[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6654667,"mediaKeyId","5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944","parentId",5453656,"title","Council approves $2.5 million contract for Old Town Hall Phase 2 rehabilitation","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",640000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944&start=640&end=640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944/thumbnail_640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6654667/Fairfax-City/Fairfax-County/Virginia/Council-approves-25-million-contract-for-Old-Town-Hall-Phase-2-rehabilitation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654667-53fb05072431c1a3005fe504c8b08626/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824187&Signature=TUZcNT3gy~gu6kCE~NOU8iWdATUacNQTwhqzUi6Wc8NmXPcm47SRqgNYt72BEr4Q98DE3j0pc~u7eMoiVNbnt6xujIqtiaqd~bT0Y-zYOLxMM3RutgJ4nAD-SQPqewrcpUF8n4FDUj~zKEIYBA5QUwg0CAfpguinFwRSYcM6h2GcNFFgPoZGq9J4MsBh1BIJF0Ora~EJmkdlwT64MpOTOhfrtzLcntdzuL6mwqamoZ1mjd2AxPPCL3UIktvkz57o7nL9FjojcxHfmI9aA19L2Ur4YWcvK1si18e6d8TQdGsxa20NTPQXD9s9LQ9I5hcUgWaL3uIFDClsVIBmqL~s7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairfax City","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","Fairfax City Council on July 22 approved by consent a contract award of $2,498,800.80 to AP Construction LLC for the Old Town Hall Phase 2 Rehabilitation Project.

The award was part of the meeting’s consent agenda and was moved and seconded as a group of routine items. The consent motion, which included several meeting‑minute approvals and the contract award, passed by roll call at the start of the meeting.

Why it matters: The Phase 2 rehabilitation work is part of the city’s ongoing effort to maintain and restore historic municipal facilities in Old Town. The contract sets the construction vendor and budget estimate for the next phase of work.

Next steps: The awarded contractor will proceed with preconstruction coordination and scheduling in accordance with the contract documents and city procurement rules; staff will return with any amendments or schedule details as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairfax City - City Council Meeting - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","As part of the consent agenda, council approved a contract award of $2,498,800.80 to AP Construction LLC for the Old Town Hall Phase 2 Rehabilitation Project.","taxTitle","Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Virginia","taxId",59088,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654672,"Council agrees to community meeting on Pickett Road safety, then reverses pause and resumes Pickett Road Trail project",1176,8722000,9898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944&start=8722&end=9898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944/thumbnail_8722000.jpg","/articles/6654672/Fairfax-City/Fairfax-County/Virginia/Council-agrees-to-community-meeting-on-Pickett-Road-safety-then-reverses-pause-and-resumes-Pickett-Road-Trail-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654672-e6c309bf643c0711352e60065ee1c338/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824187&Signature=Kv6Ik7D0pasGBw4Wg1j6hGIFBETSU0zrN~lBFQmcw9KBqOYAIHl2~I79vuqG0J7pGW3sPOwrTVJk24gNEYXtbgqyhMkO9rpafOp-2bo4MP5Pej3TxPi11XxaKJ1Ob6YhpZkGGjVlvE6yJQH3XeMu-Zdm8Ja1aSVr3jQ4Xkrqk8E3MHYmn82gWq9~7slWWPalCLxW9wWQeC2cTlG1z~ywV~VOoz7j0A6U5YEhtTWVkkgj9wBKcHeDxBVt8nfCLWSnMYu-jhvkFUTZudJ1UuxqP~yxb275sqssPTy2qMfX6Iog8rIA1Qv6OJ36Y74356DiraRBPg0-RSJJHuNWnZRVYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairfax City Council on July 22 agreed to schedule a community meeting for neighborhoods near Pickett Road to discuss transportation and safety concerns, and later in the same session voted 4-3 to reverse a previous council decision that had paused the Pickett Road Trail project.

Council member Chap Peterson requested a community meeting for residents of Scout in the Circle and Fox Colony — roughly 1,200 residents living near the Pickett Road/Route 50 intersection — so neighbors could better understand safety plans and ask whether the trail project addresses their concerns. Peterson said the residents wanted to \"have a public meeting to talk about transportation safety in that area and how the Pickett Road project fits in with that, but also more broadly what their interests and needs are.\" The council voted unanimously to direct staff to organize the meeting.

Later in the meeting Council member Bates moved to reverse the council’s April 8 pause on the Pickett Road Trail project and allow work to continue; that motion passed 4-3. Council discussion before the vote reflected two distinct choices: some members preferred to proceed with the project while continuing community outreach, and others urged more public notice before changing the paused status.

Project context: Staff said the project is fully funded, roughly 16% into design and was funded through state and regional programs. During discussion staff cautioned that a lengthy pause can prompt inquiries from funding partners and create timing and cost uncertainty; council members who favored a pause cited public‑engagement and notification concerns. Council member Peterson and others said the community meeting was intended to focus on safety issues raised by residents, such as sidewalk and bus‑stop configurations at the west side of Pickett Road.

Why it matters: The Pickett Road Trail is a multimodal safety and pedestrian project for a busy corridor; reversal of the pause means the city will resume design and coordination with partners. The unanimous direction earlier in the evening for a community meeting indicates council expects staff to brief and consult neighborhood residents even as design work resumes.

Next steps: Staff will schedule and run the community meeting with residents from Scout in the Circle and Fox Colony (and other nearby stakeholders) and continue coordinating with the project’s funding partners on next steps now that council has reversed the pause.","After directing staff to hold a public information meeting for neighborhoods near Pickett Road, council voted 4-3 to reverse an April pause and resume the Pickett Road Trail project, which is fully funded and about 16% designed.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654677,"Council adopts zoning text amendments to Chapter 10, removing ADU age limits and easing permitting for several uses",800,8539000,9339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944&start=8539&end=9339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944/thumbnail_8539000.jpg","/articles/6654677/Fairfax-City/Fairfax-County/Virginia/Council-adopts-zoning-text-amendments-to-Chapter-10-removing-ADU-age-limits-and-easing-permitting-for-several-uses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654677-b0f0f1b1d74f28b9f1138c6b98a496af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824187&Signature=hjJH1Ozo1nPV4Hbm7uS2D-OmUkt0bqDAkRlZch7T67h~EdDYMPmQz~FgoAvCtvQOtQSyA7EbtJnEZ6MlFjbS-UDApaPWlkvnOBtY~KYr-6C-7wzYIt-4-fwzkLvO~ZfZugupHuDM8hc4oI0HkrhyqbmE33ksSIoF5o54wJzjg7dvRD7A5svI78JAXYLWWHerpGz8Otl~LGvlLRwieoB6lJ17AqdfdwfstLTlB181cwUgybztL9MOz1LM7SrcRcH1vQcIyrbg6bYXqOS3y50EYOh5QG6qJELsvWJ6g0r5xK87DlTDj2KSewBgNruNmSB7EQFZNNVjyQZQs6j25O8f5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairfax City Council unanimously adopted revisions to Chapter 10 of the city zoning code on Tuesday that remove an age‑and‑disability occupancy restriction for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), clarify definitions for animal care and donation drop‑off containers, and establish size thresholds that reduce the need for special‑use permits for some small indoor recreation and medical uses.

City planner Eric Foreman presented the package during Tuesday’s public hearing. The changes are primarily regulatory clarifications and targeted policy adjustments; Foreman told council the ADU change was aimed at removing an administrative hurdle for tenants and landlords. Specifically, the amendments delete a rule that required either the principal dwelling or the ADU to be occupied by a person age 55 or older or a person with a disability. \"We are proposing to strike that age and disability requirement,\" Foreman said during the presentation.

The ordinance also updates how occupancy is counted for ADUs (combining primary and ADU units into a single household for overcrowding calculations) and replaces an outdated reference to the term \"family\" with the code’s defined term \"household.\" In separate changes, staff proposed size thresholds so that only larger indoor recreation uses (30,000 square feet and up) and larger medical care facilities (10,000 square feet and up) remain special‑use permit items; smaller salons, day spas, small gyms, and urgent‑care‑scale medical offices would be allowed in most commercial zones without an SUP. Animal care uses were split into two categories: kennels (boarding dogs and similar uses) would remain a special use in commercial zones, while veterinary clinics and smaller pet‑care businesses would be permitted in most commercial and industrial zones subject to standards for noise, odor and outdoor area hours.

Why it matters: The changes remove several regulatory barriers for small businesses and residents — for example ADU occupancy rules and special‑use requirements that staff said have become an obstacle as business models changed — while keeping more intensive uses subject to discretionary review.

Other amendments include a simplified definition for restaurants, standardized terminology and a definition for donation drop‑off containers, corrected internal references in tree‑removal rules, and updating public‑notice timelines to match recent state law changes. The planning commission recommended approval; council approved the package unanimously on Tuesday.

Next steps: The ordinance is effective per council’s adoption and will be published in the City Code; staff will incorporate the changes into zoning review and permit guidance.","Council unanimously approved a package of zoning text amendments to Chapter 10 that change accessory‑dwelling occupancy rules, carve out size thresholds for certain special‑use categories, clarify animal‑care definitions, and make other administrative fixes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654680,"Council defers decision on Courthouse Plaza redevelopment to Oct. 28 after public hearing",452,6805000,7257000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944&start=6805&end=7257","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944/thumbnail_6805000.jpg","/articles/6654680/Fairfax-City/Fairfax-County/Virginia/Council-defers-decision-on-Courthouse-Plaza-redevelopment-to-Oct-28-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654680-3639c384884c6fb639c034b55c037cdb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824187&Signature=LzAqVRniYnmkO2EYaI7WANIapQWr9JKQRH8K00XOSmhuxrLd3CpIrFFqt2W2nQcGrQrUFzCOMKcA4LHLjj9Q~Y5FIwmoY3bFInZ1W2sKlw52kuHYAD5-XzXf2LAUnb65yMPCo6KZJHDNBbNRq6F3u610sHyUoHSCdr3UC18IywzkTGUPJ9zTSf18WMQsAtN04Nx~ST0uOwyzenF6eyzaK5WQbN6tVfZqMMoOw02WxIHJAHZ4yOOF-gVTID0gqGjaUaA3iZPBBU02A1BDoh9Xq-dN0cu2b0~pupGShpB8pWSR3S4ngJLEiJICW-NyUM-EnXSoXdGcvKO-m-2fbCtLgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairfax City Council on Tuesday deferred final action on a proposed redevelopment of the Courthouse Plaza shopping center at 10300 Willard Way until Oct. 28 after a lengthy public hearing and robust council scrutiny.

The applicant, Combined Courthouse LLC, proposed demolishing part of the existing grocery‑anchored center and constructing a six‑story, mixed‑use building with up to 315 residential units and between roughly 5,000 and 12,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail, plus structured parking. City planner Claire Schweiger summarized the application and highlighted nine requested special exceptions, including for height (up to 71 feet / six stories), density (36 dwelling units per acre), lot coverage and sidewalk width.

The applicant’s attorney, Colleen Gillis of Curata Partners, told the council the proposal would refresh an aging shopping center, add housing and help activate the retail core. “We are trying to be the catalyst to revitalize this portion of Old Town North,” she said during the applicant presentation. Planning staff recommended denial, saying the proposal did not meet multiple specifics of the Old Town Small Area Plan, while the Board of Architectural Review recommended approval.

Community feedback was mixed. Some residents and nearby property owners opposed the scale, height and traffic impacts, and said the project would change the character of the area. Others emphasized the region’s housing shortfall and said new residents would support downtown businesses and the grocery anchor.

Why council deferred: Council members said they wanted more time to reconcile the small area plan’s recommendations with the applicant’s design, and to allow additional coordination among the applicant, staff and nearby property owners. Several members emphasized the proposal touches a large neighborhood and encouraged continued outreach. The motion to defer final action to Oct. 28 passed 5-1.

Key application features noted at the hearing: The applicant’s plan showed a 6,700‑square‑foot pocket green space adjacent to Safeway, roughly 710 parking spaces across structured and surface lots, two new streets internal to the site and a proposed contribution of $367 per residential unit toward city recreational amenities. Staff flagged that the proposed green space and pedestrian network would not, as submitted, connect into the broader open‑space network the small area plan envisions, and that the new streets end in the existing parking area rather than integrating with a new grid.

Next steps: With the Oct. 28 deferral, council and staff will continue discussions with Combined Properties; the applicant may refine the plan, and council members indicated they expect additional outreach to nearby property owners and coordinated planning on circulation and pedestrian connectivity.","Combined Courthouse LLC sought special exceptions for a six‑story, 315‑unit mixed‑use redevelopment at Courthouse Plaza. Council heard hours of testimony and voted to defer final action to Oct. 28 to allow more staff and community engagement.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654686,"Council approves Davies property rezoning and special exceptions after extended public hearing",5891,793000,6684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944&start=793&end=6684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5453656-3c70555b0e5d4ae339aa6e5c5757b944/thumbnail_793000.jpg","/articles/6654686/Fairfax-City/Fairfax-County/Virginia/Council-approves-Davies-property-rezoning-and-special-exceptions-after-extended-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654686-5eeb3b588a13f1a97ce3e215ed5983c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824187&Signature=fKS9I3nAPwWwWZxs6R56~Y5c5auI~Os91QRJ87Z99jbIMAm8LcQV9U-i98EFtHZdkAzcdIBm2A9xxwgZr5xJ8azqUF1OYdSXRaEdQI45lo6WfWEjarjzDXWtkBVI52bq67oYfWH56lepV5jgC9~icTrK7JpBhoKRgnElQPRMUGMuZTLyhO~P7XARmlPJTkhfv1Wp~7SxUvHK85VvN6FvG7QiuSYjAlJ7QRQwi4FUcQh5hAIZfoEtLgpknSnBDyPpYJI3QFzg-IQNL7BadfHFBwNG8qfYEL8PYjRcUQKYNBL5xwp7RG6bxuEmV85EjgQWaYAgCb55kfxj-WOblOS8CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairfax City Council on Tuesday approved a rezoning, multiple special exceptions and a certificate of appropriateness for the Davies property redevelopment at 4131 Chambers/Cambridge Road, voting 4-3 on each action after a lengthy public hearing and debate.

The approved plan from The Hill, a Davies Family LLC, and developer Paradigm Companies will allow two buildings totaling up to 276 apartments, roughly 10,796 square feet of ground-floor retail and about 4,200 square feet of office space, as shown in the application materials. City planner Albert Frederick opened the public hearing with a staff presentation describing the site, the Old Town Small Area Plan recommendations, and the specific requests on zoning, setbacks, height and transitional-yard modifications. \"For the record, my name is Albert Frederick,\" he said during the staff overview.

Neighbors, condo associations and downtown business advocates spoke both in favor and against the project. Supporters said the project would add housing and customers for local businesses, while opponents cited concerns about height, density, traffic, parking overflow and impacts on the character of Old Town. Resident Mariana Fournier told council that in its present form the proposal \"seems to cram as much as it can into a very small space.\" Developer representatives responded that the design follows the small area plan guidance and that they had increased retail, added a greenway and proffered public benefits including 17 affordable units, EV charging and a school contribution.

Why it matters: The council’s votes allow a large mixed-use redevelopment in the Old Town transition overlay district that has been discussed for years. Supporters say it advances housing, walkability and the small area plan; opponents say the project’s scale and design are out of character for the immediate neighborhood.

What the council approved: The council approved rezoning the site from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban) while retaining the Old Town transition overlay district and approved the project's general development plan with proffers. Council also approved a set of special exceptions (ground-floor nonresidential reduction, density above 24 units/acre, height greater than the 48-foot transition limit, sidewalk and streetscape modifications, and transitional-yard reductions) and granted the certificate of appropriateness with conditions. Councilmember Bates moved the rezoning; Councilmember Hardy Chandler seconded. The rezoning, special exceptions and certificate of appropriateness each passed 4-3.

Project details and proffers: The approved plan shows two buildings (Building A fronting on Chambers/Cambridge and Building B fronting on University Drive) with 62-foot and 58–62-foot maximum heights in places (the applicant described them as 4–5 stories with stepbacks), 423 parking spaces (garage plus surface), 20–28 bicycle parking spaces per building, a 43-foot-wide greenway between buildings with a 15-foot pedestrian path, stormwater vaults, undergrounded utilities on Cambridge/Chain Bridge frontage, a transportation demand-management proffer (transportation coordinator, bike parking, transit information), 20 EV parking spaces in the garage, an art walk and a proffered public school contribution. The applicant also proffered right-of-way dedication and a contribution or construction of a bus shelter.

Council debate and votes: Council members split along differing views about the small area plan, design compatibility and neighborhood impacts. On the rezoning vote the roll call showed a 4-3 result in favor. The special exceptions and the certificate of appropriateness each passed 4-3 after discussion and an amendment asking the applicant to increase tree canopy coverage to approximately 11.87% (or contribute up to $10,000 to off-site plantings if onsite planting proved infeasible).

Next steps: Council’s approvals allow the applicant to proceed to final plan and permitting steps. Conditions in the certificate of appropriateness require final landscaping to reflect urban forester comments and that the proposed development secure all required zoning approvals and permits before construction.

Community reaction and context: The project drew large public interest during the hearing. Some residents asked that the council require additional streetscape or east–west connections through adjacent parcels; staff noted several such connections would require other property owners’ participation. The Board of Architectural Review had recommended approval and the Planning Commission recommended denial. The Old Town Small Area Plan (adopted June 2020) guided much of the staff analysis and was repeatedly referenced by both supporters and opponents.","After a public hearing with hours of testimony from neighbors and developers, Fairfax City Council voted 4-3 to rezone the Davies property at 4131 Chambers/Cambridge Road to commercial urban and approved special exceptions and a certificate of appropriateness for a two-building, 276-unit mixed-use project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves $2.5 million contract for Old Town Hall Phase 2 rehabilitation

Council agrees to community meeting on Pickett Road safety, then reverses pause and resumes Pickett Road Trail project

Council adopts zoning text amendments to Chapter 10, removing ADU age limits and easing permitting for several uses

Council defers decision on Courthouse Plaza redevelopment to Oct. 28 after public hearing

Council approves Davies property rezoning and special exceptions after extended public hearing