Affordable Housing Strategic Plan

Summary

The Affordable Housing Strategic Plan is a City of Fairfax policy initiative developed to guide future study, prioritization, and policy development related to housing affordability. A presentation on the plan was delivered to City Council at a work session on November 4, 2025, and the Planning Commission was briefed on that session on November 10, 2025. On February 17, 2026, the City Council unanimously adopted the plan (6-0) as a strategic framework; the resolution explicitly states it does not constitute an implementation plan or funding commitment, and all future action remains subject to available resources and future City Council approval. Following adoption, the plan has been actively referenced in related municipal work: it is cited as a guiding document for Housing Trust Fund guidelines, small area plan zoning ordinance amendments, naturally occurring affordable housing preservation strategies, and land use market analysis efforts. The Housing and Community Advisory Board (HCAB) has begun refining Housing Trust Fund guidelines in alignment with the plan, recommending existing trust fund resources be directed toward affordable housing preservation and development.

Open questions & options on the table

• Specific incentives and mechanisms for retaining affordability on ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) properties are still to be determined, as the plan currently provides only a framework.
• Identification of specific parcels or key sites (e.g., Layton Hall, NOAA properties) to prioritize for affordable/workforce housing development remains an open question to be worked out through the plan's implementation and ongoing market analysis.
• Housing Trust Fund guidelines developed by HCAB are still being refined; the process for rental assistance and first-time homebuyer assistance programs has not yet been established, in part due to the limited funds currently available (~$500,000).
• Further policy recommendations from the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan may affect small area plan zoning ordinance amendments, with requirements still to be determined.
• Pinpointing specific locations for affordable housing encouragement through the combination of the strategic plan and a market study is ongoing and not yet complete.

What members have said

Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.

Discussion time

Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.