Urban Forest Master Plan
approvedSummary
The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is a 20-year roadmap for stewardship of the City of Fairfax's urban forest, developed with consultant Marstel-Day beginning in May 2024. Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day first presented an overview to the Planning Commission in October 2024, and a public open house was held October 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval (5-0) of the December 2025 draft on February 9, 2026. City Council adopted the plan via resolution R-26-07 on February 10, 2026 with a unanimous 6-0 vote following a public hearing; a substitute motion that would have required the Urban Forester to report back to Council by July 2026 on the establishment of targets and timelines failed 2-4. Following adoption, the plan is already driving downstream policy work: staff have cited it as the basis for a proposed tree conservation ordinance (part of small area plan zoning ordinance amendments), and a tree canopy analysis conducted in 2023 as a precursor to the UFMP is being used to inform activity center planning. An update on the one-year plan and five-year outlook is scheduled to be brought to City Council at a work session on June 14, 2026.
Open questions & options on the table
- A UFMP update covering the one-year plan and five-year outlook is scheduled for the City Council work session on June 14, 2026 — content and any resulting direction remain pending.
- A tree conservation ordinance (landscaping/tree conservation zoning ordinance amendment) has been identified as a recommendation of the adopted UFMP and is under active development; its final form and adoption timeline are unresolved.
- Council Member Amos raised the question of how to accommodate a Climate and Energy Manager position — referenced in connection with the UFMP — within the current budget, with the Council indicating a more robust budget discussion was needed.
- The UFMP is expected to necessitate updates to other city policies and codes beyond the tree conservation ordinance, per staff; specific additional updates have not yet been identified or acted upon.
Recent updates
[9] City Council approved adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan at the February 10, 2026 meeting.
[7a] 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.
What members have said
Chair Feather voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation on February 9, 2026, and personally attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting noted in commission comments on October 27, 2025.
Council Member Hall voted yes on the failed substitute motion requiring a July 2026 progress report on targets and timelines, and yes on the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026.
Council Member Peterson voted yes on the failed substitute motion requiring a July 2026 progress report on targets and timelines, and yes on the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026.
Council Member Amos voted no on the substitute motion and yes on the main adoption motion on February 10, 2026. At a March 3, 2026 budget discussion, Amos raised the question of how the Council should accommodate a Climate and Energy Manager position — which had come up during UFMP deliberations — within the current budget, calling for a more robust group discussion.
Commissioner Cunningham voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation to approve the UFMP on February 9, 2026.
Commissioner Lockhart voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation to approve the UFMP on February 9, 2026.
Commissioner McCarthy voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation to approve the UFMP on February 9, 2026.
Commissioner Rice voted yes on the 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation to approve the UFMP on February 9, 2026.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
- Oct 8, 2024City Council · item 12a
[12a] The Urban Forest Master Plan was discussed and overviewed during the work session; no formal action was taken.
[8a] Dr. Garrett Wolf of Marstel-Day presented an overview of the Urban Forest Master Plan proposal to the Planning Commission during the Work Session.
- Oct 13, 2025Planning Commission · item 9
[9] 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.
- Oct 27, 2025Planning Commission · item 11
[11] Chair Feather attended an Urban Forest Master Plan presentation meeting.
[5a] 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.
[7a] 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.
[9] City Council approved adoption of the Urban Forest Master Plan at the February 10, 2026 meeting.