Mason Neck residents: Please Read and ACT!
Mason Neck residents have always fought to preserve our fragile environment, while making Lorton a vibrant community. When a threat to our community arises we have always risen to the occasion and worked together to ensure an outcome that maintains our quality of life.
- We fought to close the Lorton Landfill (ESI) and with tremendous community support WE WON;
- We brokered a deal to keep Meadowood from being developed in exchange for a land swap with the former Lorton Prison (now home to the Workhouse Arts Center and South County Middle and High Schools);
- When the Meadowood Stable was under threat of closing, we worked together to keep it open and support our equine community;
- We prevented a former governor from closing Mason Neck State Park;
- We campaigned to keep the Pohick Regional Park swimming pool open.
These are just a few of the battles the citizens of Mason Neck have fought and won!
A new battle needs our support. We are asking our fellow residents to make their voices heard and fight to protect the planned development of the Lorton Community Center (LCC). Plans have been underway for several years to build the LCC next to the Lorton Library. Part of that plan includes razing the current Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) offices and food panty, moving them to the new LCC facility. This plan is being opposed by several residents of two communities adjoining the proposed LCC site. These residents inaccurately claim they will lose the current Lorton Park to the LCC development. The fact is that only approximately 10% of Lorton Park's space will be lost, and the benefits that the LCC bring to the community far outweigh this.
On Wednesday evening, May 22nd, there is a Planning Commission hearing at the Fairfax Government Center and WE NEED A SHOW OF PEOPLE TO ATTEND. It's an evening meeting that will go fairly late into the night. We are fourth on the agenda starting at 7:30 pm. A bus will be provided, but we need a count of people who can attend. People attending are the key to winning this battle. Speakers are encouraged and can either register online at the link below, or can be added to the speaker list at the hearing on site.
Meeting location:
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 330
Fairfax, VA 22035
If you are willing to testify, you can register in advance although you can still testify at the end of the hearing without registering. Please consider registering to speak on behalf of the LCAC.
You will need the hearing numbers to register or to send letters. SEA 83-V-076-02 and 2232-V18-25
You can also email a letter (suggested letter below) supporting to this email address.
If letters are sent to: plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov, then all Commissioners will receive the letter.
Email:
In the subject line you should put:
RE: Support for Special Exception Amendment, SEA 83-V-076-02 and 2232-V18-25.
You will get an email back acknowledging receipt.
It would be especially helpful if you say that you support the Lorton Community Center in the location recommended by the Steering Committee.
It would also be helpful if you could personalize the letter regarding the impact the facility could have on the community: i.e. help more children and teens with summer lunch (if you have volunteered there); provide connections for folks in need of food assistance as you saw the impact Fall for LCAC had on the community; etc.
More information can be found in the attached is a power point (PPT), created for a recent South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce meeting, or on the Lorton Community Center webpage: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/lorton-community-center
If you are interested in riding the bus, please reply to this email so I can save you a seat!
The bus will leave LCAC at 6:30 pm on Wednesday May 22nd.
Park as it now is:
Existing - Active Area - 1.88 acres
