Skip to content
CouncilHound
← Projects & topics
Plan or program · on the record since 2025 · discussed in 10 transcribed meetings

Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments project aims to update the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance to align with the city's adopted small area plans, which govern development in key activity centers and commercial corridors. 7 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.

Private Development · Approved

Davies Property

approved

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.

in progress
Private Development · Approved

Highlands at Mantua

approved

Highlands at Mantua is a redevelopment proposal by RJL Associates, Inc. to replace approximately 21,566 sq ft of existing office space with 14 front-loaded townhomes on a 2.12-acre site at 9495 Silver King Court. The project drew early public opposition from the neighboring Pickett's Reserve HOA, which raised concerns about lot size, building heights, buffers, and tree removal at the February 10, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.

Private Development · Under Review

Courthouse Plaza

in progress

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.

denied

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.

in progress

The INOVA site demolition project involves tearing down the unused portion of the INOVA site within the city. The project has been referenced in Planning Commission staff report updates on at least two occasions.

Other mentions
  • Jan 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 8bin progress
    Work Session – Potential amendments to the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance related to adopted small area plans

    Potential amendments to the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance related to adopted small area plans were introduced and discussed at the work session; consultant report presented and incorporated into the record.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 12a
    Work Session: Introduction and discussion of potential Zoning Ordinance Amendments related to Small Area Plans

    Potential Zoning Ordinance Amendments related to Small Area Plans were introduced and discussed during the work session; no formal action was taken.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • May 12, 2025Planning Commission · item 8ain progress
    Discussion of Potential Amendments to the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance Related to Adopted Small Area Plans

    Potential zoning ordinance amendments related to adopted Small Area Plans were discussed at the work session; a presentation was made by consultant Justin Wallace of White, Smith, Cousino. No formal action was taken.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • May 13, 2025City Council · item 12e
    Work Session: Potential Zoning Ordinance Amendments Related to Small Area Plans

    Council received a discussion and update on potential zoning ordinance amendments related to Small Area Plans in work session; no action taken.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • Feb 9, 2026Planning Commission · item 8cin progress
    Introduction and discussion of draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments

    Draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments were introduced and discussed at the work session; continued discussion was scheduled for February 23, 2026 and a public meeting on March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • Feb 17, 2026City Council · item 6bin progress
    Introduction of draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments

    Draft zoning ordinance amendments related to small area plans in activity centers were introduced to Council; no action was taken and a follow-up work session is scheduled for March 10.

    minutesagenda
  • Mar 9, 2026Planning Commission · item 7ain progress
    Continued discussion of potential amendments to the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance related to adopted small area plans with a focus on frontages, open space, tree conservation and landscaping, and parking

    Continued work session discussion on potential Zoning Ordinance amendments related to adopted small area plans, focusing on frontages, open space, tree conservation and landscaping, and parking. A City Council work session on the same topic was noted for March 10, 2026, and a public open house scheduled for March 26, 2026.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda
  • Mar 10, 2026City Council · item 11b
    Work Session – Draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments

    Council received a follow-up briefing on draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments; no action was taken and discussion will continue at future meetings.

    minutesagenda
  • Apr 13, 2026Planning Commission · item 10in progress
    Staff Report

    Staff noted that small area plan zoning ordinance amendments are underway and that a future work session on reviewing and updating small area plans is anticipated.

    Watch this momentminutesagenda

In full

The effort began in earnest in early 2025, with consultant Justin Wallace of White & Smith LLC (later White, Smith, Cousino) engaged to support the work. Initial work sessions were held jointly with the Planning Commission (January 13, 2025) and City Council (January 14, 2025), followed by a second round of parallel work sessions in May 2025. By February 2026, draft amendments had been prepared and formally introduced to both the Planning Commission (February 9, 2026) and City Council (February 17, 2026).

Subsequent work sessions in March 2026 drilled into specific topics including frontages, open space, tree conservation and landscaping, and parking — with a public open house held March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center. As of mid-2026, the amendments remain in active discussion, with continued work sessions before both bodies scheduled through at least late June 2026, and a related effort to review and update the underlying small area plans also anticipated.