Comprehensive Plan Review

Oct. 9, 2024, UPDATE: City Council adopted the proposed amendments following a public hearing on Oct. 8.

The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan(External link) was adopted in February 2019. The plan guides many policy decisions regarding the physical development of the city. The Code of Virginia requires the city to review the plan every five years to determine if any changes should be made.

We began the five year review last fall and have been hearing from the community every step of the way. After several community meetings, online engagement, discussions with boards and commissions, and rounds of refinement, we are moving into final phase of the update. A summary of the proposed changes is below and a complete draft is available under "Documents" to the right. Additionally, the "Comprehensive Plan Text with Highlighted Changes" document provides a markup of all proposed changes. Please use the comments tool below to share your thoughts and/or ask questions.

Summary of Proposed Changes

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Added acknowledgement of inequalities and discrimination of Federal Housing programs
• Removed community outreach section, to be included in a stand-alone document

Chapter 2: Land Use

• Land Use Strategies Guiding Principle
  1. Changes to the Future Land Use map (click here to see the updated map)
  2. New Mixed-Use Place Type: limited to two locations with parcel specific considerations
• Neighborhoods Guiding Principle
  1. New action to foster equitable and representative participation
• Commercial Corridors and Activity Centers Guiding Principle
  1. New actions to allow flexibility for commercial and certain industrial uses
• Housing Guiding Principle
  1. New and updated actions for affordable housing strategies including regional cooperation, relocation assistance, and the Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan
  2. New and updated actions for housing for older adults and persons with disabilities including, single level living, intentional neighboring, co-location, and affordable housing for seniors
• Community Design and Historic Preservation
  1. Added emphasis on the economic benefits of historic resources

Chapter 3: Multimodal Transportation

• Multimodal Transportation Guiding Principle
  1. Street Types Changes
     • Consolidating the Commercial Main and Boulevard street types
     • Updated street tree zones to reflect current policies
     • 10-foot-wide shared use paths on both sides of Commercial Mains and Avenues
  2. Updated Transportation Projects Map and associated costs (click here to see the updated map)
  3. New and updated actions for regional cooperation including coordination with Fairfax County and advocating for the Orange line extension
  4. New actions to implement the recommendations of the bicycle masterplan and complete major transportation studies and analyses
  5. New and updated actions to balance goals for environmental protection and multimodal connectivity and establishing design standards for new trails
  6. Updated actions regarding a Complete Streets policy
  7. New action for public engagement

Chapter 4: Environment and Sustainability

• Opportunities and Challenges
  1. Added Green Infrastructure and Landscaping as well as Local Food Access
• Natural Environment Guiding Principle
  1. Added invasive species as a challenge and a statement to prioritize increasing infrastructure resilience
  2. New and updated actions to incorporate the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Plan
  3. New and updated actions for identifying and protecting natural resources, green infrastructure, stormwater management, sustainable landscaping, and invasive management
  4. New actions for public engagement, data-based decision making, balancing environmental protection with other goals, and equity
• Sustainability Initiatives Guiding Principle
  1. Move physical activity as a goal to the Parks and Recreation Guiding Principle and add regionally grown food.
  2. New actions for electric vehicle readiness
  3. New and updated actions for healthy food access and urban agriculture

Chapter 5: Economic Vitality

• Opportunities and Challenges
  1. De-emphasize concern with class B office space and the challenge of online shopping on the retail environment
• Economic Vitality Guiding Principle
  1. New actions for marketing the Old Town and Northfax Activity Centers as well as ensuring cutting-edge businesses can easily locate in the City
  2. Removed goal of pursuing a single zip code

Chapter 6: Community Services

• Education Guiding Principle
  1. New action to monitor school capacity with new development
  2. Updated actions addressing the future of Green Acres and the need for affordable childcare
• Parks and Recreation Guiding Principle
  1. Added statement committing to accessibility and preserving open and natural areas.
  2. New and updated actions for balancing connectivity and transportation with environmental protection and preservation
• Cultural Arts Guiding Principle
  1. Added statement on constraints for and importance of visual and generalized references to public art projects
  2. Updated actions addressing the challenges and opportunities of visual arts
• Government and Public Safety Guiding Principle
  1. No major changes
• Infrastructure and Utilities Guiding Principle
  • New actions to establish green infrastructure standards