The third time was the charm for Commerce Bank — which plans to build a new branch in the Marketplace at Centre Ridge Shopping Center.
With previous approvals from the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee and the county Planning Commission, it got its third and final OK, Monday, from the Board of Supervisors.
"WE APPROVED it unanimously," said Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully). "I think it will be an asset."
Commerce has some 250 branches in the Northeastern U.S. and is known for its hours convenient for customers — including weekdays until 8 p.m., Saturday afternoons and Sundays from about 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
The 3,700-square-foot bank proposed for Centreville will be built at the corner of Multiplex Drive and Machen Road. Full banking services and drive-throughs will be available, plus an ATM inside the bank in a lighted, glass foyer. Two entrances are planned from Multiplex, but none from Centrewood Drive.
Since Commerce first explained its proposal to the WFCCA, a year ago, its representatives have met with the Centre Ridge Owners homeowners association because the bank site is on land within the association's boundaries.
And in response to another community's concerns, the bank added low landscaping to its plan to shield residents from possible headlight disturbance from vehicles parking there. It also decreased the number of parking spaces and added sidewalk improvements to make the business as pedestrian-friendly as possible.
And Commerce has agreed to connect the existing trails within the Centre Ridge community and to put in a park feature at one corner of the site. "They'll put in the missing piece in the trail, over by the movie theater and the shopping center, and some plantings and benches along the main roads," said Frey. "So I think the community gets something out of it, too."
AS THE application made its way through the county processes, Commerce and county staff disagreed about the bank's access. Staff worried that cars might stack up on Multiplex Drive, near the bank entrance closest to Machen Road, as people tried to leave the bank and turn left.
But land-use attorney Fred Taylor, representing Commerce, said residents told them there isn't much traffic there so the new bank shouldn't cause any backup. Besides, he added, "There's a concrete, raised median allowing you to turn left — well beyond our entranceway."
Eventually, the issue was resolved, Jan. 26, when it went before the Planning Commission. That body decided to let Commerce have the entrance it wanted and escrow some money. Then in a year, the entrance closest to Multiplex will be evaluated.
If it's found to be impeding traffic on Multiplex, Commerce will have to make that entrance a right-in, right-out. But if all is well, the escrowed funds will be returned to the bank.
At the Jan. 18 WFCCA meeting, Jim Katcham, the group's chairman, said he was pleased with the bank's proposal. Said Katcham: "We've seen a variety of [proposed] uses for this site — none of which is ideal — and this is the best we've seen."
Frey agrees wholeheartedly. "I'm glad to see that corner finally wrapped up," he said. When that shopping center was originally planned, a Clyde's restaurant was supposed to go on the new bank's site, but Clyde's changed its mind and didn't build there.
"The frustration I've had is that every proposal that's come forward [for that property] has been for two uses, and I've told people consistently, 'Absolutely not,'" said Frey. "It was shown as one use, and two uses [would be] just too intense."
So Commerce Bank, he said, "is really the first one to come in and do a nice job with one use. And I think it'll fit well."