Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development
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| Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development |
| Jurisdiction | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Headquarters | Fairfax County Government Center |
| Chief1 position | Director |
| Parent agency | Fairfax County Board of Supervisors |
Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development is the principal land use and planning office serving Fairfax County, Virginia, advising the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and coordinating with regional entities such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Virginia Department of Transportation, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and non‑profits including Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association. It develops and implements comprehensive plans that interact with neighboring jurisdictions like Alexandria, Virginia, Arlington County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia, and federal installations including the National Park Service, Fort Belvoir, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
History
Established as a professional planning office within Fairfax County, Virginia administration, the department evolved alongside suburbanization trends after World War II, engaging with regional planning efforts such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments initiatives and responses to transportation expansions like the Interstate 66 and Dulles Toll Road projects. It has intersected with statewide frameworks including the Virginia Code land use provisions, collaborated with academic partners such as George Mason University and University of Virginia, and adapted through major events and policy shifts including the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan updates, the rise of transit‑oriented development near Washington Metro stations, and housing policy debates connected to the Fair Housing Act and Affordable housing movements.
Organization and Leadership
The department reports to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and operates in coordination with county entities like the Fairfax County Planning Commission, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. Leadership has included directors appointed by the board and professional staff whose backgrounds often reference credentials from institutions such as American Institute of Certified Planners, National Planning Conference, Urban Land Institute, George Mason University School of Law, and partnerships with federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation. The organizational structure encompasses divisions interacting with state bodies like the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and regional transportation bodies such as the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Functions and Responsibilities
The department administers the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan process, zoning and land‑use review tied to the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance, and implementation of policies affecting transit corridors tied to Washington Metro and Virginia Railway Express. It advises on projects with fiscal implications for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, works with housing stakeholders such as the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity, and engages with utilities regulated by bodies like the Virginia State Corporation Commission and transportation projects under the Federal Highway Administration. The office processes rezoning requests, special exceptions, and proffers involving developers such as national firms operating in the National Capital Region and interfaces with legal frameworks including the Virginia Administrative Code.
Planning Programs and Initiatives
Programs have focused on transit‑oriented development around Tysons, Virginia, Reston, Virginia, and station areas on the Silver Line (Washington Metro), coordination with the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, and mixed‑use revitalization in areas like Mosaic District and Bailey's Crossroads. Initiatives include affordable housing strategies linked to federal programs under United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, environmental planning connected to the Chesapeake Bay Program, green infrastructure projects influenced by Environmental Protection Agency guidance, and economic development coordination with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and regional entities like the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
Regulatory and Review Processes
The department administers processes for comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings, special exceptions, and site plan reviews under authorities derived from the Virginia Code, with public hearings held before bodies such as the Fairfax County Planning Commission and final actions by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It coordinates environmental reviews considering statutes like the Clean Water Act and engages with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and National Environmental Policy Act reviews for federally funded projects. The review pipeline intersects with transportation approvals by the Virginia Department of Transportation and federal review when projects affect entities like the Federal Transit Administration.
Community Engagement and Outreach
Engagement strategies include public meetings, charrettes, and online platforms to solicit input from stakeholders including neighborhood associations, business improvement districts like the Tysons Partnership, civic groups such as the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, and academic partners like George Mason University. The department collaborates with advisory bodies including the Fairfax County Planning Commission, homeowners' associations, and non‑profits such as the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust to incorporate community priorities into planning outcomes and to respond to regional initiatives from entities like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Notable Projects and Impact
Signature projects and impacts include the transformation of Tysons, Virginia toward a high‑density, mixed‑use, transit‑oriented center aligned with the Silver Line (Washington Metro), the planning framework for Reston, Virginia's transit station areas, revitalization efforts in the Mosaic District, coordination of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, and participation in affordable housing and environmental resilience programs that engage federal partners such as United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and state partners such as the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. These projects have influenced regional growth patterns across the National Capital Region, shaped land use adjacent to federal properties like Fort Belvoir, and informed interjurisdictional planning with neighboring localities including Arlington County, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia.