Fairfax County officials are poised to consider two large redevelopments that would bring more than 1,000 housing units and tens of thousands of square feet of retail to Fair Oaks.
At its meeting Wednesday (Nov. 12), the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve an amendment to its comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of the Fair Oaks Business Park.
Coupled with a nearby Fairfax Ridge Road redevelopment also under county review, the Fairfax Crossing project would further transform an office-dominated area bordered on the east by the Fairfax city-county line, the north by I-66, the west by an interchange and the south by Route 50.
Chantilly-based Peterson Companies purchased the roughly 22-acre Fair Oaks Business Park, which sits near the intersection of Waples Mill Road and Pender Drive, for $36.5 million in 2022. The property consists of 11 low-rise office buildings built in the 1980s.
David Schneider, a land-use attorney with Holland & Knight representing the developer, said the office buildings are “mostly vacant” with “little to no market interest.”
“They’ve reached the end of their useful life,” he said.
Peterson wants to replace the buildings with 420 multifamily apartments across two buildings and 286 stacked townhomes, including 140 units designated as affordable for those earning 60% of the area median income.
One of the apartment buildings would include up to 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail or amenity space. The proposal also includes a 1.6-acre central park supported by an above-grade parking garage.
The project is adjacent to a property that hosts Inova’s Kellar School, a therapeutic education program that serves students in grades 3 through 12 who qualify for special education services. The school would remain on the site and have the space to expand in the future.
One person who spoke at a public hearing prior to the vote said the development needs to have an effective connection into nearby mixed-use areas in Fairfax City.
The proposed comprehensive plan amendment will now go to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing next Tuesday (Nov. 18), when it’ll be considered alongside similar changes to allow the Fairfax Ridge Road development.
For the Fairfax Ridge project, which was supported by the planning commission last month, property owner Time Equities proposes to replace the existing High Ridge office building at 3877 Fairfax Ridge Road with 400 multifamily dwelling units and 5,500 square feet of retail.
The comprehensive plan amendments are required because both companies are seeking higher floor-area ratios than what the county currently allows. The amendments are being considered along with rezoning applications for both developments.
Along with the redevelopment proposals, the county is conducting a wider study of the area to ensure proper water, sewer and transportation networks meet its comprehensive plan goals.
