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TextCommittees - Planning Commission
At the present time, the Planning Commission has two standing committees and seven special committees. Unless otherwise announced, Planning Commission Committee meetings are held in the Board Conference Room (located behind the Auditorium) in the Government Center. The dates and times of specific committee meetings are noted below and placed in the Weekly Agenda.
Committee members are annually appointed by the Planning Commission Chairman. Each committee elects its own Chairman at its first meeting of the calendar year.
(* Denotes 2009 Committee Chair)
For more information about a specific Planning Commission Committee, click on the links below.
Standing Committees |
Special Committees |
| Personnel & Budget | Capital Improvement Program |
| Policy & Procedures | Environment |
| Parks | |
| Housing | |
| Land Use Process Review | |
| Schools | |
| Transportation | |
| Fort Belvoir | |
| Tysons Corner |
View All Committee Minutes 2004 to Present
Personnel & Budget Committee
Next Meeting: None scheduled at this time
One of two standing committees of the Planning Commission, the Personnel and Budget Committee meets on an as-needed basis to review the budget of the Planning Commission Office. In addition, the Committee reviews the status, performance and workload of the Commission staff and forwards recommendations on personnel and budget matters to the Planning Commission for action.
2009 Committee Members:
- Frank de la Fe
- Janet Hall
- Suzanne Harsel
- Peter Murphy
Policy & Procedures Committee
Next scheduled meeting: None scheduled at this time
In January of 1985, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to consolidate its Policy Review Committee and Procedures Committee into one committee. Since that time, the Policy and Procedures Committee has conducted studies and forwarded recommendations to the Planning Commission on a number of issues, including:
- Policies and procedures for management of hazardous wastes and toxic materials (1985);
- Implementation of a "feature-shown" determination process for public facilities (1985);
- Procedures for the Comprehensive Plan Review cycle (1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
- Created an instruction manual for Comprehensive Plan amendments (1986, 1994, 1996);
- Developed screening criteria for out-of-turn Plan amendments (1986);
- Refined procedures for the Policy Review year of the revised APR cycle (1986, 1987; 1988)
- Developed"A Citizen's Guide to the Plan Review Process" (1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)
- Revisions to Article 19-100 (Boards, Commissions and Committees) of the Zoning Ordinance (1987, 1988);
- Revisions to the Planning Commission Bylaws and Procedures (1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000)
- Procedures for timing, availability & distribution of staff reports (1989)
- Procedures requiring applicants to reaffirm affidavits (1989, 2002)
- Policies for late submission of revised proffer statements (1989, 1990)
- Approval of procedures for Phase I of the Fairfax Planning Horizons (1990)
- Public hearing and markup procedures for Phase II of Fairfax Planning Horizons (1991)
The Policy and Procedures Committee forwarded recommendations to the Planning Commission on the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Work Plan for Zoning Ordinance Amendments and revisions to the Comprehensive Plan Review process for Area Plans and Public Facilities.
2009 Committee Members:
- Janet Hall
- Walter Alcorn
- Ken Lawrence
- Suzanne Harsel
- James Hart
- (Alternates: Earl Flanagan, Tim Sargeant, John Litzenberger)
Capital Improvement Program
Next meeting: None scheduled at this time
The Capital Improvement Program Committee was first established as a special committee of the Planning Commission in January of 1991. Prepared annually and submitted to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, the Capital Improvement Program is a compilation of the proposed development, replacement, and/or modernization of public programs/projects proposed by County agencies over a five year period. Submitting agencies prioritize each project and provide the estimated cost and expected financing method. As noted in the introduction to the most recent Capital Improvement Program: "Programming capital facilities over time can promote better use of the County's limited financial resources and assist in the coordination of public and private development."
The following program elements are included in the Capital Improvement Program:
| Schools | Fairfax County Park Authority | Human Services |
| Libraries | Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority | Community Development |
| Public Safety | Facilities Management and Maintenance | Housing Development |
| Criminal Justice | Solid Waste Management | Sanitary Sewerage System |
| Water Supply | Neighborhood Improvement & Commercial Revitalization | Transportation |
Each year, the Capital Improvement Program Committee reviews hundreds of programs and then invites selected agencies to appear before the Planning Commission to describe and justify all or some of the project elements. Committee recommendations on the Capital Improvement Program are forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration.
2009 Committee Members:
- Rodney Lusk
- Frank de la Fe
- Peter Murphy
- Tim Sargeant
- (Alternate: John Litzenberger)
Environment Committee
Next meeting: January 6 at 7:30 pm (Public Workshop)
The three member Environment Committee was first established by the Planning Commission in 1991 to serve as a liaison between the Planning Commission and the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council.
During its first year, the Environment Committee monitored the Commission's work program on the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance amendments and later met with citizen and industry representatives to discuss problems associated with implementing the proposals. The recommendations of the Environment Committee were forwarded to the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors and the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Board.
In addition to its ongoing focus on water quality, other issues addressed by the Environment Committee in subsequent years have included stormwater and floodplain management, stream protection and restoration; and enforcement of the Soil & Water Conservation Ordinance. Subjects currently under review by the Environment Committee include tree preservation, sidewalks and trails, and proposed amendments to the environmental policy section of the Comprehensive Plan.
Stream Protection Tools Matrix (.pdf format)
This matrix presents a set of possible tools that would support stream protection. This document is in draft form, and should not be considered a final policy. The staff-prepared matrix was requested at the September 14, 2005 joint meeting between the Planning Commission Environment Committee and EQAC, and will continue to be the subject of discussion at future meetings of the Committee.
2009 Committee Members:
- Ken Lawrence
- Tim Sargeant
- James Hart
- Earl Flanagan
- Jay Donahue
- (Alternates: Frank de la Fe, Walter Alcorn)
Redevelopment & Housing (RHA) Committee
Next meeting: None scheduled at this time
Established in January of 1989 to serve as a liaison between the Planning Commission and the Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Redevelopment and Housing Committee consists of Planning Commission and Housing Authority members.
The Redevelopment and Housing Committee forwarded recommendations to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors concerning criteria for the assignment of appropriate residential development density and the cash contribution formula for proffers. This special committee routinely monitors applicable sections of the Comprehensive Plan to ensure continued use of the Housing Trust Fund, conservation of existing neighborhoods, rehabilitation of older neighborhoods, and provision of affordable housing in economically balanced communities.
2009 Committee Members:
- Rodney Lusk
- Frank de la Fe
- Suzanne Harsel
- John Litzenberger
- Walter Alcorn
- (Alternate: Tim Sargeant)
Parks Committee
Next meeting: None scheduled at this time
The Parks Committee was first established in 1996 as a special joint committee consisting of members from the Planning Commission and from the Fairfax County Park Authority. The Committee reviews and makes recommendations on park standards, the park classification system and Countywide park policies as delineated in the Comprehensive Plan. Other issues on the agenda have been park land acquisition shortages; park planning strategies; open space vs conservation dedication; and the inventory of park and recreational facilities.
2009 Committee Members:
- Frank de la Fe
- James Hart
- Rodney Lusk
- (Alternates: Suzanne Harsel, Earl Flanagan)
Land Use Process Review Committee
Next Meeting: None scheduled at this time
Established in November 2007, the Land Use Process Review Committee was formed to review Fairfax County's current land use process timeline and address possible implications and needed changes with staff and representatives from the development and business communities.
2009 Committee Members:
- Pete Murphy
- Frank de la Fe
- Ken Lawrence
- Earl Flanagan
- Tim Sargeant
- (Alternates: James Hart, John Litzenberger)
Schools Committee
Next Meeting: None scheduled at this time
The School Facilities Committee was established in November, 2000 to serve as a liaison between the Planning Commission and the Fairfax County School Board on mutual issues of interest.
Holding its first meeting in March 2001, this committee discussed such issues as: major housing projects already approved or in the pipeline; impacts of the current evaluation process on community schools; school needs for construction and their impacts on the Capital Improvement Program; the possible use of cash proffers or a formula for designating funding for schools during the revision of the residential development criteria in 2002; and other such pertinent issues.
2009 Committee Members:
- Suzanne Harsel
- Walter Alcorn
- Tim Sargeant
- Earl Flanagan
- John Litzenberger
- (Alternate: Frank de la Fe)
Transportation Committee
Next Meeting: December 2 at 7:30 pm (Wiehle Ave. Project)
The Transportation Committee was established on January 31, 1990 to serve as a liaison between the Planning Commission and the newly created Transportation Advisory Commission. In the intervening years, the Committee has proposed that the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors adopt corridor study criteria and procedures to implement the transportation recommendations contained in the Comprehensive Plan. The Committee also reviewed the transportation elements of the studies submitted by the Tysons Corner Task Force and the Fort Belvoir Engineer Proving Ground Task Force.
Working with the Transportation Advisory Commission, the Transportation Committee reviewed proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance designed to help reduce traffic congestion, increase the use of public transit, and satisfy requirements of the Clean Air Act. The Committee continues to receive reports from the Transportation Advisory Commission on transportation issues related to the Comprehensive Plan as well as the Capital Improvement Program.
2009 Committee Members:
- Frank de la Fe
- James Hart
- Jay Donahue
- Ken Lawrence
- Earl Flanagan
- Tim Sargeant
Fort Belvoir Committee (BRAC)
Next Meeting: None scheduled at this time
Effective February 1, 2007, a new Fort Belvoir Committee was created upon a recommendation by Commission Chairman Peter F. Murphy, to coordinate discussions about how the pending Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) proposal will affect the Fort Belvoir and South County area and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors as to how Fairfax County should approach the process.
2009 Committee Members:
- Earl Flanagan
- Peter Murphy
- Tim Sargeant
- Rodney Lusk
Tysons Corner Committee
Next Meeting: December 3 at 7 pm (Conference Rooms 4/5)
December 10 at 7 pm (Board Conference Room)
Effective October 16, 2008, this committee was established on a recommendation by Commission Chairman Peter F. Murphy, to discuss land use procedures in the Tysons Corner area. The election of the committee Chairman and discussions on proposed meeting schedules and review processes will take place during the inaugural meeting.
2009 Committee Members:
- Walter Alcorn
- Frank de la Fe
- Jay Donahue
- Ken Lawrence
- Rodney Lusk
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