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| One of 11 houses on a property proposed for higher density. |
Fairfax County is considering an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to consolidate a group of properties along Gallows Road and allow increased density – which would pave the way for a townhouse development.
The property is in Mason District between Gallows Road, Libeau Lane, and the Raintreecommunity.
Mason Supervisor Penny Gross is hosting a community meeting on the proposed plan amendment Monday, April 17, 7 p.m., at the Mason Government Center.
Currently, the Comprehensive Plan recommends one to two dwelling units per acre. The plan amendment would up that to five to eight units per acre.
If approved, that would allow as many as 76 townhomes. A developer has proposed 66.
There are about 14 or 15 parcels in the affected area and 11 single-family detached homes. All of the owners are interested in selling except for one holdout, says Mike Van Atta of the Department of Planning and Zoning.
The Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on the plan amendment June 15 at 8:15 p.m., and a hearing before the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for July 25. The Mason District Land Use Committee is expected to consider the proposal before the Planning Commission vote.
This would be the first rezoning proposal in Fairfax County to fall under the new state proffer law that took effect last July, said Van Atta. That law severely limits discussions between county staff and developers about any mitigation measures that could be undertaken that are not considered attributable to a proposed development.
County staff can evaluate impacts but cannot suggest any projects a developer can carry out. According to Van Atta, the county attorney’s office is still trying to figure out what that means.
In the past, county staff frequently urged developers to agree to proffers to pay for things like transportation improvements, school additions, and parks.
If the Gallows Road plan amendment goes forward, access to the site would be a major issue. The existing access is from Libeau Lane, which is a narrow, unpaved road, and its intersection with Gallows Road is very close to Aston Street.