Planning Commission endorses expansion of Cavalier Club apartments
The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously to endorse a proposal to add a new 250-unit building to the Cavalier Club in Seven Corners.
The Board of Supervisors hearing is scheduled for May 5.
The Cavalier Club is a 12-story, 220-unit apartment building located at 6200 Wilson Boulevard in Mason District, adjacent to Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Part of the property is actually located in Arlington.
The proposed plan amendment calls for adding an eight-story multifamily building with 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, which would greatly increase density on the 5.6-acre site. The existing building would remain.
The proposal, submitted by Southern Management, also calls for replacing surface parking with a parking garage, improving access from Peyton Randolph Drive and McKinley Road, adding a connection to BJ’s Wholesale Club on Wilson Boulevard, enhancing pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and adding more green space.
“This area is ripe for redevelopment,” said Planning Commissioner Alis Wang (Mason District). “This is a good project to revitalize this area.”
“We need to make sure the schools will be able to handle increased enrollment and monitor the effects on traffic,” Wang said.
The only person who spoke at the Planning Commission’s public hearing was a Cavalier Club resident who expressed concerns about increased traffic, a potential rent increase, a restricted view from her windows, and personal safety in a parking garage.
Mike Garcia of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation said FCDOT recommends a “road diet” on Wilson Boulevard to enhance pedestrian safety. Under that proposal, one westbound lane would be removed between the Seven Corners interchange and McKinley Road to make room for wider sidewalks.
Traffic congestion at the Seven Corners intersection is expected to be eased by the Ring Road, Garcia said. Phase 1 of that project, on the west side of the interchange, is fully funded, but isn’t expected to be completed until 2033.
Wang called for more analysis to determine “whether a road diet is advisable or not and whether there are other ways to improve pedestrian safety.”
Related story: Funds approved for Seven Corners Ring Road