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Property owners often take for granted that the open spaces
and trees surrounding their homes will always be there. What
many of us don’t realize is that if the trees are on private
land, then the owner of that land—armed with approved plans
and permits in accordance with County ordinances—is within
his or her rights to cut down the trees and put structures in
their place.
As land values skyrocket in Fairfax County, the cost of engineering
even the most difficult of areas becomes worth the price when
compared with the eventual profit reaped from building on those
areas. Land that sat vacant for years has suddenly become
hot property.
Like it or not, we have to expect that eventually, whether
it’s tomorrow or 20 years from now, every vacant lot will
be developed as allowed in the County’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan is an evolving document
used by the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, County
staff, and the public to guide decisions about the built and
natural environment, as well as the conservation of cultural
and heritage resources.
The Plan recommends how land should be used, but not when
development will occur. Consequently, as years pass and land
goes untouched, we get lulled into thinking that the current
land use won’t change. But someday it will.
Land in Fairfax County is zoned according to its use. The Zoning
Ordinance is part of the County Code and regulates the type,
scale, and intensity of development that may occur in the specific
zoning districts. For instance, land that may be developed with
some type of housing is zoned residential. Land that may be
developed as offices, banks, stores, and shopping malls is zoned
commercial.
To fully understand how a parcel of land can be used, you first
need to know how the land is planned in the Comprehensive Plan.
Only then should you look at how the land is zoned.
Changing the zoning for a parcel requires a rezoning application.
Such applications are subject to approval or denial by the Board
of Supervisors and are evaluated based on conformance with the
Comprehensive Plan. For example, if the landowner has a parcel
zoned for one house per acre but the Comprehensive Plan recommends
between three and four houses per acre, it is likely that the
application to rezone the property within that density range
will be approved.
Changing the Comprehensive Plan for a parcel of land is a different
process, requiring extensive study and recommendations by County
staff and the Planning Commission. Only the Board of Supervisors
can approve Plan amendments.
To learn what is planned for a particular property or area
in the County, contact the County’s Planner-of-the-Day
at 324-1380. Or visit the 7th floor of the Herrity Building,
12055 Government Center Parkway, in Fairfax, between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. No appointment is needed.
The Comprehensive Plan is available for reference purposes
at County libraries and the office of each member of the Board
of Supervisors. You may purchase a copy at the County Government
Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 156, in Fairfax.
The phone number is 324-2974.
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