GMU Catholic Campus Ministry Seeks Approval For Addition

FAIRFAX, VA — The Catholic Diocese of Arlington recently filed a special permit amendment application with Fairfax County, seeking approval to build an addition to the chapel that serves students at George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.

St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel is located at 4515 Roberts Road in the Braddock District, across from GMU’s east entrance. The 1.7-acre property is home to the George Mason University Catholic Campus ministry.

The applicant is proposing an addition of approximately 2,976 feet of gross floor area to the home located on the property at 4521 Roberts Road. The home and chapel are separated by a large, central open space, which is where the addition would be located.

The proposed expansion would allow for offices and meeting facilities, as well as interior updates to bathrooms and the kitchen, according to the application. The diocese is not proposing any new uses for the property

With the addition, the total density on the property will be 0.08 (FAR) (floor area ratio), which is within the maximum 0.15 FAR that is permitted for non-residential uses in the R-1 District (residential).

“The proposed building is not intended to increase the membership or attendance, but simply to improve functionality of existing facilities, and to provide better services and accessibility,” according to the application.

The proposed layout will result in approximately 27 percent open space on the property, which exceeds the 15 percent that is required under the current zoning.

Since the addition will be located in the center of the property, it will be hidden from Roberts Road and the adjacent property with the existing screening and buffers, which will remain in place.

“The proposed building will have minimal, if any, impact on existing traffic patterns as it will serve the existing student population, according to the application. “As the number of sanctuary seats is not increasing, the improvements will not result in an increase in the number of persons coming to the Chapel.”

The diocese’s application is currently under review by county planners, and will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals at an Oct. 28 public hearing.