Department of Planning and Development

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-1380 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Tracy Strunk
Director

Department Resources

Projects and Initiatives

tysons skyline

The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development conducts many high-profile projects and studies, as well as proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance. Additional information for each highlighted initiative is available by selecting the links below:

Exceptional Design Awards

Sponsored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and administered by the Department of Planning and Development and the Architectural Review Board, the James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards program recognizes achievement in the total design of building and site; and creates an awareness of outstanding planning and design projects among design professions and the general public.

Lorton Core Study

The County is undertaking the Lorton Visioning 2040 study to bolster the sense of place within the Lorton community over the next 20 years. The study will identify and analyze existing and future assets and resources within the Lorton area, and evaluate and recommend revisions to the Comprehensive Plan for land use, placemaking, parks and recreational areas, environmental corridors, historic resources, public facilities, multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and other supporting infrastructure that reflects the community’s future vision. 

Landscaping and Screening

The amendment will provide for a comprehensive review of the landscaping and screening provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, including parking lot landscaping, transitional screening, and barrier requirements.

Midcentury Modern Survey

Midcentury Modern architecture across Fairfax County will be documented by a historic resource survey in the spring and summer of 2023. The survey will capture approximately 152 individual properties, neighborhoods, and commercial developments constructed between 1950 and 1985. The project will also result in a survey report providing a historic context and recommendations for future preservation planning projects.

Guidelines for Data Centers

Recognizing that data centers are an evolving industry that merits continued attention, on May 9, 2023, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to research data centers and related environmental issues and mitigations. The findings and recommendations for locational guidelines and how data centers should be approved is due by the end of the 2023 year.

Parking Reimagined Project

This project, known as Parking Reimagined, aims to evaluate existing parking rates and determine if adjustment of parking rates to meet current demand is appropriate, while also examining County administration of parking regulations. Parking Reimagined will include an in-depth evaluation of off-street parking and loading rates and regulations. The goal of this effort is to modernize parking and loading requirements, creating greater flexibility in the provision of parking for current and future land uses. The initiative will involve an extensive analysis of parking and loading supply and demand factors, as well as local, regional, and, to some extent, national parking and loading trends. 

Reston Data Visualization

Reston is an evolving community of great variety and opportunities. The Reston Data Dashboard tracks changes to land development in a creative and transparent manner. The site uses an interactive interface and map applications to demystify the data associated with development and infrastructure improvements, and information about transportation data, park implementation, and zoning activity in the Reston area.

Sign Regulations Part II

Following the Part I Zoning Ordinance Amendment to rewrite the sign regulations to be content-neutral, Part II will focus on a broader review of sign policies in Fairfax County. Initially, staff will conduct outreach and education, highlighting the existing regulations and soliciting feedback on what changes should be considered as a part of the Part II Amendment. Following this period of outreach, staff will begin consideration of the amendment.

Related Resources

Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments

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