Meet 20-year-old Raeid Ebrahim, Warrenton's newest planning commissioner

Raeid Ebrahim, a 20-year-old law student, has been appointed to the Warrenton Planning Commission, filling a seat left by Terry Lasher. Ebrahim was approved by the Warrenton Town Council on April 14, with only one abstention from Councilmember Larry Kovalik, a former political opponent. Ebrahim is known for his civic engagement, including a previous run for the Fauquier Board of Supervisors. Ebrahim's motivations for public service include advocating for affordable housing, teacher salaries, and addressing data center development. He previously spoke against Amazon's plans to build a data center in Warrenton. Ebrahim noted that data centers are less of an immediate issue for Warrenton due to the town's existing zoning ban, allowing him to prioritize other development concerns. As a planning commissioner, Ebrahim intends to focus on updating zoning codes to be more amenable to higher-density housing like townhomes and apartments, aiming to increase walkability, lower prices, and prevent urban sprawl into rural areas. He also seeks to explore conditions for special use permits that would require developers of large housing projects to include a percentage of affordable units.