Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments
in progressStatus set at Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session on Apr 13, 2026 · ▶ watch the moment
- Proposed
- Under reviewJan 13, 2025
- Decided
Summary
The Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments project aims to update the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance to align with the city's adopted small area plans, particularly for activity centers and commercial corridors. The effort began in early 2025 with consultant Justin Wallace of White & Smith LLC (later White, Smith, Cousino) presenting background research to both the Planning Commission (January 13, 2025) and City Council (January 14, 2025) in work sessions. Further work sessions were held at both bodies in May 2025, and by July 2025 staff flagged the amendments as an upcoming Planning Commission item. Draft amendments were formally introduced to the Planning Commission on February 9, 2026 and to City Council on February 17, 2026, with continued discussions through March 2026 covering topics such as frontages, open space, tree conservation and landscaping, and parking. A public open house was scheduled for March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center. As of April 2026, the amendments remained in progress, and continued Council discussions were anticipated in June and July 2026. The tree conservation ordinance is being developed in conjunction with this effort.
Open questions & options on the table
- Continued discussion of the draft amendments is scheduled for the City Council meeting of June 14, 2026, with a follow-up also noted for June 28, 2026.
- A separate City Council work session on reviewing and updating existing small area plans (distinct from the zoning ordinance amendments) was scheduled for June 23, 2026.
- A future Planning Commission work session on reviewing and updating small area plans is also anticipated, per the April 13, 2026 staff report.
- No formal votes or public hearings on the draft amendments have been scheduled or taken as of the latest dated record; the path to adoption (public hearing, formal recommendation, Council action) remains open.
- The relationship and sequencing between the zoning ordinance amendment process and any future updates to the small area plans themselves has not been fully resolved.
What members have said
At the January 13, 2026 work session preview, Peterson noted that the upcoming agenda was packed in terms of information load and quality, and flagged the volume of reading required in advance. In June 2026, Peterson asked how the small area plan zoning ordinance amendments related to the separate June 23 discussion on small area plan reviews and updates, seeking to understand how the two processes connect and unfold.
In the June 2026 discussion, Bates articulated his understanding that the current small area plans are informing the zoning ordinance amendment process, while the separate review discussion is about establishing a recurring process for future updates to the small area plans themselves — similar to the comprehensive plan cycle.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Discussion time
Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.
Full history
[8b] Potential amendments to the City of Fairfax Zoning Ordinance related to adopted small area plans were introduced and discussed at the work session; consultant report presented and incorporated into the record.
[12a] Potential Zoning Ordinance Amendments related to Small Area Plans were introduced and discussed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
[10] An update on potential zoning ordinance amendments related to Small Area Plans is expected at the May 12, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.
[8a] Potential zoning ordinance amendments related to adopted Small Area Plans were discussed at the work session; a presentation was made by consultant Justin Wallace of White, Smith, Cousino. No formal action was taken.
[12e] Council received a discussion and update on potential zoning ordinance amendments related to Small Area Plans in work session; no action taken.
[9] Noted by staff as an upcoming item that may come before the Planning Commission.
[8c] Draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments were introduced and discussed at the work session; continued discussion was scheduled for February 23, 2026 and a public meeting on March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center.
[6b] Draft zoning ordinance amendments related to small area plans in activity centers were introduced to Council; no action was taken and a follow-up work session is scheduled for March 10.
[7a] Continued work session discussion on potential Zoning Ordinance amendments related to adopted small area plans, focusing on frontages, open space, tree conservation and landscaping, and parking. A City Council work session on the same topic was noted for March 10, 2026, and a public open house scheduled for March 26, 2026.
[11b] Council received a follow-up briefing on draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments; no action was taken and discussion will continue at future meetings.
[10] Staff noted that small area plan zoning ordinance amendments are underway and that a future work session on reviewing and updating small area plans is anticipated.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.