Urban Forest Master Plan

The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest, developed with consultant Marstel-Day. Development began in May 2024; Phase 1 (information gathering) was completed and Phase 2 (plan development) was nearing completion as of December 2025. The December 2025 draft was unanimously recommended for approval by the Planning Commission (5-0) on February 9, 2026, and adopted by City Council via resolution R-26-07 (6-0) on February 10, 2026, following a public hearing. A substitute motion that would have required the Urban Forester to report back to Council by July 2026 on targets and timelines failed 2-4 before the main adoption vote. Since adoption, the plan has been cited as a driver of related policy work, including a tree conservation ordinance and landscaping standards being developed as part of broader zoning ordinance amendments. On July 14, 2026, Council received a work session update on the 1-year plan and 5-year outlook; no action was taken at that session.

In this wiki

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

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

Agenda item 10: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff reported on recent and upcoming City Council actions and other planning matters.
• [10] 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.

2024-09-23 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 10: Staff Report. (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff reported on recent and upcoming City Council meetings and planning items, including the Urban Agriculture Text Amendments public hearing, Courthouse Plaza redevelopment work session, Comprehensive Plan Review public hearing, Mantua Professional Center Townhomes work session, Green Building Policy, Capital Improvement Program, 4131 Chain Bridge Road (Davies Property) application, Urban Forest Management Plan stakeholder interviews, and a second public meeting for the Urban Forest Management Plan on October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
• [10] 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.
• Status after: in_progress

2024-10-08 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 12a: Discussion and overview on the Urban Forest Master Plan (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Discussed during work session. No action taken.
• [12a] The Urban Forest Master Plan was discussed and overviewed during the work session; no formal action was taken.

2024-10-14 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8a: Urban Forest Master Plan project overview and discussion (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day presented an overview of the Urban Forest Master Plan proposal to the commission during the Work Session. No formal action was taken.
• [8a] Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day presented an overview of the Urban Forest Master Plan proposal to the Planning Commission during the Work Session.
• Status after: in_progress

2025-05-27 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 13b: Work Session: Update on the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) project and a review of the city's urban forestry operations

• Outcome: Update presented and discussed during work session. No formal action taken.
• [13b] 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.
• Status after: in_progress

2025-07-28 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8a: Update on the Urban Forest Masterplan (UFMP) project (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Anna Safford (Urban Forester) and Dr. Garrett Wolf (consultant) presented an update on the UFMP project, incorporated into the record by reference. No action taken; work session discussion only.
• [8a] 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.
• Status after: in_progress

2025-10-13 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 9: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff provided updates on recent City Council actions, upcoming community events, Fairfax County Planning Commission hearings, and discussed adjusting the pre-application briefing process to allow applicants to respond to questions when prompted by staff or the Chair.
• [9] 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.

2025-10-27 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 11: Commission Comments (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Commissioners provided updates on external meetings and events attended, including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, a budget open house, the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Expo, and an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation.
• [11] Chair Feather attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting.

2025-11-24 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 10: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Planning Division Chief Paul Nabti briefed the Commission on City Council legislative agenda items (school funding, potential 1% sales tax increase, affordable housing funding opportunities, anti-rent gouging legislation, data center impacts), the November 18 City Council discussion on boards and commissions, upcoming December City Council and Planning Commission agenda items, and a vacancy on the Façade Improvement Grant Committee. Commissioner Rice volunteered to serve as interim representative on the Façade Improvement Grant Committee.
• [10] 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.

2025-12-02 — City Council Work Session

Agenda item 4b: Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)

• Outcome: Presentation given by Urban Forester Anna Safford. Council provided input on the draft plan. No Council action taken. Final draft expected by end of 2025; public hearing and Council action tentatively scheduled for January 27, 2026.
• [4b] 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.
• Status after: in_progress

2025-12-08 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 8a: Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Masterplan (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Urban Forester Anna Safford presented the draft Urban Forest Masterplan; the Commission discussed the presentation. Staff report incorporated into the record by reference.
• [8a] The draft Urban Forest Masterplan was presented to the Planning Commission by Urban Forester Anna Safford and discussed during the work session.
• Status after: in_progress

2026-01-12 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 9: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff provided updates on upcoming meetings and items, including: a January 13, 2026 City Council public hearing on the Fern Street Connector Project and consideration of additional funds and contract award for the George Snyder Trail; a January 26, 2026 Planning Commission meeting featuring the CIP public hearing, Urban Forest Masterplan presentation, and Annual Report/Implementation Guide updates; and a February 9, 2026 joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority.
• [9] A presentation on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Planning Commission meeting.

2026-02-09 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 5a: Final consideration of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Planning Commission approved a recommendation to City Council for approval of the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025, 5:0.
• Vote (passed): Motion to recommend City Council approve the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025. — Feather: yes, Cunningham: yes, Lockhart: yes, McCarthy: yes, Rice: yes
• [5a] 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.
• Status after: approved

2026-02-10 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 7a: Public hearing and Council action on the adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)

• Outcome: Public hearing held; a substitute motion requiring a progress report by July 2026 failed 2-4; the main motion to adopt the Urban Forest Master Plan (December 2025 draft) passed unanimously 6-0.
• Vote (failed): Substitute 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: no, Bates: no, Hall: yes, Hardy-Chandler: no, McQuillen: no, Peterson: yes
• Vote (passed): Main motion: adopt resolution R-26-07 approving and adopting the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025. — Amos: yes, Bates: yes, Hall: yes, Hardy-Chandler: yes, McQuillen: yes, Peterson: yes
• [7a] 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.
• Status after: approved

2026-03-09 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 9: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Mr. Nabti provided updates on recent City Council actions and upcoming planning activities, including: adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan (Feb 10), support for the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan and introduction of Small Area Plan zoning ordinance amendments (Feb 17), updates on the Level of Services Study and pre-application discussions for Courthouse Plaza and 10340 Democracy Lane (Feb 24). Upcoming items noted: City Council work session on small area plan zoning amendments (Mar 10), possible cancellation of next Planning Commission meeting, Comprehensive Plan Implementation Group meeting focused on Northfax (Mar 18), and Open House for Small Area Plan zoning ordinance amendments (Mar 26).
• [9] City Council approved adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan at the February 10, 2026 meeting.
• Status after: approved

2026-07-14 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 12b: Work Session – Urban Forest Master Plan Update (1-Year Plan and 5-Year Outlook) (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Discussed in work session; no action taken.
• [12b] 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.

Open questions

• Development and potential adoption of a tree conservation ordinance (a direct recommendation of the adopted UFMP) is underway as part of small area plan zoning ordinance amendments — outcome not yet recorded.
• A Climate and Energy Manager position discussed in connection with the UFMP was raised by Council Member Amos as a budget priority (March 3, 2026); no resolution recorded in the material.
• The '3-30-300' tree canopy analysis framework referenced in the UFMP is being applied to activity center planning — specific implementation steps and outcomes are pending.

Member commentary

• Chair Feather (Planning Commission) — Chair Feather attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting, as reported at the October 27, 2025 Planning Commission meeting. Feather also voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation to approve the UFMP on February 9, 2026.
• Hall (City Council) — Council Member Hall voted yes on both the failed substitute motion (which would have required a progress report by July 2026) and the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026, making Hall one of the two members who supported the substitute provision requiring accountability reporting on targets and timelines.
• Peterson (City Council) — Council Member Peterson voted yes on both the failed substitute motion and the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026, joining Hall as the only two members to support the substitute provision requiring a July 2026 report on targets and timelines.
• Amos (City Council) — Council Member Amos voted no on the substitute motion and yes on the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026. On March 3, 2026, Amos raised the question of how to accommodate a Climate and Energy Manager position — discussed in connection with the UFMP — within the city budget, characterizing it as something Council wants to proceed with.