Fairfax County's Public Facilities Manual (PFM): Update to the Providence District Council - May 9, 2018

1. Fairfax County’s
Public Facilities Manual (PFM)
Update to the Providence District Council
May 9, 2018
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2. Today’s Presentation
• The Land Development Process.
• What is the PFM?
• How is the PFM changing?
• Actions to Date.
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3. Land Development Process
The PFM is
used during
these 4
segments of
the process.

4. What is the PFM?
• Technical guidelines for site development design.
• Fairfax County Codes (e.g., Subdivision and Zoning Ordinance) are
the regulations (the why) that inform these guidelines (the how).
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5. What is the PFM?
Design guide that meets the
language of the law and
provides flexibility to allow for
engineering judgment during
design process
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6. Guidelines Document
• Variations may be approved when:
• Strict application of a standard cannot
be met, or new/creative designs are
proposed; and
• Variations meet the intent of the
provisions, and a statement of
justification is provided.
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7. Why Update the PFM?
Fairfax First Initiative: to improve speed, consistency,
and predictability of the land development review
process.
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8. Who is Involved?
• Consultant hired to perform gap
analysis.
• Teams of subject-matter experts to
annotate chapters.
• County, Industry & Citizen
stakeholders to provide input.
• Engineering Standard Review
Committee (ESRC) recommends
approval of annotated chapters.
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9. How is the PFM Changing?
PFM “Flex” Project themes compiled from
an assessment of the current PFM.
• Clear
• Interactive
• Adaptable
• Urban
• Innovative
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10. Project Theme: Clear
Recommendations:
• Remove outdated/extraneous text and redundancies.
• Remove outdated provisions and plates.
• Add indented outline.
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11. Project Theme: Interactive
Recommendations:
• Incorporate information by reference to other codes as the
source of regulation.
• Add internal and external hyperlinks.
• Update and relocate definitions.
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12. Project Theme: Adaptable
Recommendations:
• Minimize mandatory requirements by changing “shall” to
“should”, where appropriate.
• Allow Director of Land Development Services to
waive/modify provisions based on certain criteria.
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13. Project Theme: Urban
Recommendations:
• Update the PFM to align with Virginia Department of
Transportation (VDOT) standards.
• Consistency between VDOT Road Design Manual and PFM.
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14. Project Theme: Innovative
Recommendations:
• Allow the use of emerging technology to address specific
challenges in land development.
• Expand the use of urban and innovative practices.
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15. Actions to Date
• Hosted 96 stakeholder meetings.
• First round of PFM edits completed.
• ESRC recommended approval of
eight chapters.
• Developed the PFM Flex Project
Website.
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16. PFM Recap
• A guidelines document for development projects.
• “Flex” Project to improve speed, consistency, and
predictability.
• Stakeholder Committees, Consultant, and Subject-matter
experts involved.
• Project Themes: Clear, Interactive, Adaptable, Urban,
Innovative.
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17. Next Steps & Schedule
Amendment Development Process:
• Prioritize recommendations & prepare
prioritization schedule.
Estimated completion of Prioritizations:
• End of 2nd Quarter 2018.
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18. Next Steps & Schedule
Amendment Vetting Process:
• Stakeholder & ESRC review to finalize amendments;
estimated completion end of 3rd Quarter 2018.
Public Hearing Process:
• Public hearings with Planning Commission & Board of
Supervisors over 3-6 months following amendment
vetting.
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19. Contact:
PFM Flex Project email:
LDSFlexiblePFM@fairfaxcounty.gov
Access the PFM Flex Project Website:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment/public-
facilities-manual-flexibility-project
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20. Supplemental Information
• The following slides are included as supplemental information.
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21. Stakeholder Engagement Process – County
Information for the Existing & Future State Comes from:
• County Advisory Committees: Technical, Policy, Innovative,
Steering.
• Additional County Outreach: Land Use Aides, Site
Development & Inspection Division Inspectors & Tech
Forum, Building Division, Customer & Technical Support
Center, Fairfax First Blog.
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22. Stakeholder Engagement Process – Industry
Information for the Existing & Future State Comes from:
• External Stakeholder Committee: Industry representatives.
• Industry Partners: Engineering Standard Review Committee
(ESRC), Northern Virginia Building Industry
Association/NAIOP, Engineers & Surveyors Institute.
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23. Stakeholder Engagement Process – Citizens
Information for the Existing & Future State Comes from:
• Public Outreach:
• PFM Flex Project Website:
• A feedback form, meeting minutes, PowerPoint
presentations, draft PFM Chapters, ESRC schedule.
• zMOD Citizen Advisory Group, Providence District
Council, future public hearings.
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