The Board of Supervisors first adopted guidance for the Fairfax Center Area in the county's Comprehensive Plan in 1982, establishing a vision for the area. Since the plan's adoption, the area has evolved from greenfields into a community of neighborhoods, retail, and employment. In collaboration with community members and stakeholders, the Fairfax Center Area Study provides an opportunity to reassess where the Fairfax Center Area is now and how it will continue to evolve in the next 20-30 years. There are three phases to the study. Phases I & II evaluated the Comprehensive Plan for the area to verify that factual information was current and that recommendations remained consistent with current policy and practice.

Phase I

Completed in December 2014, examined the peripheral edges of the study area, designated as Low-Density Residential Areas and Suburban Neighborhoods on the Concept for Future Development.

Phase II

Completed in December 2016, evaluated the central portion of the study area, designated as the Suburban Center on the Concept for Future Development. Staff worked with an areawide working group to gather input and discuss proposed Plan changes. The study included editorial updates, an evaluation of land use recommendations for certain portions of the study area, and development of a Core Area Vision.

Phase III

Focuses on the Core Area of the Fairfax Center Area, is currently underway. Further information on Phase III can be found on the Project webpage.

Timelines & Milestones

Below are timelines highlighting important milestones in the first two phases of the study. The staff report and adopted text for Phases I and II are available on the Documents and Presentations page.