The new zoning amendment, passed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) on Monday, March 29, 2004, stipulates, in addition to current requirements, that for every application involving 2,500 square feet or greater of land-disturbing activity, preliminary plans for stormwater management facilities must include additional graphic and narrative information supporting the preliminary design; as well as information concerning the adequacy of the facility's downstream receiving channels.

The County's current Zoning Ordinance requires an applicant to show the approximate location and estimated size of all proposed stormwater management facilities and to indicate the type of facility on the development plan when submitting for rezoning, development plan, special permit and special exception applications.

Under the new amendment, the graphic portion of the application must contain:

1. approximate footprint of the facility and, where applicable, the height of the dam embankment and location of emergency spillway outlet;
2. on-site and off-site areas to be served by the facility and the acreage draining to each facility;
3. a preliminary layout of all on-site drainage channels, outfalls and pipes within the facility;
4. the location of any access roads or other means of access to the facility and a description of the type of surface for any road;
5. proposed landscaping and tree preservation areas in or near the facility; and
6. approximate limits of clearing and grading on –site and off-site for the facility, storm drainage pipes, spillways, access roads and outfalls, including energy dissipation, storm drain outlet protection and/or stream bank stabilization measures.

1. a description of how the detention and BMP requirements will be met;
2. the estimated are and volume of storage of the facility to meet the detention and BMP requirements;
3. a description of the existing outfall conditions for each watercourse receiving drainage from the site; and
4. a description of how the adequate outfall requirements of the PFM will be satisfied.

Minor modifications can be approved administratively for all permits or plans covered under this amendment provided that clearing and/or grading is not increased for a stormwater management facility that reduces non-stormwater management open space, tree save and/or landscaping on the parcel.

Applications received before the July 1, 2004 effective date will be considered "grandfathered" and subject to the old (existing) regulations.

The new amendment was adopted in an effort to provide County staff with adequate information to make knowledgeable decisions concerning stormwater management and storm drainage issues during the zoning process. It was developed by a multi-agency team engaged in the Infill and Residential Development Study endorsed by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.