An Update on Adding Flexibility to Fairfax County's Public Facilities Manual (PFM)

1. An Update on Adding Flexibility to
Fairfax County’s Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
Setting a new standard
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 1

2. Goal Three of the Strategic Plan for the Economic Success of Fairfax County:
“Improve the Speed, Consistency and Predictability of the Land Development Review
Process.”
Gartner Study Finding:
“Complexities and inconsistencies with land use and development policies and
regulations hamper predictability and efficiency of service delivery.”
 Changing nature of development - more intense land development.
 More redevelopment/infill development vs. greenfield development.
 New technology.
 More environmental regulations.
In short, a more flexible PFM will allow staff to utilize good engineering judgment to
approve context sensitive solutions.
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WHY ARE WE UPDATING THE PFM?

3. Strategic Plan for the Economic Success of Fairfax County Goal 3
Vision Statement Vision Element Strategic Recommendation 5
Gartner’s Study Tactical Recommendation 5-4:
• “The Public Facilities Manual (PFM) should be a design guide that is
consistent and meets the language of the law while providing flexibility for
engineering judgment, particularly with regard to new technology and new
development situations.”
• In other words, flexibility will be applied in targeted situations such as
innovative and urban standards. Not all PFM provisions are flexible.
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WHY ADD “FLEXIBILITY”?

4. The term “flexibility” as it is intended for use in the PFM Flex
Project is defined as:
• The ability to target selective provisions; NOT broad or general.
• The ability to modify text to respond to altered circumstances or conditions;
allowing alternative designs that meet the intent.
• According to Gartner, “Flexibility” means, “adding the qualities of agility, ease of
use, and consistency to the PFM.”
• Ensuring relevance to respond to evolving and urbanizing development patterns.
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WHAT DOES “FLEXIBILITY” MEAN?

5. Steps to align PFM with Goal 3
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Existing State of PFM Future State of PFM
Future State PFM
Roadmap
Municipal Survey
Annotated PFM Chapters
External Stakeholders
Input/Perceptions on
PFM – 5/25/17
Workshop – 9/18/17
Engage External
Stakeholders – 10/26/17
Set Goals
Engage Steering
Committee – 10/20,
11/7, and 12/5/17
Comparison of Existing and
Future States
Create Roadmap – 01/05/17
Identification of Prioritized
Sectors
Phases of the Gap Analysis

6. Where does the information for the existing and future
state come from?
• External Stakeholder Committee – Industry representatives to
offer insight on the current and future state of the PFM.
• County Advisory Committees – Technical (TAC), Policy,
Innovative, and Steering.
• Industry Partners – ESRC, NVBIA/NAIOP, and ESI.
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Stakeholder Engagement Process

7. Where does the information for the existing and future state come
from?
• Additional County Outreach – Land Use Aides, SDID Tech Forum &
Inspectors, Building Division, and the Fairfax First Blog.
• Public Outreach –
• Feedback Form, Meeting Minutes, PowerPoints available on the PFM website.
• ZMod Citizen Advisory Group, and future public hearings.
• Future PFM Flex Project Website (December 2017).
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Stakeholder Engagement Process

8. External Stakeholders
• Elizabeth Baker (Walsh/Colucci)
• Chris Butkus (H2 Land)
• Paul Johnson (NVBIA/ESRC)
• Clayton Tock (Urban Engineering)
• Jim Scanlon (BC Consultants)
• John Levtov (Christopher Consultants)
• Chris Champagne (VIKA)
• Wayne Klotz (I95BMM)
• Michael O’Shaughnessy (Bohler)
• John Matusik (CDCD)
Steering Committee
• David Stoner (OCA)
• Tracy Strunk (Zoning)
• Bel Pachhai (MSMD)
• Malak Bahrami (MSMD)
• Bruce McGranahan (SDID)
• Shahab Baig (SDID)
• Don Demetrius (SWPD)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• Jeff Blackford (ESI)
• John Matusik (CDCD)
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 8

9. Policy Advisory Committee
• Bruce McGranahan (SDID)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Jan Leavitt (CDCD)
• John Friedman (CDCD)
• Saundra O’Connell (DPZ-ZAD)
• John Matusik (CDCD)
Innovation Committee
• Jeff Hermann (FCDOT)
• Ariel Yang (FCDOT)
• Jan Leavitt (CDCD)
• Bruce McGranahan (SDID)
• Keith Cline (UFMD)
• Lana Tran (WWCD)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• John Matusik (CDCD)
• Danielle Badra (CDCD)
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 9

10. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• Chapter 1
• John Matusik - Lead (CDCD)
• Ken Williams (CTSC)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Chapter 2
• Shahab Baig - Lead (SDID)
• Daun Klarevas (SDID)
• Saundra O’Connell (DPZ-ZAD)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Val Tucker (MSMD)
• Ken Williams (CTSC)
• Laura O’Leary (DPZ-ZED)
• Chapter 3
• Ken Williams - Lead (CTSC)
• John Matusik coordinating with OCA
(CDCD)
• Chapter 4
• Behzad Amir Faryar - Lead (SDID
Geotech)
• Bijan Sistani (SDID)
• Dan Schwartz (NVSWCD)
• Kevin Nelson (VDOT)
• Chapter 5
• Crystal Hamrick (CTSC)
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 10

11. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• Chapter 6
• Camylyn Lewis - Lead (SDID SWM)
• Matthew Hansen - Lead (SDID SWM)
• Val Tucker (MSMD)
• Kevin Nelson (VDOT)
• Dipmani Kumar (SWPD)
• Skip Raynor (SDID)
• Chapter 7
• Shaukat Faheem - Lead (MSMD)
• Jeff Hermann (FCDOT)
• Kevin Nelson (VDOT)
• Saundra O’Connell (DPZ-ZAD)
• Laura O’Leary (DPZ-ZED)
• Chapter 7 (Cont’d)
• Skip Raynor (SDID)
• Shaukat Faheem (MSMD)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Chapter 8
• Durga Kharel - Lead (SDID)
• Somanathan Govender (FCPA)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• Jeff Hermann (FCDOT)
• Kevin Nelson (VDOT)
• Shaukat Faheem (MSMD)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 11

12. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• Chapter 9
• Ross Stilling (FCPA)
• Chief John Walser (FRD)
• Chapter 10
• Lana Tran (WWCD)
• Asghar Pariroo (WWCD)
• Pamela Gratton (SWM)
• John Botts (WWM)
• Robert White (WWM)
• Mike Gallo (CAP)
• Chapter 11
• Skip Raynor - Lead (SDID)
• Ken Williams (CTSC)
• Dan Schwartz (NVSWCD)
• Daun Klarevas (SDID)
• Chapter 12
• Keith Cline - Lead (UFMD)
• Somanathan Govender (FCPA)
• Craig Herwig (SWPD)
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Joanne Fiebe (OCR)
• Chapter 13
• Lorrie Kirst (DPZ-ZAD)
• Ken Williams (CTSC)
• Index
• Laura O’Leary (DPZ-ZED)
• Daun Klarevas (SDID)
10/31/2017 Fairfax County PFM Flex Project 12

13. 13Fairfax County PFM Flex Project10/31/2017
Current State Assessment: Flexibility Themes
Clear
Interactive
AdaptableUrban
Innovative
These themes
were compiled
from an
assessment of the
current PFM by
the stakeholder
committees and a
municipal survey.

14. Recommendations:
• Add tables/diagrams to simplify complex information.
• Add indented outline formatting.
• Rename the PFM and update cover art.
• Update/remove the index.
• Remove outdated/extraneous text and redundancies; remove
outdated provisions and plates.
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Theme 1 - Clear

15. Recommendations:
• Add applicability section; update foreword/introduction.
• Update definitions and move into first section.
• Add internal and external hyperlinks.
• Incorporate information by reference to other codes as the
source of regulation (VDOT, ZO, subdivision ordinance, CBPO,
etc.).
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Theme 2 - Interactive

16. Recommendations:
• Minimize mandatory requirements by changing “Shall” to
“Should”, where appropriate.
• Allow LDS Director to waive/modify “shall”, in unusual
cases; Allow LDS Director to add to or update non-technical
provisions and plates that do not require legislative action.
• Expand use of alternatives to design standards.
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Theme 3 - Adaptable

17. Recommendations:
• Eliminate the need for Service Drive Waivers in areas
where design guidelines do not call for them.
• Update the PFM to align with VDOT standards, such as the
urban design guidelines and multimodal standards.
• Consistency between VDOT Road Design Manual and PFM.
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Theme 4 - Urban

18. Recommendations:
• Allow for innovative practices.
• Allow the use of emerging technology to address specific
challenges in land development.
• Expand the use of urban standards and practices, and be
consistent with the Board endorsed guidelines in CRAs/CRDs;
consider how to allow them in the rest of the county.
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Theme 5 - Innovative

19. How to Engage with the PFM Flex Project
• PFM Website: Stay up-to-date on the status of the PFM Flex Project
at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/pfm/.
• Email Address: Citizens and county staff can contact the PFM Flex
Team at LDSFlexiblePFM@fairfaxcounty.gov.
• Feedback Form: Available to citizens and county staff via the PFM
website. Used to provide input on the PFM Flex Project.
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20. Fillable
Feedback
Form
20
Accessible on PFM
Website
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/pfm/

21. Next Steps & Schedule
• Public Website: A new website will be made available, approximately
December 2017, to update the public of PFM Flex Project updates.
• Future State Roadmap: The future state roadmap is delivered in January
2018.
• Amendment Development Process: The PFM Flex Team will prioritize
roadmap recommendations and prepare proposed prioritized amendments
estimated completion within the 2nd Quarter 2018.
• Required Amendment Vetting Process: Stakeholder and ESRC review and
revision to finalize amendments estimated completion by the end of 3rd
Quarter 2018.
• Public Hearing Process: Public hearings in front of the Planning
Commission and Board of Supervisors over a 3-6 month process following
the required amendment vetting.
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22. Summary
• Adding flexibility into the PFM aligns with objectives of goal
three.
• Consultant will provide a gap analysis comparing current and
future PFM states.
• Objectives: Clear, interactive, adaptable, innovative, and
urban.
• Stakeholder Engagement.
• Next steps & schedule.
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23. Questions?
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