Fairfax staff plan to weave ‘equitable development’ throughout policy plan; displacement emerges as top community concern

Michelle Sawhit, equity program manager in the Department of Planning and Development, told the committee staff are integrating the county’s 1 Fairfax policy and regional equitable-development principles into the comprehensive plan update.

Toni Zalikofer, chief equity officer, said the Board’s direction to incorporate 1 Fairfax guided the work and recalled the 2020 Chairman’s Task Force on Race and Equity, which identified five equity drivers. “They also considered that voices must be lifted to better understand and address these issues,” Zalikofer said, describing the task force emphasis on structural drivers of inequity.

Staff said community outreach since spring 2024 has repeatedly raised mitigating displacement as the most discussed concern—residents and business owners told staff they fear losing housing, small businesses, and cultural connections during redevelopment. “Far and away mitigating displacement has been the most discussed topic when we’re out talking to the community about equity,” Sawhit said.

Draft recommendations presented to the committee include an overarching equitable-development goal in the plan’s introduction, stronger commitments to inclusive community engagement, and integration of equitable-development objectives across all plan elements (land use, transportation, environment, etc.) rather than a separate equity element. Staff said they will use language already in the county strategic plan where applicable and avoid redundant text.

Staff offered examples of possible policies that would appear in different elements—for example, evaluating transit service to food-access points and considering new bus stops near community gardens, farmers’ markets, or grocery stores. Staff said they intend to include language addressing displacement within the land use element that builds on the county’s strategic-plan language.

Supervisors supported the overall approach but pressed staff on specifics: several asked for stronger, measurable definitions (for example, what “equitable” and “opportunity” mean in practice), for a vision of future “complete” communities, and for inclusive engagement strategies that identify and empower local leaders and civic associations. Multiple supervisors noted existing county work on housing and transit but said clearer, actionable policies and implementation steps are needed.

Staff said they will continue drafting and welcomed Board guidance on where more or less policy detail is needed. They also signaled that additional area-plan work will require separate Board authorization. No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff will publish a community feedback report later this month and continue outreach as draft plan text is circulated.