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Fairfax County staff outline zoning changes to implement eight state bills effective July 1
Summary
County zoning planners presented a package of zoning-ordinance amendments to implement eight Virginia laws effective July 1, touching manufactured homes, solar and battery-storage rules, wireless facilities, parking near transit, data-center disclosures and rules for nonconforming mobile-home lots; staff seeks Board authorization in August and public hearings by October.
Austin Gastro, principal planner with zoning administration for Fairfax County, opened a community briefing explaining why staff is proposing amendments to the county zoning ordinance.
"This zoning ordinance amendment is unique in the fact that this is in response to the General Assembly at the state level approving legislation that we then are required to update our zoning ordinance in response to," Gastro said. He told attendees staff provided a memo and draft amendment text to the Board of Supervisors on July 1, the day the bills became effective statewide.
The amendments respond to eight separate bills from the 2023 General Assembly, Gastro said, and the package addresses multiple topics including: requiring manufactured homes as a by-right use where site-built homes are permitted; new standards for solar power facilities of 1 megawatt or greater; allowance of battery energy storage systems as an accessory to approved solar facilities; updated rules for modifications and temporary support structures at wireless sites; parking limits within 0.5 mile of transit stations; requirements for high-energy-use facilities (defined as uses drawing 100 megawatts or more); and rules permitting new manufactured homes on open lots in nonconforming manufactured-home parks.
Staff intends to publish a staff report at authorization in August and is aiming for public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in October. Gastro said project materials — including draft ordinance text and an interactive map showing affected parking-designated areas — are posted on the project's web page and in the chat. He invited public questions during the meeting and by email after adjournment.
