application can now be submitted on line! Please complete it, and then print a copy to enclose with your check.

   Has yours made plans to join us for 2023?

3. Sully District Council is Social!
   • Sully District Council Tweets! — Follow us at @SullyDistrict!
   • Sully District Council is on Facebook! — Like us at @SullyDistrictCouncil!
   • Sully District Council is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel at Sully District Council!
   
   
4. The Sully District Council of Citizens Associations Membership will meet on 25 September 2024
Topics:
• Congressional Candidates Night
• We have invited candidates for Virginia's 10th and 11th congressional districts
In case none choose to participate, the meeting will be cancelled
.
Due to an lack of response from three of the candidates -- Mike Clancy, Gerry Connolly, and Suhas Subramanyam -- we were forced to cancel tonight's biannual Congressional Candidates meet and greet. It's unfortunate that only Mike Van Meter agreed to attend
5. The Joint Sully Land Use and Transportation Committee (JSDLU&TC) met on 16 September 2024. See the agenda for more information
Two items were discussed:
• The Special Exception process
• County Staff: William O'Donnell and Aaron Klibaner, Zoning Evaluation Division, Fairfax County Planning & Development
Their presentation PPTX PDF covered the land use review process, including how the Comprehensive Plan review is used and overall review process.
• Mission Evangelica Jerusalem LA Celestial, Inc, SP-2022-SU-00144
6. Old Business
• Data Centers
• In August the JSDLU&TC passed a resolution which was sent to the BOS expressing our strong objections and concerns regarding the proposed zoning ordinance amendment on Data Centers.
The resolution:
1. Reaffirmed Joint Committee's opposition to any zoning ordinance amendment which would allow data centers as a by-right use in any zoning district.
2. Disagreed with the conclusion that data centers must be a permitted by-right use in some zoning districts, so as to prevent special exception applications for data centers in unwanted locations. The Board of Supervisors retains precise control over in which zoning districts a special exception for a data center can be applied for, and in which zoning districts a data center is forbidden, which designations are unrelated to the specified application procedure. The Committee opposes the announced justification that requiring a special exception for data centers in all zoning districts will lead to a proliferation of data centers outside of industrial districts.
3. Again requested that all data centers in all zoning districts be subject to a special exception application process, with notice to neighbors, and open and meaningful public hearings with full citizen engagement.
4. Requested the Board of Supervisors direct staff to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the financial impact of data centers on the community, including the following components: a) the anticipated additional costs passed through to residential consumers, by both Dominion Power and NOVEC, for any additional infrastructure needed for data centers, such as substations and transmission lines; b) the anticipated negative effects on residential real estate values, particularly for residential properties in proximity to data centers; c) any anticipated reduction in tax revenue resulting from depressed real estate values of sites in proximity to data centers; d) the anticipated costs resulting from air and water pollution from data centers; e) the anticipated costs to public health resulting from data centers, including hospitalizations, illnesses, missed work and school absences; f) the reductions in tax revenue from any state-level legislative credits or tax breaks for data centers; and g) whether the above-listed costs of the data centers are greater than or less than the anticipated real estate tax revenue.
• A copy of the resolution made its way to WJLA, Channel 7, and Jeff was interviewed on September 9th as part of a report on BOS data centers public hearing. The segment can be seen on their website.
• On 10 September Jeff provided testimony reaffirming the Joint Committee's position before the board. The board adopted their amendment without any of the modifications requested by the joint Committee.
• This is Sully Supervisor Kathy Smith's report on the adoption of the Data Center Amendment:
On Tuesday, September 10, the Board of Supervisors approved a data center Zoning Ordinance amendment that strengthens regulations for new data centers in Fairfax County regarding their noise, building design, the environment, and proximity to residential areas.
Data centers supply the data storage and computing power needed to enable digital services like emails, streaming services, navigation, financial transactions, and business applications. During the computer's early stages, individual server rooms provided this function for organizations. However, the advancement of the internet led to an exponential growth in internet-reliant devices and services, which in turn created the need for sufficiently powerful digital infrastructure in the form of data centers. Northern Virginia's robust fiber optic network, relatively stable climate, and proximity to the nation's capital, among other factors, have historically attracted data center development to the region. Loudoun County and Prince William County have around 30 million square feet and 8 million square feet of data centers in operation, respectively. Fairfax County currently has less than 3 million square feet.
A summary of the key changes is available via the related NewsCenter article. Other relevant resources, including staff reports and recordings of past meetings, are available on the Data Centers webpage.
7. Items of General Interest:
   • Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations (Federation) 2025 Legislative survey
   • Please distribute and pass-on the survey to residents in your community and Fairfax County.
   • Let your civic opinions and ideas be known!
   • The annual Fairfax County Federation of Citizens’ Associations (Federation) on-line survey asks questions about a broad range of issues, from neighborhood to Nation, and is OPEN to all Fairfax residents. Your answers allow the Federation to create an annual Legislative Package shared publicly with the Fairfax Delegation to the General Assembly in Richmond as well as the residents of Fairfax County.
   • Select the opinion that best describes your ideas for the Federation. THANK YOU !
   • Link to the Survey
   • Survey open: September 24, 2024, to October 7, 2024
   • Please distribute and pass-on the survey to residents in your community and Fairfax County. Participate, share, and thanks for taking a couple of minutes to voice your opinion !ounty delegation to the Virginia General Assembly and to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. All survey responses are autonomous, with the only location identification requested being the mailing zip code of each respondent.

8. Scheduled Meetings/Events
• Celebrate Arctober Fest with the Fairfax County Park Authority
• Mark your calendars for a celebration of history, discovery and hands-on learning at this year’s Arctober Fest, held at the Sully Historic Site on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free, family-friendly event offers a unique opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of archaeology and learn about the incredible archaeological resources found in Fairfax County.
• Arctober Fest visitors will engage in an array of interactive, hands-on activities guided by expert archaeologists. Here’s what you can expect:
• Learn how to handle artifacts. Discover the do’s and don’ts when encountering historical objects in nature.
• Explore Fairfax County’s rich past and learn about the diverse history hidden beneath the soil in our local parks.
• Meet the archaeologists who are digging into Northern Virginia's past and hear their stories.
• See the latest archaeological tools and technology in action.
• Learn about career opportunities in the field.
• Whether you're a history buff, a student interested in archaeology or just someone curious about the past, this event is a great way to dig deep into the fascinating history of Fairfax County. For more information, visit the Archaeology Month webpage.
• Arctober Fest is made possible through a partnership between the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Friends of Fairfax County Archaeology and Cultural Resources.
9. Next Sully District meetings will take place at the Chantilly Highlands Community Center, 3225 Kinross Cir, Oak Hill, VA 20171, starting at 7 PM unless otherwise indicated:
   • The next Sully District Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, 23 October 2024
   • Topic: Join County staff from the departments of Land Development Services and Planning and Development for a presentation highlighting the Planning and Land Use System (PLUS) and the Planning and Zoning Viewer. These tools are essential to understanding development underway within the county.”
   • Next month's Joint Sully Land Use and Transportation Committee is scheduled for Monday, 21 October 2024.
   • 7:00 — Special Exception (SE-2022-SU-00004) for proposal to retrofit existing single-family detached house as congregate living facility for use as rehabilitation center for victims of human trafficking (up to 18 participants and 4 staff members).
   • 8:00 — 2025 Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA)
   Presenter: Lia Niebauer, Planner II, Policy and Plan Development Branch, Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey M. Parnes
President
Sully District Council