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Councilmember

Thomas Peterson

191 × yes22 × no

On the record

Positions recorded in minutes, by topic.

Personnel Matters

At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Peterson congratulated and welcomed Dan Alexander as the new City Manager, echoed colleagues' remarks, and specifically underscored that the search had been a long and difficult process. Peterson noted that the confidential nature of personnel matters causes public frustration because people cannot see what is happening, and acknowledged this is an accepted constraint of elected office.

Chain Bridge Road

Voted no on the January 2026 George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation; no recorded comments specific to Chain Bridge Road development items.

Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board

At the July 28, 2026 discussion on board reappointment interviews, Peterson noted that approximately 12–13 of the roughly 20 candidates on the interview list appeared to be HHCAB members, and indicated flexibility on interview scheduling.

Green Building Policyin progress

On June 23, 2026, Council Member Peterson seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda at the meeting at which the Green Building Policy public hearing and adoption took place.

George Snyder Traildenied

Councilmember Peterson noted at the March 25, 2025 meeting that the Council was working toward a permanent resolution. Peterson was the sole vote in favor of the June 2025 substitute motion to cancel the project entirely. Peterson also opposed the December 2025 supplemental appropriation introduction and the January 2026 supplemental appropriation.

Old Town

At the close of the July 28, 2026 meeting, Council Member Peterson noted he had spoken with restaurant owners in Old Town—including a long conversation with the owner of Ornery on its final night of operation—signaling personal engagement with the Old Town business community, though no formal position on any agenda item was recorded.

Andes Drive Pump Station Force Main Liningin progress

On November 18, 2025, Peterson seconded Hardy-Chandler's motion to approve the contract modification.

Fairfax City Parks Foundationin progress

At the September 9, 2025 meeting, Council Member Peterson asked about the term length of the appointments, prompting confirmation that directors serve three-year terms.

Employee Compensation

In the March 3, 2026 discussion, Peterson asked questions about whether school division costs would stabilize, prompting responses about the difficulty of projecting costs without knowing specific programmatic plans. Peterson also thanked the presenter for a helpful and clear presentation.

Small Area Plansin progress

At the July 14, 2026 work session, Peterson raised sustained conceptual concerns about the amendments, questioning whether the transition from existing zoning to a Small Area Plan-driven framework could result in tradeoffs against the public interest — including quality of life and community benefits — that had previously been protected through zoning. Peterson also sought clarification on whether the Small Area Plans' development benchmarks should be understood as goals, and pressed staff on whether a compare-and-contrast analysis of public interest impacts had been conducted.

Appointments to boards and commissions

On at least two occasions (June 24, 2025, and July 8, 2025), Peterson requested that the list of appointees be read aloud publicly before the vote, arguing that transparency was important so everyone knows who is being appointed.

City of Fairfax Green Building Policyapproved

Council Member Peterson seconded the motion to approve the resolution to adopt the City of Fairfax Green Building Policy at the June 23, 2026 City Council meeting.

Willard-Sherwood Community Centerin progress

Peterson voted in favor of deferring the Willard-Sherwood expansion to FY 2027 at the May 6, 2025 meeting (motion failed 3-3), voted against the SUP and special exceptions at the October 14, 2025 hearing, and was also opposed on the Certificate of Appropriateness. Peterson voted yes on the April 28, 2026 resolution to proceed to construction.

Black History Month

At the February 10, 2026 meeting, Peterson wished everyone a happy Valentine's Day rather than specifically commenting on Black History Month, though a later March 10, 2026 excerpt attributes to an unidentified speaker a book recommendation bridging Black History Month and Women's History Month (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks), with a reference to Peterson's style of going 'offbeat.'

10300 Willard Wayin progress

Councilmember Peterson voted to defer on July 22, 2025 and voted to deny the special exceptions and Certificate of Appropriateness on October 28, 2025; the transcript records Peterson as having seconded the denial motion.

Stormwater Utility

Peterson seconded the motion on May 5, 2026 to approve the ordinance setting the stormwater utility rate at $36.02 per billing unit for calendar year 2026.

Country Club Hills Connector Trailwithdrawn

At the April 8, 2025 meeting, Peterson seconded Councilmember Hall's motion to cancel the Country Club Hills Connector Trail.

Ordinance Amending Chapter 90 Article VI Section 90-262 (Meals Tax)proposed

Voted against introduction of the ordinance on April 8, 2025.

FY 2026 Budgetapproved

At the May 6, 2025 adoption meeting, Peterson asked for big-picture clarification on the budget process for the benefit of residents watching and in response to constituent emails. Peterson voted yes on three failed amendments (lower real estate tax rate at $1.75, deferral of Willard-Sherwood expansion, and 50/50 pay study split) and yes on the deferral motion to May 13, but ultimately voted yes on final budget adoption.

Dwight Avenue Improvementsin progress

On September 9, 2025, Councilmember Peterson made the motion to adopt the updated resolution (R-25-27) approving submission of the three projects — including Dwight Avenue Improvements — to VDOT for Revenue Sharing Funding.

Plastic Bag Tax and FY26 Priorities

On July 8, 2025, Peterson was asked by the presiding officer whether the handling of the preceding agenda item (Pickett Road Trail) was agreeable, and confirmed assent; no recorded comments specific to the plastic bag tax or FY26 priorities are captured in the available material.

NVTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Action Plan

On June 24, 2025, Councilmember Peterson briefed the Council that the NVTA Planning Coordination Advisory Committee was scheduled to vote on endorsing the BRT Action Plan on June 25, 2025, and noted that the proposed plan includes the City of Fairfax.

Fairfax City Purchasing Resolutionapproved

At the June 23, 2026 meeting, Councilmember Peterson requested that a staff member provide a brief summary of the purchasing resolution changes for the benefit of those listening, and directed the motion process during consideration of the item. Transcript excerpts from a June 24, 2025 session also show Peterson moving to adopt the 2025 Fairfax City Purchasing Resolution as recommended by city staff.

Conflict of Interest

At the November 2025 work session, Peterson asked for clarification on how conflicts of interest are handled when a member discloses a personal interest after a vote rather than before it, specifically in situations where post-vote conduct is enabled by the vote taken. In late April 2026, Peterson expressed reluctance to move forward with pending board appointments until ethics and conflict-of-interest issues were resolved.

Move Fairfax City

Voted yes on June 24, 2025 to appoint resident representatives to the Move Fairfax City Steering Committee. Voted yes on January 13, 2026 to cancel the George Snyder Trail Project.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Occupancy

Voted yes on July 22, 2025 to approve Ordinance 2025-06. No recorded verbal comments in the material.

Blenheim Boulevard Multimodal Improvementsapproved

On April 28, 2026, Peterson seconded Hardy-Chandler's motion to award the construction contract to Fort Myer Construction Corporation.

Stacy Sherwood Community Centerin progress

Peterson voted no on all three land-use motions on Oct. 14, 2025 — the SUP, the special exceptions, and the Certificate of Appropriateness. Peterson voted yes on R-26-13 authorizing construction on Apr. 28, 2026.

Affordable Housing Strategic Planin progress

Voted yes on February 17, 2026 to adopt the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan as a strategic framework.

FY 2027 Financial Policies and Council Budget Guidelinesapproved

At the November 18, 2025 meeting, Councilmember Peterson pulled the item from the consent agenda to allow for separate discussion before it was voted on, though no specific comments from Peterson are recorded beyond that procedural action.

Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Concession Funding

Peterson opposed the resolution at both the December 9, 2025 introduction (voting no) and the January 13, 2026 public hearing (voting no).

Pickett Road

At or around the 2026-02-24 meeting, Peterson connected the regional transportation safety report to the Pickett Road safety effort, describing Pickett Road as a 'poster child' for addressing regional road safety issues, and expressed appreciation for the city's efforts while noting much more work remains to be done.

Northern Virginia Transportation Authority

Councilmember Peterson briefed the Council on June 24, 2025 about the NVTA BRT Action Plan, noting the Planning Coordination Advisory Committee would vote on endorsement the following day and that the plan includes the City of Fairfax. Peterson voted 'no' on the January 13, 2026 George Snyder Trail supplemental appropriation. A colleague noted at the February 10, 2026 meeting that Peterson may have more detailed knowledge of the BRT corridor specifics than other members.

Beacon Landingin progress

At the March 10, 2026 work session, Peterson (identified contextually as the questioner) asked whether the grant could be structured differently — for example, as a bridge grant — and noted that the Beacon Landing discussion raised broader questions about affordable housing commitments the city might be taking on in future years.

Translation Services for City Council Meetings

Peterson is noted in the April 7, 2026 transcript context but only in connection with a personal privilege remark (wishing his mother a happy birthday); no recorded comments by Peterson on the translation services item itself are present in the material.

Fairfax Squareproposed

Recorded in the September 9, 2025 transcript as voting aye on a preceding motion; no comments attributed to Peterson on the Fairfax Square briefing itself.

Eaton Place

At the July 28, 2026 Council pre-application briefing, a speaker identified as living across the street on Eaton Place — consistent with the record of Council Member Peterson — stated that they actually like the project but have suggestions, including a preference for townhouse-style stackable units over the proposed configuration to keep building heights lower along Chain Bridge Road, and suggested potentially repurposing interior townhomes as stackable units.

Courthouse Plazain progress

Peterson voted yes on the July 22, 2025 deferral and voted in favor of denying the special exceptions and Certificate of Appropriateness on October 28, 2025.

Warwick Ave /Fairfax Blvd /McLean Ave Intersection Improvementsapproved

Voted yes on April 22, 2025 to award the construction contract to Sagres Construction Corporation. No recorded comments beyond the vote.

Capital Improvement Program FY2026 to FY2030approved

At the May 6, 2025 Special Meeting, Peterson voted with McQuillen and Hall in favor of the deferral motion and all three failed amendments, and voted against the Budget Change Document amendment. Peterson ultimately voted yes on the final unanimous adoption of the FY 2026–2030 CIP and budget.

Pickett Road Connector Trailin progress

On July 22, 2025, Peterson made the request to hold a community meeting for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents, noting roughly 1,200 residents — about 5% of the city population — live near the Pickett Road/Route 50 intersection and had expressed interest in discussing transportation safety needs. Peterson voted no on the July 22, 2025 motion to reverse the April 8 pause.

Solid Waste Management Plan Updateapproved

On May 12, 2026, Council Member Peterson seconded Council Member Hardy-Chandler's motion to adopt the SWMP Update resolution.

Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendmentsin progress

At the January 2026 work session preview, Peterson noted that the upcoming agenda represented a significant information load and emphasized the quality of the items, asking whether advance reading materials would be provided. In June 2026, Peterson asked clarifying questions about how the small area plan zoning ordinance amendments process relates to a separately scheduled June 23 discussion on reviewing and updating the small area plans themselves, indicating the connection between the two tracks was not immediately clear to them.

Voting record