Commission approves draft report on Falls Church–Fairfax annexation with acreage correction

The Commission on Local Government approved a draft report concerning the proposed Falls Church–Fairfax County voluntary settlement agreement, incorporating a footnote noting a revised annexation acreage and a correction clarifying that a utility—not the City—was sold.

Zack Robbins told commissioners that since the Commission’s visit the parties submitted three new documents: a findings of fact, correspondence updating the annexation acreage from 42.4 acres to 38.41 acres, and revisions to the draft agreement adding language to ensure Fairfax County would cooperate if any easements it holds need relocation. Robbins noted the revised language had not yet been approved by the respective governing bodies, so the version officially before the Commission remained the originally submitted agreement, with footnotes to acknowledge the updates.

Ed Lanza and Robbins reviewed the draft report included in the agenda packet section by section. Commissioner Cole Hendrix moved to approve the draft report as revised to incorporate the additional footnote on easement language and to correct the report’s wording to indicate a water utility was being sold rather than the City; Harold H. Bannister, Jr., seconded the motion and the Commission approved it unanimously.

Falls Church City Attorney John Foster and Cynthia Tianti, Deputy County Attorney for Fairfax County, both thanked the Commission and staff for their assistance in the review process.