The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week paved the way for a new residential project in Centreville when it gave a green light to Eastwood Properties. And in return, both the local roads and schools will benefit from the developer's proffers.
Eastwood plans to build 35 single-family, detached homes along Old Mill Road. It's also agreed to help improve Old Mill, Mount Olive and Old Centreville roads. And for local residents, the work can't come soon enough.
THAT'S BECAUSE Old Mill is narrow, has ditches and no shoulder. And in the same vicinity, motorists constantly speed down Mount Olive and more than 25,000 cars a day use Old Centreville. But Eastwood will complete Old Mill Road all the way up to Old Centreville Road.
"I think the best thing about [this project] is the road improvements they're going to do," said Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully). "They're going to do a fairly sizeable piece of Old Mill, offsite, and so that was a big factor [in the Board's approval]."
The proffers also won the hearts of those who live and work in the area and have to travel on those roads regularly. Before the Supervisors approved the project last Monday, April 26, both Carol Hawn — who lives in the Old Mill community, and the Rev. Eugene Johnson of Mount Olive Baptist Church on Centreville Road — spoke in favor of it.
In addition, Frey was also pleased with the amount of money that Eastwood intends to donate to the local schools. "It's the largest contribution that we've had for schools, in a case, so far," he said. "Most of them have been pretty small; we haven't really gotten a big chunk of money for schools, but this one is going to be about $112,000."
HE SAID he's been working with Sully District School Board representative Kathy Smith on the matter and, "when the money's contributed, we'll figure out exactly where it will go." But one thing's for certain — it will be given to the schools that will serve the children living in the new, residential community.
Stanley Martin Cos. is both a builder and a developer. It hoped to construct the homes on 13.4 acres, but it couldn't proceed until applicant Eastwood first obtained the county's permission to have the land rezoned from its current designation of one home per acre to three homes per acre.
The land is on the south side of Old Mill Road, between Centre Ridge and Mount Olive, and is accessed from Old Mill. The church is on the corner, and the Jackson Fields community is to the south.
Lots will range in size from 6,000 to 12,000 square feet. The homes will be 2,400 to 3,300 square feet, with two-car garages plus space to park two more vehicles in the driveway apron.
A central open space is planned for recreational facilities, trails and a tot lot. The streets will have parking on just one side, but there'll be sidewalks on both sides of the streets so residents may walk safely to the open space.