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The Rose Hill Coalition LLC provides current information on Land-Use issues directly affecting the Rose Hill Planning District within Franconia and adjacent communities in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Coalition supports full transparency in land use issues directly affecting local residents.
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Coalition Update
July 1, 2024
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- Data Center Public Hearing
- Workforce Dwelling Unit Policies Public Hearing
- Franconia Governmental Center Redevelopment Timeline
- Public Engagement Begins on Policy Updates to Land Development
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Data Centers Zoning Ordinance Amendment
The second of two Public Hearings on a proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment to strengthen the standards for data centers is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 4:00 pm. After considering the recommendations of the Planning Commission (approve with additional changes) and listening to additional public testimony this day, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will make the deciding vote on the amendment.
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How to Provide Public Hearing Testimony
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Note that procedures for a Board of Supervisors Public Hearing are different from the procedures for the Planning Commission.
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Workforce Dwelling Unit Policies
On December 5, 2023, the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized consideration of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) For-sale Policy based on recommendations of the WDU For-Sale Policy Task Force. The proposed amendment includes the following general policy changes:
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- Shift the affordability level of the program from up to 80% to 120% Area Median Income (AMI), to "up to 70% to 100% AMI".
- Expand guidance on proportionality of bedroom counts between the WDU and market rate units with flexibility for family-sized units (units with three bedrooms or more); and,
- Extend the geographic applicability to certain properties outside of development centers that are planned and zoned for 8 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) or more.
The Board of Supervisors Public Hearing for this Plan amendment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 4:00 pm.
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Fairfax County Bulletin (June 21, 2024)
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Staff Report (May 22, 2024)
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Franconia Governmental Center Site Redevelopment Timeline
- Summer 2024: Reconnect with the selected development team to discuss public input and timeline; Interim Agreement
- July 18, 2024 (or 9/12): Public Hearing, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/housing/fcrha
- September 12, 2024 (or 10/17): Execute Interim Agreement, FCRHA Meeting
- Winter 2024-25: Comprehensive Plan Amendment
- Fall/Winter 2025: Rezoning review to follow Comprehensive Plan Amendment Approval Winter 2025-26: Comprehensive Agreement
- March 2026: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (after zoning approval, the developer may submit applications for project financing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program)
- Fall/Winter 2027: Construction
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Public Engagement Begins on Policy Updates to Land Development
Community engagement has begun for a multi-year update to Fairfax County’s policies that guide how land is developed, referred to as Plan Forward. Initial “kick-off” meetings began in May 2024 and the public information and feedback campaign will extend into 2025.
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"Plan Forward" will provide specific land-use guidance related to planned uses, intensity, and site-design considerations to ensure future development fits into the context of a community.
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Administratively, this policy plan update will be an amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan. According to the May 2024 Progress Report, “the Policy Plan amendment will come to the Board as one item with a single staff report…” Based on the estimated timeline, the Board will vote on the amendment in late 2025.
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“Plan Forward is a comprehensive initiative to update our 1990 Policy Plan, guiding land use and development decisions. The update integrates One Fairfax and Resilient Fairfax, enhancing residents' quality of life by reflecting modern needs and values.”
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According to the County’s Planning and Development webpage, numerous opportunities will be available for the community to provide feedback this year and next. The “community” includes all stakeholders: residents, businesses, and government agencies. “Plan Forward is an important opportunity for everyone in Fairfax to make sure the updated Comprehensive Plan policies enhance the quality of life for our residents.”
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The land-use policy changes are expected to include neighborhood compatibility characteristics, such as rezoning Rose Hill Plaza for mixed-use residential and commercial. We also expect increased emphasis on affordable housing and transportation. Based on the broad effort to “engage” the public, it is clear that the Board of Supervisors wants to ensure community support.
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- Review, update, and streamline existing Policy Plan elements.
- Add new Policy Plan elements as needed.
- Ensure the Policy Plan is in alignment with the Countywide Strategic Plan, the One Fairfax Policy, and other recently adopted policies and initiatives.
- Land Use
- Transportation
- Housing
- Environment
- Economic Development
- Heritage Resources
- Public Facilities
- Human Services
- Parks and Recreation
- Revitalization
- Visual and Performing Arts
Progress Report
COMPLETED (as of May 30, 2024)
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- Established the Planning Commission Policy Plan Committee and Planning Commission Liaisons as resources for staff. (12/6/22)
- Staff presentations to the Planning Commission on the Policy Plan, community health, equity, the Strategic Plan, and community outreach. (May 2023-present)
- Research into the Policy Plan, its evolution, and how it is used and by whom.
- Published an office repurposing White Paper and the State of the Plan Report, to inform policy recommendations.
- Conducted research related to office, industrial, and retail trends with a consultant, Clarion Associates (https://clarionassociates.com/).
- Internal policy audit to assess how the current Policy Plan compares to the policies and initiatives recently adopted by the Board.
- Developed a phased, inclusive community outreach plan.
- Presented a status update to the Board Land Use Policy Committee (5/14/24).
- Conducted four in-person and two virtual kick-off meetings for community outreach (May/June 2024).
NEXT STEPS (County Staff)
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- Conduct topic-specific Community Outreach and research (June through December).
- Provide updates to the Planning Commission's Policy Plan Committee on the outreach process and discuss policy considerations (September through December).
- Draft Policies based on community outreach input received and best practices (Fall 2024).
- Update the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committee on the outreach process and initial policy considerations (November).
>> Read Full Progress Report (PDF)
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Community Outreach Plan (April 2024)
Informational outreach with the community will include kick-off meetings, surveys, and informational stands and pop-ups at community events in May and June 2024. This phase will focus on general project details, to include an overview of the Comprehensive Plan and Policy Plan and how it impacts development in the county. Staff will compile feedback, by theme, in a document to be posted to the project website and provided to the Board of Supervisors (Board) and Planning Commission (PC) to help inform future policy considerations.
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Staff will collaborate on policy considerations with county agencies, Board Authorities and Commissions, stakeholder groups, community members, industry, and other governmental agencies. Informing this phase are the internal policy audit that staff completed earlier in the year, additional staff and consultant research, and feedback received in phase one. Focused topic outreach will be June through December 2024.
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Groups will meet by topic to provide a variety of perspectives and comprehensive policy recommendations. This phase will focus on research considerations that are informed by the first phase of outreach and initial conversations about various policy considerations.
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Staff will prepare a document which incorporates all feedback received. Staff will discuss feedback and potential policy considerations with the PC and Board at committee meetings September through December 2024.
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Staff will publish a community feedback report from the first two phases of outreach and describe actions, if any, taken in response by staff. Staff will meet with the Board, PC, and community to discuss this report and draft Plan text in advance of preparing the final Staff Report. Staff anticipates this phase to begin in January 2025 and conclude in May 2025.
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Staff will publish the “Staff Report” with draft Plan text and hold Public Hearings where public comment (aka public testimony”) on the Report and final policy recommendations are welcome. The Staff Report will be published five (5) weeks prior to the Planning Commission Public Hearing. Staff anticipates this phase to begin in June 2025 and conclude in the fall of 2025.
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>> Read Full Outreach Plan (PDF)
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Outreach Materials
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Materials developed for each phase will include flyers, surveys, social media and web postings, videos, advertisements, and emails. Materials specific to each phase will be released as the phase is approaching.
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Virtual Community Kick-Off Meeting (56 min)
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Covers general project details and an overview of the Comprehensive Plan and Policy Plan and how it impacts development in the County. Link to the slides is below, however, we recommend listening to the entire presentation as well as the Q&A.
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Fairfax County’s Plan Forward Survey
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It is now clear that the community engagement meetings held this past Spring by Franconia Supervisor Lusk, which included substantial emphasis on “what you like about your community” and “what would you like to see”, were linked less to the use of the Franconia Governmental Center site and more to the Plan Forward agenda. Though, at the time, this was not clear. These types of questions are now included in the Plan Forward Survey. As of 6/30/24, it appears only about 25 people have taken the survey. You may provide comments or “like” comments already submitted.
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In The News
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Correction
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The housing impact for the Franconia Governmental Center site redevelopment is 120 units (proposed).
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Mark Your Calendar
JULY 16 (Tuesday), 4 pm
Public Hearings: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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- Zoning Ordinance Amendment to strengthen the standards for data centers
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment on workforce dwelling unit policies
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July 18 (Thursday) (alternate date 9/12), 7 pm
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Public Hearing: Franconia Governmental Center Redevelopment, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
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You Can Do It!
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Land use can be complicated, but you do play a part! Learn the basics. By better understanding the process, you will be able to provide constructive feedback to our representatives.
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How to Provide Public Hearing Testimony
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Rose Hill Planning District (aka Area IV), Amended through 1/23/2024
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Stay In Touch!
Emails are kept confidential and not shared.
You may request to be removed from the list at any time.
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Copyright 2024 Rose Hill Coalition LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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