Plan Amendment To Be Sought For Senior Housing In Groveton

GROVETON, VA — A board matter approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Tuesday seeks a plan amendment for proposed senior housing in Groveton.

The board matter from Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk concerns a 0.6-acre interim park at 6890 Richmond Highway. The property is currently an interim park but is planned and zoned for about 70,000 square feet of retail and office uses. The interim park is adjacent to the Beacon of Groveton apartments.

While it has been zoned for commercial use since 2009, nothing has been constructed. Market demand for office space is not expected in the Beacon Hill/Groveton area of Richmond Highway in the next decade, according to a Fairfax County Economic Development authority market assessment study. A proposal to make the interim park a permanent park has not been advanced.

Now the property owner is proposing 60 to 70 units of affordable senior housing. A plan amendment is sought to allow an independent living facility on the site. A "community-serving" use on the ground floor could be considered as well.

"This would not increase the overall planned FAR of the development," Lusk wrote in the board matter. "Understanding the need for affordable housing in the county, especially for low- income older adults, I believe this proposal is worth considering, and will require a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning."

The board matter says a plan amendment should be considered concurrently with a rezoning application.