Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Hefty increases in Arlington development and permit fees proposed, despite criticism

By Scott McCaffrey
Building under construction in Crystal City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Substantial increases to planning, zoning and inspection fees may be coming to Arlington.

County Manager Mark Schwartz says the proposed fee increases will ensure that developers, not taxpayers, bear the full cost of staff time involved in commercial and residential development projects. However, critics argue that the change could hinder attempts to build Arlington’s reputation as a business-friendly environment.

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Around Town

Departure of natural-resources guru will leave void in Arlington, Alexandria

By Scott McCaffrey
Kirsten Conrad retirement ceremony (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

After more than 17 years, Arlington and Alexandria’s Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources is headed to retirement.

Kudos for Kirsten Conrad, who has many fond memories of her time at the extension, poured in from colleagues at the local, regional and state levels at a March 17 reception honoring her tenure.

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News

Arlington’s human services spending set to surpass $200M for first time

By Scott McCaffrey
Sequoia Plaza - Arlington Dept. of Human Services headquarters (staff photo)

The Arlington government plans to spend over $200 million on human services programs and personnel in the coming fiscal year, a new record high.

While officials are making some efforts to rein in the increase, they warn that local and national economic factors may force them to either add more funding or scale back existing initiatives as the year progresses.

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News

Melwood development on hold pending action on historic status

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of Melwood site redevelopment proposal (via Melwood and Wesley Housing)

Safeguards are being put in place to ensure that county staff do not accidentally issue demolition and construction permits allowing the Melwood redevelopment to move forward before a planned historic-preservation analysis is done.

And that’s a process that could take a year.

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News

Reagan National leaders hope spring brings better times after a challenging winter

By Scott McCaffrey
Ronald Reagan National Airport (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Winter weather, economic jitters and the fatal Jan. 29 aircraft collision combined for a challenging start to 2025 at Reagan National Airport.

Acknowledging 2025 has opened as “a turbulent year,” the president of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) told the body’s board of directors he believed the long-term outlook remains positive — despite ongoing uncertainty.

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News

Views split on whether APS budget plan prioritizes classrooms over central office

By Scott McCaffrey
The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The proposed $845 million fiscal 2026 budget to fund Arlington Public Schools (APS) for the 2025-26 school year has again brought up concerns over how much funding should go into classrooms and how much is needed to provide central-office oversight.

Given fiscal challenges faced by the county government and school system, and the ongoing uncertainty over the region’s economic future, those concerns may be more pronounced this year.

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News

Dominion’s W&OD tree removal draws pushback from county, regional leaders

By Scott McCaffrey and Angela Woolsey
Tree stumps under Dominion Energy power lines along the W&OD Trail in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Arlington County Board has joined a chorus of regional voices asking Dominion Energy to be more judicious in tree removal efforts.

The Board unanimously voted on Tuesday in support of a resolution calling on the energy company to avoid draconian efforts to manage the landscape along Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Regional Park and adjoining power lines.

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News

County Board awards $419K to support immigrants, faces arguments from nonprofit left out

By Scott McCaffrey
Tsehaye Teferra (screenshot via Arlington County)

Over $400,000 in funding for immigration-related services is included in a package of grants that the Arlington County Board approved for local nonprofits this week.

However, one Arlington-based organization focused on immigrant communities —  the Ethiopian Community Development Council — pushed back at a County Board meeting on Tuesday after a selection panel declined to recommend funding the nonprofit. Board members declined to bend the rules to help, but said they would help the group find additional streams of funding and other support.

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News

Fewer visitors at Arlington hotels could impact jobs, county budget projections

By Scott McCaffrey
Construction at the new Hilton hotel in Rosslyn in February (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Add hotel-occupancy rates to the Arlington County government’s growing list of economic concerns.

Projections for the next 60 days suggest Arlington’s hotel-room usage will be down 15% from a year before and expected hotel revenue down 12%.

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News

Arlington neighborhoods may lose final say on placement of sidewalks

By Scott McCaffrey
A sunken portion of sidewalk along Wilson Blvd. in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington neighborhoods have long held what amounts to veto power over the installation of new sidewalks, but that may soon change.

County Manager Mark Schwartz recently told two advisory panels he is interested in developing a countywide sidewalk plan to fill in gaps — and potentially override the views of individual communities.

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News

Neighbors continue pushback on church’s plans to build affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey
Clarendon Presbyterian Church at 1305 N. Jackson Street (staff photo)

A proposal to redevelop a Lyon Village church as affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors continues to get pushback from some neighbors.

Clarendon Presbyterian Church has been seeking to redevelop its property at 1305 N. Jackson Street in partnership with True Ground Housing Partners. Conceptual site plans filed last May depict a six-story building with 102 units, as well as a church and childcare center totaling 8,530 square feet.

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