Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first-ever 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest, developed beginning in May 2024. 12 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.
10340 Democracy Lane
10340 Democracy Lane is the site of a proposed multifamily residential redevelopment on approximately 3.22 acres in the city. The project as presented would replace roughly 59,983 sq ft of existing office space with a 6-story multifamily residential building totaling approximately 434,000 sq ft of residential space.
- Staff Report
City Council approved adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan at the February 10, 2026 meeting.
Fern Street Connector Path
The Fern Street Connector Path is a city infrastructure project that will construct a 10-foot bicycle and pedestrian path within the city right-of-way, connecting the dead-end of Fern Street (south of Route 29) to Park Road. The project was specifically identified in the Camp Washington Small Area Plan as an important pedestrian connection and had been funded as of mid-2024, when it was noted alongside other multimodal transportation projects receiving awarded funding.
- Jan 12, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A presentation on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Planning Commission 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 12, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A presentation on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Planning Commission 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.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
Chick-fil-A submitted applications (SU-24-00078/SE-24-00079) for a special use permit, special exceptions, and certificate of appropriateness to modify its existing drive-through and building at 9509 Fairfax Boulevard. The proposed modifications included a building addition, dual drive-through lanes, and widening of the pick-up window lane.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
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.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
The 2035 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Guide is a living policy document for the City of Fairfax that tracks action items across the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and four adopted Small Area Plans (Old Town, Northfax, Camp Washington, and Fairfax Circle), with dated lead/support roles and timelines developed by staff after the Comprehensive Plan's adoption. It is reviewed and updated on a recurring cycle — typically twice per year — by the Planning Commission in work sessions, with annual updates formally approved and forwarded to City Council as part of the Planning Commission Annual Report.
- Stakeholder Updates
Reported as in the home stretch; final presentations to stakeholders including PRAB in October are planned, and the final document should be ready for recommendation and adoption by the end of the year. Scheduled to be presented to PRAB at the October meeting.
Highlands at Mantua
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.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
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.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
WillowWood project
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
The Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan is one of four Activity Center Small Area Plans adopted by the City of Fairfax. Plan development began in Spring 2023.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
- Oct 8, 2024City Council · item 12aDiscussion and overview on the Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan was discussed and overviewed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
- Urban Forest Master Plan – Presentation by Sophia Chapin
Sophia Chapin presented the Urban Forest Master Plan's current status: two Steering Committee meetings completed, the first public meeting completed in July, public survey live, and a second public meeting planned in-person October 17 and virtually October 23. The Engage Fairfax website is being continually updated. The Environmental Sustainability Committee is actively working on the Urban Forestry Master Plan. The Planning Commission will review the Urban Forestry Master Plan at their Monday, October 14 meeting.
- Urban Forest Master Plan project overview and discussion
Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day presented an overview of the Urban Forest Master Plan proposal to the Planning Commission during the Work Session.
- Stakeholder Updates
The ESC will review the Urban Forest Master Plan at their next meeting; the plan expects a completed report by end of summer and ranks 25 sites of maintained parkland, non-managed woodlands, and trails.
- Stakeholder Updates
Development is continuing with a Steering Committee meeting scheduled for May 21 and a public meeting on June 11 from 6–8pm at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center.
- Work Session: Update on the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) project and a review of the city's urban forestry operations
Staff presented an update on the Urban Forest Master Plan project and a review of the city's urban forestry operations during the work session. No formal action was taken.
- Update on the Urban Forest Masterplan (UFMP) project
Staff Urban Forester Anna Safford and consultant Dr. Garrett Wolf presented an update on the Urban Forest Masterplan project to the Commission during the work session.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 11Commission Comments
Chair Feather attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting.
- Old Business – Urban Forest Master Plan
PRAB voted to direct the Chair to draft a memo in support of the Urban Forest Master Plan to present to City Council.
passedMotion to direct the Chair to draft a memo in support of the Urban Forest Master Plan to present to City Council.✓ Rice✓ Paceley✓ Ross✓ Knowles✓ Gibson✓ Russell✓ O'Brien✓ Curtin✓ Neway· Kuiler· Hickman· Stewart - Nov 24, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
An update on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for both the December 2, 2025 City Council meeting and the December 8, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.
- Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The draft UFMP — the city's first — was presented to Council for input. Phase 1 (information gathering) is complete; Phase 2 (plan development) is nearing completion. A final draft is expected by end of 2025, with a public hearing and Council action tentatively scheduled for January 27, 2026.
- Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Masterplan
The draft Urban Forest Masterplan was presented to the Planning Commission by Urban Forester Anna Safford and discussed during the work session.
- Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee (Rusty Russell)
The Urban Forest Master Plan was presented to the Planning Commission and is scheduled for adoption by City Council on January 27th.
- Stakeholder Updates
Rusty Russell reported that the Urban Forest Master Plan is soon to be reviewed and approved by City Council by the end of the month.
- Final consideration of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The Planning Commission voted 5:0 to recommend City Council approve the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025. The plan is a 20-year roadmap for stewardship of Fairfax's urban forest and was set to be presented to City Council the following evening.
passedMotion to recommend City Council approve the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025.✓ Feather✓ Cunningham✓ Lockhart✓ McCarthy✓ Rice - Public hearing and Council action on the adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The Urban Forest Master Plan (December 2025 draft) was approved and adopted by the City Council following a public hearing; the plan has been in development since May 2024.
failedSubstitute motion: adopt the Urban Forest Master Plan (December 2025 draft) with a provision requiring the Urban Forester to provide a report to City Council by July 2026 explaining the establishment of targets and timelines.✕ Amos✕ Bates✓ Hall✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✓ PetersonpassedMain motion: adopt resolution R-26-07 approving and adopting the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson - Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee
The Urban Forest Master Plan was adopted by City Council; Rusty Russell expressed anticipation of its benefits to the city.
- Jul 14, 2026City Council · item 12bWork Session – Urban Forest Master Plan Update (1-Year Plan and 5-Year Outlook)
Council received a 1-year plan and 5-year outlook update on the Urban Forest Master Plan during the July 14, 2026 work session; no formal action was taken.
In full
The planning process included two Steering Committee meetings, multiple public meetings and open houses (July 2024, October 2024, October 2025), a public survey, stakeholder interviews, and presentations to the Planning Commission, City Council, PRAB, and the Environmental Sustainability Committee. The December 2025 draft was recommended unanimously (5-0) by the Planning Commission on February 9, 2026, and adopted unanimously (6-0) by City Council on February 10, 2026 via resolution R-26-07, following a public hearing at which a substitute motion requiring a progress report by July 2026 failed 2-4. On July 14, 2026, Urban Forester Anna Safford presented a one-year implementation plan and five-year outlook to City Council in work session, covering progress on 13 key performance indicators across three goals, with goals one and two (canopy coverage and tree care/capacity) identified as needing the most improvement; no formal action was taken at that session.