Falls Church launches Virginia Village small‑area plan updates and RFP preparatory work

The Falls Church City Council adopted TR 26‑11 on March 9, 2026, initiating amendments to the South Washington Street and downtown small area plans with the explicit goal of revisiting recommendations for redevelopment around Virginia Village and updating the comprehensive‑plan land‑use chapter.

Staff described a three‑part outreach program that will include visioning meetings (weekday and weekend) followed by draft amendments and additional meetings; staff also said they will prepare an RFP process focused on city‑owned parcels and recommended appointing a selection committee to vet any future procurement or developer selection.

Planner Trainor emphasized the distinction between the small‑area plan (the broader community vision for the whole Virginia Village area) and the RFP (a narrower tool focused on city‑owned parcels). Several councilmembers expressed concern that a rapid RFP timetable might appear to pre‑empt community input; staff said the processes would run in parallel and that the RFP would reserve flexibility to incorporate community input and addenda after initial issuance if required.

Council discussed selection‑committee composition and transparency for review of RFP responses; staff said prior practice (West Falls) established a chartered group with representation from the Planning Commission, an EDA member and a council appointee and that council could choose how to appoint and structure the body.

The motion to adopt TR 26‑11 passed unanimously (7–0). Staff will begin public outreach, schedule community visioning meetings and begin procurement planning for a commercial real‑estate advisory service to support RFP drafting and selection.