Fairfax policy plan rewrite sparks calls for delay on public hearing
Fairfax County’s plan to hold a public hearing on Oct. 15 for amendments to the Comprehensive Plan’s Policy Plan is facing pushback from Citizens for Great Falls (CFGF), which is asking the Planning Commission to postpone the review until early 2026 to allow more time for public input.
On Sept. 10, Fairfax County released a draft amendment to the Comprehensive Plan’s Policy Plan.
This document guides future decisions on land use, housing, transportation, the environment, economic development, and public facilities. The 300-plus-page draft, along with a staff report, also introduces new sections on equity and data centers. A public hearing on the draft is scheduled for Oct. 15 before the Planning Commission.
Just a week after the release, CFGF submitted a request to Planning Commissioner Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner asking that the hearing be delayed until the first quarter of 2026. CFGF President John Halacy stated that the short timeframe — approximately 34 days between publication and the first hearing — does not provide residents or community groups with an adequate opportunity to review the proposed changes or share meaningful feedback.
In an interview with the Fairfax County Times, CFGF board member Peter Falcone expanded on those concerns. He described the draft as a “massive rewrite” of the county’s core policy document and said it will shape decision-making across every part of Fairfax County.
“Every decision, every special zoning exception, every special permit is going to be affected by this policy plan,” Falcone said. He added that the roughly 34 days between the draft’s release and the first hearing “does not leave a lot of time” for community groups to study the changes or inform the public.
The group also emphasized that volunteer-led organizations like CFGF do not have paid staff or consultants and rely on community members to analyze and comment on policy proposals. Falcone added that much of the language in the draft is abstract and will require explanation by staff, leaving little chance for residents to fully absorb what is at stake before October.
Beyond the Policy Plan hearing, the Planning Commission has a full October calendar, with zoning amendment hearings set for Oct. 8, 16, and 22. CFGF said the crowded schedule further limits its ability to prepare comments on each proposal.
Data centers, a new section in the draft, were highlighted as a particularly pressing issue by members of CFGF. Falcone noted that their growth has stirred controversy across Northern Virginia, with effects on neighborhoods, energy use, and countywide planning decisions.
While CFGF’s work began in Great Falls, the group stressed that its concerns extend countywide.
“We continue as an organization to advocate for citizen engagement and public engagement in this policymaking process. It’s a very important part of it,” said Falcone. “The public needs to know about this and the significance of the changes that are going to be made. This will shape how the entire county operates; it’s not limited to Great Falls.”
As of late September, CFGF had not received a response from the Planning Commission to its postponement request. The group did hear back from Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, who acknowledged receipt of the request, but no decision has been made.
Falcone added that public awareness of the draft remains low. “In the week or 10 days since this was published, it doesn’t seem to be striking any notes in the public forum,” he said. “There is continuing interest in getting this action postponed so there will be more time.”