Fairfax County Planning Commission members opted Wednesday (April 30) to defer for a week final action on a hotly debated plan to build affordable housing on the site where the Franconia Governmental Center now sits.
The delay came after more than 90 local residents testified over the course of 3.5 hours, most in opposition to the proposal for a 4-story, 120-unit apartment building on the 3.26-acre site at 6121 Franconia Road.
Another 50 speakers had already testified before the commission when the public hearing on a potential amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan started on April 9.
Delaying a vote until next Wednesday (May 7) will provide “an opportunity to respond to anything we heard tonight,” Franconia District Commissioner Christopher Landgraf said at the outset of the hearing.
No additional public testimony will be allowed at the May 7 meeting, but written comments will be accepted until that date, Landgraf said as the hearing wrapped up around 11 p.m.
The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for a final decision, perhaps as early as its May 13 meeting.
Another advisory panel, the Franconia District Land Use Committee, earlier voted to oppose the affordable housing component, which appears to be the lone sticking point in the proposal to change the land uses allowed in the Franconia Triangle, paving the way for redevelopment.
Including the governmental center parcel, the study area consists of a 22.75-acre site bounded by Franconia Road, Beulah Street and Grovedale Street. It’s currently home to an array of residential, retail, commercial and public uses.
Supporters, opponents turn out for hearing
All those testifying in opposition to the affordable housing project on April 30 did so by pre-recorded video, many hitting on the same themes of traffic and school impacts, the site’s proximity to five gas stations, pedestrian safety and a lack of nearby services for the future residents.
“The site is inappropriate for residential use of any kind,” said Stephanie Oetjen, who lives nearby and complained that the project is being rammed through despite significant neighborhood opposition.
“Our voices have been ignored,” Oetjen said.
There also were concerns raised about the area’s increasing urbanization.
“Stop stuffing people into this county like sardines,” Constance DeSouza said.
The affordable housing project comes from a coalition that includes Good Shepherd Housing, NFP Affordable Housing Corp., SCG Development and the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
According to a rezoning application filed in March, the 120 units would be available to those earning 30% to 80% of the area median income, which was $154,700 for a four-person household, as of June 2024. Some units would be set aside for those working in the public safety, education and medical fields.
“This housing will help the very workers we depend on,” said Therese Chaplin, who testified via video in support of the proposal.
“Here in Franconia, we seem to excel at adding market-rate housing, but not so much affordable housing,” she said. “One way to lower housing costs back to historic norms is to increase supply.”
Others, however, argued that the Franconia area “seems to be getting a disproportionate share” of affordable housing proposals.
“Why don’t you look at all of Fairfax County [for affordable housing],” David Almasi said — specifically suggesting the area in Tysons where developers are seeking an entertainment district with a casino.
Two all-workforce housing projects totaling approximately 1,000 units are currently under construction in Tysons, with one going up near the McLean Metro station and the other in the Spring Hill area. A former car dealership site near the Spring Hill Metro station has been eyed for the potential entertainment development.
John Nicholson asked for a six-month deferral of consideration, citing uncertainty about the Trump administration’s commitment to financially backing affordable housing.
“Risks are high for adverse changes,” Nicholson said. “It’s better to go slow and do things right the first time.”
Steven Palmer, director of public policy for the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), suggested to the planning commission that fears of nearby residents could be alleviated with more communication.
“I’m available to anyone who has concerns,” he said. “This neighborhood will be benefited [by the project], as will this county and this state.”
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a land-use study of the Franconia Triangle in April 2023, partly in anticipation of the Franconia Governmental Center’s pending move to a parcel located between Silver Lake Road and Beulah Street, south of Manchester Blvd.
That new governmental center compound, slated to open later this year, will include the Kingstowne Regional Library, the district police station, Franconia District supervisor’s office, an active-adult center, daycare and small museum.
No complaints about remainder of parcel
With the exception of the apartment proposal, there seems to be little, if any, opposition to other proposed land use changes on the broader Franconia Triangle parcel:
- An office building on a 6.59-acre parcel on Beulah Street that also houses a single-family home could be converted into 30 multi-family units, with an additional 63 adjacent townhouses.
- A parcel currently occupied by Franconia KinderCare (6323 Grovedale Drive) would be redeveloped into 16 townhouse units.
- Areas zoned for retail use would see an increase in allowable future density.
Olivet Episcopal Church and the Franconia Volunteer Fire Station are also located in the study area, though no land use changes are being sought for those sites.
If all the proposed changes, including the 120-unit apartment building, win supervisors’ approval, the county’s plan for Franconia Triangle would allow:
- 79 townhouses
- 150 multifamily apartments
- 44,520 square feet of office space
- 62,512 square feet of retail
- 34,921 square feet of institutional space, incorporating the existing church and fire station
