Changes are coming to Fairfax and Loudoun counties’ public hearing processes after state-level changes to notice requirements became effective on July 1, 2023.
The changes impact land use cases when the planning...more
On June 20, 2023, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 to allocate $90,000 and to direct staff to start the process to amend the comprehensive plan and maps to reflect direction from earlier this year related...more
After several years of planning and community outreach, Arlington County, Virginia, released the draft Langston Boulevard Area Plan on June 23, 2023....more
Fairfax County has proposed major changes to its sign approval process that will add another public hearing and impose new requirements for properties seeking additional signage....more
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to re-adopt the Zoning Ordinance Modernization effort dubbed zMOD, based on recommendations from the Planning Commission....more
As part of Fairfax County’s re-adoption of zMod, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a study of its data center regulations....more
Fairfax County, Virginia, has announced plans to re-adopt the z-Mod zoning ordinance at its May 9, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting.
The Virginia Supreme Court’s decision in Berry v. Board of Supervisors of Fairfax...more
On April 12, 2023, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced it has officially withdrawn a proposal for a variance to a state law regarding the use of diesel generators as backup power for data centers...more
On March 23, 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia invalidated the Fairfax County, Virginia, Zoning Ordinance commonly known as z-Mod.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted z-Mod in March 2021, but the state...more
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) modified its original proposed rules designed to handle potential stress of the electric grid during the spring and summer months. This proposed backup generator rule...more
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is considering issuing an order and local variance for data centers located in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. The DEQ is sponsoring and hosting an open...more
On Jan. 21, 2023, the Arlington County Board amended the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance to allow a set of new uses.
The ordinance amendment will expand the number of permitted uses in commercial/mixed-use zoning...more
At its business meeting on Sept. 20, 2022, the Loudoun County Board moved forward with staff directives to amend Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan language to change regulations and policies affecting data center...more
Arlington County, Virginia, recently launched the Future of Outdoor Dining (FOOD) Study to examine current outdoor dining regulations and develop guidelines for outdoor dining areas on private property and in public rights of...more
The site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) process starts Oct. 3, 2022. The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development has released a nominator guide, which includes a detailed description of the SSPA process, as well...more
Fairfax County’s land use systems — including zoning, site plan, permitting and inspections — will be offline from Oct. 21-31, 2022, for a major system update. This also could impact functionality in the weeks after the...more
Fairfax County, Virginia, released draft text for the Affordable Housing Preservation Policy Plan amendment to ensure no net loss of affordable housing during redevelopment. The policy amendment proposes incentives for the...more
On Aug. 18, 2022, Arlington County released the preliminary concept plan (PCP) for Plan Langston Boulevard. First launched in 2019, Plan Langston Boulevard is Arlington County’s effort to develop planning guidance for the...more
In response to a rapidly evolving post-COVID-19 commercial real estate market, Arlington County, Virginia, recently launched its “Commercial Resiliency Strategy.” The strategy follows up on the office-to-residential...more
Fairfax County, Virginia, planning staff recently released a report recommending changes to the current comprehensive plan Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process. The proposed changes are intended to make the overall...more
Fairfax County planners recently released a staff report that recommends changes to decades-old noise policies. Among other things, as proposed, new residential uses could be considered in the 60 and 65 day-night average...more
The commonwealth of Virginia plans to reset how data center equipment, fixtures and supporting supplies are taxed throughout the state. Given that Northern Virginia, also known as Data Center Alley, is home to the largest...more
The “Parking Reimagined” initiative will update the parking requirements of Fairfax County’s zoning ordinance. This will include an extensive analysis of required parking rates, supply and demand factors, and national parking...more
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan’s airport noise policy that would allow new residential uses between the 60 and 65 DNL airport noise contours, subject to noise...more
The Arlington County Board recently reviewed the county Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development’s (CPHD) planning and zoning priorities for 2022.
On the planning side, the priorities set by CPHD include...more