Comprehensive Planning 101 An Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan and the Planning Process in Fairfax County

1. Comprehensive Planning 101
An Introduction to the Comprehensive Plan
and the Planning Process in Fairfax County

2. The Comprehensive Plan
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Statutory mandate: required by the Code of
Virginia to shape the orderly development of the
county
Role: A GUIDE for decision-making about the
County’s land use
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Promote public health, safety and welfare
Manage growth, change and renewal of community
Ensure a continued high quality of life for residents
Balance diverse community goals
Scope: Anticipate change over the next 20-30
years

3. The Comprehensive Plan
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GENERAL LAND USE
GUIDANCE
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Residential
Industrial
Mixed Use
Retail
Institutional
Public Open Space
Office
Parks

4. The Concept for Future Development
and Land Classification System
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General guidance for
land use
recommendations in the
Comprehensive Plan
Shows general location
and character of future
land uses
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Urban Center (Tysons)
Development Centers
Suburban Neighborhoods
Low Density Residential
Areas

5. Comprehensive Plan Framework
Policy Plan
Chesapeake Bay
Supplement
Area Plans
• Planning Districts
• Community
Planning Sectors
Maps
• Comprehensive
Land Use Plan
• Transportation Plan
• Trails Plan

6. Planning is different from Zoning
The Plan gives general guidance about
the long-term vision of an area.
Excerpt of Plan Map
The Zoning Ordinance is a tool to
implement the Comprehensive Plan.
Excerpt of Zoning Map

7. Measuring Land Use
Residential Density = dwelling units per acre (du/ac)
3-4 du/ac (single family detached)
16-20 du/ac (garden apartments)
5-8 du/ac (townhouses)
30-40 du/ac (mid-rise apartments)

8. Measuring Land Use
Non-residential Intensity = Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The floor area of the building
is divided by the land area to
calculate the FAR.
FLOOR AREA (sq. ft.)
LAND AREA (sq. ft.)
EXAMPLE:
100,000 SF lot
50,000 sq. ft. of building
= .50 FAR
100,000 sq. ft. of land
12,500 SF
per floor x 4

9. Fairfax Forward
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Adopted by the
Board of
Supervisors on
July 9, 2013
Utilizes a pilot
Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Work
Program to list
planning studies
beginning in 20132016

10. Additional Information
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Visit the DPZ and Fairfax Forward webpages:
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Sign up for Comprehensive Plan Announcements:
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https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxlanduse
Call our office:
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http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/email/lists (look for “Comprehensive
Plan Announcements” under Land Use & Development
Like us on Facebook
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http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/fairfaxforward
(703) 324-1380
Visit us:
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The Department of Planning and Zoning, Planning Division
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 730, Fairfax, VA 22035