It's on to the Board of Supervisors for a 16-home residential project near the Fairfax County Government Center. It's being proposed by the Bender Group of Alexandria, and each house would sell for more than a million dollars.
THE PLAN received its first approval Dec. 6, 2004, from the Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use committee. Then it got another OK last Thursday, April 28, from the county Planning Commission.
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, off Government Center Parkway. Average lot size would be 8,000 square feet.
Randy Bender, associate broker with the Bender Group, said the new community will be similar to neighboring Robertson Farm, but "enhanced." The homes will have a Colonial design with brick fronts and sides, Hardy Plank in the back and wrought iron.
Also planned are elevator-options as standard features that older homeowners might appreciate. 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, he said, this area could be used for extra closet space.
The homes would be 4,000-5,000 square feet, with high ceilings and four or five bedrooms. The 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 expected 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.
However, the Bender Group must first obtain 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 to be constructed.
The applicant has agreed to dedicate right-of-way along the front of the property and place it into escrow for the third lane of Lee Highway. It will also contribute to the Fairfax County Road Fund, an extended trail and construction of the service road. And monetary donations will be made to the schools, parks and the Housing Trust Fund.
The Planning Commission heard this case, March 23, but deferred decision on it until April 28. At that time, it approved Bender's final development plan, on which it has the final say. It also gave its blessing to the rezoning request. Next stop is the Board of Supervisors on June 6 for possible final approval.