Fairfax County outlines PRC zoning changes; Reston board presses for broader recreation exemptions

Fairfax County zoning staff outlined draft changes to the county's PRC (Planned Residential Community) provisions and answered questions from the Reston Association Board of Directors at the board's Jan. 8 work session.

County assistant director Bill Malan said the amendment aims to reconcile PRC plan exceptions with the county's existing minor modification (administrative) process so property owners can make smaller changes without returning to a full legislative PRC plan amendment. Malan and colleagues explained differences in how PRC plan exceptions and minor modifications are applied, and said the county is still drafting final language and fee schedules.

The county presentation repeatedly identified three change categories as the focus: building additions, nonstructural changes (parking, setbacks, transitional screening, accessory structures), and alterations to open space or community recreational structures. Malan said PRC plans currently allow certain administrative exceptions (for…