Old Town
Summary
Old Town is a historic district and commercial area within the City of Fairfax that has been the subject of multiple overlapping municipal initiatives. In October 2024, the Police Department proposed hiring security guard support in Old Town using Old Town Service District funds as a pilot effort, alongside a parallel consensus decision to install security cameras at nearby parks using Homelessness Task Force funds. In June 2025, a parking study focused on the Old Town area was presented to City Council during a work session. Beginning in mid-2026, Old Town became a focus of small area plan review discussions: both the Planning Commission (June 8, 2026) and City Council (June 23, 2026) held work sessions on the potential review and update of the 2020 Old Town Fairfax Small Area Plan, alongside plans for Northfax, Kamp Washington, and Fairfax Circle. Separately, a significant private redevelopment application (Courthouse Plaza, by Combined Properties) has been under Planning Commission review as of July 2026, proposing a phased mixed-use development with 315 residential units in phase one, up to 72-foot building height (requiring a special exception above the 48-foot Transition Overlay District maximum), and 12,500 sq ft of first-floor retail — a project the 2020 Small Area Plan anticipated by calling for multifamily up to six stories and grocery-anchored development on a site that had 0% residential at the time of the plan's adoption.
Open questions & options on the table
- Whether the City Council or Planning Commission will formally initiate a review and update of the Old Town Fairfax Small Area Plan (no action taken as of June 23, 2026).
- Whether the Courthouse Plaza (Combined Properties) redevelopment application will be approved, denied, or revised — including resolution of the special exception request to exceed the 48-foot height maximum and community concerns about six-story building height and traffic impacts.
- Whether the applicant (Combined Properties) will pursue property consolidation south of their current site, as suggested in July 2026 Planning Commission discussion, to more fully realize the Small Area Plan vision including a road connection to Fairfax Boulevard.
- Whether the security guard pilot using Old Town Service District funds was implemented and what its outcomes were (status unknown after the October 2024 discussion).
- What action, if any, will follow the June 2025 Old Town Parking Study presentation to Council.
What members have said
At the July 28, 2026 Planning Commission session, Hall expressed that the revised Courthouse Plaza proposal was 'very, very much improved,' specifically praising changes to the brick and the incorporation of elements reflecting Old Town's historic character. She noted some difficulty visualizing certain aspects and asked clarifying questions of the applicant.
At the July 28, 2026 session, Peterson mentioned having had conversations with restaurant owners in Old Town — including being the last customer at a recently closed Old Town restaurant — suggesting personal engagement with the Old Town business community, though no formal position on any pending matter was recorded.
At the July 27, 2026 Planning Commission session, Mr. Feather noted the recent significant discussion about another development south of Old Town, connecting it to the question of property consolidation and connectivity as context for the Courthouse Plaza application.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[10b] Old Town was identified as a location where the Police Department proposed hiring security guard support using Old Town Service District funds as a pilot effort.
[1c] The Old Town area of the City of Fairfax was the subject of a parking study presentation at this work session.
[8b] Identified as one of the areas whose small area plan may be reviewed and updated.
[11a] Old Town was identified as one of four areas with adopted Small Area Plans under potential review and update discussion.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.