Planning Commission · Jun 23, 2025

Planning Commission Regular Meeting

▶ Watch recording Agenda Minutes Read the transcript2h 28m · 4 agenda items · 2 votes · 15 tracked topics, 6 in the wiki

2h 28m total — hover for items, click a segment to watch that part.

What was decided

✓5a
Motion to amend Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia as part of the regular review of the Zoning Ordinance
Motion to initiate a public hearing to amend Chapter 110 was approved 6:0.
Passed, unanimous
Discussed for 3m · also names Accessory Dwelling Units, Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax Virginia, Davies Property, Special Use Permit · read the transcript
- Chapter 110 Code of the City of Fairfax (Zoning Ordinance)in progressThe Planning Commission voted 6:0 to initiate amendments to Chapter 110 and schedule a public hearing, covering zoning districts and regulations, site development standards, and development review and definitions.
watch 2:30
✕6a
Rezoning Application Z-23-00073 – The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC – 4131 Chain Bridge Road
Motion to recommend approval failed 2:4. Motion to recommend denial was approved 4:2, on grounds that the proposal is not in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted City goals and policies as currently presented.
Failed 2–4 · 2 motions on this item
Discussed for 2h 07m · also names Small Area Plans ×7, Special Exceptions ×4, City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, Old Town Small Area Plan · read the transcript
- Z-23-00073deniedThe Planning Commission recommended denial of Rezoning Application Z-23-00073 by a 4:2 vote, finding the General Development Plan not in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted City goals and policies as currently presented.
- Davies PropertydeniedwikiThe applicant's proposal for a 276-unit mixed-use building with ground-floor retail/commercial and a 3-level below-grade parking garage received a Planning Commission recommendation for denial 4:2.
- 4131 Chain Bridge RoadSubject property (Tax Map Parcel 57-4-02-040, 2.69 +/- acres) proposed for rezoning from RM Residential Medium to CU Commercial Urban in the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District; rezoning recommendation was denied.
- Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD)The subject rezoning application was situated within the TOD; the denial motion referenced non-conformance with the Comprehensive Plan as currently presented.
watch 4:48

Presented

7
Staff Report · Staff provided informational updates on recent and upcoming City Council meetings and planning activities. No action taken.
Discussed for 4m · also names City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, Davies Property, Old Town Small Area Plan, Safety Action Plan, Willard Sherwood · read the transcript
- Northfax East-West Roadwayin progresswikiCity Council endorsed the revenue sharing application at the May 13, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvementsin progresswikiCity Council held a work session on Blenheim Boulevard multimodal improvements at the June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- George Snyder TraildeniedwikiCity Council held a work session on the George Snyder Trail at the June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- Old Town Parking Studyin progresswikiCity Council held a work session on the Old Town Parking Study at the June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- General Zoning Text AmendmentsapprovedCity Council held a work session on General Zoning Text Amendments at the June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- Historic Properties EvaluationCity Council received a presentation on Historic Properties Evaluation covering the Davies Site, Farr House, Sisson House, and Jermantown Cemetery at the June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- Commercial Property Assistance Clean Energy ProgramCity Council adopted the Commercial Property Assistance Clean Energy program at the June 10, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
- Willard-Sherwood Community Centerin progresswikiCity Council held a work session on a potential land use request for the Willard-Sherwood Community Center at the June 10, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff.
watch 137:17
8
Commission Comments · Commissioners offered brief comments. Chair Feather noted the five-year anniversary of the Old Town Small Area Plan adoption and an open seat for a Planning Commission representative to the Board of Architectural Review. Mr. Rice provided an update from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). No action taken.
Discussed for 7m · also names Parks Foundation, Remote Participation Policy, Willard Sherwood · read the transcript
- Old Town Small Area PlanChair Feather noted that June 23, 2025 marks the five-year anniversary of the adoption of the Old Town Small Area Plan.
- Board of Architectural Review Planning Commission RepresentativeChair Feather noted an opening remains for a Planning Commission representative to participate in Board of Architectural Review meetings.
watch 141:41

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.

Small Area Plansin progress7 passages, 6m
“…to four stories and five stories it's somewhat of a tailored approach and that the small area plans suggest bulk and form over maximum density and has a near-term horizon of 15 years with projected increase of 1250 residential units so in terms of what the…”
watch 15:10 every passage
Special Exceptionsin progress4 passages, 4m
“special exceptions and a major certificate of appropriateness for architecture and landscaping the subject property is located in the Old Town small area plan the site is currently developed with a single-family home that was constructed around 1916 the…”
watch 6:47 every passage
Willard Sherwoodin progress2 passages, 2m
“…forward and they also had a work session on the potential lane use request for the Willard Sherwood Community Center and then the City Council had closed meetings on June 17 and tonight for appointments to boards”
watch 138:56 every passage
City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Planapproved2 passages, 1m
“…proposal as set forth in the General Development Plan is not in conformance with the comprehensive plan and other adopted city goals and policies as currently presented.”
watch 135:57 every passage wiki

Recording · 2h 28m

▶ Watch from the start

2:305a · Motion to amend Chapter 110 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia as part of the regular review of the Zoning Ordinance · 3m
4:486a · Rezoning Application Z-23-00073 – The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC – 4131 Chain Bridge Road · 2h 07m
137:177 · Staff Report · 4m
141:418 · Commission Comments · 7m

Topics touched · 15

Chapter 110 Code of the City of Fairfax (Zoning Ordinance)in progress
Z-23-00073denied
Z-23-00073 is a rezoning application filed by A Davies Family, LLC to rezone the property at 4131 Chain Bridge Road (Tax Map 57-4-02-040), known as "The Hill" or the Davies Property, from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban), retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD), with an accompanying General Development Plan (GDP) with proffers. On June 23, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended denial by a 4-2 vote, finding the GDP not in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and other adopted City goals and policies as currently presented.
Davies Propertydenied
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
4131 Chain Bridge Road
4131 Chain Bridge Road (Tax Map Parcel 57-4-02-040, approximately 2.69 acres) is the site of the Davies Property redevelopment project, filed by The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC. The application sought to rezone the parcel from RM Residential Medium to CU Commercial Urban while retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD), accompanied by a General Development Plan with proffers, special exceptions, and a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD)
The Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD) is a zoning overlay applicable to properties in and around Old Town Fairfax. The TOD came into focus through Rezoning Application Z-23-00073, concerning the "Davies Property" at 4131 Chain Bridge Road (The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC), which sought to rezone the parcel from RM Residential Medium to CU Commercial Urban while situated within the TOD.
Northfax East-West Roadwayin progress
The Northfax East-West Roadway is a City of Fairfax capital project to construct a new east-west roadway connecting Chain Bridge Road/University Drive Extension to Cambridge Road in the Northfax area. The project carries an estimated total cost of approximately $21 million, with roughly half funded by NVTA 70% funds and the other half by VDOT Revenue Sharing funds.
- VDOT's decision on the Revenue Sharing Funding application (R-25-27) is pending.
- The specific cost breakdown and total estimated cost for the Northfax East-West Roadway component of the application has not been fully recorded in available material (the September 9 transcript…
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvementsin progress
The Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvements Project is a City of Fairfax transportation project focused on adding multimodal infrastructure along Blenheim Boulevard. As of early 2025, construction was anticipated to begin that year, with utility relocation confirmed underway as of March 2026.
- The School Board's discussion of the project, particularly the proposed amphitheater on Fairfax High School grounds, was ongoing as of September 2026 and the board's formal recommendation to City…
- The construction contract award was conditional on final approval by VDOT; confirmation of that approval has not been recorded.
This meeting in the wiki Overview
George Snyder Traildenied
The George Snyder Trail was a planned shared-use path project (VDOT UPC 112816) in the City of Fairfax aimed at improving multimodal connectivity along Fairfax Boulevard. The project received $20.6 million in I-66 Outside the Beltway concessionaire funding.
- What will the final alignment of the Wilcoxon Trail Extension (formerly George Snyder Trail Extension) be, pending the feasibility study and VDOT approval of the proposed modification?
- What public outreach will be conducted on the updated Wilcoxon Trail Extension concept, and what are the outcomes?
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Old Town Parking Studyin progress
The Old Town Parking Study is a city-commissioned project that analyzed parking utilization across Old Town, with field observations conducted by a consultant in the fall of 2024. The study's primary purpose was to evaluate how upcoming specific redevelopments in Old Town would impact parking in the area, though it yielded broad data on parking utilization across lots, retail centers, and office properties throughout the district.
- Staff sought Planning Commission feedback on proposed parking rate reductions informed by the Old Town Parking Study (e.g., whether to proceed with a 1 per 400 sq ft office rate allowing a further…
This meeting in the wiki Overview
General Zoning Text Amendmentsapproved
The General Zoning Text Amendments are a set of zoning text changes initiated by the Planning Commission for future public hearings. The City Council held a work session on the amendments at its June 3, 2025 meeting, as reported by staff to the Planning Commission on June 23, 2025.
Historic Properties Evaluation
The Historic Properties Evaluation is a City-initiated study assessing the historic significance of several properties: the Davies Site, Farr House, Sisson House, and Jermantown Cemetery. On June 3, 2025, City Council received a presentation on the evaluation during a work session; no vote or formal action was taken.
- No formal action has been taken; it is unclear what decisions or next steps the City Council or Planning Commission will pursue following the evaluation's findings regarding the four potentially…
- How the evaluation's findings will inform the relevant small area plan(s) has not yet been determined.
Commercial Property Assistance Clean Energy Program
Willard-Sherwood Community Centerin progress
The Willard-Sherwood Community Center expansion/rebuild is a major capital project for the City of Fairfax. In November 2024, City Council unanimously approved Resolution R-24-32 authorizing the City of Fairfax Economic Development Authority to issue revenue bonds up to $54,500,000 to finance general government capital projects, with Willard-Sherwood listed as an anticipated expenditure.
- Construction timeline and projected completion date have not been recorded in the available material.
- The excluded optional performing arts space renovation at the existing Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center remains unresolved — it was explicitly set aside by R-26-13 but its future disposition has…
This meeting in the wiki Overview
Old Town Small Area Plan
The Old Town Small Area Plan is a City of Fairfax planning document adopted on June 23, 2020, governing land use, open space, transportation, and design recommendations for the Old Town activity center area. It provides specific guidance that supersedes general comprehensive plan activity-center recommendations, including directives on green space connectivity, building height and character, sidewalk design, and circulation.
- Whether and how the Old Town Small Area Plan will be formally reviewed and updated, and on what timeline — including whether it should be expedited ahead of the Northfax, Kamp Washington, and Fairfax…
- Whether zoning-related 'bright line' conversations occurring through the zoning islands process will resolve key questions before a formal plan revision is undertaken.
Board of Architectural Review Planning Commission Representative

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

Documents · 11

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