WASHINGTON 鈥斅燭he battle over a zoning issue in Fairfax County is over, but some residents are worried that their quiet neighborhoods will be inundated with traffic congestion.
The zoning changes will allow for higher-density development around Metro stations and in聽commercial areas that聽are older and need to be revitalized. In all, about 22 areas across the county have been cleared to zone up.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the new zoning changes during Tuesday’s public hearing.
Donna Pesto with the county’s zoning administration said there is a reason for the changes:聽The current zoning does not allow for the density called for聽in the county’s comprehensive plan.
“The purpose of the amendment is to create the tools needed to implement the comprehensive plan changes that the board has adopted over a number of years,” Pesto said.
There was major pushback against the changes, mainly from residents in Reston, Seven Corners and Baileys Crossroads,聽.
Residents were聽concerned that the changes聽would聽open the door to overdevelopment, arguing that more high-rise apartments would聽cause more traffic congestion and crowded schools.
“We don’t want 5,000聽apartments plopped down, and that’s what we’ll get,”聽Carol Turner, chair of the Mason District Council, told The Washington Post,
The county’s plan for these higher-density areas is to build up, putting taller buildings on a smaller footprint or smaller parcel of land.
Higher-density development is not a guarantee, however, because聽developers will have to present their projects to the county to be considered聽on聽a case-by-case basis. The public also is expected to have several chances for review and comment, The Washington Post reported.
Downtown McLean is one area that has gotten a reprieve from higher-density development. It will have a .
