September 14 - 20, 2023
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • V o l . X X X III N o . 31
The City of Falls Church’s Independent, Locally-Owned Newspaper of Record, Serving N. Virginia
F.C. Council May We Never Forget Delays Vote on Contentious T-Zone Issue Due to a Formality & Still No Evidence of Changed Minds by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
The Falls Church City Council announced at its meeting this Monday that it would delay its final decision on contentious staff-recommended modifications to the City’s transitional zoning (“t-zone”) rules to Sept. 26. City Manager Wyatt Shields made the announcement at the outset of the Sept. 11 meeting that became yet another marathon session on the subject. He said the legal notification requirements ahead of a vote were not met last week, triggering the latest postponement. Since the 4-2 vote by the City’s Planning Commission to recommend passage of the measure came late the Wednesday night before, there was no way that result could be included in the required legal notice to the public announcing the Council’s plans to give its final vote this week. So, that vote has been postponed to the Council’s next regular public meeting Sept. 26. The proposed “t-zone” changes were developed and approved by the City’s planning staff as part of an effort by the City to allow more options for development in the City’s narrow transitional zones. This Monday, following another lengthy public comment period, more acrimony among Council members surfaced at the meeting, as Councilman David Snyder levied his extensive
Continued on Page 3
MERIDIAN SENIOR LUCAS HOLLINGER unveiled a special American flag-shaped memorial at the Mustang Stadium. A tribute to the all the victims of the September 11 attacks and those who tragically lost their life on 9/11/01 are remembered in the American flag. (Photo: Jessica Hollinger)
Interview: Chief Gavin Reviews Her Time in F.C. by Kylee Toland
Falls Church News-Press
After 16 years of working for the City of Falls Church Police Department (FCPD), 11 of those years as the police chief, Mary Gavin is saying goodbye to a “great ride” and “good journey.” Last week, the City of Falls Church announced Chief Gavin’s retirement, highlighting her various achievements during her tenure with the FCPD. Before her official last day on January 6, 2024, the city will be launching a recruitment process this fall to find a new Police Chief. Gavin, who was sworn in as a Major for the city’s police
department almost 16 years ago, said she was humbled by the reactions and responses to news of her retirement. “I had some connections I’ve made throughout this community throughout the years that I didn’t remember but they certainly reminded me,” Gavin said. “It was pleasing to know that [the FCPD] made an impact.” For almost 40 years, Gavin has been involved with the police force, serving the Arlington County Police Department for 22 years as a patrol officer before joining the FCPD in December of 2007. Gavin said her decision to retire came from wanting to leave the force being
“happy and healthy.” “I think it’s the right time for me and the department because we’re in a good place,” Gavin said. “I think there’s a great foundation moving forward and it is one of the best times to be a police officer because of all of the opportunities with reform.” When she first received a call from the FCPD 16 years ago asking if she was interested in being their deputy chief, Gavin said she was “taken aback” by the opportunity. “[FCPD] called back and said, ‘Would you reconsider?’” Gavin said. “I just said, ‘Yeah, I’ll put my hat in the ring.’ This was just an absolutely wonderful opportunity.”
The transition from Arlington County to the Little City was “interesting,” with Gavin saying she prepared herself “mentally” to being an “outsider” by reading books about transitioning. Under the supervision of former FCPD chief Harry Reitz, who Gavin said she looked up to, she was able to understand how her leadership would impact the police department. “It was really very humbling for me because I walked in [the FCPD] and I’m like ‘I’ve never done this before,’” Gavin said. “As that evolved, what I learned is that it’s easier to turn around a small department in terms of
Continued on Page 4