A community of 16 homes selling for more than a million dollars is being proposed near the Fairfax County Government Center. Details were revealed last week at the Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use meeting.
"I'm trying to mirror Robertson Farm next door, but enhanced," explained Randy Bender of the Bender Group, which is the applicant. "The homes will have a colonial design with brick fronts and sides, Hardy Plank in the back and wrought iron."
The houses would be single-family, detached, and would sit on an eight-acre site occupying two land parcels along Route 29, directly across from Forum Drive. Average lot size would be 8,000 square feet.
But first, the Bender Group needs the county's approval for a rezoning. It's requesting the parcels be changed from their current designation of partly commercial and partly residential (one home per acre) to a higher-density, residential zoning allowing two homes per acre.
The project includes a small park with a trail, enhanced landscaping, berming along the front and a substantial entry feature to mark the front of the community. Interparcel access would be from the Robertson Farm development to the east, as well as from the west side of the property. An entrance is also planned from Route 29 through a service drive, and Bender has made transportation proffers.
"Right-of-way will be dedicated along the front of the property and put into escrow for the third lane of Lee Highway," said attorney Liz Walter, representing the applicant. "There'll be a contribution to the Fairfax County Road Fund, an extended trail and construction of the service road. Monetary contributions will be made for schools, parks and the Housing Trust Fund."
Bender said the homes will have elevator-options as standard features, "as people are getting older." Said Bender: "We won't put them in, but will design the houses for an elevator shaft to go in during construction [if the homeowner so desires]." Otherwise, this area could also be used for extra closet space.
The homes would be 4,000-5,000 square feet, with four or five bedrooms and high ceilings. Garages would be front-loading with room for two cars in the driveway and two inside. And the streets would have curb, gutter and sidewalks.
Bender would like the new neighborhood to come on line in spring 2006, and he expects the homes to sell for $1.1 million and possibly as much as $1.5 million. "I'm interested in having a very rich look to the community and saving as many trees as possible," he said. "The goal of the community is to enhance what's already there."
Noting that a new elementary school is planned for this area, land-Use committee member Claudette Ward was pleased about the money Bender will contribute to the school system.
"I very much like the fact that you saved as many trees as possible and that the homes will be on a cul-de-sac," she said. Agreeing, a local resident added, "I live in the neighborhood in back of this [site], and this design is very nice because it has a lot of trees between them and us."
The committee then unanimously approved the rezoning request, which now heads to the county Planning Commission on Jan. 26.