City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan
in progressSummary
The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's long-range planning document, subject to a state-mandated five-year review under Code of Virginia §15.2-2230. The most recent review cycle began in summer 2023 with community outreach, board/commission engagement, and a compilation and refinement phase through summer 2024. On July 8, 2024, the Planning Commission approved the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan (Resolution PC-24-02, 5-0) and recommended City Council adoption, explicitly conditioned on final approval of associated amendments to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan. The full five-year review amendments were adopted by City Council on October 8, 2024, via Resolution R-24-30 (6-0), approving the Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024 — completing that review cycle. Subsequently, a new potential review has been initiated regarding mixed-use development outside designated activity centers: staff presented a report to the Planning Commission on March 24, 2025, and City Council held a work session discussion on September 9, 2025, with no formal action taken at either meeting.
Open questions & options on the table
- Whether the City Council will initiate a formal review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan related to mixed-use development outside activity centers, and what scope and timeline that review would follow.
- What formal action, if any, will follow the September 9, 2025 City Council work session discussion on mixed-use development outside activity centers.
Recent updates
[11b] Council discussed a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan relating to mixed-use development outside activity centers; no formal action taken.
[8a] Staff presented a report discussing a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan related to mixed-use development outside activity centers; the matter was discussed but no formal action was taken.
What members have said
On July 8, 2024, Chair Feather presided over the vote on the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan and the motion record reflects her role in guiding the commission's deliberations, including discussion of textual modifications such as replacing 'will mostly' with 'should' to better express community expectations around density and development.
At the October 8, 2024 City Council meeting, Council Member Staley moved to adopt Resolution R-24-30 approving and adopting the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024.
Council Member Lim seconded the motion to adopt Resolution R-24-30 on October 8, 2024, approving the updated 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
At the October 8, 2024 meeting, Council Member Ross was noted to have requested discussion on the motion to adopt the Comprehensive Plan amendments, though the substance of those comments is not captured in the available excerpts.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
- Jul 8, 2024Planning Commission · item 6a
[6a] Approval of the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan was made subject to final approval of associated amendments in the update to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan; a Comprehensive Plan review work session was noted for the July 22, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
[8c] Staff presented updates to the Implementation Guides related to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and approved Small Area Plans; no formal action was taken.
[8a] The five-year review amendments to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan were adopted by the City Council via Resolution R-24-30 at this meeting.
[8a] Staff presented a report discussing a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan related to mixed-use development outside activity centers; the matter was discussed but no formal action was taken.
- Sep 9, 2025City Council · item 11b
[11b] Council discussed a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan relating to mixed-use development outside activity centers; no formal action taken.