Pickett Road Connector Trail
The Pickett Road Connector Trail is a City of Fairfax trail project with a $6.5 million funding allocation, proposed on the eastern side of Pickett Road. 8 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.
Official city record
City Project
Connection of Thaiss Park to Route 50, linking the Wilcoxon, Cross-Country, and City of Fairfax Connector Trails. This 1,260-foot trail will provide safe, off-road access to mass transit, businesses, and parks, enhancing connectivity and safety along Pickett Road.
Davies Property
The Davies Property refers to the redevelopment of 4131 Chain Bridge Road (a ~2.69-acre site currently containing a large vacant house), proposed by The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC. The application sought to rezone the parcel from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban), retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD), with a General Development Plan for a mixed-use building of up to 276 apartments, approximately 10,796 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space, and a 3-level below-grade parking garage.
- Jul 14, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
Staff reported that an update on the Pickett Road Trail was provided at the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
Courthouse Plaza
Courthouse Plaza (10300 Willard Way, with associated parcel at 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) is a shopping center redevelopment proposal in the City of Fairfax, pursued by Combined Courthouse, LLC. The project has gone through two distinct application cycles.
- Jul 14, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
Staff reported that an update on the Pickett Road Trail was provided at the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
George Snyder Trail
The George Snyder Trail was a planned shared-use trail project (VDOT UPC 112816) in the City of Fairfax intended to improve multimodal connectivity. The project drew sustained and significant public opposition throughout 2025 and into 2026.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Work Session: Discussion and update on trail projects
The Pickett Trail was discussed during the work session, leading to Council action under item 4a. Council approved 4-2 (Amos and Hardy-Chandler opposed) to pause all actions with respect to the Pickett Trail in order to examine alternatives.
The Country Club Hills Connector Trail was a proposed trail segment in the city's broader trail network, connected to the George Snyder Trail project. The proposal drew sustained public opposition, particularly over concerns about the loss of mature oak-hickory forest trees, with opponents calling for cancellation as early as January 2025.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Work Session: Discussion and update on trail projects
The Pickett Trail was discussed during the work session, leading to Council action under item 4a. Council approved 4-2 (Amos and Hardy-Chandler opposed) to pause all actions with respect to the Pickett Trail in order to examine alternatives.
Country Club Hills Trail
- Pausing of Additional Staff Activity on Trails Projects (Country Club Hills Trail and Pickett Road Trail)
Council voted 3-2 to pause all expenditures on the Pickett Road Connector Trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session.
passedMotion that the City pause the expenditure of any further funds on the Country Club Hills Trail, the Pickett Road Connector Trail, and any other trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session and the elimination of any activity independent of roadway projects currently in progress.– Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✓ Peterson
Jermantown Road Corridor Improvements
The Jermantown Road Corridor Improvements is an active City of Fairfax transportation capital improvement project focused on safety and infrastructure upgrades along the Jermantown Road corridor. The project first came to the City Council's attention in connection with the George Snyder Trail discussion in March 2025, when Councilmember Hall requested that more information on the Jermantown Road CIP improvements be brought to a future meeting.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
The City Hall Landscape Improvements Project is a municipal construction initiative to improve landscaping at City Hall. On November 12, 2024, the City Council unanimously approved (6-0) the award of a construction contract to Galicia Construction Corporation for an estimated amount of $587,752, as part of the consent agenda.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
- Mar 25, 2025City Council · item 7bPublic hearing on the proposed FY26 budget
One speaker recommended cutting expenses on the Pickett Road Trail as part of budget reduction measures.
- Work Session – Update on the Pickett Trail project
Staff provided an update on the Pickett Trail project during the work session. Public comment included at least two residents expressing opposition to the project.
- Jul 10, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7bSummary of recent Council meeting actions pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A presentation on the Pickett Road Connector Trail was given to City Council.
- Discussion regarding the current pause implemented by the City Council on April 8, 2025 to the Pickett Road Trail project
Council reversed the April 8, 2025 pause on the Pickett Road Trail project (4-3) and unanimously directed staff to hold a public outreach meeting for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents in October to address safety concerns.
passedDirect staff to set up a public outreach meeting for the Pickett Road Trail project for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents in October to address safety concerns.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ PetersonpassedReverse the City Council adopted action on April 8, 2025 that paused the Pickett Road Trail project.✓ Read✓ Amos✓ Bates✕ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✕ Peterson - Nov 18, 2025City Council · item 8bPublic hearing and Council action: Ordinance authorizing Deed of Easement with Fairfax County Water Authority for water main installation on Tax Map Nos. 48-4-01-000-C and 48-4-01-003
The Deed of Easement discussion arose in connection with the City's request for a separate easement associated with the Pickett Trail project; staff confirmed no conflict with the City's pedestrian bridge or proposed conservation easement.
passedMotion to enact the ordinance authorizing and approving the Deed of Easement with Fairfax County Water Authority for water main installation on Tax Map Nos. 48-4-01-000-C and 48-4-01-003.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
In full
The project drew public opposition from its earliest appearance on Council agendas in January 2025. On April 8, 2025, the Council voted 3-2 to pause all expenditures on the trail (along with the Country Club Hills Trail) pending a Work Session on April 22, 2025; that Work Session led to a second, broader 4-2 vote to pause all actions while examining alternatives. After a staff update at the July 8, 2025 Work Session and continued community engagement discussions, the Council voted 4-3 on July 22, 2025 to reverse the April 8, 2025 pause and simultaneously voted unanimously to direct staff to hold a public outreach meeting for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents in October 2025 to address transportation safety concerns in the area.
On November 18, 2025, Council unanimously enacted a Deed of Easement with Fairfax County Water Authority related to water main installation on adjacent parcels; staff confirmed the easement does not conflict with the City's proposed pedestrian bridge or conservation easement for the trail project. As of early 2026, the Pickett Road Connector Trail is no longer on hold and is actively in design.