Fairfax County Planning Commission

Vote deferred on redevelopment of AT&T office campus in Oakton

Published February 28, 2025 at 9:45AM

Rendering of a retail-lined main street in the proposed AT&T campus redevelopment in Oakton (courtesy EYA)

Unresolved issues ranging from traffic and pedestrian safety to parks, schools and overall density led the Fairfax County Planning Commission to defer action on Wednesday (Feb. 26) on a key step toward the redevelopment of the former AT&T site in Oakton.

The 33-acre parcel at the intersection of Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) and Jermantown Road is one of several contiguous plots of land expected to be redeveloped in coming years as part of the 110-acre Flint Hill Suburban Center planning district.

News

New fire station for Tysons wins support of planning commission

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 7, 2025 at 1:15PM

Rendering of planned Fire Station 29 in Tysons (via Fairfax County)

Plans to build a modern fire station to serve the Tysons area took a key step forward on Wednesday night (Feb. 5).

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a number of zoning changes for a 4.05-acre site in the 8300 block of Jones Branch Drive that will serve as the future home of firefighters and paramedics of Fire Station 29.

News

McLean Citizens Association questions need for Dunn Loring school before board vote

By James Jarvis

Published February 3, 2025 at 3:55PM

Dunn Loring Elementary School design (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) is calling for the Fairfax County School Board to delay the construction of a new Dunn Loring elementary school, arguing that the project is unnecessary given the ongoing decline in student enrollment at nearby schools.

The request comes ahead of a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow (Feb. 4), when officials are set to hold a public hearing and vote on whether to approve the project.

News

Hotel conversion into Fair Oaks family shelter approved despite resident objections

By James Jarvis

Published February 3, 2025 at 9:45AM

Sign advertises the Fairfax County Planning Commission's public hearing on a proposed family shelter at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Plans to convert a former extended-stay hotel into an emergency family shelter are moving forward after the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, despite pushback from nearby residents.

Commissioners voted 9-0 (with two members absent) to allow the shelter at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive across from Fair Oaks Mall. Formerly an Extended Stay America hotel, the site will be repurposed to provide emergency temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness and serve as a domestic violence shelter.

News

Planning commission, residents concerned by density of housing proposed for Lorton site

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 31, 2025 at 1:15PM

The concept plan for Laurel Highlands' proposed housing development on Ox Road (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County Planning Commission members will try again next month to find the appropriate level of residential development on a series of parcels on Ox Road (Route 123) in the Lorton area.

A developer — L&F Laurel Highlands LLC — has proposed building almost two dozen new single-family houses on eight acres of mostly vacant land at 9224, 9300 and 9304 Ox Road near the intersection with Hooes Road.

Countywide

More flexibility needed for food truck operating hours, Fairfax planning commission suggests

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 22, 2025 at 11:15AM

Himalayan Soul Foods was among the five food trucks at the 10th annual Taste of Vienna in 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission thinks the county might want to revisit its time limits on food trucks.

Commission members requested at their Jan. 15 meeting that the Board of Supervisors consider increasing the existing limit of four hours at a single location.

News

Planning commission backs new Dunn Loring Elementary School

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 16, 2025 at 2:30PM

Dunn Loring Elementary School front entrance rendering (via Fairfax County Public Schools)

Fairfax County Public Schools won the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support yesterday (Wednesday) for construction of a new Dunn Loring Elementary School.

The zoning recommendation, which now goes to the Board of Supervisors, will help support “decades of [student] growth to come,” Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock said.

News

Fairfax County board backs plan to convert vacant hotel into family shelter

By James Jarvis

Published January 16, 2025 at 9:45AM

The Extended Stay America hotel at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive is planned for conversion into an emergency shelter (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County’s plan to transform a shuttered hotel in the Fair Oaks area into an emergency family shelter has cleared a major hurdle, but the county’s planning commission will have the final say later this month.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 on Tuesday (Jan. 14) to allow the former Extended Stay America at 3997 Fair Ridge Drive to be repurposed as a public facility. Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity was the lone dissenting vote.

News

Proposed housing projects near Jermantown Road win planning commission support

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2025 at 11:15AM

A&A Flint Hill development proposal (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its blessing last Wednesday (Jan. 8) to two proposed projects that could replace aging commercial buildings with housing on adjacent Oakton parcels.

The proposals to redevelop Redwood Plaza (10600 Arrowhead Drive) and a portion of the Flint Hill Office Park (10530 Rosehaven Street) will now go to the Board of Supervisors. A similar request for a parcel immediately to the north is in the pipeline and will be considered later this year.

Countywide

Planning Commission defers vote on revised rules for special events, food trucks

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 10, 2025 at 1:15PM

Stands serve food at the 2024 Mosaic District Fall Festival (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Proposals to streamline the process of applying for community special event permits from the county government won the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s general support on Wednesday (Jan. 8).

However, with a number of details left unresolved, members deferred final action on whether to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the changes to next Wednesday, Jan. 15.