Department of Planning and Development

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTACT INFORMATION: Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday. Check the DPD Operating Status webpage for more information.

703-324-1380
TTY 711

12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035

Tracy Strunk,
Director

Projects and Initiatives

Photo Credit: Tysons Partnership/Rassi G. Borneo, TimeLine Media

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. Detailed information for each topic 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 Visioning 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. 

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 Comprehensive Plan Study

On Jan. 14, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved a Board Matter by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn to initiate a process for additional study and community input on the Comprehensive Plan for Reston. The plan review and community engagement process is expected to take approximately 12 to 18 months.

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.

SSPA Retrospective

An evaluation of the Site-Specific Plan Amendment process is taking place this fall and winter that will consider the current process and identify potential improvements. A survey was created to gather community and stakeholder feedback that the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will utilize as they review the current process and identify appropriate changes. The community survey is now closed, and summary results are available for review. Survey findings will be used along with a staff analysis to help inform discussions with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors on potential process changes.

Zoning Ordinance Modernization

On March 23, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new and modernized Zoning Ordinance as a part of the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) project. This new Ordinance, which replaces the previous 1978 Ordinance, is easier to read and understand and includes more tables, graphics, and hyperlinks. 

Fairfax Virtual Assistant