Fairfax Circle
Summary
Fairfax Circle is a geographic activity center in the City of Fairfax that is the subject of an adopted Small Area Plan. The Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan was the last of four such plans adopted by the city, following those for Old Town, Northfax, and Kamp Washington. The Planning Commission approved it unanimously (5:0) on July 8, 2024, recommending City Council adopt the draft dated June 24, 2024, with conditions including property access preservation, a transportation safety study, walkway/shared use path analysis, and three textual edits; it was also made subject to final approval of associated Comprehensive Plan amendments. As of mid-2026, the plan is under potential review alongside the other three Small Area Plans, driven by new analytical tools and ongoing studies — including a floodplain study within Fairfax Circle and an upcoming detailed intersection analysis — that were not available when the plan was originally developed. A private development project by Combined Properties at the Fairfax Circle shopping center is also proceeding, with discussion of tenant relocation, sidewalk improvements, tree grates, and loading locations; the developer indicated success there could lead to a follow-on project at Courthouse Plaza.
Open questions & options on the table
- Whether and to what extent the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan will be updated, pending collection of ongoing studies (floodplain study, Fairfax Circle intersection analysis) and a formal scope discussion with the Planning Commission later in 2026.
- What the results of the ongoing floodplain area study will mean for plan recommendations related to that area.
- What the forthcoming detailed Fairfax Circle intersection analysis will conclude, given prior uncertainty about the intersection's configuration.
- Whether BRT plan details present any opportunity to reconsider or refine transit-related recommendations in the Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan.
- How workforce housing opportunities (distinct from naturally occurring affordable housing already identified, e.g., Foxtrot Colony) might be incorporated into the plan in any update.
- How trail and active transportation connectivity to Fairfax Circle (via Wilcoxon Trail extension, shared use paths on Eaton, and related projects) will be resolved in the absence of the George Snyder Trail.
- Final schedule for the Small Area Plan review process, which had not been set as of the June 2026 discussions.
Recent updates
[11a] Fairfax Circle was identified as one of four areas with adopted Small Area Plans under potential review and update discussion.
[6a] Fairfax Circle is the geographic focus of the Small Area Plan approved at this meeting; public comments raised concerns about crime, road connections, and property access in the area.
What members have said
At the June 23, 2026 City Council meeting, Council Member McQuillen confirmed their understanding of the proposed process for reviewing Small Area Plans: collecting and analyzing ongoing studies, bringing them together, and then establishing updated goals for the plans.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
- Jul 8, 2024Planning Commission · item 6a
[6a] Fairfax Circle is the geographic focus of the Small Area Plan approved at this meeting; public comments raised concerns about crime, road connections, and property access in the area.
- Jun 23, 2026City Council · item 11a
[11a] Fairfax Circle was identified as one of four areas with adopted Small Area Plans under potential review and update discussion.