Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Affordable housing advocates promoting residential studio units

Community leaders oppose studio units in single-family neighborhoods already plagued by overcrowded houses. Discussions here about Fairfax County’s proposal for a new zoning category to allow “residential studio units” (RSUs) have mainly focused on the potentially deleterious effect on stable residential neighborhoods. Yet there’s another side to the issue. Advocates for affordable housing have been … Continued

Efficiency units could destabilze neighborhoods, community leaders warn

A tiny studio apartment in San Francisco. [Photo from USA Today.] Civic association leaders are concerned that a Fairfax County proposal to create a new zoning category allowing tiny efficiency apartments could destroy the character of older, residential neighborhoods, especially in places like the Annandale/Mason area where overcrowding is already a problem. The Fairfax County … Continued

Board of Supervisors approves Fairfax Forward land use process

Board hearings take place in the Fairfax County Government Center. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a new, more comprehensive process for reviewing and making changes in the county’s land use plan. The new system, known as Fairfax Forward, replaces the current Area Plans Review (APR) system for updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Fairfax … Continued

Gross agrees to strengthen community input on land use issues

In advance of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ hearing on Fairfax Forward next week, representatives of the Mason District Council of Community Associations (MDC) met with Mason Supervisor Penny Gross to express their concerns with potential changes to how land use decisions are made. Fairfax Forward revises the procedures for updating the county’s Comprehensive … Continued

Mason land use committee endorses adult daycare center on Lincolnia Road

The proposed facade of the Agape Center, facing Lincolnia Road. The Mason District Land Use Committee voted June 25 to recommend the Fairfax County Planning Commission approve a proposal by Agape Health Management Inc. for an adult daycare center on Lincolnia Road. The Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for July 18 on Agape’s … Continued

More citizen involvement urged in Fairfax County planning process

Fifteen houses are being built on this property on Backlick Road in Annandale, despite neighborhood opposition. The new Fairfax County land use planning process known as Fairfax Forward could lead to more strategic thinking about development, but only if the plan is revised to strengthen provisions on citizen involvement. That’s the view of  Providence District … Continued

Mason Land Use Committee defers action on Peace Valley Lane infill project

  The Peace Valley Lane site, with Ravenwood Park houses in the background. People who live near a proposed infill development on Peace Valley Lane in Seven Corners are cautiously optimistic after a Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC) meeting March 26.   Will Collins of the Concordia development company is requesting a 1.89-acre site … Continued