The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors have cleared the way for four new restaurants to come to the Westfields Corporate Center area in Chantilly.
The application went before the board, March 15, and was approved unanimously. "That area was always planned as the commercial piece of Westfields, so I was glad to see it approved," said Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully). "I think it'll give people in the area [more of] a choice with some new restaurants."
The developer is the Long Co., and it plans to construct three, separate buildings on a nearly three-acre site in the vicinity of Stonecroft Boulevard, off Route 28. Four restaurants would occupy the buildings, with the typical restaurant ranging in size from 2,500 to 3,500 square feet.
LONG SELECTED Westfields for the location because of all the businesses and residents already in the local area, as well as the National Air and Space Museum Annex in Chantilly. But first, it had to obtain a rezoning from the county allowing fast-food restaurants to be built there.
However, none of them will be the typical, chicken or hamburger restaurants, and none will have drive-through windows. Wary of the trash, loitering and traffic these kinds of establishments can bring, local residents and the county were particularly adamant about these points.
In addition, Fairfax County staff — which prepares the report given to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors — recommended denial because the site was originally approved for a Hilton hotel, so the parcel was subdivided. And since only part of it was being considered for development, county staff wasn't pleased because it wanted the whole thing developed as a consolidated piece.
Nonetheless, the plan was approved by the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee, the county Planning Commission and the Supervisors. "In my opinion, the development of this sector won't hinder development of the other sector," said Sully District Planning Commissioner Ron Koch. "[That portion] just isn't ready to come in, yet."
Frey said the developer has talked with places such as Baja Fresh, Panera Bread and Starbucks, as well as retail businesses such as an office-supply store.
"It'll provide a commercial/retail/service area for the Westfields office park, so I think it'll fit in nicely," he said. "And the architecturals will go back to the Planning Commission for approval" to make sure the buildings are compatible with their neighbors, the brick-Colonial Sully Station Shopping Center and Sully District Police Station.