He isn’t departing the Fairfax County Planning Commission any time soon, but an era did come to an end when Peter Murphy recently turned over the chairman’s gavel to Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner.
It was a gavel Murphy, who has represented the Springfield District on the Planning Commission since the early days of the Reagan administration, had controlled since 1989.
Those 33-plus years as chair were lauded March 21 by the Board of Supervisors.
Calling Murphy “a class act,” Supervisor John Foust (D-Dranesville) noted that “you always showed respect, treated people the way they deserved to be treated.”
“It’s been decades of service and care for the community,” added Supervisor Patrick Herrity (R-Springfield) who, along with board chairman Jeff McKay (D), sponsored the resolution.
“Pete was a steady hand” at the helm, Herrity noted. “The land-use process was something we [on the Board of Supervisors] didn’t really have to worry about.”
Murphy was tapped for the Planning Commission as an appointee of then-Supervisor Marie Travesky in 1982, and was retained in the post by succeeding supervisors Elaine McConnell and Herrity.
During those years, Murphy and the Planning Commission were responsible for “playing a critical role in transforming the county from a sleepy bedroom community to the economic powerhouse it is today,” noted the resolution, whose unanimous passage was in line with a prediction from McKay. “I don’t think this is going to be a close vote,” he had chuckled.
In remarks, Murphy agreed with the assessment that, as late as the 1980s, Fairfax was a community full of potential, but it was waiting to be tapped.
“We were the bedroom community for Washington and the Pentagon,” he noted.
And now, after decades of booming economic growth – and its sometimes painful side effects – “we’re in a dynamic situation now, where we have a great place for all people,” Murphy said.
The honoree, a U.S. Army veteran and public-affairs/communications professional in his work life, thanked his wife and daughter for giving him the support needed in a post that requires long hours.
Niedzielski-Eichner, who succeeded Murphy as commission chair earlier in the year, represents the Providence District on the 12-member panel.
Murphy’s current term on the Planning Commission runs through the end of 2026, and Herrity said he hoped his appointee would stick it out.
“I’m still counting on you,” Herrity said.
“I’m here to serve,” Murphy replied.
