All persons wishing to present their views on scheduled public hearings may call the Planning Commission Office at 703-324-2865, or register online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/speaker no later than 1:00 p.m. the day of the meeting, to be placed on the Speakers List. There are multiple ways that members of the public can provide testimony on public hearings. While in-person testimony may be allowed at certain meetings (please check the agenda for the Planning Commission meeting that you may be interested in to see how the meeting will be held here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/meetingcalendar).
Testimony may be provided in in person, by written statement, by telephone, or by pre-recorded YouTube video. Videos need to be submitted no later than 9:00 a.m. the day prior to the Planning Commission meeting. Written testimony and other submissions can be received at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 552, Fairfax, 22035 and/or Plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov.
As required by law, copies of the full text of proposed ordinances, plans and amendments, as applicable, as well as other documents relating to the aforementioned subjects, are on file and available for review at the Planning Commission Office and on the County’s website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov. To make arrangements to view the documents, please contact the Planning Commission Office at 703-324-2865.
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities and supports the Americans with Disabilities Act by making reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. All televised government meetings are closed captioned. For other accommodations, please call the Planning Commission Office, 703-324-2865, TTY: 711 (Virginia Relay Center), as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the public hearing.
Written Testimony
Submit written testimony, including attachments, with a reference to the case number in the subject line if you have it, via email to Plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov. Testimony can also be mailed to the Planning Commission office within the Department of Clerk Services at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 552, Fairfax, VA 22035. To submit testimony for a case scheduled for public hearing before the Board of Supervisors, please utilize the options outlined at this link.
By Phone
You can also testify during the hearings by phone. Once you’ve signed up to provide testimony, no later than by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting, you’ll be added to the Speakers List and can indicate that you wish to testify by phone when the Planning Commission staff contacts you to confirm you are testifying.
If you have signed up by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting, you will have four (4) minutes to testify if speaking as an individual, if speaking the authorized representative of a recognized Homeowners or Neighborhood Association, Civic Association, Professional Association, Academic Institution, or Religious Institution you have seven (7) minutes. You can also call in to speak using the phone number provided during the live broadcast of the Public Hearing, however, you will have three (3) minutes to testify and will be queued up after all registered speakers have spoken.
If you are providing testimony by phone you will receive a call, originating from 703-324-1000 , just before your turn. For the best connection into the meeting use a land line or, if using a cell phone, do not use the speaker function while testifying.
Video
Members of the public can submit recorded video testimony via YouTube for any public hearing. Once you’ve signed up to provide testimony you can indicate you wish to do so by video when the Planning Commission staff contacts you to confirm you are testifying. Comments must be limited to issues relevant to the application. If speaking as an individual you have five minutes, if speaking on behalf of a civic or homeowners association you have ten minutes. Videos links must be submitted to Plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov and will be shown in the order you appear on the speakers list. Links must be submitted by 9:00 a.m. on the date prior to the public hearing. Your video must be uploaded to - and playable from - YouTube without advertisements. Videos that meet these criteria will be played during the public hearing.
In-Person
While individuals may appear and be heard at meeting held in-person meeting (please check the status of the meeting in question that you may be interested in testifying at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/meetingcalendar), individuals who wish to testify are encouraged to sign up in advance of the meeting to be added to the Speakers List.
Individuals wishing to provide testimony in person must sign up by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing to be added to the Speakers List. If signed up in advance and speaking as an individual you have four (4) minutes, if speaking the authorized representative of a recognized Homeowners or Neighborhood Association, Civic Association, Professional Association, Academic Institution, or Religious Institution you have seven (7) minutes. Individual who have not signed up in advance will have three (3) minutes to testify, regardless of whom they may be representing.
When presenting in-person at a meeting held in the Fairfax County Government Center Board Auditorium, you may use one of these 3 presentation methods:
LAPTOP VIA CLICKSHARE
The Board Auditorium is equipped with a ClickShare screensharing device. ClickShare buttons work with almost all laptops, but you should also bring a copy of your presentation on a USB memory stick as a backup.
- When you arrive, ask a camera operator for a ClickShare “button” and directions.
- This “button” plugs into your laptop via the USB port and runs a small program from the USB.
- You are ready to share your presentation, which may include:
PowerPoint or similar presentation software, which can contain video and audio
Pictures
Videos (can contain audio)
- Press the ClickShare button to send your materials to the TV booth.
- When the button is red, the TV booth can see your desktop.
- After you introduce yourself and start speaking, the TV booth will show your visuals.
- You, or someone you bring with you, will need to advance your slides or photos.
- When you are finished presenting, push the ClickShare button to turn it white, unplug the USB and return it to the Camera operator seated in the auditorium.
PHONE / TABLET VIA HDMI
The TV booth in the Board Auditorium has HDMI adapters for certain common phones and tablets.
- When you arrive, ask a camera operator for assistance with connecting and testing your device.
- After you introduce yourself and start speaking, the TV booth will show your visuals.
PHYSICAL ITEMS VIA DOCUMENT CAMERA
A document camera is available to present physical items, such as printed photos or paper maps.
- Provide advanced notice of at least 24 hours to the Dept. of Clerk Services; a document camera can be supplied for special presenting needs.
- The document camera has zoom and focus controls for optimal framing of objects, photos, and similar items.
When meetings are held electronically (virtually), no in-person testimony will be heard, but there are several alternative ways that you can testify on any of the Public Hearing items scheduled, see above for more information.