Fairfax City Council To Consider Process For Renaming Streets With Confederate Names

Correction (May 10, 6:30 p.m.): This story was updated to add three streets under consideration for renaming and clarify information about upcoming council meetings.

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City residents will have an opportunity at Tuesday night's City Council meeting to provide feedback on the process for selecting new names for 14 city streets.

The proposal under consideration would implement a 60-day public comment period in which council members and city staff solicit feedback from the stakeholders and the community at large about names for the following streets:

• Mosby Woods Community: Confederate Lane, Mosby Woods Drive, Plantation Parkway, Raider Lane, Ranger Road, Reb Street, Scarlet Circle, Singleton Circle, and Traveler Street
• Major Arterial Roads: Lee Highway, Old Lee Highway
• Additional Roads in the City: Lee Street, Mosby Road, Stonewall Avenue

In its final report and recommendations, the Stakeholder Advisory Group recommended the city change the names of those 14 streets due to their association with the Confederacy. The advisory group's recommendations are based on the findings of the "Connecting Fairfax City For All" initiative, which the City Council started in January 2021.

During the 60-day public input period, the city will conduct targeted engagement with points of contacts in impacted communities. The public can also email suggested street names to streetnames@fairfaxva.gov or www.engage.fairfaxva.gov. In addition, a drop box will be placed at the Museum and Visitors Center.

At its April 12 meeting, the City Council voted 5-1 to adopt a new street naming and renaming policy, with Councilmember Sang Yi voting in opposition. The approval gave the council the ability to rename streets based on city initiatives.

Related: Antisemitic Meme Surfaces As Fairfax City Mulls Changing Street Names

After the 60-day public comment period is over, the names will be evaluated through the city's Geographic Information System and Historic Resources to ensure they adhere to the city's newly adopted street naming policy. The Connecting Fairfax City For All City Council Subcommittee will review the remaining names, narrow the list and make final recommendations to the City Council.

At a June 14, the City Council will hold a public hearing and take action on whether the recommended street names on specific streets should be changed. On June 28, the council will hold a public hearing and take action on the new proposed street names

View a schedule of the Fairfax City's renaming process.