R-20-30RESOLUTION NO.2020-30
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO THE
CITY OF FAIRFAX 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, § 15.2-2223 of the Code of Virginia requires the City Council to adopt a
comprehensive plan for the physical development of the territory within the jurisdiction of the
City of Fairfax and that it may be amended in parts that cover sections or divisions of the City;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan recommends small area plans be
developed for each of the five activity centers identified on the Comprehensive Plan Future Land
Use Map to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan by reference as amendments to
geographical sections of the City; and
WHEREAS, in January 2019, the City Council prioritized the Old Town Fairfax and Northfax
Small Area Plans among the five activity centers and charged the Planning Commission with
preparing such plans to be considered for adoption by June of 2020; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2020, the City Council approved and adopted the Old Town Fairfax
Small Area Plan and the Northfax Small Area Plan; and
WHEREAS, in order to properly reference the Small Area Plans as parts of the Comprehensive
Plan and to avoid conflicting language between the documents, some portions of the Land Use
Chapter and Multimodal Transportation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan should be amended;
and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 8, 2020 and
recommended to City Council approval and adoption of the proposed amendments to the City of
Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan, as shown in the attached exhibit; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan as
recommended for approval by the Planning Commission, has been posted on the City website in
accordance with § 15.2-2226 of the Code of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with § 15.2-2226 of the Code of Virginia, the City Council of the
City of Fairfax held a public hearing on June 23, 2020 for the purpose of receiving comments
related to the proposed amendments to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fairfax hereby
approves amendments to the City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan as shown in the attached
exhibit, as may be amended by the City Council.
Adopted: June 23, 2020
Mayor
ATTEST:
�/� /City Clerk
The vote on the motion to approve was recorded as follows:
VOTE:
Councilmember DeMarco
Aye
Councilmember Lim
Aye
Councilmember Miller
Aye
Councilmember Passey
Aye
Councilmember Stehle
Aye
Councilmember Yi
Aye
Land Use
Strategies
Goal 1
Ensure development is
complementary.
While the 6.3 square mile City is primarily
built out, leaving few opportunities for
large new development, there is consistent
pressure for the City's variety of land use
types to adapt to environmental, economic
and cultural demands. This means that some
flexibility must be provided with a balanced
mix of developmerittypes that accommodate
adaptations without negatively impacting the
existing community. New development and
redevelopment should be complementary
to surrounding areas and contribute to an
attractive, accessible, and economicallyviable
place.
t. Definition: A brief description of the
types of uses and structures the Place
Type applies to.
a. Zoning Districts: A list of Zoning
Districts that are most likely to
accommodate theirs" andstructures
provided in the definition for the Place
Types.
3. Link + Place Street Types: A list of
the types of streets (as provided
in the Multimodal Transportation
Chapter) where the PlaceType is most
appropriate.
4. Physical Characteristics: A description
of general preferences for site design
and building placement.
S. Concept diagrams and photos:
Provided to showtypical development
patterns for each Place Type.
Most new development is anticipated to
occur in areas designated as an Activity
Center Place Type. There are five areas
of the City that have this Place Type
designation: Old Town Fairfax, Northfax,
Kamp Washington, Fairfax Circle, and
Pickett & Main. The following additional
guidance is provided for the Activity
Center PlaceType:
ATTACHMENT6C
EXHIBIT t
ACTION LU1.1.1 Maintain and update, as necessary, a Future Land Use Map that provides
for a balanced ma of development types and addresses current and
future needs of the City.
ACTION LU1.1.2 Use the Future Land Use Map (Figure 9), Place Types, and general
text from the Comprehensive Plan as a guide when considering new
development throughout the City.
ACTION LU1.1.3 Refer to Parcel Specific Recommendation, asdetailed onPages 39.44for
potential alternative uses. Amend the Comprehensive Plan to provide
additional ParcelSpecific Recommendations as appropriate.
development piactice�.
ACTION LUI.2.1 Consistently review the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and the
Zoning Map to ensure they are able to support the Future Land Use
Map and other guidance of the Comprehensive Plan.
This can be managed by using tiie Future Land Use Map
Future Land Use Map in conjunction with The Future Land Use Map is provided in Figure
recommendations of this Comprehensive 9, with specific guidance on development for
Plan and the requirements of the Zoning and each of the PlaceTypes identified on the map
Subdivision Ordinances toguide development provided on the following pages. Additional
within theCity.While the Future Land Use M ap guidance is provided for certain specific sites
communicates the most appropriate types beginning on page 30. When using the Future
of uses and character of development, the Land Use Map, consideration should also be
Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances provide given to the other Guiding Principles of this
the regulatory measures to accommodate chapter, depending on site location and types
such development. The Ordinances may ofuses.
occasionally be amended to fumish necessary
changes for various land uses. The following information is provided for each
of the PlaceTypes:
Chapter 2: Land Use City of Fairfax 203S Comprehensive Plan
& Use Characteristics: Since multiple uses can
be accommodated in the Activity Center
PlaceType, separate physica I characteristics
are provided forvarious uses to ensure that
new development provides a consistent
character in spite of varying uses.
Residential Limitations: As a more detailed
analysis of specific development scenarios
is not included in this plan, limitations on
the number of residential units that can
be absorbed in each Activity Center are
provided. This is intended to communicate
to developers and the general public
that unrestrained increases in residential
development will not be considered in these
areas of the City.
Small Area Plans
5mallArea Plans are an opportunity to conduct
detailed analyses of concentrated geographic
areas of the City and provide more specific
recommendations on issues such as land use
and transportation than that provided in the
Comprehensive Plan. Once approved, Small
Area Plans serve as the primary source for
guidance on development in the respective
Activity Centers. As supported by Land Use
Action CCAC2.3.S, SmaWea Plans are proposed
0 City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2: Land Use
for each of the five Activity Centers. As each
of the Small Area Plans is completed and
adopted, the recommendations from that plan
will supersede the Activity Center Place Type
recommendations from the Future Land Use
Map. This may include the guidance provided
for Physical Characteristics, appropriate Street
Types, Use Characteristics, and Residential
Limitations.
1n June zoao, Small Area Plans were adopted
forthe Old Town Fairfax and NorthfaxActivity
Centers. While a briefdescription of these two
Activity Centers is provided in the Activity
Center Place Type description, please refer to
the respective Small Area Plans for specific
guidance in those two areas. The general
guidance in the Activity Center Place Type
description applies to Kamp Washington,
Fairfax Circle, and Pickett B Main until Small
Area Plans are adopted for those Activity
Centers.
The Activity Center Place Type, identified in purple on the Future Land Use Map, applies to locations
in the City where pedestrian -oriented, mixed -use development is strongly encouraged. (Mixed -use
development is pedestrian -oriented development that allows multiple activities to take place by
layering compatible land uses, public amenities, and active streets accommodating mudtimodal
transportation, and community -serving commercial.) Uses should be integrated ass rni x of commercial
uses, multifamily housing, and townhouses, either in the same building (i.e., vertical mixed -use) or
as a combination of single -use buildings featuring a range of compl ememary uses within the Activity
Center (i.e., horizontal mixed -use).
Physical Characteristics
Activity[enters can accommodate a variety of building types based on the different uses permitted
and varying characteristics among individual ActivityCerxers. Recommended physical characteristics
for specific uses are provided under Use Characteristics (p. B) and more specific recommendations
are provided for the Old Town Fairfax and Northfax Activity Centers on the following pages. The
Comprehensive Plan also recommend sSmall Area Plans be developed for eachof the Ciys five Activity
Centers As each ofthese plans is completed and adopted, the recornmendations will supersede the
preexisting guidance of this Comprehensive Plan
In general, new development in Activity Centers should support a connected street network as
recommended in the Muitimodad Transportation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan; provide an
improved streetscape and pedestrian connections to surrounding uses, including (irks to the existing
pedestrian network; and include inviting pubic andlor private open spaces. Parking should be provided
in structured or below grade facilities where reasonable.
Development in Activity Centers nest meet the Code of V rgiria defiriiion For an UrbanDevetapmtent
Area (Virginia Code i iS. a-2223.1) and follow the recommendations for Private Site Design and
Elements in the applie able district of the City of Fairfax Design Guidelines. Predicated onthe urderlying
zoning district, the Activity Center Place Type supports density of a minimum FAR of a4; at least
six townhouses or at least 22 multifarly dwelling units per acre; or arry proportional combination of
residential and commercial densities with building heights predominantly five stories or less, unless
otherwise specified in an adopted Small Area Plan,
® City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2: 1-ant) Use
use Char■cteristln Zoning Distrftts
Office. office uses are acceptable as components of mixed -use buildings or as stand-alone • CU, Commercial Urban
budding& • PD-R, Planned Development Residential
daI
&IdlRetailusesmaybeprovidedonthegroundfloorofnvxed -usebuildings,asaand-alone . PD-MPlanedDev Development
rse
buildings, or on upper floors of buildings where larger tenant floor area requirements wWd
PD•M, Planned DevNopment Mixed Use
detract from an active presence on the first floor. Retail uses are preferred along Commercial
Mains, exceptwhere indicated otherwise in adopted Small Area Plans, but maybe provided
at other locations within an Activity Center. Unk + Place Street Types
ki4ICL• Hotels are acceptable as components ofmixed-use buid ings or as stand -store buildings
Hotels are particularly a ncouraged in highvisibility locations along Commercial Mains and at
key intersections, or as may otherwise be iderni feed in adopted Small Area Plans
Public. civic. and I rstitutionaL Public, civic and institutional uses that are slowed by speciai
use permit in commercial districts in the Zoning Ordinance may be provided as components
of mixed -use buildings or as stand alone buildings.
Residential Multi famihr Residential multi family uses are acceptable as compartents of mi xed-
use buildings or as standalone buildings. Ground floor residential uses in multifamily or
residential mixed -use buildings, including accessory spaces and amenities but not including
residential lobby areas, should not be provided along Commercial Mains, unless such uses
are identified in adopted Small Area Plans where ground -floor residential units are located
adjacent to Active Streets or Commercial Mains, direct exterior access should be provided
to individual units.
Townhouse Residential townhouses should
only be considered to serve as a transitional
use to existing development outside of the
Activity Cerger.
• Active Streets
• Commercial Mains
�r.+Wr 4 1—
+
Chapter 2: Land! Use City of Fairfax 203S Comprehensive Pict
Residential Limitations
The majority of future residential growth is
anticipated to occur within the five Activity
Centers identified in the Future Land Use
Map. Refer to adopted Small Area Plans for
specific recommendations on growth in each
ActivityCenter. For Activity Centers for which
a Small Area Plan has not yet been adopted,
any unified development application within
an Activity Center that contains a residential
component should have a density of no
more than 48 dwelling units per acre. Such
developments must offer benefits that support
the vision of the Comprehensive Plan for the
Activity Center. Such benefits should include
the following:
i. A mix of uses within the development site;
a. Contributions toward a connected street
grid
3. usable open space, and,
4. High quality design.
Should a unified development application
fail to offer these benefits, that development
may contain no more than 2a dwelling units
per acre.
Direct fiscalbenef is to the City fromresidential
developments are not typically as strong as
those from commercial properties. In order to
avoid significant displacement of commercial
uses in Activity Centers, new residential
development should First focus on lower
value commercial or industrial sites unless a
significant commercial component is included.
Conversion of commercial space in existing
buildings into residential space is not generally
supported.
aCity of Fairfax Z03S Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2: Land Use
The Old Town Fairfax Activity Canter ('Old
Town Fairfax') encompasses a cultural
hub for the City, with a concentration of
historic buildings, public services, active
open space, and commercial buildings.
Old Town Fairfax can also capitalize on its
proximty to George Mason University to
attract university supported businesses and
arts and entertainment venues. The entirety
of Old Town Fairfax is within the Old Town
Fairfax Historic Overlay District (HOD) or the
Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District
(TOD) and is subject to those provisions of
the Zoning Ordinance and the City of F airfax
Design Guidelines
Refer to the CSdTown Fairfax Small Area Plan,
dated June xoA forspecificrecommendations
within Old Torun Fairfax, including locations for
future streets and open spaces, opportunities
for pedestrianconnectiom auossCommercW
Mains, building form (including appropriate
locations for more or less restrictive building
heights from the Activity Cemer standards),
and general land use and development
limitations, The overall concept plan for Old
Town Fairfax, as provided in the Small Area
Plan, is shown to the right.
Chapter 2: Land Use City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan ra
The Northfax Activity Center
('Northfax') is considered the most
appropriate location in the City to
accommodate a regional mixed -use
destination. Its location at the intersection
of Fairfax Boulevard and Chain Bridge Road,
_
* '
with immediate access to Interstate 66 and
r ' F......
a potential future Metro station, is more
+•a.
accessiblethan other ActivityCenters. It is also
equidistant fromexistiry regional mixed -use
destinations at Merrifield and Fa'rfaxCorner.it
V.
In order to leverage these characteristics,,
eT
the City should strive to market Northfax
to a wide range of commercial tenants and
retail usesinorder to take advantage ofthese
benefits New residential uses and amenities
._
x "
such as open spaces and a pedestrian -friendly
multimodal transportation network, should
also be leveraged to improve the commercial
marketability ofthe Activity Center.
Refer to the Northfax Small Area Plart dated
, .•'�.�'? ;e
June for specific recommendations
s.+�aj
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+ `�q'o a
;020,
withintheNorthfaxActivityCenter,including
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locations for future streets and open spaces
aas� * r
l` ti
pedestrian connections, building height and
1 ° �`� S ; � r ■
a
form, general land use, and development
limitations. The overall concept plan for
Northfat(, as provided in the Small Area Plant
is shown to the right.
aCity of Fairfax 2035 Cotnprehenshre Plan Chapter 2: Land Use
Goal 3
FIGURE 21 PROPOSED ACTIVITY CENTER ENRMCEMENTS
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(See Outcome MM3. n )
Noted In June xolo, Small Area Plans were adopted for the Old Town Fair -lay and Northfax Activity Centers_ Refelto
the respettrve Small Area Plan far specific guidance in eat h oft hese Act Nity Centers
City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3: Multimodat Transportation
HCURE28 PROPO5EDSTREETTYPOLAGYDESIGNATIONS
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Notes In June 2o2o, Small Area Plans were adapted for
the Old Town Fairfax and Northfax Activity Centers. Refer to
the respective Small Area Plan for specific guidance n
each of these Activity Centers.
Chapter 3: Multimodat
Transportation
City of Fairfax 2035
Comprehensive Plan
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Notr In June 2020, Small Area Plans were adopted for the Old Town Fairfor and Northfax Activity Centers. Refer to the
respective 5mall Area Plan for specific guidance in each of these Activity Centers.
City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan
Chapter 3: Multimodal Transportation