Planning Commission endorses plan to increase density in Bailey’s Crossroads
The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Oct. 25 recommended approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment to facilitate a mixed-use redevelopment project on the Food Star site in Bailey’s Crossroads.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the plan amendment on Nov. 21.
The plan amendment would allow for increased density – with building heights up to 14 stories – on a 13-acre site at the southeast intersection of Leesburg Pike and Carlin Springs Road. That area is known as Sub-unit B-5 of the Town Center District of the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Business Center.
Related story: Major development proposed for Food Star site in Bailey’s Crossroads
The property owner, George Hong, is proposing three multifamily buildings of seven to 14 stories each with ground-floor retail and a mid-rise multifamily building on Seminary Road. Hong intends to incorporate Food Star into the development.
Hong initially wanted to develop an apartment complex with 1,120 micro-units of 400 to 500 square feet with high-tech features.
Land use attorney Sara Mariska told the Planning Commission that concept has been revised, and the current plan calls for 750 units with a mix of sizes ranging from about 500 to 1,000 square feet.
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The current Comprehensive Plan for that section of the Bailey’s Crossroads Town Center District allows up to 500 units in buildings with four to six stories – with an option for seven stories if some of the surrounding properties are included.
The staff report notes that there had been an airport to the west of the property, which operated from 1945 to 1970. Food Star opened in February 2020 in a former Toys R Us store.
Thank you for the nice article!
Have the traffic impacts of development in this area especially on Seminary Rd between Dawes Ave and N Beauregard St been analyzed by anyone and if so how and what are the results ? This part of Seminary is not Fairfax County but City of Alexandria, and they are planning significant development in the N Beauregard and Seminary area. How well do Fairfax County, Arlington, City of Alexandria, and VDOT work together on something like this?
Where do they intend on putting all of the kids? Schools are already busting at the seams and the solution is to bus them from the area they live to the next one over. This is such a good idea. I’d love to say that I live above the Food Star, NOT!
Those government facilities known as “schools” have morphed into something else entirely.
Is it just Food Star or any grocery store? Why would you hate having a grocery store within walking distance?
First, Landmark Mall being redeveloped as a massive mixed use complex. Then, Eastgate Shopping Center approved for a new mixed use development. Now, Bailey’s Crossroads cued up for big, modern, mixed use development. Christmas has come early for me!
The airport was on the Skyline site.
500 square feet sounds small, but I don’t have a real feel for it. How does it compare to Skyline?
The traffic in the area is already congested at times. What will be done to address all the extra vehicle traffic?
The area is not friendly to pedestrians or cyclists? And has the public transit, i.e. buses improved at all?
Not sure why you hate minorities!
Below is a section from the county staff report for this plan amendment. Who believes anything will be done to address the issues cited?
“When compared to current planned uses, the proposed Plan amendment would produce greater
demands on the transportation network, schools, parks, and wastewater facilities. Capacity in
each of these areas will be examined during the development review process to determine
appropriate measures to accommodate increased need and demand. The trips produced by the
proposed Plan amendment are expected to be accommodated by the current road network but
should also be examined for traffic mitigation during the entitlement process.”
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/assets/documents/compplanamend/baileys-cbc-subunitb5/2022-i-b1-staff-report.pdf
I look foward to new development and housing is sorely needed. New investment is good for Annandale and Mason. However, it won’t help decrease the number of multifamily flop houses invading our neighborhoods; the rents in these developments are simply not affordable for day workers. This place is not meant for mattresses on the floor like we see in many of our single family and older garden apartment residences in Mason where driveways and parking lots are filled with workers’ trucks and broken down vehicles.
What is missing is a mass transit strategy and that is a HUGE problem.