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Fauquier supervisors review 10-year master facilities plan that centers on a new judicial center
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Summary
Consultants presented a phase-3 master facilities plan calling for a new judicial center (net ~61,500 sq ft, gross ~89,200 sq ft) to address security, circulation and current facility deficiencies; staff proposed starting design this spring with construction through FY2031 and public hearings during the budget/CIP process.
Consultants and county staff presented a 10-year master facilities plan that centers on a proposed new judicial center sited between the adult detention center and the sheriff’s administrative building. The plan, developed through a three-phase study, estimates the county needs roughly 61,500 net square feet (about 89,200 gross) to bring court and public-service spaces up to Commonwealth standards and operational needs.
The presentation, led by the project consultant, framed the increase in square footage as a response to security and circulation requirements rather than population growth alone. “The goal was a 10 year master plan,” the consultant said while reviewing space-program findings and site options. The study identified six initial layout options and focused further work on a partial plan for the parcel between the detention center and sheriff’s office to reduce demolitions and maintain functional adjacencies.
Why it matters: county judges, sheriff’s staff and court operations face secure-circulation and facility constraints in existing buildings, the consultant said. The plan calls for two circuit courtrooms, a larger “ceremonial/special” courtroom for complex or high-profile matters, shared holding and secure detainee circulation, and separated public and staff circulation — features driven by Commonwealth court-design guidelines used for the space program.
Board members pressed several substantive points. One supervisor questioned whether Fauquier County’s modest population growth justifies the large increase in space, saying, “We don't want a courtroom that build a church for Easter Sunday, so to speak.” The consultant and county staff countered that the growth in square footage is mainly to meet standards for courtroom size, secure movement, and modern workstations, not to accommodate dramatic population growth. Prashant Shrestha, assistant superintendent of business and planning for the school division, spoke to broader capital-prioritization practices but noted those are separate from the court facilities discussion.
Timing and costs: the consultant proposed a schedule that could begin design as early as April, an 18-month design period through September 2027, about four months for bidding and award, and a roughly 30-month construction window that would carry the project into fiscal 2031. Staff said approximately $2.5 million is already set aside for design; additional financing scenarios, including creative packages to minimize taxpayer impact, will be presented in early March.
Next steps and public involvement: staff said the next direct public opportunities to comment would occur during the county’s budget and CIP hearings when figures for design and construction will be incorporated into the county administrator’s proposed budget. The consultant recommended using photographs and graphics that show current facility constraints and security risks to explain the need to constituents.
The board accepted the presentation, and staff said they will incorporate the study into budget planning and bring financing options back to the board for review and a public hearing schedule.
