Ivy Development wants to build eight, single-family, detached homes on a nearly three-acre site in Centreville. They'd be constructed along Old Centreville Road, west of Route 28 and across from the Old Mill community.
Representing Ivy, Lynne Strobel explained details of the plan, last Tuesday, April 19, to the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee. She said the property is currently zoned R-1 (residential, one home per acre).
FOR A FEW years now, Ivy's been waiting for an amendment to the county's Comprehensive Plan that would change this site to one allowing two to three homes per acre to be built on it. Now it seeks a rezoning compatible with that density.
That way, Ivy could build houses at a density of 2.7 homes per acre. Just one access point to Old Centreville Road is planned, and there'll be private streets to minimize the amount of pavement because the property is so narrow.
"We tried to provide a nice landscape so the residents would have an attractive streetscape," said Strobel. "And there'll be a walking trail through the tree-save area, and maybe a bench." The plan also provides for 42.7 percent open space.
The homes will be traditional, Colonial style with brick fronts. All will have two-car garages and, said Strobel, "There'll be a proffer that they can't be converted to other uses." Driveways will be 18 feet long and, in response to community concern, additional parking spaces will also be provided.
"We've met with the Old Mill subdivision on the project's general design and on a trail issue," said Strobel. "The [new] trail would connect Waterwheel Way [in Old Mill] to the park-and-ride facility" at nearby Centreville United Methodist Church. "It's needed there because the cars go whizzing by. And the Board of Supervisors has funded that, so we'll work with Fairfax County to make sure [the trail's] done as soon as possible."
THE WFCCA'S Carol Hawn, who lives in the Old Mill community, thanked Ivy for all its efforts to work with her community and address its concerns — especially about the trail.
"They built our community, without a trail, on a dangerous, substandard road," she said. "And we have a better chance of having the trail built with [Ivy's] input into it." To Strobel and property-owner Steve Bannister, also present at last week's land-use meeting, Hawn said, "I think you all have done a very good job [with this project]. The houses will look good."
Ivy will return to the WFCCA in July to update the committee on any changes to its proposal. The rezoning request goes to the county Planning Commission on July 27 and to the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 1.