Plan or program · on the record since 2025 · discussed in 24 transcribed meetings

Special Use Permit

Special Use Permits (SUPs) are a land use approval mechanism used by the City of Fairfax under Chapter 110 (Zoning) to authorize specific uses subject to conditions, and are distinct from rezonings in that they carry a time limit — automatically expiring after two years unless a building permit (or, under a pending clarifying amendment, an equivalent zoning permit) is issued.

Project

City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan

approved

The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.

Sep 8, 2025Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board · item 4
HHCAB Strategy Teams, Working Session
Special Use Permits were referenced in the Zoning & Land Use background as part of the Community Development Division's scope of work for land use approval processes.
minutes agenda

Other mentions

May 4, 2026Housing and Healthy Communities Advisory Board · item 3
City of Fairfax Community Development and Planning
Staff noted that special use permits have a time limit associated with them, distinguishing them from zoning regulations which are changed in perpetuity.
minutes agenda
Jun 8, 2026Planning Commission · item 8ain progress
Post-submission work session on proposed Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning), Special Use Permit, Special Exceptions, and Major Certificate of Appropriateness for 4085-4117 Chain Bridge Road
A post-submission work session was held; the Planning Commission received a staff presentation and provided feedback on the proposed Special Use Permit for 4085-4117 Chain Bridge Road.
Watch this moment minutes agenda
Jul 28, 2026City Council · item 8a
Public hearing and Council action on proposed amendments to Chapter 110 (Zoning) relating to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units
Public comment raised opposition to ADUs being approved without a special use permit; the ordinance as adopted does not require a special use permit for conforming detached ADUs.
failedSubstitute motion to defer consideration of the detached ADU zoning amendments until September 8, 2026.
✓ Hall✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson✕ Amos✕ Bates✕ Hardy-Chandler
passedApprove an ordinance amending Chapter 110 (Zoning) to amend portions of articles and sections relating to Detached Accessory Dwelling Units.
✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ Peterson✕ Hall✕ McQuillen
Watch this moment minutes agenda
Sep 8, 2026City Council · item 8aapproved
Public Hearing: Special Use Permit – 10230 Antietam Avenue (Naila Ayoub Daycare)
The Special Use Permit pursuant to City Code Section 110-3.5.5.D.8 was approved unanimously to allow a family day care home for up to 12 children at 10230 Antietam Avenue, with five conditions including state licensing, operator residency, and no outdoor play before 8:00 a.m.
passedApproval of the Special Use Permit for Naila Ayoub to allow a family day care home for up to 12 children at 10230 Antietam Avenue.
agenda
Oct 27, 2026City Council · item 7adeferred
Public hearing and Council action on a Special Use Permit amendment request from Mantua Hills Swimming Association for 3425 Pickett Rd
The Special Use Permit amendment requested by Mantua Hills Swimming Association to modify conditions governing tennis court and swimming pool hours of operation at 3425 Pickett Rd was deferred to January 12, 2027 at staff request.
agenda

In full

SUPs have appeared across multiple proceedings in different capacities: as background context in HHCAB strategy sessions (September 2025); as a topic of staff explanation before the Planning Commission and Council regarding their time-limited nature versus perpetual zoning changes (May–October 2026); as the approval vehicle for a specific family daycare at 10230 Antietam Avenue (approved unanimously, September 8, 2026); and as the subject of an amendment request by Mantua Hills Swimming Association for 3425 Pickett Road regarding hours of operation (deferred to January 12, 2027). A post-submission work session was also held before the Planning Commission for a proposed SUP at 4085–4117 Chain Bridge Road (June 8, 2026), with no vote taken.

Separately, the July 28, 2026 adoption of the Detached ADU ordinance was notable in that it explicitly does not require an SUP for conforming detached ADUs, a point that drew public opposition.

Status

deferred

Status set at the City Council Meeting on Oct 27, 2026

Still open

The Mantua Hills Swimming Association SUP amendment request (3425 Pickett Rd) was deferred to January 12, 2027 — Council action on that matter remains pending.
The proposed SUP for 4085–4117 Chain Bridge Road (combined with Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exceptions, and Major Certificate of Appropriateness) received only a Planning Commission work session as of June 8, 2026; no vote or final Council action has been recorded.
A clarifying zoning ordinance amendment to treat zoning permits as equivalent to building permits for the purpose of SUP validity (preventing SUPs that don't require building permits from expiring in a gray area) was described in transcript excerpts from September and October 2026 but no final vote on that amendment is recorded in the dated record.

What members have said

Hall
Hall voted yes on the substitute motion to defer the Detached ADU ordinance to September 8, 2026, and no on the final ordinance as adopted on July 28, 2026, placing him among those who opposed proceeding without a special use permit requirement for detached ADUs.
McQuillen
McQuillen voted yes on the substitute motion to defer the Detached ADU ordinance and no on the final ordinance on July 28, 2026, aligning with Hall in opposition to the ordinance as adopted without an SUP requirement.
Peterson
Peterson voted yes on the substitute motion to defer the Detached ADU ordinance but then voted yes on final approval of the ordinance on July 28, 2026, supporting passage despite having initially favored a delay.

Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.

Discussion timecouncilcommission

Discussed alongside

Topics that come up in the same meetings.

Accessory Dwelling Units3 meetings Chain Bridge Road2 meetings Budget Process2 meetings Remote Participation Policy2 meetings University Drive2 meetings Courthouse Plaza2 meetings