Office Building Repurposing, Phase II
Adopted On:
May 1, 2018
Countywide Policy Plan Amendment
On December 5, 2017, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized Plan Amendment (PA) 2017-CW-5CP, Office Building Repurposing, Phase II, to facilitate the repurposing of vacant, partially vacant, or underutilized office buildings for alternative uses such as residential or institutional uses in Suburban Neighborhood Areas and Low Density Residential Areas. As of early-2018, the inventory of vacant office space exceeds 600,000 square feet in these areas. The repurposing of existing buildings is frequently more sustainable than the demolition and replacement of structures and can shorten the time of the building to market. Repurposing vacant structures to accommodate new uses supports Goals 2.8 and 3.1 of county’s Economic Success Plan.
Appendix 13 of the Land Use element of the Policy Plan currently provides guidance on the repurposing of office buildings in activity centers such as Community Business Centers and Transit Station Areas, per the adoption of Plan amendment 2016-CW-4CP on December 5, 2017. As a follow-on to that amendment, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to consider expanding the guidance on office building repurposing to office buildings that are located outside of activity centers.