City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan

The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's long-range land use and policy framework document. A five-year review process, initiated in summer 2023 in accordance with Code of Virginia §15.2-2230, included community outreach, input from city boards and commissions, and a compilation and refinement phase through 2024. The Planning Commission held a work session and public hearing in September 2024, and on October 8, 2024, the City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated 2035 Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024, completing the five-year review cycle. Separately, the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan was approved by the Planning Commission on July 8, 2024 (Resolution PC-24-02, 5-0) and recommended to City Council, subject to final approval of associated Comprehensive Plan amendments. Staff has presented Implementation Guide updates related to the Plan and approved Small Area Plans at Planning Commission work sessions in July 2024 and a scheduled session in July 2026. Since adoption, a new potential review of the Plan relating to mixed-use development outside activity centers has been discussed by both the Planning Commission (March 2025) and City Council (September 2025), though no formal action has been taken on that initiative. A Comprehensive Plan Amendment was also requested in connection with the Highlands at Mantua project at 9495 Silver King Court; the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval on July 27, 2026 (2026-07-27 Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session, Agenda Item 6a). On September 22, 2026, the City Council approved the Comprehensive Plan Amendment unanimously, amending the future land use map for Tax Map Parcel 58-2-10-0001-A-1 from Commercial Corridor Place Type to Townhouse/Single-Family Attached Neighborhood Place Type; the Council also approved the associated rezoning (Z-24-00236) and General Development Plan Amendment 4-2 and the Certificate of Appropriateness 4-2, with Stacy Hall and Rachel McQuillen opposed on those latter two items (2026-09-22 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 8a).

In this wiki

• Meeting history — every action, vote, and update, with links to the moment in the meeting video
• Positions & open questions

2024-07-08 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 6a: Public hearing and recommendation to City Council on the proposed Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC-24-02 approving the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan and recommended City Council approve and adopt the draft dated June 24, 2024, subject to final approval of associated amendments in the update to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan and modifications provided by the Commission, 5:0.
• Vote (passed): Motion to adopt Resolution PC-24-02 approving the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan and recommending approval and adoption to City Council in the draft dated June 24, 2024, subject to final approval of associated amendments in the update to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, and specified modifications including property access preservation, a transportation safety study, analysis of widening walkways/shared use paths, and three textual edits to the plan document. — Feather: yes, Briggs: yes, Coleman: yes, Rice: yes, Cunningham: yes, Denton: absent, Lockhart: absent
• [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.

2024-07-22 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8c: Presentation of updates to the Implementation Guides related to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan and approved Small Area Plans (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Presentation made by staff; no formal action taken.
• [8c] Staff presented updates to the Implementation Guides related to the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and approved Small Area Plans; no formal action was taken.
• Status after: in_progress

2024-09-10 — City Council Regular Meeting

Agenda item 13a: Work Session – Five-Year Review of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Discussed in work session; no formal action taken.
• [13a] Council discussed the five-year review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan during the work session; no formal action was taken at this meeting.
• Status after: in_progress

2024-10-08 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 8a: Public hearing and Council action to consider approval and adoption of amendments resulting from the five-year review of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan

• Outcome: Public hearing held; Resolution R-24-30 approved unanimously (6-0), adopting the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024.
• Vote (passed): Adopt Resolution R-24-30 approving and adopting the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024 — Bates: yes, Doyle Feingold: yes, Greenfield: yes, Lim: yes, Ross: yes, Stehle: yes
• [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.
• Status after: approved

2024-10-10 — PRAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 8d: Stakeholder Update – Planning Commission

• Outcome: Matt Rice reported the Planning Commission made final adjustments to the Comp Plan, which City Council approved at the most recent Council meeting. A work session on the Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan was held. The Planning Commission will review the Urban Forestry Master Plan at its October 14 meeting.
• [8d] The Planning Commission made final adjustments to the Comp Plan and City Council approved it at the most recent Council meeting.
• Status after: approved

2025-01-09 — PRAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 8d: Planning Commission – Matt Rice

• Outcome: Matt Rice reported that the Planning Commission held its first meeting of the new year and began discussions on the city's comprehensive plan investments in specific areas, including FX HS roof, Fire Station 3, multi-modal transportation, and pedestrian safety. The commission is writing recommendations to the new council. A high-density area proposal for a currently green/environmental space was also noted.
• [8d] The Planning Commission began discussions on the comprehensive plan, focusing on city investments in specific areas around the city.

2025-01-11 — City Council Retreat

Agenda item 3: Overview of Land-Use Application Processes, Comprehensive Plan, Fact Book, and Small Area Plans

• Outcome: Scheduled per agenda for 9:30 a.m. A presentation was listed. No minutes or actions report available.
• [3] The Comprehensive Plan was listed as a topic in the scheduled land-use overview presentation; no outcome recorded as no minutes or actions report exist.

2025-03-03 — HHCAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 3: Orientation

• Outcome: Four orientation presentations were delivered covering: (1) the Comprehensive Plan, Affordable Dwelling Units, and Housing Assessment and Strategy Report (Brooke Hardin); (2) Fairfax County OPEH (Tom Barnett); (3) Fairfax City homelessness actions and challenges (Natalie Hinesley, Acting Chief of Police); and (4) Fairfax City Human Services (Lesley Abashian). Key highlights included ~$540K in cash-in-lieu developer contributions, the hotel conversion near Fair Oaks and a proposed PSH project, coordinated federal funding contingency responses, and CRT program effectiveness.
• [3] Brooke Hardin presented on the Comprehensive Plan, Affordable Dwelling Units, and Housing Assessment and Strategy Report, noting approximately $540K in cash-in-lieu developer contributions received prior to implementation of the Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance.

2025-03-24 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8a: Discussion of a potential review of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan related to mixed use development outside activity centers (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff presented a report on a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan related to mixed-use development outside activity centers. The report was incorporated into the record by reference. No vote taken; item was for discussion.
• [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.
• Status after: in_progress

2025-09-08 — HHCAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 4: HHCAB Strategy Teams, Working Session

• Outcome: Strategy teams met for individual working sessions covering Zoning/Housing Trust Fund, Home Sharing, and Homeless Services. Background materials were distributed for Homeless Docket, Hypothermia Program, Encampment Procedures, Home Sharing, Zoning & Land Use, Housing Trust Fund, and Communications strategies.
• [4] The 2035 Comprehensive Plan (last amended October 8, 2024) was cited in strategy background materials for its housing goals, including Action H2.1.1 on maintaining a Housing Trust Fund and Action H1.1.3 on expanding ADU opportunities.

2025-09-09 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 11b: Work Session: Discussion of a potential review of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan pertaining to mixed-use development outside activity centers

• Outcome: Discussion held during work session. No formal action taken.
• [11b] Council discussed a potential review of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan relating to mixed-use development outside activity centers; no formal action taken.

2025-12-01 — HHCAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 5: December 2nd Council Presentation

• Outcome: The board reviewed and discussed the presentation to be delivered to City Council on December 2, 2025, covering HHCAB's purpose, housing landscape, population data, community interest, workplan (including Home Sharing and Housing Trust Fund), and discussion items.
• [5] The Comprehensive Plan was cited as a guiding document for HHCAB's workplan and as a source identifying the need for a Housing Trust Fund.

2026-02-02 — HHCAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 4: Committee Activity

• Outcome: Board conducted a Post-It Note small-group activity across four focus area tables—Housing Trust Fund, Homeless Services, Home Sharing, and Housing Goals/Targets—identifying potential next steps and prioritizing ideas with dot stickers. Compiled results were attached to the minutes.
• [4] The Comprehensive Plan was referenced as background context at activity tables, particularly regarding maintaining a robust Housing Trust Fund and integrating affordable housing targets into economic growth plans.
• Status after: in_progress

2026-03-03 — HHCAB Committee Meeting (Housing Goals & Targets)

Agenda item 3: Discussion of Next Steps

• Outcome: The team identified action items for the next meeting on March 24, 2026: staff to share an AI-generated funding model focused on affordable housing benchmarks, gather housing production trends over the past decade, and gather information on the fiscal impact of schools on housing; Strategy Team members to continue reviewing and inventorying data points in the attached spreadsheet.
• [3] The Comprehensive Plan, led by the Department of Community Development and Planning, was noted as including Housing Goals; the City's Housing Division is transitioning into this department to further align housing policy and long-range planning.

2026-04-06 — HHCAB Regular Meeting

Agenda item 4: Strategy Team Updates

• Outcome: Updates were presented from all four strategy teams. A motion to approve the Home Sharing information sharing/gathering approach of attending various Village in the City events passed unanimously. Discussion covered Housing Trust Fund advocacy timing and administration, Home Sharing community engagement, homelessness data collection, the Affordable Dwelling Unit Ordinance, housing goals/targets, and engagement with the National Association of Realtors and Virginia Housing.
• Vote (passed): Motion to approve the information sharing/gathering approach of attending various Village in the City events for the Home Sharing Strategy Team. — Light: yes, LaCroix: yes, Delboy: yes, Bonaiuto: yes, Vincent: yes, Ihara: yes, Derosier: yes, Atwood: yes, Gillespie: yes, Napolitano: yes, Cattaneo: yes, Opoku-Yeboah: yes, Anderson: absent, Jensen: absent, Wilber: absent, Cabelli: absent, Hatch: absent
• [4] Identified as a key reference for aligning housing goals and production targets alongside Small Area Plans and regional efforts.

2026-04-15 — HHCAB Committee Meeting (Housing Goals & Targets)

Agenda item 2: Continue to Review Compiled Data

• Outcome: Members held an extended working discussion covering funding context, land use strategies, Housing Trust Fund use and growth, production vs. tenant-based assistance, housing terminology, implementation approach, NOAH preservation, state legislation, housing goals and data, community engagement, the Green Acres opportunity site, housing and environmental sustainability, and sequencing of goals and funding. No formal votes or motions were recorded.
• [2] Revising the Comprehensive Plan and land use map was identified as a potential land use strategy to increase housing supply in the absence of significant financial resources.
• Status after: in_progress

2026-06-08 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 10: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff provided updates on recent and upcoming meetings and activities.
• [10] A comprehensive plan implementation group meeting was noted for June 25, 2026.

2026-07-13 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8c: Presentation of updates to the Implementation Guides related to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan and approved Small Area Plans (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Scheduled as a work session presentation per the agenda; no minutes or actions report available to confirm outcome.
• [8c] The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is referenced as the basis for Implementation Guide updates scheduled for presentation at this work session.

2026-07-27 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 6a: Highlands at Mantua – Public Hearing (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Public hearing scheduled per the agenda; no minutes or actions report available.
• [6a] The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is implicated by the requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Highlands at Mantua project.

2026-09-22 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 8a: Public Hearing – 9495 Silver King Court Redevelopment (RJL Associates, Inc.)

• Outcome: Comprehensive Plan Amendment approved unanimously. Rezoning (Z-24-00236) and General Development Plan Amendment approved 4-2 (Hall and McQuillen opposed). Certificate of Appropriateness approved 4-2 (Hall and McQuillen opposed).
• Vote (passed): Adopt resolution recommending amendment of the Comprehensive Plan from Commercial Corridor Place Type to Townhouse/Single-Family Attached Neighborhood Place Type for Tax Map Parcel 58-2-10-0001-A-1. — Amos: yes, Bates: yes, Hall: yes, Hardy-Chandler: yes, McQuillen: yes, Peterson: yes
• Vote (passed): Approve rezoning application Z-24-00236 to rezone 9495 Silver King Court from PDC to PDR-ACOD, approve the General Development Plan Amendment, and approve the Master Development Plan with commitments revised June 15, 2026. — Amos: yes, Bates: yes, Hall: no, Hardy-Chandler: yes, McQuillen: no, Peterson: yes
• Vote (passed): Approve Certificate of Appropriateness for 9495 Silver King Court (Highlands at Mantua) per Section 110-6.5.6.B of the City Code, with stated conditions. — Amos: yes, Bates: yes, Hall: no, Hardy-Chandler: yes, McQuillen: no, Peterson: yes
• [8a] The future land use map was amended for 9495 Silver King Court from Commercial Corridor Place Type to Townhouse/Single-Family Attached Neighborhood Place Type.
• Status after: approved

Open questions

• Whether the City will formally initiate a Comprehensive Plan review related to mixed-use development outside activity centers (discussed by Planning Commission in March 2025 and City Council in September 2025, but no formal action taken by either body)
• Confirmation of outcomes from the July 13, 2026 Planning Commission work session presentation on Implementation Guide updates (no minutes or action report available)
• Whether City Council will separately take up and adopt the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan (the Planning Commission's July 8, 2024 recommendation to Council remains pending confirmation of Council action in the record)

Member commentary

• Feather (Planning Commission Chair) — Presided over the July 8, 2024 Planning Commission meeting; accepted and facilitated the motion to adopt Resolution PC-24-02 approving the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan with specified modifications, voting yes.
• Staley (Council Member) — Made the motion at the October 8, 2024 City Council meeting to adopt Resolution R-24-30 approving and adopting the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan dated September 27, 2024, and voted yes.
• Lim (Council Member) — Seconded the October 8, 2024 motion to adopt Resolution R-24-30 and voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan adoption; abstained on a separate consent item (7C) at the same meeting.
• Ross (Council Member) — Was recognized for comments during the October 8, 2024 Council discussion on the Comprehensive Plan adoption motion, though the specific substance of those comments is not captured in the available transcript excerpt; voted yes on adoption.
• Stacy Hall — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for 9495 Silver King Court (Highlands at Mantua) at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting, but voted no on the associated rezoning (Z-24-00236)/General Development Plan Amendment and Certificate of Appropriateness (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Rachel McQuillen — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for 9495 Silver King Court (Highlands at Mantua) at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting, but voted no on the associated rezoning (Z-24-00236)/General Development Plan Amendment and Certificate of Appropriateness (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Anthony Amos — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, rezoning/General Development Plan Amendment, and Certificate of Appropriateness for 9495 Silver King Court at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Billy Bates — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, rezoning/General Development Plan Amendment, and Certificate of Appropriateness for 9495 Silver King Court at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Stacey Hardy-Chandler — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, rezoning/General Development Plan Amendment, and Certificate of Appropriateness for 9495 Silver King Court at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Thomas Peterson — Voted yes on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, rezoning/General Development Plan Amendment, and Certificate of Appropriateness for 9495 Silver King Court at the September 22, 2026 City Council meeting (2026-09-22 City Council).
• Napty, Paul (Planning Division Chief — staff) — Served as the primary staff presenter throughout the five-year review process: provided the staff presentation at the September 10, 2024 Council work session, presented the staff report at the September 23, 2024 Planning Commission public hearing describing the review timeline beginning in summer 2023, presented at the October 8, 2024 Council public hearing, and presented the staff report on the potential mixed-use development outside activity centers review at the March 24, 2025 Planning Commission work session.