Town of v ienna courses1/3/2024 We have a very active sustainability group, and they have come out with suggestions involving mulching, concerns about tree cover, and areas such as that. It’s going to be LEED Gold, which is top of the line…I know that we’re looking at opportunities for start-stop capabilities, hybrids, electric options, all to reduce our carbon footprint. I think one of our biggest examples or the most recent is the new police station. Having LEED compliance in new buildings is something that has been emphasized in new construction, where you have the products and building standards that are more energy-efficient. What are your environmental goals for the town? (Editor’s note: In his interview, Potter mentioned that the town is evaluating housing options, such as for accessory living units, cottage homes, and duplexes, as well as the possibility of breaking up Vienna’s commercial corridor into smaller districts to improve walkability.) They have to be done with thorough evaluation and discussion and determination as to what makes the most sense for Vienna moving forward. What we’re doing now and the decisions that the council is making and getting involved in are things that will impact Vienna for 50-plus years, so they can’t be done lightly. We want all the citizen input that we can get, and we want to be able to do this right, because it is so critical to the future of the town. It’s badly needed, and I think transparency is at the top of the list. What issues do you see as a priority in terms of what you want the zoning code update to address? It allowed multiple interpretations on a single subject, and it was also conducive to having very large buildings, high density very close to the borderlines, small setbacks, and all of these things didn’t contribute to what really needed to be done in today’s world, in our minds.īringing it back to the drawing board has allowed us to look at how each ordinance interfaces with each other, to look at the logic of having a 1.2-mile stretch of the same code, and just allows us to look at things differently so that we can update things that reflect smart growth, reduce density, increase green space, allow for greater setbacks, and are environmentally sound. The zoning code prior to the rezoning update was very antiquated. What are your thoughts on how the zoning code rewrite has gone so far? So, I think we have done a lot in terms of being able to support the community and help folks get through this. We’ve had several social media campaigns to promote local businesses. There’s a weekly newsletter that provides business-related news. We’ve done…an eight-course boot camp for new business owners. We did things for child daycare businesses in commercial zones and expanded opportunities in that area. We have temporary permits that we’ve put in place for outdoor commercial activity for our restaurants. There was another relief fund for $100,000 for the Town of Vienna residents and business workers, and there’s been loan and grant application systems. So, we have been able to help people with those kinds of relief to get them through. Just the RISE grant alone, we had 254 businesses and nonprofits who got $2.76 million in grant funding. I think the major focus has been on financial relief for our businesses and identifying sources of funds and revenues that can help our businesses through tough times. What has it been like dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic? How well do you think the town has handled its pandemic response? They include the zoning code rewrite, transportation and traffic studies, land purchases, library and parking expansion, police station construction, new sidewalks, infrastructure upkeep and repairs, and economic development. I believe continuity, knowledge, and experience are going to be more important in this election than in previous elections because of the magnitude of the initiatives involved and the long-term effects they will have on the community. I’m running because we’re in the midst of numerous projects that I’ve been a part of and would like to see through completion. Why did you decide to run for reelection? Interviews with fellow incumbents Howard Springsteen and Nisha Patel are also available. Navy veteran and professional consultant, Potter is seeking his second term after joining the council in 2019. Steve Potter is one of four candidates running for the three Vienna Town Council seats up for election this year. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity. Editor’s Note - Tysons Reporter is running Q&As with the candidates who qualified for this year’s Vienna Town Council election on May 4.
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