Planning Commission · Jul 14, 2025

Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

▶ Watch recording Agenda Minutes Read the transcript2h 07m · 4 agenda items · 1 vote, all unanimous · 11 tracked topics, 4 in the wiki

2h 7m total — hover for items, click a segment to watch that part.

What was decided

✓6a
Proposed amendments to the Code of the City of Fairfax, Chapter 110 (Zoning) – Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy, Reducing Special Use Permits, and Miscellaneous Amendments
Public hearing held. Planning Commission voted 4:0 to recommend that City Council approve the proposed ordinance amendments to Chapter 110, Zoning.
Passed, unanimous
Discussed for 42m · also names Special Use Permit ×15, Accessory Dwelling Units ×3, Zoning Text Amendments ×2, Fairfax Square · read the transcript
- Chapter 110 (Zoning) Amendments Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy Reducing Special Use Permits and Miscellaneous AmendmentsapprovedThe Planning Commission voted 4:0 to recommend City Council approval of the proposed amendments to Chapter 110 (Zoning) addressing Accessory Dwelling Unit occupancy, reducing Special Use Permits, and other miscellaneous changes.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit OccupancyCommissioners discussed ADU occupancy rules, including the definition of household, occupant limits for group homes, and potential removal of age and disability requirements; staff noted a community meeting is planned for Fall to inform further wholesale ADU revisions.
- Special Use Permits Indoor Recreational SpacesCommissioners raised questions about the size requirement threshold for Special Use Permits associated with indoor recreational spaces as part of the zoning text amendment discussion.
watch 2:40

Presented

8a
Work Session: Pre-application briefing for a proposed mixed-use development at Fairfax Square Professional Center, 9840–9946 Main Street · Staff presented a pre-application briefing on the proposed mixed-use development; no formal action taken during the work session.
Discussed for 38m · also names City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan ×3, Accessory Dwelling Units, Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Courthouse Plaza, Master Plan · read the transcript
- Fairfax SquareproposedwikiA pre-application briefing was presented to the Planning Commission for a proposed mixed-use development at the Fairfax Square Professional Center located at 9840–9946 Main Street; no formal action was taken.
- 9840–9946 Main StreetThis address is the site of the proposed mixed-use development at Fairfax Square Professional Center discussed during the work session.
watch 45:22
8b
Work Session: Presentation of the 2025 City of Fairfax Fact Book · Staff presented the 2025 City of Fairfax Fact Book; no formal action taken.
Discussed for 35m · also names City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan ×2, General Fund, Zoning Text Amendments · read the transcript
- 2025 City of Fairfax Fact BookPlanners Eric Forman and Amy Lynn Denny presented the 2025 City of Fairfax Fact Book to the Commission during the work session; no formal action was taken.
watch 84:37
9
Staff Report · Staff provided updates on recent City Council meetings and upcoming agenda items, including the NOVA Transportation Authority Bus Transit Action Plan recap, Move Fairfax discussion, Pickett Road Trail update, and upcoming public hearings on The Davies proposal, Courthouse Plaza redevelopment, and zoning text amendments.
Discussed for 6m · also names City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, Move Fairfax City, NOVA Parks, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Parks Foundation, Senior Center · read the transcript
- NOVA Transportation Authority Bus Traffic Transit Action PlanStaff recapped the NOVA Transportation Authority Bus Traffic Transit Action Plan as discussed at the June 24, 2025 City Council meeting.
- Move FairfaxStaff noted that Move Fairfax was discussed at the July 1, 2025 Joint Work Session with City Council.
- Pickett Road Connector Trailin progresswikiStaff reported that an update on the Pickett Road Trail was provided at the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
- Davies PropertyapprovedwikiA public hearing on The Davies proposal was noted as scheduled for the upcoming July 22, 2025 City Council meeting.
- Courthouse Plazain progresswikiA public hearing on the Courthouse Plaza redevelopment proposal was noted as scheduled for the upcoming July 22, 2025 City Council meeting.
watch 120:05

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.

Special Use Permitapproved16 passages, 12m
“…review and definitions relating to a sex accessory drawing units occupancy reducing special use permits and other miscellaneous amendments. Mr. Foreman good to see you.”
watch 2:20 every passage
City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Planapproved6 passages, 6m
“…here in red is shown as commercial corridor, the future laying use map of the comprehensive plan you can see that it is surrounded by residential multifamily to the north which is was developed alongside this few year time difference in between the…”
watch 47:45 every passage wiki
Zoning Text Amendmentsin progress5 passages, 4m
“…a public hearing. We do have one public hearing this evening pertaining to proposed zoning text amendments. If you'd like to speak to that, you'll have the opportunity at that time. Otherwise, if you'd like to address the commission, now is your time to do…”
watch 1:11 every passage
Accessory Dwelling Unitsin progress4 passages, 3m
“…would include some big topics, would include things like physical characteristics of accessory dwelling units or where and how they're permitted. But there's also some existing standards on ADU occupancy, and that particular topic is reasonable to address…”
watch 4:32 every passage
Move Fairfax Cityonce
“…moving forward with this July 1 we had our joint work session with City Council on move Fairfax City so thank you to Commissioners Lockhart”
watch 121:01 every passage wiki
Urban Forest Master Planapprovedonce
“a presentation on the urban forest master plan. That's all we have for the staff report tonight.”
watch 123:18 every passage wiki

Recording · 2h 07m

▶ Watch from the start

2:406a · Proposed amendments to the Code of the City of Fairfax, Chapter 110 (Zoning) – Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy, Reducing Special Use Permits, and Miscellaneous Amendments · 42m
45:228a · Work Session: Pre-application briefing for a proposed mixed-use development at Fairfax Square Professional Center, 9840–9946 Main Street · 38m
84:378b · Work Session: Presentation of the 2025 City of Fairfax Fact Book · 35m
120:059 · Staff Report · 6m

Topics touched · 11

Chapter 110 (Zoning) Amendments Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy Reducing Special Use Permits and Miscellaneous Amendmentsapproved
Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy
The City of Fairfax proposed amendments to Chapter 110 (Zoning) of the City Code to address Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) occupancy rules, specifically eliminating age and disability requirements for ADU occupancy and updating outdated language (replacing "family" with "household" and referring readers to the code definition rather than duplicating it). Staff framed this as a discrete, relatively minor regulatory change that could be addressed independently of a broader, more comprehensive review of ADU standards — covering physical characteristics, location, and permitting — that the city planned to undertake over the following year, with a community meeting scheduled for Fall.
- A comprehensive, wholesale review of ADU regulations (covering physical standards, where and how ADUs are permitted, and other major topics) was described as forthcoming, with a community meeting…
Special Use Permits Indoor Recreational Spaces
Fairfax Squareproposed
Fairfax Square Professional Center (9840–9946 Main Street) is a ~10.4-acre commercial site on the north side of Main Street, adjacent to the Fairfax Square garden-style apartment complex. The property owner (Van Meter Companies) is proposing a phased mixed-use redevelopment that would demolish most of the existing low-slung commercial buildings while retaining the five-story office building and an existing bank; the concept calls for roughly 300 new apartment units in two or three buildings, along with some ground-floor retail (~10,000 sq. ft.).
- No formal application has been submitted; the project remains at the pre-application/concept plan stage with no scheduled Planning Commission or City Council action dates recorded.
- The phasing plan (beginning on the west side of the property and moving east) and the final number of new apartment units and buildings have not been formally approved or fixed.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
9840–9946 Main Street
2025 City of Fairfax Fact Book
NOVA Transportation Authority Bus Traffic Transit Action Plan
Move Fairfax
Pickett Road Connector Trailin progress
The Pickett Road Connector Trail is a planned trail project in Fairfax City that has been part of the city's comprehensive plan and funded through transportation dollars, having originated in the Parks Strategic Plan. The project drew sustained public opposition beginning at least in January 2025, primarily from residents and groups such as Friends of Akatank Creek concerned about impacts to remnant forests and wetlands in the Akatank Creek watershed.
- A Pickett Road Safety Audit was anticipated to begin in August 2026 — its findings and any resulting impact on the trail design are not yet recorded.
- It is not confirmed whether the October 2025 public outreach meeting for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents was held and what, if any, direction resulted from it.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Davies Propertyapproved
The Davies Property project involves a rezoning from RM to CU (retaining the TOD overlay) and a General Development Plan with proffers for a mixed-use building at 4131 Chain Bridge Rd on 2.69 acres. The proposed development includes 276 apartments, approximately 6,319 sq ft of retail, approximately 4,188 sq ft of office, and structured parking.
- The applicant had not yet submitted an administrative site plan review as of October 2025; staff noted the approval carries an expiration date, and the approval could eventually be revoked if no site…
- It is unclear whether the project will proceed to construction, given the lack of site plan submission and the expiration risk noted in October 2025.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Courthouse Plazain progress
Courthouse Plaza is a mixed-use redevelopment proposal for the shopping center at 10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Boulevard in Fairfax, anchored by a Safeway grocery store. Combined Courthouse, LLC originally sought 8 Special Exceptions for a mixed-use development in the CR Commercial Retail district and Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District; a City Council work session was held on September 24, 2024, and a public hearing was held July 22, 2025, but Council deferred action to October 28, 2025 and ultimately denied the request 4–2 on that date.
- City Council public hearing and action on the Courthouse Plaza land use application (second cycle) is anticipated for the December 8, 2026 City Council meeting — no decision has been made.
- The Board of Architectural Review public hearing on the Courthouse Plaza design (noted as scheduled for the week of September 14, 2026, with reported architectural changes since last review) has not…
This meeting in the wiki Overview

“This meeting in the wiki” opens the topic’s history at this date.

Documents · 8

Filed in agenda order; the agenda names the item each belongs to.