Denser Land Use Proposed At Neighborhood South Of Vienna Metro

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A land use proposal near the Vienna Metro advanced from Fairfax County's Site Specific Plan Amendment process will get upcoming public hearings. The proposal exemplifies strategies to locate denser homes near transit.

The proposal is in the Briarwood Farms development just a half mile walking distance from the south side of the Vienna Metro station. According to a county staff report, a county plan amendment is sought to increase the permitted density to 4 to 5 dwelling units per acre for seven properties between 2903 and 2911 Swanee Lane in Fairfax. The properties have a current density of 1 to 2 dwelling units per acre.

The area was developed with single-family homes as Briarwood Farms in the 1950s and 1960s. Some neighboring parts were redeveloped in the 2000s as Briarwood Trace with newer, more dense single-family homes. The seven properties targeted in the land use proposal are next to the denser Briarwood Trace homes.

County approval of a comprehensive plan amendment would be required to increase the density. A Planning Commission public hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors public hearing would be at 4 p.m. on March 18 if advanced by the Planning Commission.

Plans for redevelopment are not yet in the works, as property owners await the outcome of the plan amendment.

"The site-specific nomination represented a coordinated request by the individual property owners and there is currently no associated rezoning proposal or specific development plan," the county staff report reads. "The intent is to pursue a coordinated redevelopment of the properties in the future with a development partner, pending a successful outcome of the Plan amendment process."

The county staff report recommends allowing the 4 to 5 dwelling units per acre density with conditions.