Save Evans Farm! Contact your Elected Officials.

Vote for Barbara Phillips, the Smart Growth advocate (Endorsed by the Sierra Club).

See the Coalition to Save Evans Farm Webpage for more details and updated information.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 26, 1999, all supervisors unanimously voted to allow West*Group to build double the number of houses than allowed under the original zoning. That means that this time next year, 144 new houses will be crammed onto the 24-acre property. That is not a property rights issue -- it's an abuse of land use.

None of the supervisors -- especially the Dranesville supervisor, Stu "Fence Sitter" Mendelsohn -- represented the interest of the community. All we wanted was to keep the zoning at the current level (is that unreasonable?) and to be allowed to vote in a referendum on whether or not the entire community wanted to save the farm. A non-binding vote. But, we do not live in a democracy, so we are at the will of so-called representatives. This is the evidence that showed there was community will to preserve the farm and that having a vote was worth exploring:

Now, after all those demonstrations of our concern and interest, we could not get our Supervisor to stand behind us or even allow us a vote. Thanks for nothing, Stu.

Everyone should still get involved! Here are some pictures of a young protestor: Bulldozer kid, Drive that dozer, Central Park. The biggest impact you can have at this point is to make your voice heard at the ballot box on November 2nd. Vote the incumbants out! In Dranesville, vote for Barbara Phillips, the Smart Growth advocate (Endorsed by the Sierra Club).

There is a Fall Family Fun Festival planned for Saturday, October 9th, at Lewinsville Park. Come, have fun, and show your continued support.

ALERT !

Calendar of near-term events:

    Here's how much time there is remaining... please get involved: Time remaining

    ACTION that you can take:
    We need everyone to Call, Fax, E-mail, or snail mail the Fairfax County Planning Commission and ALL Fairfax County supervisors immediately.

    We need to tell the supervisors that we want them to:

    • Reconsider allowing the citizens holding a non-binding referendum (we found out we do not live in a democracy, but can't we at least be allowed to vote on issues we see as important?);
    • Authorize issuance of a notice of the intention to create a special tax district in McLean (and not conduct an environmental impact statement until after a referendum);

    Here are some example letters you can download and modify:

    Dranesville Residents Other Fairfax County Residents
    Word 6.0 Word 6.0
    Text Text

    Then, check the Fairfax County Elected Official Contact Information for voice, fax, and e-mail addresses.

    Hurry !


    The turkey vultures roosted at Evans Farm in December -- a part of their migration that happens every year around that time. Click here to see December 1998 pictures of these magnificent birds (and essential components of our ecosystem). These may be the last pictures taken there, as I am sure the new well-heeled residents won't appreciate the vultures inside their gates.



    We need to continuously stay in contact with members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Park Authority, and the Fairfax County Planning Commission. Please write these government representatives as soon as possible. Suggested contact talking points are listed below. Some of them may not be applicable in your individual message, but this is the general approach:
    • I am a resident of Fairfax County and I urge you to support creation of a special tax district to facilitate the purchase of the Evans Farm Inn property for use as a public park.
    • Please do not allow any waivers or zoning changes to the current R-3 level on the Evans Farm property.
    • I worked as a volunteer in your campaign in 19__ (Here be as specific as possible i.e. collected petition signatures, helped in literature distribution, telephone, banking, whatever).
    • I contributed financially to your election (re-election) campaign (again give specific details).
    • I voted for you in the last election.
    • Recall any personal contact you may have had with the elected official.
    • Thank the elected official for any service provided to you in the past by the official or staff.
    • Request a reply giving the official's position on the question of creation of a special tax district.
    • If no answer is received, follow-up about every two weeks until you are satisfied.
    • Forward a copy of the reply to The Coalition to Save Evans Farm Headquarters at 1443 Dewberry Court, McLean, VA 22101 or report results by telephone to 448-8208, FAX 848-4965.


    Sample Letters

    Here are some sample letters, specific to Dranesville District residents or other residents of Fairfax County (in both Word 6.0 and text formats):

    Dranesville Residents Other Fairfax County Residents
    Word 6.0 Word 6.0
    Text Text

    If you have access to a printer that can print to envelopes or mailing labels, either of the following two files can be downloaded and be used to print the supervisor addresses (to save you a bunch of typing). The envelope file is formatted in MS Word 95 to print onto business sized envelopes. The labels are formatted to print to Avery #5162 and #8462 labels (1.33" x 4", 14 labels per sheet).

    Envelopes Labels


    For Dranesville District Residents, your first contact should be with:
    Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn (see info below)

    For Providence District Residents, your first contact should be with:
    Supervisor Gerald E. Connolly (see info below)

    District

    Supervisor

    Park Authority Representative

    Chairman

    Ms. Katherine Hanley
    Suite 530
    12000 Government Center Parkway
    Fairfax, VA 22035
    Tel: 324-2321
    Fax: 324-3955
    On-line feedback form
    Mr.Frank de la Fe
    1494 Roundleaf Court
    Reston, VA 20190
    437-3431

    Dranesville

    Mr. Stuart Mendelsohn
    1437 Balls Hill Road
    McLean, VA 22101
    Tel: 356-0551
    Fax: 821-4275
    e-mail: smende@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mr. Richard Bissell
    6515 Beverly Avenue
    McLean, VA 22101
    827-0942

    Braddock

    Ms. Sharon Bulova
    4414 Holborn Avenue
    Annandale, VA 22003
    Tel: 425-9300
    Fax: 503-9583
    e-mail: braddock@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mrs. Winifred Shapiro
    10424 Collingham Drive
    Fairfax, VA 22032
    978-2876

    Hunter Mill

    Mr. Robert Dix, Jr.
    12000 Bowman Towne Drive
    Reston, VA 20190-3307
    Tel: 478-0283
    Fax: 471-6847
    e-mail: hntrmill@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mrs. Linda Douglas
    11810 Grey Birch Place
    Reston, VA 20191
    620-4115

    Lee

    Mr. Dana Kauffman
    6121 Franconia Road
    Alexandria, VA 22310
    Tel: 971-6262
    Fax: 971-3032
    e-mail: leedist@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mr. Harold Henderson
    7322 Wickford Drive
    Alexandria, VA 22315
    971-0848

    Mason

    Ms. Penny Gross
    6507 Columbia Pike
    Annandale, VA 22003
    Tel: 256-7717
    Fax: 354-8419
    e-mail: mason@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mr. Thomas White, Jr.
    3829 Pickett Court
    Annandale, VA 22003
    256-7794

    Mt. Vernon

    Mr. Gerald Hyland
    2511 Parkers Lane
    Alexandria, VA 22306
    Tel: 780-7518
    Fax: 780-1491
    e-mail: mtvernon@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mr. Gilbert McCutcheon
    7110 Marine Drive
    Alexandria, VA 22307
    768-7777

    Providence

    Mr. Gerald Connolly
    8739 Lee Highway
    Fairfax, VA 22031
    Tel: 560-6946
    Fax: 207-3541
    e-mail: provdist@co.fairfax.va.us
    Ms. Joanne Malone
    2929 Pine Spring Road
    Falls Church, VA 22042
    560-6749

    Springfield

    Mrs. Elaine McConnell
    6140 Rolling Road
    Springfield, VA 22152
    Tel: 451-8873
    Fax: 451-3047
    e-mail: bciepl@co.fairfax.va.us
    Mr. Kenneth Feng
    6215 Winnepeg Drive
    Burke, VA 22015
    425-6549

    Sully

    Mr. Michael Frey
    Suite 205
    5900 Centreville Rd.
    Centreville, VA 20121-2425
    Tel: 378-9393
    Fax: 803-9216
    e-mail: mfrey0@co.faifax.va.us
    Mr. Harold Strickland
    4373 Majestic Lane
    Fairfax, VA 22030
    378-6767
     


It may also be helpful to contact the Fairfax County History Commission at:

History Commission
Commission Members

The Chairman is Francis R. "Pat" Bray, Jr.
703-573-3767
e-mail: PAT2813@aol.com

The Dranesville representatives are:

We also urge you to write to the local newspapers and present your opinion on this issue. Some contact information for local newspapers follows:

The Connection
Editor Kemal Kurspahic
1600 Scotts Crossing Road
McLean, VA 22102
"Back Talk" phone in comments: 703-917-6422
Fax: 703-917-0991
e-mail: connect@erols.com

Sun Gazette
Editor Scott McCaffrey
P.O. Box 2410
Merrifield, VA 22116-2410
Tel: 703-204-2800
Fax: 703-204-3455
e-mail: sunedit@erols.com
The Sun Gazette Online

Fairfax Journal
Letters to the Editor
2720 Prosperity Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22034
Tel ("Sound Off"): 1-800-445-NEWS
Fax: 703-846-8366
e-mail: journal@jrnl.com
About The Journal Online

The Washington Post
Letters to the Editor
The Washington Post
1150 15th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20071
On-line letter form.