Fairfax County is planning redevelopment projects throughout the Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads area. An overview of the activity with an appeal for citizen involvement is provided on this page. Posts related to the projects are available on the Categories menu on the right side of this page.
Introduction: The purpose of this page is to encourage residents of Fairfax County living nearby Seven Corners to engage in the decision to adopt or oppose the redevelopment plan for the area that has been proposed by the Seven Corners Visioning Task Force. Background information is provided along with links to the task force Web site. Residents are encouraged to voice their support or opposition to the plan by sending e-mails to the Planning Commission with copies to Supervisor Penny Gross. The page is maintained by Clyde Miller, a homeowner in Holmes Run Valley, Mason District.
Background: Fairfax County is preparing a long-range redevelopment plan for Seven Corners. The plan proposes to create a dense urban environment consisting primarily of 6-12 story apartment buildings. Some of the high-rise buildings may have retail establishments on the ground floor, and some might include office space. The proposed plan was produced by a task force established for the purpose by Supervisor Gross. On 23 Sep 2014, they approved their report describing their redevelopment plan. Their last meeting was on 1 Oct 2014.
A follow-on working group is discussing details of the proposed redevelopment of the Sears site. It is expected that the group will meet at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, on a schedule to be published on the Task Force Web Site. Their meetings will be open to the public.
A compilation of working papers and meeting minutes can be found on the Task Force Web site. The community can review the Task Force Report (proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment) to determine the extent to which we agree that it represents our values and interests. The plan envisions an increase in Floor Area by a factor of 5 from approximately 1.5 million square feet to 7.6 million square feet. Residential floor space would increase by a factor of 9 from approximately 0.6 million square feet to 5.9 million square feet.
A number of neighborhood associations and individuals that have been monitoring the work of the task force have expressed concerns regarding:
- Traffic congestion and traffic cutting through our neighborhoods
- Overcrowding of our neighborhood schools
- Loss of easy access to retail services now provided by Seven Corners
- Demolition of affordable housing
- Construction of high-rise buildings before roads and schools have been improved
On 12 August, six neighborhood associations addressed a detailed Letter to the Task Force in an effort to assure that the task force understands and would respond to community concerns. Association representatives followed up by meeting with Supervisor Gross on 18August. The task force provided no public response to the 12 August letter.
Within the next few months, the task force report will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and a public hearing will be held on the subject. If the Planning Commission approves the plan, it will go to the Board of Supervisors for their approval.
Appeal for Community Participation: Community members are encouraged to voice their support or opposition to the redevelopment plan produced by the Seven Corners Visioning Task Force. In particular, please send an e-mail to the Planning Commission with a copy to Supervisor Gross stating your views. Be sure to include your name and address in the e-mail to demonstrate that you are a resident. The future of Seven Corners is a matter for the community to decide. To the extent that we do not engage, others will make the decisions for us.
E-Mail Addresses:
Planning Commission (Dear Planning Commission): plancom@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Board of Supervisors (Dear Chairman Bulova): Chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
Penny Gross (Dear Supervisor Gross): Mason@fairfaxcounty.gov
Include your name and address on all e-mails so recipient knows you live in the county.
Holmes Run Valley Community 