The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development (“DPD”) has released updates to the County’s Site-Specific Plan Amendment (“SSPA”) process. The SSPA process is Fairfax County’s established biennial process where anyone can nominate a property in Fairfax County to be considered for an amendment to the current Comprehensive Plan recommendations for use and density.  

The updates, which were endorsed by the Board of Supervisors at its October 1, 2024 meeting, include a schedule and revised evaluation process for nominations. The updated schedule is as follows: 

• January 2025: A one-month open nomination period commences and concludes. 

• February 2025: DPD staff conducts an initial review of the nominations, followed by Board of Supervisors’ action to accept nominations for the screening phase. 

• March through May 2025: The screening phase commences, comprised of:  

• Community outreach meetings to solicit feedback;  

• Planning Commission workshops to provide recommendation as to whether nominations should be added to the Comprehensive Plan Work Program; and 

• Board of Supervisors’ action item to adopt the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Work Program. 

• May 2025 until completed: An evaluation of the SSPAs on the adopted Work Program, including a prioritization of nominations by tiers. 

DPD staff will publish a nomination eligibility map in advance of the nomination period. Nominations will not be accepted for properties that are part of a current planning study or were part of an adopted Plan amendment within the last two years. Accepted nominations must include specific materials and an acknowledgement of various planning studies applicable to the property.  

Please contact Walsh Colucci’s land use and zoning practice attorneys for more information about the 2025 SSPA open nomination process to discuss a potential nomination, and identify ways to engage with DPD staff and Fairfax County officials.