Fairfax County has signed off on modifications to a portion of the MetroWest neighborhood in Oakton near the Vienna Metro station.
At its meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 13), the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a request to change the development plan and conditions for a planned apartment building at the corner of Sprague Avenue and Royal Victoria Drive.
Peterson Companies acquired the 1.83-acre property from fellow developer Pulte Homes for $6 million in January.
MetroWest was originally rezoned in 2006 with the goal of bringing 2,248 residential units to the area with retail and other associated uses.
Pulte has done the majority of the construction at MetroWest, including the Providence Community Center, hundreds of townhouses and condominiums, and the 206-unit Atrium at MetroWest senior living complex.
Peterson’s proposal focuses on a site designated as Building 18. Originally, it was approved in 2022 for 244 residential units, 21,500 square feet of retail, and a day care center with a maximum building height of 105 feet. Tuesday’s action increases the number of allowed residential units to 269 and the height to 114 feet.
“This is an important step in realizing the long-planned vision for MetroWest,” said Andrew Painter, a land use attorney with Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh representing the developer.
Twenty-seven of the units will be designated as income-based affordable dwelling units. The day care center will take up 10,000 square feet of the designated retail use and have space for 150 children.
The increase in residential units doesn’t result in more units than originally planned for MetroWest because another building originally designated for 170 age-restricted multifamily units was changed into an assisted living facility. Those units aren’t considered residential units.
“The community has been waiting over 20 years for retail in the space,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said.
“It will provide the retail, the child care, open spaces and some parking and, I think, really bring a little more vibrancy,” she continued. “I hope the success of this retail brings future grocery and retail to this community.”
The additional retail will join 7,660 square feet in the MetroWest Square condo buildings that Pulte has been constructing since 2024. Those buildings will include 236 residential units with a 2,008-square-foot community room, a publicly accessible courtyard with a swimming pool, and other amenities.
