Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Presented

• 3
  Presentations by the public on any matter not calling for a public hearingPublic hearingThe formal, legally advertised part of a meeting where anyone can speak on an item before the body votes. · Emily Bresson of 4123 Orchard Drive, Fairfax, Virginia addressed the Commission with concerns regarding the Courthouse Plaza development.

  Discussed for 3m · also names City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan · read the transcript

  • Courthouse PlazadeferredwikiA member of the public raised concerns about the Courthouse Plaza development during the public comment period. City Council deferredDeferredPostponed to a later meeting without a decision. Items can be deferred to a set date or indefinitely. its decision on the Courthouse Plaza development to October 28, 2025, as reported by staff.
  watch 1:16
• 5
  Items Not Requiring a Public HearingPublic hearingThe formal, legally advertised part of a meeting where anyone can speak on an item before the body votes. · None.

  Names Urban Forest Master Plan · read the transcript

  watch 5:13
• 6
  Public HearingsPublic hearingThe formal, legally advertised part of a meeting where anyone can speak on an item before the body votes. · None.
  watch 5:18
• 8a
  Update on the Urban Forest Masterplan (UFMP) project · Anna Safford (Urban Forester) and Dr. Garrett Wolf (consultant) presented an update on the UFMP project, incorporated into the record by reference. No action taken; work session discussion only.

  Discussed for 1h 13m · also names Master Plan ×12, City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan ×6, Small Area Plans ×3, 2035 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Guide, Capital Improvement Program, George Snyder Trail · read the transcript

  • Urban Forest Master Planin progresswikiStaff Urban Forester Anna Safford and consultant Dr. Garrett Wolf presented an update on the Urban Forest Masterplan project to the Commission during the work sessionWork sessionA meeting for discussion and briefing only. No formal votes are taken, but positions get set here..
  watch 5:25
• 8b
  Presentation of updates to the Implementation Guides related to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive PlanComprehensive planThe city's long-range vision for land use, transportation, housing, and parks. Rezonings are judged partly on whether they fit it. and approved Small Area PlansSmall area planA detailed plan for one neighborhood or corridor that fills in the comprehensive plan's broad goals with block-level guidance. · Planner Amy Lynn Denny presented updates to the Implementation Guides, incorporated into the record by reference. No action taken; work session discussion only.

  Discussed for 12m · also names Move Fairfax City ×2, Small Area Plans ×2, City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, Davies Property, Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan, Master Plan · read the transcript

  • 2035 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Guidein progresswikiPlanner II Amy Lynn Denny presented updates to the Implementation Guides related to the 2035 Comprehensive PlanComprehensive planThe city's long-range vision for land use, transportation, housing, and parks. Rezonings are judged partly on whether they fit it. and approved Small Area PlansSmall area planA detailed plan for one neighborhood or corridor that fills in the comprehensive plan's broad goals with block-level guidance. during the work sessionWork sessionA meeting for discussion and briefing only. No formal votes are taken, but positions get set here..
  watch 80:01
• 9
  Staff ReportStaff reportThe city staff's written analysis and recommendation on an agenda item, published with the agenda packet. · Planning Division Chief Paul Nabti reported on recent City Council actions and upcoming Planning Commission items, including: approval of the Davies property proposal at the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting; deferral of the Courthouse Plaza development decision to October 28, 2025; approval of zoning ordinance text amendments; a scheduled September 9, 2025 discussion with City Council on opening commercial corridors for residential development; and upcoming items including Zoning Ordinance amendments for Small Area Plans and Citywide Level of Service Standards.

  Discussed for 7m · also names Small Area Plans ×2, Courthouse Plaza, Parks Foundation · read the transcript

  • Davies PropertyapprovedwikiCity Council approved the proposal for the Davies property at its July 22, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
  • Zoning ordinance text amendmentsCity Council approved zoning ordinanceZoningThe city rules that say what can be built where: uses, height, density, setbacks, and parking, by district. text amendmentsText amendmentA change to the words of the zoning ordinance itself, citywide, rather than to one property's district. at its July 22, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
  • Commercial corridors residential developmentA September 9, 2025 discussion with City Council is planned regarding the potential for opening commercial corridors for residential development.
  • Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendmentsin progressNoted by staff as an upcoming item that may come before the Planning CommissionPlanning CommissionThe appointed body that reviews land-use applications and plans first and sends a recommendation to City Council, which makes the final decision..
  • Citywide Level of Service StandardsNoted by staff as an upcoming item that may come before the Planning CommissionPlanning CommissionThe appointed body that reviews land-use applications and plans first and sends a recommendation to City Council, which makes the final decision..
  • INOVA development siteCommissioner Lockhart thanked staff for maintaining the major projects webpage, which includes information on the INOVA development site that has drawn public questions.
  watch 93:02

Named in discussion

Tracked topics the transcript names that no agenda item is filed under. Their own pages and wikis do not yet record this meeting; the passages below are the only trace.

• Master Planin progress13 passages, 10m

  “Thank you Anna as Anna mentioned dr. Garrett wolf on the engagement lead for the master plan supporting the Davie resource group Who is the prime developing a master plan for the city of Fairfax? I'm gonna go to the agenda slide So before we get into the meat…”

  watch 5:59every passage
• City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Planapproved8 passages, 6m

  “it does not involve a rezoning or a change to our comprehensive plan land use map. Now we've had conversations in the past about whether that should change, but as we're currently structured, we don't have a role in that. As far as the physical design of it,…”

  watch 2:48every passagewiki
• Small Area Plansin progress7 passages, 5m

  “…well as we're facing and looking at changes to zoning ordinance to better align our small area plans with the zoning ordinance because they haven't kept up.”

  watch 66:24every passage
• Move Fairfax City2 passages, 1m

  “…underway and expected to be complete by early next year And the safety action plan move Fairfax City is underway The project kickoff work session with City Council was held on July 1st and the plan is expected to be complete by mid-2026 Moving on to…”

  watch 82:31every passagewiki
• George Snyder Traildeniedonce

  “…work for you. I don't care. So we go along and do this. When we move down to the George Snyder Trail, it's fairly evident in this community that there are a significant number of people”

  watch 55:20every passagewiki
• Solid Waste Management Plan Updateapprovedonce

  “…forest master plan is underway with adoption expected by the end of the year. The solid waste management plan update is also underway. The plan was last updated in 2021 and per state code must be updated every five years. The city was selected as a…”

  watch 83:12every passagewiki
• Pickett Road Connector Trailin progressonce

  “…were still deemed higher priority due to other factors. And finally, the Pickett Road Trail Connector Project was put on hold by a City Council vote on April 22nd. City Council had a work session on the project on July 8th, but the project is…”

  watch 86:13every passagewiki
• Housing and Homelessness Strategic Planin progressonce

  “…guidelines for discrepancies and the ongoing zoning ordinance update. The affordable housing and homelessness strategic plan is underway and expected to be complete”

  watch 80:25every passage
• Old Town Parking Studyin progressonce

  “…several projects and analyses regarding the small area plans are underway the Old Town parking study is complete now this did not identify a future need for an additional parking structure in Old Town but rather future demand should be accommodated…”

  watch 84:43every passagewiki
• Two-Year Transportation Programproposedonce

  “…of Old Town as well as lighting improvements along Main Street east of Old Town. The two-year transportation program was adopted on February 25th and the projects included are an evaluation of Fairfax Circle, bike route wayfinding, improvements at the…”

  watch 81:51every passagewiki