Planning Commission approves rezoning for townhouses at Heritage Mall
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| An illustration of the proposed townhouses from the Department of Planning and Zoning staff report. |
The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a rezoning
application Nov. 30 to allow a townhouse development at the rear of the Heritage
Mall shopping center in Annandale.
application Nov. 30 to allow a townhouse development at the rear of the Heritage
Mall shopping center in Annandale.
The applicants, MHI-Heritage LLC and Bristow Shopping Center
LTD (entities formed by the Webb Cos.), proposed rezoning the 11-acre site from C-6 to PDC to permit the
construction of 67 single-family attached residences. The housing units would
be for sale, not rent.
LTD (entities formed by the Webb Cos.), proposed rezoning the 11-acre site from C-6 to PDC to permit the
construction of 67 single-family attached residences. The housing units would
be for sale, not rent.
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| Heritage Mall |
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the
application Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m. The BoS approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment
for the project in June.
application Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m. The BoS approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment
for the project in June.
The site, currently occupied by a parking lot, green space, and 7-Eleven, is bordered by the Avant Apartments,
Rectory Lane, Commons Drive, and the rear of the shopping center on Heritage
Drive.
Rectory Lane, Commons Drive, and the rear of the shopping center on Heritage
Drive.
The residential area would have a tot lot, picnic area,
stormwater management facility, and landscaping.
stormwater management facility, and landscaping.
Eight of the new townhomes would be affordable dwelling
units, as required by Fairfax County. Nineteen units would have garages
accessible from the front, and the rest would have garages at the rear. There
would be 33 on-street parking spaces.
units, as required by Fairfax County. Nineteen units would have garages
accessible from the front, and the rest would have garages at the rear. There
would be 33 on-street parking spaces.
To ensure there would be enough parking, the application
calls for the HOA documents to require residents to use garages solely for
cars, rather than storage.
calls for the HOA documents to require residents to use garages solely for
cars, rather than storage.
The project also includes a new 1,200-square foot community
resource center in the shopping center – available to the county rent-free for
30 years – to provide space for meetings and other events. Minor upgrades would be made to the shopping center
plaza area, parking lot, and sidewalks. There
would also be two new crosswalks on Heritage Drive.
resource center in the shopping center – available to the county rent-free for
30 years – to provide space for meetings and other events. Minor upgrades would be made to the shopping center
plaza area, parking lot, and sidewalks. There
would also be two new crosswalks on Heritage Drive.
None of the Planning Commission members voted against the
application, although Julie Strandlie (Mason) abstained, citing the need for
more work on it. One of her major concerns is traffic on Heritage Drive in the
morning when Annandale High School opens.
application, although Julie Strandlie (Mason) abstained, citing the need for
more work on it. One of her major concerns is traffic on Heritage Drive in the
morning when Annandale High School opens.
Commissioner Ellen Hurley (Braddock) said there will be less
traffic when the 7-Eleven is demolished. The property is in the Braddock District but across the street from Mason District.
traffic when the 7-Eleven is demolished. The property is in the Braddock District but across the street from Mason District.
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| This 7-Eleven will be torn down. |
Other commissioners raised concerns about whether the
garages would be wide enough and whether the developer should contribute more
funds to local parks. Hurley noted Ossian Park is across the street.
garages would be wide enough and whether the developer should contribute more
funds to local parks. Hurley noted Ossian Park is across the street.
The applicants’ representative, Elizabeth Baker of the Walsh Colucci law firm, said the units with two-car garages in front would be 21 feet
wide and those with garages in back would be 24 feet wide. The affordable units
would be just 16 feet wide and would have one-car garages.
wide and those with garages in back would be 24 feet wide. The affordable units
would be just 16 feet wide and would have one-car garages.
Hurley said she supports the project, even though the Braddock District Land Use Committee voted against it. That committee had issues with the lack of sufficient parking, the narrow garages, the lack of front yards, and the fact that the
playground would be open to the public.
playground would be open to the public.
“There is a market for this kind of housing,” Hurley said. “Not
everyone wants to deal with grass or have a front yard.” Other concerns have
been dealt with, she said, including the addition of 10 parking spaces.
2 responses to “Planning Commission approves rezoning for townhouses at Heritage Mall”
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"67 single-family attached residences"
"33 on-street parking spaces"
"HOA documents to require residents to use garages solely for cars"
Ha. Ha. HAHAHAHA!
Good luck with that. Surrounding streets, get a petition for an RPPD ready.
Please also bear in mind that residents of a street or community have no recourse when one “family” household has 10-15 residents and parks all of their cars on street, taking up more than a fair amount of allotted spaces. There are no ordinances on how many cars a household or address can register, as long as they all claim to be “family”.
The law firm of Walsch, Colucci owns this county. They represent almost every development that happens certainly in Mason District. I wonder if our county government officials would even try to go against the firm out of fear of having to fight for something.There should have been more proffers for parks given. How is it that a development can now count state roads as parking spaces? That must be illegal. Why is it that the affordable houses get less of a driveway than the others? They are going to have as many cars as the others. Yeah to the Braddock District Land Use Committee for standing up for commonsense solutions. Unfortunately, developers, their lawyers, and our government officials could care less.