Information on the proposed shelter had previously been provided to the Springfield District Fairfax Center Area Land Use Committee and the WFCCA Land Use Committee.
The parcel in question is an R-1 zoned property on the north side of Route 29 just east of its intersection with Stringfellow Road. There the County plans to build a 20,000-square foot 2-story family shelter and two 3000-square foot 2-story transitional housing units. The structures will be built with shingle roofs and brick accents. The parcel will have between 45-50 parking spaces. There will be pole lighting in the parking area, and on-structure lights elsewhere.
The family shelter will house 20 families (about 60 people) and the two transitional housing units will house six additional families. A permanent staff of 15 will be supplemented by up to four volunteers. It is expected that the average family will stay in the facility about 90-days, but there is no limit on the maximum stay.
The Shelter will have shuttle/mini bus service to shopping and mass transit for those without their own vehicles. Future scheduled bus service along Route 29 has been recommended. The residents will have a 9:30 PM curfew.
The facility will be owned and maintained by the county but operated by a private concern.
The parcel will have six-foot board-on-board fences on the west, north and east sides. A sidewalk will be built along Route 29 to the south and to the pond on the north. Funds will be escrowed for the third lane on Route 29. The county is planning to use the entrance to the Estates of Fairfax (to the east of the property) as the site's construction and permanent access; therefore there won't be any need for direct access from Route 29.
The family shelter will have centralized cooking, but each family will have a small kitchen available for secondary family use with a refrigerator. No childcare will be provided. All families will be either employed or seeking employment. The county will provide school buses for children of residents.
If the plans were approved, construction would start in the spring of 2005, similar to the planned start date of the Estates of Fairfax. An architect has not been hired. The plans shown to the committee were not Final Development Plan (FDP) drawings.
The committee requested that:
The committee passed a motion to support the 2232 action subject to staff recommendation of approval and a chance for to the committee to review architectural renderings when they are available.
Flour-Daniels has made an unsolicited proposal to VDOT to conduct the lanes from West of The I395/I95/I495 interchange to just south of the Georgetown Pike on I495.
The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) is an advisory group that has been appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advise the Board on environmental matters. The Council is comprised of one citizen representative from each Magisterial District, four at-large members, and one student representative. Each year, EQAC holds a public hearing to obtain citizen input on issues of environmental concern. The public is encouraged to attend and share views on the state of the environment and to identify any environmental issues applicable to Fairfax County. Environmental issues considered by EQAC include water quality, air quality, noise, hazardous materials, solid waste, stream valley protection, wildlife management, light pollution, visual pollution, and the use and preservation of ecological resources. The Council would welcome your written and/or verbal testimony. To be placed on the speakers list or for additional information, call the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning at 324-1210 (TTY 711—Virginia Relay) or send an e-mail message to EQAC@fairfaxcounty.gov
Each session will begin with an open house at 6 PM followed by the hearing at 7 PM. More information can be found on their website
Jeffrey M. Parnes
Chair, Sully District Council
Land Use and Transportation Committee