Planning staff reported to the Fairfax City Planning Commission that City Council on Oct. 28 voted 4–2 to deny Courthouse Plaza’s proposal to develop part of the site with 315 residential units and 12,000 square feet of retail.

Staff also briefed commissioners on an affordable‑housing strategic plan that is being finalized; the plan includes actions to encourage new affordable housing and to protect existing naturally occurring affordable housing. Staff will send the commission a link to the draft plan for review.

Staff reminded the commission of upcoming public meetings: City Council will hold a public hearing on the legislative program on Nov. 18 and a public meeting on the Solid Waste Management Plan will be held Nov. 20, 7–8 p.m., at the Katherine Johnson Middle School library. Staff also reported a vacancy on the facade and interiors improvement grant committee following Commissioner Coleman’s resignation and said the commission will have an appointment item on a future agenda.

Procedural actions taken by the commission at the meeting included adopting the agenda and approving prior meeting minutes. The agenda was adopted unanimously; the minutes vote was recorded as 3 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (transcript references conflicting meeting dates for the minutes; clerk to confirm the correct minutes record).

What’s next: staff will post the draft CIP and other materials online and send commissioners a link; the commission will meet Nov. 24 to identify highlight items to inform its Jan. 26 recommendation to City Council.

Votes at a glance: Planning Commission — Adopt agenda: passed (unanimous). Approve minutes: passed (3–0–1, with one abstention). City Council — Courthouse Plaza proposal: denied 4–2.