It was the walk-through that finally put Stephanie Miller-Mendes' mind at ease concerning plans for the 1.06-acre parcel of land between her townhouse development and the subsidized housing community of Summit Oaks.
A burned house sits among a grove of trees on the property in question. Miller-Mendes liked the fact that the scaled-back version of the development plan, which went from 12-15 townhouses to eight townhouses for the physically challenged residents, would save some of the trees. Initially the land was zoned for two houses per acre, and then R-4, which would allow four houses per acre. Now it is being rezoned for eight townhouses.
"Our biggest fear was that they were going to put in more than that," Miller-Mendes said. "They took us back there and showed us what they were going to do. That means we'll be able to leave additional trees there."
The parcel of land is located at the end of Oak Leather Drive between the Spring Oak townhouses and Summit Oaks, a development of 50 subsidized townhouses. After everything was smoothed out with the plans, objections were few and far between.
The "they" Miller-Mendes was talking about was Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) and Landmark Construction, the developer. Housing specially designated for the physically disabled, which meant a variety of disabilities, had never been attempted before in Fairfax County, Bulova said.
"Half the units would be constructed to accommodate to whatever their disability is," Bulova said of the project. "That's what they're committed to. We're convinced there is a market."
The houses will be marketed to special-needs customers. But after six months, if no buyers come forward, the developers will be allowed to build regular townhouses, Bulova said.
According to residents, the burned-out house on the property was owned by an elderly woman who moved to a senior citizen facility. She had intended that after her death, the land would go to Lutheran Housing Services, who dedicated it to housing for the physically challenged.
"It was their idea to make it handicapped housing," said Miller-Mendes.
Bulova wasn't aware of the homeowner's designation in the will but said Lutheran Housing purchased the land along with Landmark Construction. Currently, the land is not consistent with surrounding properties.
"Right now you've got a blighted property," Bulova said.
"Nobody was inside the house," said Mary Amarkhel, a resident of Summit Oaks.
The vacant property attracted trouble. Amarkhel even heard fighting and police on the land over the last year.
"Kids go around there, leaving trash, especially teenagers," Amarkhel said.
"We don't know who burned it," said Miller-Mendes.
THE TOWNHOUSES will have wider parking spaces and will not be part of Burke Centre. Currently, the outside of every house in the county is required to be up to American Disability Act (ADA) standards. These townhouses will be built with special features on top of that, depending on the buyers' needs.
One thing Miller-Mendes is watching carefully is the designs for a water retention pond, which is required by the county per the number of townhouses. She hopes the proximity to Lake Barton will alleviate that requirement.
"The way the developer has explained it is they need to put in a dry pond, but he's against it," Miller-Mendes said. "That means we'll be able to leave more trees up."
Commitments from the builder include consistent layout and architecture with Burke Centre, landscaping, sidewalks and trails to Lake Barton, proper storm-water management, and contributions to the Fairfax County Housing Trust Fund as well as $30,000 to the Board of Supervisors for a modular classroom for Robinson Secondary School.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission had a public hearing about the project on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The developers will appear before the Board of Supervisors on Monday, Oct. 27.