May 12, 2026 Housing Committee - May 12, 2026

meeting

Fairfax County Board Committees 1h 32m 7 speakers 8 agenda items transcribed 1 day ago official recording ↗

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What is the purpose of the housing communications strategy presented today?

Unknown 0:00

I think we're going to go ahead and get started. Thank you. Before we get started, I'd just like to take a minute without objection to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US FOR OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT RESULTED FROM THE BOARD MATTER FROM JANUARY OF THIS YEAR TO GO ALONG WITH OUR HOUSING INITIATIVES WORK AT HOUSING COMMUNICATIONS, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES AS WELL AS TALK AGAIN ABOUT OUR HOUSING NEEDS AND LOOK AT OUR HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO

Unknown 0:44

To Tom Fleetwood to get started or to Jen?

Jen Miller 0:48

So thank you. Jen Miller to get started. Deputy County Executive. And we are borrowing the first half an hour, I think, ish of this meeting to talk about and actually what's a carryover from what you've heard in the prior two sessions about the economic imperative of housing. that leads to our economic competitiveness. And so as part of that, as you mentioned, Supervisor Sizemore-Heiser was the board matter asking us to really look at how we communicate this message to the county. And it ties into one of the comments that several of you made in the last Land Use Planning Committee meeting, where you said that you want us to get over the culture of no. And so when we talk about the culture, there's a few elements of that.

Jen Miller 1:29

One, as you've all discussed at length, is the need for the board to approve things that are challenging. And the list of, I think it's seven items that we have coming to you, that won't always be politically popular, or it's hard sometimes for constituents to accept additional development, as we've discussed before, I fear. that a lot of people would be happy if we did not have additional housing. A lot of what you'll hear next is the explanation that we've really tried to work on the why we need housing so we can carry forward the messaging and the work that we have done and that we will be asking you to do as almost a footnote or a reference document. there was also reference to the land use or to the planning commission and phil nojeski eichner is here i know and he's been attending all of these meetings we've kept him in the loop on the initiatives that we're doing as well fully supportive and one of the things that i love that the chairman said is the word crisis you'll see that on here it's part of a national crisis but we are in a housing crisis across the continuum of housing so one of the ways that we need to address that

Jen Miller 2:27

is the staff came together and said, what can we do? We've heard from the board we're in a housing crisis. The planning commission has heard that from us. We've checked in with them twice and had another meeting in June. They've heard that from you all. So I think staff, the planning commission, and then you all have the messaging. So now the final element of the culture and trying to get over the culture of no is how do we best communicate this to the public? And so I appreciate the opportunity, and Tony and the public affairs team working with the housing and community development team has put together this presentation. So thanks. Over to you, Tony.

2:59

Thank you.

Tony Castrilli 3:00

Thank you, Jen. Good afternoon. Committee Chair Sizemore Heiser, Chairman McKay, members of the Board of Supervisors. I'm Tony Castrilli, Director of Public Affairs. And you get the rare communication strategy double header today. Following the discussion at the board meeting back in February, as Jen referenced, one thing was clear. Housing is a complex issue that requires a thoughtful and coordinated communication approach. Earlier today, you heard from Ben and the Housing Task Force about the work underway to address housing challenges in Fairfax County. And following my presentation, you will hear from Housing and Community Development Director Tom Fleetwood and his team on the Affordable Housing Initiatives Program.