Northfax

Summary

Northfax is one of four adopted Small Area Plan areas in Fairfax City (along with Old Town, Kamp Washington, and Fairfax Circle) that has been undergoing incremental redevelopment and is now subject to a potential Small Area Plan review and update. Development in the area has been proceeding in phases: multimodal infrastructure improvements including the Far Avenue/Northfax Street components of the west street network are complete, and residential projects in the area have been filling up quickly. Most recently, a Phase Four pre-application concept briefing was held at the July 27, 2026 Planning Commission work session, proposing one seven-story multifamily building, one upper-story mixed-use building, a seven-story parking garage, up to 350 multifamily units, and up to 7,000 sq ft of ground-floor commercial on approximately 3.31 acres in front of the Brightview Senior Living facility. In parallel, a Northfax Linear Park design guidelines committee met on July 9, 2026, and the city has been tracking the area's 1,400-unit development benchmark from the Small Area Plan, though staff have emphasized this benchmark reflects market conditions and is not an adopted public policy goal. Katherine Johnson Middle School students presented sustainability-focused redevelopment ideas for Northfax to both the Planning Commission (March 2026) and City Council (June 2026), focusing on stormwater management, pedestrian safety, greenery, and local economy.

Open questions & options on the table

• A more defined scope for the potential Small Area Plan review and update for Northfax (and the other three areas) is expected to be brought back to both the Planning Commission and City Council in the fall of 2026.
• The Northfax Linear Park design guidelines process is ongoing; the committee met July 9, 2026, and further work sessions are expected.
• The Picket Road connector trail is in design and a Picket Road safety audit was anticipated to begin in August 2026 — completion/outcome not yet recorded.
• The Phase Four pre-application briefing (July 27, 2026) was informational; no formal application action has been taken yet.
• Traffic circulation questions raised during the Phase Four briefing — including road access arrangements potentially shared with Brightview and exit options from the site — remain unresolved pending formal application.

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.