JLB Partners
The proposal to build a 300 unit apartment building and adjoining parking garage at Hilltop Village in Fairfax County has stirred up strong feelings from members of the surrounding community.
Hilltop Village is located off of Telegraph road and is the site of the popular grocery store, Wegmans. The proposed apartment building would be built across Hilltop Village Center Drive from the store, at the corner of Telegraph Road and Beulah Street.
The Lee District Task Force, a group considering nominations through the South County Site Specific Plan Amendment process in Fairfax County, met to discuss the proposal this week.
Both the project's nominator and members of the public were given the opportunity to speak at the meeting, but a final decision on whether the task force would recommend the proposal to Fairfax County officials was deferred to a later task force meeting, Sept 14.
Due to the sheer volume of feedback from residents of surrounding neighborhoods, comments were not provided to the project nominator or the task force to review until an hour prior to the meeting. That means the task force will need more time before making a decision on the project’s future.
Project nominator Lynne J. Strobel, of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, who represents the property owners and developers, said that they are open to continued dialogue with the community.
During the meeting, many members of surrounding neighborhoods like Lansdowne, Island Creek, Hawthorne and Raceway Farms voiced their concerns over the proposed development.
Residents commented on issues like parking problems, lack of open space and amenities, traffic safety and school overcrowding. A member of the Lansdowne HOA said that he has never seen something garner so much engagement and passion among community members as this project. A resident submitted a petition with 1200 signatures to the task force in opposition of the nomination.
For more information and to learn about opportunities for public engagement on South County SSPA nominations, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/sspa/south/track-nomination.
