NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2026
|  | Dear MCA Members:
I hope everyone had a fun summer and that the back-to-school process for those of you with school-age children went smoothly. We are fortunate to live in a community that has such a great school system.
As you will read below, our MCA volunteers have been focusing on key issues affecting our area and working on upcoming events. For example, at the recent MCA Board meeting, we passed (1) a letter regarding “The Mile” development project in Tysons near Jones Branch Road and (2) a resolution questioning expenses and contractual arrangements related to the County’s solid waste management program.
And, there are many meetings and events coming up:
* On September 8, the MCA Transportation and Budget & Taxation Committees are cohosting a meeting with the county auditor who recently prepared an audit report examining the lengthy delays associated with county approval of sidewalk and intersection improvements – an issue that has long been one of MCA’s key concerns.
* On September 22, The MCA Planning and Zoning Committee will meet to discuss the County’s proposed changes regarding Accessory Living Units and the proposed residential development at Elm and Beverly and other area-development projects.
* On September 25, we hope you will be able to attend the Movie Under the Stars night hosted by the McLean Revitalization Corporation, an event supported by MCA.
* On October 10, we hope you can walk or run in the McLean 5K hosted by the McLean Community Foundation, MCA’s charitable affiliate.
* MCA is also looking into hosting a debate of congressional candidates this Fall. If we can arrange this, we will notify the MCA membership.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at president@mcleancitizens.org. If you are not a member of an MCA committee, I encourage you to join one. Contact information is available on the MCA website under “Committees.”
Respectfully,
Glenn Harris, President
McLean Citizens Association
| Budget & Taxation
Environment, Parks & Recreation
| MCA Urges Supervisors to Review Solid Waste Contract and Zero Waste Goals
At its September meeting, MCA approved a joint resolution proposed by the Budget & Taxation and Environment, Parks & Recreation Committees. The resolution urges the Board of Supervisors (BoS) to commission a cost benefit analysis that focuses on the conflicts between its solid waste contract, which imposes steep financial penalties for reducing waste tonnage, and the County’s Zero Waste goals, and, after reviewing that analysis, to consider altering the contract and/or the goals.
Fairfax County has a contract with ReWorld Fairfax, LLC (ReWorld), which owns and operates the I-95 Energy/Resource Recovery Facility (the I-95 Facility) at the County’s I-95 Landfill Complex in Lorton, VA. Under the contract, the County must deliver at least 617,500 tons of solid waste to the I-95 Facility to avoid paying penalties to ReWorld estimated to be several million dollars. The County is currently negotiating a possible ten-year extension of this contract to 2041.
However, the County has also adopted a “Zero Waste” Goal of diverting 90% of county solid waste away from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities, such as the I-95 Facility, by 2040. This goal appears to be inconsistent with the ReWorld contract penalty provisions.
MCA's resolution urges the BoS to defer any extension of the ReWorld contract until a cost-benefit analysis can be completed that covers the contract's penalties, waste transfer costs, and the costs of achieving the Zero Waste goal and further urges the BoS to consider whether changes to the ReWorld contract and the Zero Waste Goal are needed.
The next meeting of the Budget & Taxation Committee will be on September 17th at 7:30 p.m. in person at the McLean Community Center (the Committee typically meets on the third Thursday of the month). Please contact Committee Chair Louise Epstein for more information.
The next meeting of the Environment, Parks & Recreation Committee will be September 14th at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom (a change from the Committee's typical meeting cadence, which is the second Wednesday of the month, in person). Please contact Committee Chair Merrily Pierce for more information. | MCA Supports Townhouse Option for "The Mile" Tysons Development
MCA approved a letter supporting the amended rezoning application for "The Mile" Tysons development. The amended application provides an option to build single family attached and stacked townhouses and also addresses questions of ownership and maintenance of a planned “Signature Park.”
“The Mile” covers approximately 34 acres bordered by Jones Bridge Road, Westpark Drive, and Westbranch Drive in Tysons. The initial rezoning application, approved in July 2019, included high-rise apartment towers, office spaces, retail, and hotels. However, reflecting shifting Northern Virginia housing trends and market conditions, the developer has requested an amendment to include an option to replace some of the multi-family high-rise residential units with up to 250 modern townhomes.
The application was also updated with more details on the development's planned 5-acre publicly accessible "Signature Park" amenities, which will include a children's playground, sport pitches, and more. In addition, the proffers were updated to provide additional considerations for long term maintenance of the park. MCA recommends that park ownership reside with the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) to take advantage of their expertise and experience in park matters, but regardless of the ownership option selected, MCA encourages the building of the park as soon as possible, given the growing demand for such an amenity in Tysons.
| Community Groups Discuss Accessory Living Units
Fairfax County staff is considering proposals for relaxing the requirements for Accessory Living Units (ALU)s contained in the zoning ordinance and is seeking input from residents. Staff has prepared an ALU White Paper that details proposed changes to current regulations.
HOAs and other community groups that would like to apprise County staff of their opinions on ALUs may wish to hold community meetings and convey the results of those meetings to staff (the Planning & Zoning Committee held its own "community meeting" to discuss Accessory Living Units at its August 25th meeting.)
A Community Toolkit is available to assist in facilitating the discussion, along with a feedback form for forwarding responses to staff. Feedback should be submitted by September 28th.
Please visit the County Accessory Living Units website for more information.
The next meeting of the Planning & Zoning Committee will be September 22nd at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please contact Committee Chair Bob Perito for more information. | Tysons Liaison/Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition
| Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition Hosts Roundtable on
Market Rate and Affordable Housing in Tysons
The Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition (GTCC) invited members of MCA's Planning & Zoning Committee to join them for a late-August roundtable at the McLean Community Center to discuss market-rate, affordable, and workforce housing in Tysons. The roundtable featured three knowledgeable speakers from the public and private sectors:
- Josh White, Senior VP at LCOR, a real estate development, investment, and property management company and a former president of the Tysons Community Alliance, who focused on market rate housing in Tysons.
- Anna Shapiro, Deputy Director for Real Estate Finance and Development for the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), who described on how the County encourages the development of workplace and affordable housing.
- Carmen Romero, President and CEO of True Ground Housing Partners, a nonprofit real estate developer that builds, owns and preserves affordable housing, who detailed True Ground's approach to affordable housing in Tysons.
Watch the meeting video.
The next meeting of the GTCC, a panel discussion on data centers and their potential impacts on Tysons and surrounding communities, will be a virtual meeting at 7pm on Thursday, September 24th. Please contact Committee Chair Sally Horn for more information.
|  | Join MCA's McLean 5K Team
MCA is forming a team for the October 10th McLean 5K, a beloved annual event for the whole family, and MCA members and non-members are welcome to join. We'll have bright red "No Casino" t-shirts so team members can spot each other along the route -- and get encouragement from like-minded spectators. We're proud to brag that one of last year's top age-group runners will be running on our team, but this is one of those events where we all win -- runners and walkers alike -- as all proceeds benefit our partner organization, McLean's own non-profit charity, McLean Community Foundation (MCF).
Just sign up here and when you get to the team page, choose "MCA Runners (and Walkers)" from the dropdown. A team captain will reach out about t-shirts and meeting up before the race. See you there!
Can't join us that day? MCF will accept your donation. Just click here and select "sponsorships for $2500 and below," pick your donation level, and fill in the required information. On the contact information screen, enter MCA as the Business Name. Thank you! | Upcoming Special Events
Saturday, September 12, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.
Over 60 vendors.
Free admission. (Seller registration has closed.)
Old Firehouse Center Block Party
Saturday, September 19, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
The Old Firehouse Center, 1440 Chain Bridge Rd.
Live music, games, activities, food, giveaways, and fun for all ages.
Free admission.
Friday, September 25, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
McLean Central Park, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd.
Bring your family and friends, blanket, lawn chairs, and popcorn or a picnic for a fun evening movie watching event.
In partnership with Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and the McLean Community Center.
Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. - Noon
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.
A festive indoor-outdoor fall celebration with live entertainment, hands-on crafts, interactive games, and visits with friendly animals in the petting zoo. Pumpkins to decorate and take home.
Free admission.
Sunday, October 4, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
McLean Central Park, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd.
McLean Artfest, formerly MPAartfest and now produced by the McLean Community Center in partnership with McLean Project for the Arts, is a juried festival showcasing over 30 local and regional visual artists from throughout the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to a contemporary art show and sale, the event features a Children’s Art Walk, gourmet food trucks, a beer and wine garden, interactive art experiences, and a live stage.
Free admission.
Saturday, October 10, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
McLean Square Shopping Center, 6631 Old Dominion Dr.
The race, a perennial family favorite, is hosted by the McLean Community Center and the McLean Community Foundation (MCF), and proceeds support MCF, which in turn gives generous grants to numerous McLean-area organizations. The certified course through McLean is designed to appeal to runners of all ability and experience levels.
Sign up in September: $45
Sign up October 1 through Race Day: $50
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