The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a plan to build 49 townhouses on 5.9 acres on Fleet Drive.
County planning staff recommend denying the application because of a lack of usable open space on the property.
Planning Commissioner Rodney Lusk (Lee) said that some open space is available, and that he does not think that there would be a problem for neighborhood children to find a place to play. “Kids are very resourceful. They will find, search out open space and when they find it they will use it,” he said during the March 22 meeting.
He further noted that the developer will remove several blighted buildings on the property. “The community is eager to see positive change with these properties,” he said.
Planning Commissioner Jim Hart (At-large) said he wanted to defer the decision for a little longer. He noted that the proposal does not yet have a date scheduled before the Board of Supervisors and that the developer, Fleet Drive, LLC, had presented the commission with a new set of drawing earlier that day. “I have a real problem voting tonight on a case with no board date when the staff has not yet reviewed the drawings,” he said.
The plan was approved unanimously. Hart and Commissioner Suzanne Harsel (Braddock) abstained.
The plan will no go to the Board of Supervisors for another public hearing and a final decision.