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Board of Architectural Review approves city-sponsored mural for 10407 Main Street in Old Town Fairfax
Summary
The Board of Architectural Review unanimously approved a city-sponsored mural at 10407 Main Street (BAR25-0007). Staff said the mural, about 35 by 9.5 feet above tenant Sunbury, conforms to Old Town Fairfax design guidelines; the Public Art Committee and Commission on the Arts endorsed the design.
The Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review on May 7 approved a city-sponsored mural for 10407 Main Street, a second-floor wall above the Sunbury tenant in the Ellicott Building.
City planning staff told the board the property is zoned CR (Commercial Retail) in the Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District and described the mural as roughly 35 feet wide by 9.5 feet tall. Staff said the BAR’s role is to review placement and whether the mural would obscure architectural elements; content review and approval of the design had been conducted by the Public Art Committee and the Commission on the Arts. Staff recommended approval with the condition that the modification be in general conformance with the plans and renderings received in April 2025 and that the applicant secure all required zoning approvals and permits prior to construction.
Stephanie Gerson of Fairfax City Economic Development, representing the Economic Development Authority, said property owners and the Old Town Fairfax Business Association support the proposal and that the mural is intended to add color and visibility to downtown. "We believe adding a mural would entice people to possibly come to Old Town Fairfax to check it out," Gerson said.
Members of the public spoke in favor. Rick Dixon, an adjacent property owner at 10417 Main Street, said he was enthusiastic about introducing more color downtown and suggested painting the parapet to match the mural rather than leaving it white. Brian Howell, chair of the city’s Public Art Committee and a member of the Commission on the Arts, said the commission had "enthusiastically approved" the design.
A board member moved to approve the Economic Development request for the mural (case BAR25-0007) with conditions that the work generally conform to the submitted renderings and that required permits and zoning approvals be secured. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous vote. The board then closed the public hearing.
The approval allows the city to proceed with final permitting steps; staff and the applicant will coordinate any required zoning approvals and building permits before installation begins.
