Frequently Asked Questions

The Planning Commission is appointed by the County Commissioners to draft the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code and then to implement them. While the Commissioners are the legislative body that enacts the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning code, you can think of the Planning Commission as the keepers of those documents.

The Planning Commission reviews text amendments, map amendments, Critical Area Growth Allocation applications, concept plans, major site plans, sketch plans, and major subdivisions. Additionally, the Planning Commission review minor site plans that are visible from Route 50 and minor plans that the Planning Director determines warrants review by the Commission.

As outlines in County Zoning Code § 18:1-109, the Commission consists of seven members.

The current (and historic) list of members can be found on the Planning Commission website. The members are appointed to four-year terms. The dates of the current and historic members' terms can be found on the website.

The Planning Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month and on an as-needed basis for special projects. The meetings begin at 8:45am and are held at 110 Vincit Street, Centreville.

Citizens may participate on Zoom using the link from the website and on the agenda. This option is available ten minutes before the start of the meeting.

The meeting are broadcast live on QAZTV, Breezeline cable 7 & 507, streaming live on QACTV Facebook, YouTube, and QACTV.com.

The County Zoning Code establishes which projects must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and which standards must be met in order to receive approval.

Article XXV of the Zoning Code establishes site plan and Article XXVI establishes subdivision standards. Major Site Plans and Subdivisions are reviewed by the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission also reviews minor site plans that are visible from Route 50.

When project applications are submitted and meet the minimum standards outlined above, then the project is placed on a Planning Commission agenda. Some project require multiple stages of review (concept, preliminary, and final) and are placed on multiple agendas once the minimum standards at each stage of review are met.

If a project does not meet minimum standards set forth in the Zoning Code, it is not placed on an agenda. This can account for the misconception that the Planning Commission "approves everything". The fact is, the Planning Commission review projects that are generally consistent with the Zoning Code.

Most of the projects on the Commission agendas are subject to the standard open meetings act requirements. However, the Code does specify that some types of public reviews must be conducted as public hearings. They include the following applications: mining operations, Critical Area Growth Allocation proposals, Critical Area text amendments, map amendments, and comprehensive rezonings.

Due notice must be given in advance of a project being discussed on a Planning Commission agenda. The signs are meant to alert the public that a project review is underway. They are not meant to provide a full and complete account of the project details.

The County Agenda Center is where the public can really find out "what is going on". The Planning Commission agendas are posted two weeks before the meeting is held. The staff report, location map, and overall project plan are posted on the agendas. Citizens may sign up for notifications that are sent when agendas are posted to the agenda center.

Additionally, the meetings and project information are posted to Threads, X, Nextdoor, Instagram and Facebook, and the County website (check the News section).

Yes. There is a general public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, during each project review, and at the end of the meeting before adjournment. Citizens are limited to three minutes of testimony.

The Planning Commission Correspondence & Testimony Protocols can be found on the website.

In accordance with the protocols noted above, public comments may be submitted in advance of the meetings. Tips on how to do so successfully may also be accessed on the County website.