What's next for social services in the City?

As many of you know, the City Council passed an ordinance this week requiring social service delivery establishments to get a special use permit. This ordinance puts us inline with other jurisdictions that have a process in place for their government and community to have some say in the operation and location of these facilities.

The ordinance, which can be found by clicking here and looking at agenda item 7a, was carefully worded and constructed to ensure that organizations would both feel welcome here in the City of Fairfax while also providing measured guidelines for them to operate under. Most importantly, it provided a process so that the community can have a say, just as we'd all expect we should when it comes to land use applications.

In fact, this special use permit follows essentially the same principles that we have when considering the land use matters dealing with fast food restaurants, housing developments, shopping centers, etc. and people expect there to be a process in place to air their views. For example, there were guidelines and a process in place for when a developer wanted to build the new Residence Inn on Chain Bridge Road; there were guidelines and a process in place for when Chick-Fil-A wanted to located in Fairfax Circle; and there were guidelines and a process in place for a proposed development (which coincidentally did not get Council approval) in Kamp Washington on what was once the site of American Medical Labs.

The point here is that no one questioned the need to have guidelines or a process in place where the community could be heard and the applicant would have to partner with the City and community in making its case. Hence, one of the requirements of the ordinance is that they have to present what is essentially a business plan to the community and Council to explain what they do. We require an explanation of this type for every applicant that I'm aware of. And to be honest, the social services ordinance that passed is actually giving more flexibility to the Council because of the nature of the organizations who may apply.

It's important to note that just about every request made to modify the ordinance was granted, including expanding the ability of a social services delivery establishment to locate in an industrial section of the City, which is where people felt like they could find more space for their operations. And, as the Mayor noted Tuesday night, these changes ensure that we have process in place should the courts rule against the City in pending litigation involving a ruling by the zoning administrator.

My remarks from the dais on Tuesday night cover most of what the ordinance is and what it is not. However, it seems there may still be confusion about the ordinance itself and how we even got to this point.

Unfortunately there has been a lot of misinformation thrown out into the community. The Lamb Center has become a focus of this misinformation, too, with myself and my colleagues getting calls and emails saying that the ordinance was going to close them down, that they wouldn't be allowed to operate and so on. That is not the case.

And my good friends in the press haven't helped. The headlines have pitted The Lamb Center against the City. This isn't a zero sum game where one person loses and the other gains. It's sad that some have framed it this way.

The reality is that The Lamb Center is just one of many social service organizations in the City of Fairfax. The City has spent a lot of time, energy and resources, too, in trying to help them in both their current location and trying to find a new home, which they admit they need and want because they are outgrowing their operations.

For the last couple of years I have attended The Lamb Center's annual dinner. Each year I hear and see the amazing work they do. Each time I talk with their leadership they say that they want to partner and find a new home. The fact is, the City has been a good partner in that we have tried for the last several years to find a new home both in the City and along the City-County line.

Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find a place that is workable for all. This is certainly disappointing since just a couple of years ago the City was going to offer a substantial sum of money to help relocate The Lamb Center to a facility, that while in the County, was along the City border, centrally located and met the needs of The Lamb Center.

So what's next for social services in the City? I don't think anything will change for the worse. I am hopeful that social services will continue to do their good works and flourish in the City. I actually think the new zoning requirements and process present a unique opportunity to build community support and showcase what organizations do. The City of Fairfax does care for the poor and we will continue to do so.

Another bit of information that has gotten lost in this discussion is that The Lamb Center - by its own admission - is growing because the needs of those it serves are growing.

This is where I personally feel we need to now sit down with County, City and social service organizations to help how we address these issues as one unit, recognizing that the poor and homeless don't differentiate between the County and City.

In other words, the issues surrounding the The Lamb Center and other social service organizations aren't just a City matter, they are a matter of concern to all who care for those less fortunate. So, I hope that this discussion, at the very least, will get us past this "us versus them" mentality with regard to our overall approach in helping those whom need the assistance of the City, the County and organizations located in central Fairfax.