South County Police Station, Animal Shelter In Lorton: Next Steps

LORTON, VA — Wondering about the status of that $30 million project to put a police substation and animal shelter in Lorton? Well, a community meeting June 13 might be able to answer some of your questions, according to a letter sent to nearby Lorton residents.

The public meeting to announce next steps will be held Wednesday, June 13, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Workhouse Arts Center's Vulcan Muse Gallery (Building W-16). There will be an open house at 7 p.m. and then Presentations start at 7:30 p.m. The Workhouse is located at 9518 Workhouse Way.

Back in 2015, some 75 percent of the Fairfax County voters who voted approved the project, which was tucked into a $151 million Public Safety Bond Referendum.

The project will include an approximately 39,000 square-foot police station and an approximately 22,000 square-foot animal shelter to be built on the newly widened Lorton Road on a parcel officials are calling the "Triangle." It's a space between the intersections of the Workhouse and Hooes roads.

Those who've been around a long time might know the area because of the old oak trees on the strip of land across from where the old correctional facility for youth used to sit. It's also near the spot where the Lorton Historic Nike Missile Testing site was from the 1950s.

Longtime residents remember that the land used to house a chicken farm for the prison workhouse.

No word yet on whether the last of the old Oak trees will stay or go.

In 2001 the land was designated for public safety use. An amended Comprehensive Plan was approved by the county and the previous owners, the General Services Administration.

Designs for the project include space for the Animal Protection Police, a satellite office for the Mount Vernon District Supervisor’s Office, and a community room, according to a press release from the South County Police.

The site will also include 20,000 square-feet of outdoor space for the animal shelter, a fuel island to support fleet vehicles, and parking for those vehicles.

Police say Southern Fairfax County needs more police and animal shelter services.

Currently the Franconia and West Springfield District Police Stations service the central and southern areas of Fairfax County. An additional police station would allow the department to organize smaller patrol areas and decrease response times throughout the county, according to police.

Fairfax County only has one other animal shelter. Right now, animals in the south county area have to be driven long distances to the current shelter in Fairfax.

Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck convened an eight-member steering committee to communicate with interested community members and to advocate with county staff, architects, and key stakeholders during the development of the facility. A press release says the composition of the committee is representative of community interests including area neighbors, HOA members, community members with law enforcement and animal shelter experience, and members of the South County Federation.

What: Community Meeting on the project to build a police station and animal shelter on Lorton Road between Hooes and Workhouse roads.

When: June 13 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Where: Workhouse Arts Center's Vulcan Muse Gallery (Building W-16) at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton.

Image at the Top courtesy Fairfax County.