Pickett Road Connector Trail
The Pickett Road Connector Trail is a City of Fairfax trail project with approximately $6.5 million in allocated funding, intended to improve transportation safety and connectivity in the Pickett Road corridor. 8 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.
Official city record
City Project
Connection of Thaiss Park to Route 50, linking the Wilcoxon, Cross-Country, and City of Fairfax Connector Trails. This 1,260-foot trail will provide safe, off-road access to mass transit, businesses, and parks, enhancing connectivity and safety along Pickett Road.
Davies Property
The Davies Property project is a mixed-use redevelopment of 4131 Chain Bridge Road (2.69 acres) in Fairfax City, proposed by The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC. The application sought to rezone the site from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban), retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD overlay), with a General Development Plan for a building of up to 276 multifamily apartments, approximately 10,796 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space (retail and office), and a 3-level below-grade parking garage.
- Jul 14, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
Staff reported that an update on the Pickett Road Trail was provided at the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
Courthouse Plaza
Courthouse Plaza (10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) is a shopping center redevelopment project in the CR Commercial Retail/Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District, proposed by Combined Courthouse, LLC. The project has proceeded through two distinct application cycles.
- Jul 14, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
Staff reported that an update on the Pickett Road Trail was provided at the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
George Snyder Trail
The George Snyder Trail was a planned off-street shared-use path project (VDOT UPC 112816) intended to improve multimodal connectivity along Fairfax Boulevard in the City of Fairfax. The project drew sustained and significant public opposition throughout its consideration.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Work Session: Discussion and update on trail projects
The Pickett Trail was discussed during the work session, leading to Council action under item 4a. Council approved 4-2 (Amos and Hardy-Chandler opposed) to pause all actions with respect to the Pickett Trail in order to examine alternatives.
The Country Club Hills Connector Trail was a proposed trail segment associated with the broader George Snyder Trail (GST) project. Public opposition to the trail emerged early, with residents speaking against it at least as far back as January 2025, citing concerns about tree loss, forest preservation, and the existence of alternative connections.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Work Session: Discussion and update on trail projects
The Pickett Trail was discussed during the work session, leading to Council action under item 4a. Council approved 4-2 (Amos and Hardy-Chandler opposed) to pause all actions with respect to the Pickett Trail in order to examine alternatives.
Country Club Hills Trail
- Pausing of Additional Staff Activity on Trails Projects (Country Club Hills Trail and Pickett Road Trail)
Council voted 3-2 to pause all expenditures on the Pickett Road Connector Trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session.
passedMotion that the City pause the expenditure of any further funds on the Country Club Hills Trail, the Pickett Road Connector Trail, and any other trail until after the April 22, 2025 Work Session and the elimination of any activity independent of roadway projects currently in progress.– Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✓ Peterson
Jermantown Road Corridor Improvements
The Jermantown Road Corridor Improvements is an active City of Fairfax capital infrastructure project focused on transportation improvements along the Jermantown Road corridor. The project first came to Council attention in March 2025, when Councilmember Hall requested that information on Jermantown Road CIP improvements be brought to a future council meeting.
- Mar 11, 2025City Council · item 10aWork Session: Discussion and update on the George Snyder Trail project
Councilmember Bates expressed support for moving the Pickett Road Connector Trail to the west side and merging with the sidewalk if feasible without losing funding; Councilmember Hall also requested more information on this trail.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
The City Hall Landscape Improvements Project is a municipal landscaping initiative for City Hall grounds. On November 12, 2024, the City Council unanimously approved (6-0) the award of a construction contract to Galicia Construction Corporation for an estimated amount of $587,752, as part of the consent agenda.
- Jan 14, 2025City Council · item 6Initial general public comment period
Residents expressed opposition to the Pickett Road Connector Trail during public comment.
- Mar 25, 2025City Council · item 7bPublic hearing on the proposed FY26 budget
One speaker recommended cutting expenses on the Pickett Road Trail as part of budget reduction measures.
- Work Session – Update on the Pickett Trail project
Staff provided an update on the Pickett Trail project during the work session. Public comment included at least two residents expressing opposition to the project.
- Jul 10, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 7bSummary of recent Council meeting actions pertaining to Parks and Recreation
A presentation on the Pickett Road Connector Trail was given to City Council.
- Discussion regarding the current pause implemented by the City Council on April 8, 2025 to the Pickett Road Trail project
Council reversed the April 8, 2025 pause on the Pickett Road Trail project (4-3) and unanimously directed staff to hold a public outreach meeting for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents in October to address safety concerns.
passedDirect staff to set up a public outreach meeting for the Pickett Road Trail project for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents in October to address safety concerns.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ PetersonpassedReverse the City Council adopted action on April 8, 2025 that paused the Pickett Road Trail project.✓ Read✓ Amos✓ Bates✕ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✕ Peterson - Nov 18, 2025City Council · item 8bPublic hearing and Council action: Ordinance authorizing Deed of Easement with Fairfax County Water Authority for water main installation on Tax Map Nos. 48-4-01-000-C and 48-4-01-003
The Deed of Easement discussion arose in connection with the City's request for a separate easement associated with the Pickett Trail project; staff confirmed no conflict with the City's pedestrian bridge or proposed conservation easement.
passedMotion to enact the ordinance authorizing and approving the Deed of Easement with Fairfax County Water Authority for water main installation on Tax Map Nos. 48-4-01-000-C and 48-4-01-003.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson
In full
The project drew public opposition from its earliest appearance before the Council in January 2025. At a March 11, 2025 work session, discussion arose about moving the trail to the west side of Pickett Road. On April 8, 2025, the Council voted 3-2 (with one abstention) to pause all expenditures on the trail pending a work session, and on April 22, 2025, the Council voted 4-2 to extend that pause while alternatives were examined.
After a July 8, 2025 work session update and continued public opposition, the Council on July 22, 2025 voted 4-3 to reverse the April 8 pause and unanimously directed staff to hold a public outreach meeting in October for Foxcroft Colony and Scout on the Circle residents to address safety concerns. A related Deed of Easement with the Fairfax County Water Authority—arising in connection with the City's request for a separate easement for the Pickett Trail project—was unanimously enacted on November 18, 2025, with staff confirming no conflict with the City's pedestrian bridge or proposed conservation easement. As of early 2026, the project is confirmed to be no longer on hold and is actively in design, with a Pickett Road Safety Audit anticipated to begin in August 2026.