For the first time in 23 years, the Dulles Suburban Center is getting a thorough review. Work has already begun to document what’s there now and consider recommendations for potential land-use changes and future development.
And now, Supervisor Kathy Smith (D-Sully) has established the Dulles Suburban Area Study Advisory Group to help with this task. She’s also named former Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey as its chairman.
The Dulles Suburban Center is comprised of some 6,300 acres along the western edge of Fairfax County. They’re adjacent to Dulles International Airport along the Route 28 and Route 50 Corridors. Herndon is to the north, with residential uses to the east and south. This area is also one of the county’s largest employment centers, containing an estimated 78,000 jobs and more than 31 million square feet of office/industrial space.
It contains more than 50 million square feet of development, with the main one being office use, comprising 40 percent of the land use there. Next comes industrial/industrial flex at 23 percent and residential at 22 percent.
Currently, an estimated 65 million square feet may still be developed there. Most of it is south of Route 50, in and around the Westfields Corporate Center. Combined with the more than 50 million square feet of already-developed land, that would be some 115 million square feet total.
However, in large areas of the Dulles Suburban Center, existing zoning districts allow industrial and office uses, while the county’s Comprehensive Plan — the official blueprint for future development — promotes a mix of residential, office, retail and hotel uses.
However, environmental and noise issues must also be taken into consideration. For example, the Dulles Suburban Center extends across two watersheds; and with the land’s proximity to the airport, residential development in some sections may be incompatible with high levels of aircraft noise.
So the new advisory group will have many matters on its plate. And on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., it will hold a public meeting in the Rocky Run Middle School cafeteria, 4400 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly. The members will be introduced to the community and will provide an overview of the scope of their work.
Another meeting is also slated for Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m., in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Westfields Blvd. in Chantilly, to discuss how the group’s work relates to Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan, which will also be reviewed.
Besides Frey, the group has 13 members representing residents, business and home owners, plus property managers, but more may be added. They are: Karrie Delaney, Poplar Tree Estates; David Metcalf, Virginia Run; Greg White, COPT/landlord in Westfields; Mark McConn, Fairfax Center Working Group; Galileo Lopez, Armfield Farms; Carol Hawn, WFCCA; Bill Keech, Westfields Business Owners Association; Lewis Grimm, Franklin Farms, Karen Campblin, Tree Commission; Jehanne Arslan, Difficult Run; Donald Park, Korean Chamber of Commerce; David Skiles, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce; and Marvin Powell, small-business owner.
“We’ve brought together this diverse advisory group to provide valuable feedback as we plan for the future of the Dulles Suburban Area,” said Smith. “I’m especially excited to have Supervisor Michael Frey returning to chair the group.”