Reaffirming the county’s commitment to excellence in urban design, the Board of Supervisors endorsed updated design guidance for Commercial Revitalization Districts (CRDs) and Areas (CRAs) on Dec. 10. The Volume I: Urban Design Guidelines update provides enhanced design guidance for streets, streetscapes, parks, landscaping, parking, building exteriors and placemaking features.
The guidelines will be used for proposals, designs and reviews for development projects in the county’s CRDs and CRAs, which include Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners, Lake Anne, Lincolnia, McLean, Merrifield, Richmond Highway and Springfield. The update incorporates lessons from six years of implementation and reflects the evolving context of the county's built environment.
Highlights of the 2025 Update to Urban Design Guidelines
- Strengthened guidance on streetscapes and pedestrian infrastructure, aligning standards with the Active Fairfax Plan and federal Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines.
- Reorganization of the park design chapter around core principles and the addition of new content on trails, trees and biophilic design.
- Emphasis on equity, pedestrian-scale architecture, and improved design strategies for townhomes and auto-oriented uses.
- Inclusion of refreshed best practices, expanded design precedents, and improved readability and accessibility, including alignment with ADA standards and recently adopted county policies and plans.
- Advancement of One Fairfax Policy goals, by embedding equitable outcomes into the design of public spaces and the built environment.
Guidelines Help Shape Redevelopment Projects
As with the original 2018 version, the guidelines are not regulatory. They are intended to inform and guide the design of redevelopment projects, provide a consistent framework for project evaluation and serve as a public resource.
In addition, the county developed district-specific guidelines for Annandale, Richmond Highway, Baileys Crossroads and Seven Corners, and the McLean Community Business Center. These companion Volume II documents provide more tailored, place-specific design recommendations for each area's unique character and planning objectives.
The Volume I 2025 update reflects a comprehensive, interdisciplinary effort led by the Department of Planning and Development’s Community Revitalization Section, with contributions from multiple county agencies and partners. The process included extensive community and stakeholder outreach that represented all CRDs and CRAs. Staff gathered feedback through public workshops, committee briefings, surveys and targeted meetings, ensuring the guidelines reflect community priorities and are practical for use by both the public and private sectors.
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