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 public information and feedback (aka kick-off) meetings will run from May 2024 into early 2025. See CALENDAR. The Community Feedback Report was published in April 2025. Public comments will be received through May 31, 2025.
Public Hearings for this plan amendment have not yet been scheduled.
PLUS Record Number: PA-2022-00009
“Plan Forward” will provide specific land-use policy related to planned uses, intensity, and site-design considerations to ensure future development fits into the context of a community. Land-use policy is a component of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
“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.”
For more information or questions about Plan Forward, please email Corinne Bebek, Corinne.Bebek@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-1237.
To sign up for Plan Forward email updates from the County, go to https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/planforwardffx.
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, transportation, and the environment. Based on the broad effort to “engage” the public, it is clear that the Board of Supervisors wants to ensure community support.
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.
Plan Forward Website
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/countywide-policy-plan-update
Updating the Fairfax County’s Land Use Policy
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/countywide-policy-plan-update
Plan Forward Updates
https://engage.fairfaxcounty.gov/planforwardffx
Healthy Communities White Paper
Details the history of community health and human services in the county, as well as various trends and best practices, in order to identify potential recommendations for the County’s updated Policy Plan.
https://publicinput.com/v652451
Numerous opportunities will be available for the community to provide feedback in 2024 and early 2025. 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.”
GOALS
- 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.
ELEMENTS
- Land Use
- Transportation
- Housing
- Environment
- Economic Development
- Heritage Resources
- Public Facilities
- Human Services
- Parks and Recreation
- Revitalization
- Visual and Performing Arts
Staff Progress Report
COMPLETED (as of May 30, 2024)
- 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)
- Conduct topic-specific Community Outreach and research (June through early 2025).
- Hold in-person community meetings (postponed to early 2025)
- Draft Policies based on community outreach input received and best practices (Fall 2024 thru Spring 2025).
- Update the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors Land Use Policy Committees on the outreach process and initial policy considerations (ongoing). All committee meetings can be viewed live on Channel 16 as well as afterwards on video on demand via each committee’s website.
May 2024 Staff Progress Report (PDF)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/Assets/Documents/compplanamend/policy-plan-update/Progress_Report.pdf
Community Outreach
See CALENDAR for upcoming virtual and in-person events
PHASE 1—UNDERSTAND
Informational outreach with the community will include kick-off meetings, surveys, and informational stands and pop-ups at community events in May 2023 into early 2025. 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.
PHASE 2—CONTRIBUTE
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.
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.
In April 2025, Staff published a community feedback report from the first two phases of outreach. Staff will discuss feedback and potential policy considerations with the PC and Board at committee meetings.
PHASE 3—COLLABORATE
Staff will meet with the Board, PC, and community to discuss the community feedback report and draft Plan text in advance of preparing the final Staff Report. Staff anticipates this phase to begin in January 2025 and conclude on May 31, 2025.
PHASE 4—DECIDE
Staff will publish the “Staff Report” with draft amended Comprehensive Plan text and hold Public Hearings on the Report and final policy recommendations. 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.
Outreach Materials
Plan Forward Website:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/countywide-policy-plan-update
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.
Outreach Plan (PDF):
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/Assets/Documents/compplanamend/policy-plan-update/community-outreach-plan.pdf
Outreach Phase I Summary (PDF):
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/Assets/Documents/compplanamend/policy-plan-update/Outreach_Phase1_Recap.pdf
Community Kick-Off Meeting Video (56 min)
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.
Kick-off Meeting Slides (PDF)
https://rosehillcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Policy-Plan-Kick-off-Slides_Fairfax-County_June-2024.pdf
Fairfax County’s Plan Forward Survey
https://publicinput.com/q5245
Public Meetings
For information on past and upcoming community engagement meetings and Public Hearings, go to Calendar. See also, the County’s Plan Forward website.
- October 17, 2024 (Transportation)
- October 24, 2024 (Land Use)
- October 25, 2024 (Pop-up at Kingstowne)
- October 30, 2024 (Introduction)
- November 6, 2024 (Land Use)
- November 13, 2024 (Introduction)
- Early 2025 (In-person and virtual Community Meetings)
In the News
The news media has published nothing as of April 2025 on Plan Forward, so the County is dependent on their own communications channels to the public via their website and email (requires you to sign up).
Channel 16 Broadcast (5/1/24)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cableconsumer/channel-16/plan-forward
Fairfax County Prepares to Realign Development Policies with New “Plan Forward” Initiative (5/28/23)
https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2024/05/fairfax-county-prepares-to-realign-development-policies
Plan Forward: Fairfax County Seeks Feedback on Land Development Policies (5/17/24)
https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/news/plan-forward-fairfax-county-kickoff/
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