Supervisors OK Rezoning for Blake Lane Project

The Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of land on Blake Lane on Tuesday, allowing a project to build townhouses to move forward.

The unanimous approval came after a public hearing that had no speakers on behalf or in opposition to the application filed by Neighborhoods VI, LLC.

The new zoning designation allows the developer to build 35 single-family attached dwellings, or townhouses, on 7.44 acres of land about 300 feet southeast of the intersection of Blake Lane and Chain Bridge Road. It also allows the single-family detached dwelling, which has a life estate, to remain on the site. At the end of the life estate, the option to demolish or replace it is available.

In 2006, this piece of land had been approved by the Board of Supervisors to contain an independent living facility for elderly residents, but it was never constructed.

"This one was not very controversial at all," Supervisor Linda Smyth (Providence) said in an interview. "When they had gone through the rezoning for the senior living development, a lot of the folks thought, "Well, gee, what about townhouses? So that's what they did, and everyone seems to be happy."

The applicant must now file site plans with the county for approval before any construction can begin.

A representative from Stanley Martin Homes said site plans are currently being worked on, and the aim is to have everything approved by the first quarter of 2012. He also said they hope to break ground immediately after, with the construction of townhouses to begin around the third quarter of 2012.

Neighborhoods VI is the land owner. Stanley Martin will be the home builder.