Photo: Native Garden, Margaret Fisher
Board of Supervisors Approved a Major Initiative
ASNVers won a big victory on June 9 when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan to apply natural landscaping to county properties. This will formalize natural landscaping an official policy for the county and is the culmination of many years of effort, led by ASNV.
The vote was 8 to 0, with Supervisors Dan Storck and Rodney Lusk absent because of a Black Lives Matter march in the Mount Vernon area. The Planning Commission voted for it unanimously on May 14.
We believe that Fairfax County is the only jurisdiction in the region to adopt this approach as formal policy in a comprehensive plan. Adoption of this amendment means that natural landscaping, which largely uses native plants and trees, will be used on most county properties, especially as the county builds or remodels buildings and grounds.
At the hearing, held electronically, ASNVers Glenda Booth, Betsy Martin and Cathy Ledec testified in support of the proposal. No one spoke against it. Others who testified in favor were Renee Grebe, Audubon Naturalist Society; Barbara Ryan, McLean Citizens Association; Margaret Fisher, Plant NoVa Natives; Dean Amel, Sierra Club, Mount Vernon Group; and Donna Murphy, Virginia Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter. A video of the Board of Supervisors’ hearing is here. Their meeting started at 2 p.m. and they began consideration of this amendment around 4:15 p.m.
Among other points, Glenda told the Board, “Maintaining and restoring natural biodiversity is critical to providing ecological services, prevent extinctions and sustain the planet. National parks and conservation lands in isolated patches cannot alone stem species losses and restore ecological health. We need action in all U.S. localities. Fairfax County can be a leader and an example in maintaining and restoring the biological foundation on which we all depend.” Betsy described the Audubon at Home program and stressed the healthful benefits of nature. Cathy described several successful native plant projects, including one at the Mount Vernon Government Center that she led.
It would be helpful if Auduboners in Fairfax County thanked their member of the Board of Supervisors. You can find yours here. Click on Find My Supervisor and put in your address.
The Amendment’s History
On June 21, 2004, at the urging of ASNV, then-Chairman, now 11th District Congressman Gerry Connolly introduced a Board matter directing the county staff to prepare a plan for using natural landscaping on appropriate county properties. Staff submitted a plan in 2005, identified potential sites and then little formal action was taken until November 20, 2018 when, at the urging of ASNV, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck won the Board of Supervisors’ support to authorize a comprehensive plan amendment supporting natural landscaping at county facilities.
The comprehensive plan is the over-arching land use guide to decision-making about the natural and built environment. You can read about it here.
In preparation for the Planning Commission’s public hearing and vote, county staffers met with county agencies, held a meeting with community stakeholders, including ASNV, and organized an informational tour of current county sites, both successful and unsuccessful sites, for the commissioners.
The staff report on the comprehensive plan proposal, including the amendment’s language and rationale, is posted here. Appendix 2 lists current county sites where natural landscaping has been used.