The Fairfax City Planning Commission on Oct. 27 held a work session to begin its annual review of the city’s Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2027–2031, including schedule, decision points and how projects will be evaluated against the comprehensive plan.

Planning Department staff told commissioners the chief financial officer will present a draft CIP at the commission’s next meeting on Nov. 10 and that the draft will be posted for public review the following day. Staff said the commission typically conducts its review from November through January, must complete a public hearing by Jan. 26 to meet the timeline for a planned presentation to City Council on Feb. 3, and can hold additional special or joint meetings if commissioners need more time.

The presentation stressed the planning commission’s role is to evaluate capital projects through the lens of the city’s comprehensive plan and to identify whether projects require a separate public facilities review under the Code of Virginia when a project is not already described in the comprehensive plan. Staff said public facilities reviews, when required, would be scheduled to occur immediately before the CIP public hearing so the commission can confirm each project’s plan conformance before making its recommendation to council.

Commissioners were told the city intends to limit the CIP book this year to traditional capital projects—facilities and construction investments—while moving items such as vehicle replacements and routine repair and maintenance into the general operating budget. Staff said each CIP project page will include anticipated cost, funding source, a project description and an explicit link to the comprehensive plan or an implementing action.

Commissioners discussed the narrower CIP scope and cautioned that some nontraditional items historically placed in the CIP—such as technology for stormwater system monitoring or prioritized maintenance that can prevent larger failures—can have capital‑like consequences and may warrant commission attention. “There may be some things within this orange area that may be critical enough, with regard to the infrastructure the city depends on that it may be important to review,” Commissioner Rice said, urging commissioners to flag high‑risk maintenance needs even if they are not strictly new facilities.

Staff reviewed projects likely to appear in the five‑year cycle because of their prior inclusion or existing studies: renovations at two elementary schools, a new roof at Fairfax High School (projects funded in whole or part by a bond referendum approved by city voters), continued work on the Sherwood Community Center (recently approved by City Council for a special use permit but with funding not yet finalized), replacement of Fire Station 3 and redevelopment of the city property yard (now moving from feasibility studies toward construction cost estimates).

Staff also described the timeline and meeting dates that the commission should expect: Nov. 10 (CFO presentation and draft posting the following day), tentative special meeting dates including Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, continuing regular meetings through Jan. 12, and the close of the public hearing window on Jan. 26. Commissioners were reminded they can request staff or other boards to appear for briefings or hold joint sessions on particular projects that touch boards without formal representatives.

Chair Jim Feather and staff emphasized the compressed schedule and asked commissioners to preidentify questions and outreach needs so the commission can efficiently prepare a recommendation. “You probably won’t have a lot of time to absorb information and provide recommendations at that time,” staff said of the Nov. 10 presentation, urging commissioners to begin thinking now about priorities, external funding options and which advisory boards or departments to invite for follow up.

The commission concluded the work session and reconvened the regular meeting to continue other business.