Fairfax County to revise zoning rules on parking lots
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| The Parking Reimagined project will seek to “right-size” parking lots. [File photo] |
Fairfax County is launching an initiative to revise the zoning rules on off-street parking and loading.
The Parking Reimagined project will consider potential changes to Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance to meet current demand for parking. This section hasn’t been comprehensively reviewed since 1988.
Staff from the Department of Planning and Development and Land Development Services will explore existing parking rates, county administration of parking regulations, and the need for more flexibility. The project will study parking lots, garages, and loading docks at grocery stores, shopping centers, and office buildings.
Community engagement meetings on Parking Reimagined will be held in each county district.
A virtual town hall for Mason District residents will be held Nov. 18, 7-8:30 p.m. The Braddock District meeting is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Details on accessing the meetings will be posted online.
Fairfax County has hired consultants NelsonNygaard and Clarion Associates to work on the Parking Reimagined project.
Feedback from the community will inform the development of draft proposals. Draft zoning amendments will be submitted to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in late 2022.
According to a white paper on Parking Reimagined, changes to parking rules should include values reflected in the goals of the One Fairfax policy and the county’s Strategic Plan. These goals include equity, affordability, the environment, land-use site design, and economics.
When considering equity, the document states: “In older, underserved suburban communities [like much of Mason District], surface parking areas are often the front face of commercial and multifamily residential properties. Minimum parking requirements can limit the ability to improve buildings and provide additional reinvestment opportunities that would benefit the community.”
In terms of environmental impacts, it says, “Car parking creates hardscapes, which contribute to heat island effects, water runoff issues, and lost opportunity costs for green alternatives.”
One of the outcomes of Parking Reimagined is to balance on-site parking supply and demand to meet the day-to-day needs “without under-building or over-building parking areas.”
This sure sounds like a plan to reduce the number of parking spaces required for development, thus assisting all developers at the expense of residents. I am sure part of the reduction will be to "beautify" the property with more plants, trees, etc. (which will be nice) but the main objective is to build more buildings with less parking. Maybe I will be surprised. Ha.
That's what is sounds like to me too.
As long as the same people are in office or are in charge of decision making in Fairfax County we will get more of the same. More taxes, less services, reduced quality of life, more noise, more speeding and running red lights, etc. The quality of life for the tax payer continues to decline while Fairfax County government continues to not care one bit.
Higher amount of off street parking is needed in newly built dwellings. The designs allow for more residents and they will have parking needs. Design them in and allow for guests and second vehicles. If not garages or lots must be added.