Mount Vernon-area residents will soon have a chance to learn more about the environmental aspects of Richmond Highway revitalization.

The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation will host “New Trends in Green Development" at Carl Sandburg Middle School on Saturday, June 9.

“New Trends in Green Development” is an informational event that will discuss multiple initiatives and ordinances to ensure that revitalization will have a reduced impact on the environment.

“We’ll look at the impact that development has on the environment,” said SFDC Communications Manager David Ben, who cited the Beacon at Groveton as an example of environmentally friendly planning. The high-density apartment complex was designed to be built over fewer acres than normal.

Discussion topics at the seminar include:

• County initiatives to improve stormwater quality and reduce runoff
• Plans and ordinances that improve water quality 
• Energy efficiency, LEED, environmental design
• Barriers to achieving better environmental outcomes
• Ideas for using Richmond Highway revitalization to help improve the environment

Guest speakers include Matt Hopkins, Streetsense director of Architecture and Sustainabiltiy, who is an urban planner and architect who has been a LEED professional since 2001; Trini Rodriguez of ParkerRodriguez, a landscape architect who worked on the planning and design of Lansdowne and North Bethesda Town Center, and Fairfax County Planning and Zoning Senior Environmental Planner Noel Kaplan and Bruce McGranahan, an engineer with the Fairfax County Stormwater Management Division.

“Our primary objective for our community summits is to engage as many citizens as possible in a dialogue about revitalization," SFDC Executive Director David Versel said.

Tickets are still available for this free seminar. To reserve tickets, click here or call (703) 360-5008.