Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is the City of Fairfax's first comprehensive, 20-year roadmap for stewardship of its urban forest. 12 separate matters touch this project; each has its own status.
10340 Democracy Lane
10340 Democracy Lane is the site of a potential multifamily residential redevelopment project currently in the pre-application stage. The proposal involves constructing a 6-story multifamily residential building on approximately 3.22 acres, replacing roughly 59,983 sq ft of existing office space with approximately 434,000 sq ft of residential space.
- Staff Report
City Council approved adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan at the February 10, 2026 meeting.
Fern Street Connector Path
The Fern Street Connector Path is a city infrastructure project that will construct a 10-foot bicycle and pedestrian path within the city right-of-way, connecting the dead-end of Fern Street (south of Route 29) to Park Road. The project was identified as an important transportation project in the Camp Washington Small Area Plan and was among several multimodal projects awarded funding, as noted in mid-2024 updates.
- Jan 12, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A presentation on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Planning Commission 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 12, 2026Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A presentation on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Planning Commission 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.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
Chick-fil-A applied for a special use permit, special exceptions, and a certificate of appropriateness to modify its existing drive-through and building at 9509 Fairfax Boulevard (SU-24-00078/SE-24-00079). The proposed project includes a building addition, dual drive-through lanes, and widening of the pick-up window lane.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
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.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9Staff Report
A public open house for the Urban Forest Master Plan was announced for October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, 6–8 p.m., per the staff report.
The 2035 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Guide is a living document developed post-adoption of the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan to track implementation of the plan's 333 total action items, as well as companion Implementation Guides for four adopted Small Area Plans (Old Town, Northfax, Camp Washington, and Fairfax Circle). The guides are maintained by planning staff — principally Planner II Amy Lynn Denny — and are updated on a roughly semi-annual cycle: winter updates are packaged with the Planning Commission's Annual Report to City Council (typically considered in late winter/early spring), and summer updates are presented as standalone work session items.
- Stakeholder Updates
Reported as in the home stretch; final presentations to stakeholders including PRAB in October are planned, and the final document should be ready for recommendation and adoption by the end of the year. Scheduled to be presented to PRAB at the October meeting.
Highlands at Mantua
Highlands at Mantua is a redevelopment proposal by RJL Associates, Inc. to replace approximately 21,566 sq ft of existing office space with 14 front-loaded townhomes on a 2.12-acre site at 9495 Silver King Court. The project drew early public opposition from the neighboring Pickett's Reserve HOA, which raised concerns about lot size, building heights, buffers, and tree removal at the February 10, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
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.
- Staff Report.
Staff reported that stakeholder interviews for the Urban Forest Management Plan are upcoming, and a second public meeting is scheduled for October 17 at the Sherwood-Willard Center.
WillowWood project
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
The Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan is one of four Activity Center Small Area Plans developed by the City of Fairfax. Planning began in Spring 2023.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
- Jul 22, 2024Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
Staff announced an open house for the Urban Forest Management Plan scheduled for September 25 from 6–8 pm at the Sherwood Center, with a virtual option also available.
- Oct 8, 2024City Council · item 12aDiscussion and overview on the Urban Forest Master Plan
The Urban Forest Master Plan was discussed and overviewed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
- Urban Forest Master Plan – Presentation by Sophia Chapin
Sophia Chapin presented the Urban Forest Master Plan's current status: two Steering Committee meetings completed, the first public meeting completed in July, public survey live, and a second public meeting planned in-person October 17 and virtually October 23. The Engage Fairfax website is being continually updated. The Environmental Sustainability Committee is actively working on the Urban Forestry Master Plan. The Planning Commission will review the Urban Forestry Master Plan at their Monday, October 14 meeting.
- Urban Forest Master Plan project overview and discussion
Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day presented an overview of the Urban Forest Master Plan proposal to the Planning Commission during the Work Session.
- Stakeholder Updates
The ESC will review the Urban Forest Master Plan at their next meeting; the plan expects a completed report by end of summer and ranks 25 sites of maintained parkland, non-managed woodlands, and trails.
- Stakeholder Updates
Development is continuing with a Steering Committee meeting scheduled for May 21 and a public meeting on June 11 from 6–8pm at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center.
- Work Session: Update on the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) project and a review of the city's urban forestry operations
Staff presented an update on the Urban Forest Master Plan project and a review of the city's urban forestry operations during the work session. No formal action was taken.
- Update on the Urban Forest Masterplan (UFMP) project
Staff Urban Forester Anna Safford and consultant Dr. Garrett Wolf presented an update on the Urban Forest Masterplan project to the Commission during the work session.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 11Commission Comments
Chair Feather attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting.
- Old Business – Urban Forest Master Plan
PRAB voted to direct the Chair to draft a memo in support of the Urban Forest Master Plan to present to City Council.
passedMotion to direct the Chair to draft a memo in support of the Urban Forest Master Plan to present to City Council.✓ Rice✓ Paceley✓ Ross✓ Knowles✓ Gibson✓ Russell✓ O'Brien✓ Curtin✓ Neway· Kuiler· Hickman· Stewart - Nov 24, 2025Planning Commission · item 10Staff Report
An update on the Urban Forest Masterplan was noted as scheduled for both the December 2, 2025 City Council meeting and the December 8, 2025 Planning Commission meeting.
- Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The draft UFMP — the city's first — was presented to Council for input. Phase 1 (information gathering) is complete; Phase 2 (plan development) is nearing completion. A final draft is expected by end of 2025, with a public hearing and Council action tentatively scheduled for January 27, 2026.
- Presentation and discussion of the draft Urban Forest Masterplan
The draft Urban Forest Masterplan was presented to the Planning Commission by Urban Forester Anna Safford and discussed during the work session.
- Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee (Rusty Russell)
The Urban Forest Master Plan was presented to the Planning Commission and is scheduled for adoption by City Council on January 27th.
- Stakeholder Updates
Rusty Russell reported that the Urban Forest Master Plan is soon to be reviewed and approved by City Council by the end of the month.
- Final consideration of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The Planning Commission voted 5:0 to recommend City Council approve the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025. The plan is a 20-year roadmap for stewardship of Fairfax's urban forest and was set to be presented to City Council the following evening.
passedMotion to recommend City Council approve the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025.✓ Feather✓ Cunningham✓ Lockhart✓ McCarthy✓ Rice - Public hearing and Council action on the adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)
The Urban Forest Master Plan (December 2025 draft) was approved and adopted by the City Council following a public hearing; the plan has been in development since May 2024.
failedSubstitute motion: adopt the Urban Forest Master Plan (December 2025 draft) with a provision requiring the Urban Forester to provide a report to City Council by July 2026 explaining the establishment of targets and timelines.✕ Amos✕ Bates✓ Hall✕ Hardy-Chandler✕ McQuillen✓ PetersonpassedMain motion: adopt resolution R-26-07 approving and adopting the Urban Forest Master Plan in the draft dated December 2025.✓ Amos✓ Bates✓ Hall✓ Hardy-Chandler✓ McQuillen✓ Peterson - Stakeholder Update – Environmental Sustainability Committee
The Urban Forest Master Plan was adopted by City Council; Rusty Russell expressed anticipation of its benefits to the city.
- Jul 14, 2026City Council · item 12bWork Session – Urban Forest Master Plan Update (1-Year Plan and 5-Year Outlook)
Council received a 1-year plan and 5-year outlook update on the Urban Forest Master Plan during the July 14, 2026 work session; no formal action was taken.
In full
Development began in May 2024 and proceeded through two Steering Committee meetings, two public open houses (July and October 2024, with a third in October 2025), stakeholder interviews, a public survey, and ongoing presentations to the Planning Commission, PRAB, Environmental Sustainability Committee, and City Council. The Planning Commission voted 5–0 on February 9, 2026 to recommend Council adoption of the December 2025 draft. City Council held a public hearing on February 10, 2026; a substitute motion to require a progress report by July 2026 failed 2–4, and the main motion to adopt resolution R-26-07 approving the December 2025 draft passed unanimously 6–0.
PRAB had previously voted 9–0 (November 13, 2025) to direct its Chair to draft a memo in support of the plan to present to City Council. Following adoption, Urban Forester Anna Safford presented a one-year implementation plan and five-year outlook to City Council in a July 14, 2026 work session, covering 13 key performance indicators across three goals, tracking of actions in project management software, and anticipated annual, quarterly, and periodic public reporting cycles.