Those with disabilities would see more accessible parking spaces connected to new development under new rules vetted Wednesday (Oct. 30) by the Fairfax County Planning Commission.
The body voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a proposal to tweak accessible-parking ratios. Instead of the current minimum of one Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking space for every 25 spaces in a lot or garage, the ratio would be changed to one for every 15.
While it doesn’t address all concerns brought up at the meeting, the tweak represents “an important piece” of Fairfax’s efforts to address parking issues in an urbanizing community, At-Large Planning Commission member Candice Bennett said.
County officials are “continuing to move forward,” she said.
Set to be considered by supervisors on Dec. 3 with county staff anticipating a final vote in early 2025, the zoning code amendment has been in the works since summer as a follow-up to the general “Parking Reimagined” updates that were adopted in September 2023.
Last year’s overhaul reduced the amount of overall parking required for some new development in more urban areas of the county. However, because the ratio of accessible spaces to overall spaces was not altered, a change is needed to keep the number of accessible spaces from shrinking.
County officials conducted an online survey to discern public views on available options. To gauge real-world conditions, county staff fanned out to about 130 sites, including restaurants and shopping centers.
Staff found that less than 10% of cases were all accessible spaces occupied when they checked on specific sites.
“There was generally capacity available … for the most part,” said Michael Davis, parking program manager for the county government’s Land Development Services office.
But that was for properties developed based on the old parking requirements, which required more total spaces than often will be the case under Parking Reimagined.
The current 1:25 ratio is enshrined in the Uniform Statewide Building Code, but localities are allowed to set their own figures. If adopted, the revised ratio will only be for new construction, not retroactive to existing sites, although current property owners could provide more accessible spaces than the zoning ordinance requires.
“It’s a great step in the right direction,” Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said.
But there also was concern raised that the county government needs to address accessible parking availability at medical facilities and other locations where there might more demand for dedicated, close-in parking.
The ratio change under consideration “didn’t hit the bull’s-eye on some of the problems we are having,” according to former planning commissioner James Hart, the only member of the public to speak at the hearing.
He argued that outpatient medical facilities and drugstores, among other facilities, should be required to provide more spaces.
“There are some categories or sub-categories that have a much greater need,” Hart said.
Commissioners asked staff to consider adding evaluation of those concerns to their 2025 work plan for updates to the county zoning ordinance.
