Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Ordinance Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fairfax County staff outline quick-update zoning amendment to implement eight state laws
Summary
Fairfax County planners presented a draft zoning ordinance amendment to bring county regulations into compliance with eight Virginia laws effective July 1, covering manufactured homes, solar and battery storage, wireless facilities, parking near transit, data-center reporting and nonconforming manufactured-home parks. Staff outlined draft text, a July 1 memo to the Board and hearings planned for October.
Fairfax County planning staff on a recorded community call described a proposed zoning ordinance amendment designed to update local rules after eight bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly became state law July 1.
"These bills became effective July 1, so they became state law," said Austin Gastrell, principal planner with Zoning Administration, who led the presentation and said staff posted draft ordinance text and a July 1 memo to the Board of Supervisors. Gastrell said staff aims to seek authorization in late August and to proceed to Planning Commission and Board hearings in October, and that GovDelivery notices will announce hearing dates.
The package touches multiple, distinct topics: manufactured homes, two separate solar-related bills (one addressing large solar facilities and another addressing battery energy storage systems), wireless facility modifications and temporary support structures, designated parking-area rules near transit, higher standards for high-energy-use facilities (HOOPF) such as data centers, and nonconforming manufactured-home park rules. Staff emphasized these are state-mandated changes that will require only local ordinance language to mirror the Code of Virginia in specific provisions, and that draft text is intended to provide transparent interim guidance for applicants while the county completes the formal amendment process.
Staff answered questions about implementation, including whether applicants could rely on the new state law immediately; Gastrell said the county is required to follow state law now and staff provided draft text to clarify how applications will be handled until the ordinance amendment is adopted. The meeting recording and a PDF version of the presentation will be posted on the project webpage and staff contact information is available there for follow-up.
