On the Docket: Crescent Apartments Plan

Correction: an earlier version of this story said the Board of Supervisors would vote on the plan on Jan. 27. They will not vote until Feb. 17.

The long-awaited Crescent Apartments/Lake Anne area plan will go before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in a series of meetings that get it closer to construction starting at the site of the aging apartment complex.

The first meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 27. It will focus on the public-private partnership between Lake Anne Development Partners and the county government, addressing the business aspects of the partnership such as the purchase and sale agreement and associated fees, county officials said.

The second public hearing will take place Feb. 17, and will focus on the LADP’s zoning application needed to proceed with the Lake Anne Redevelopment Plan.

Both hearings will take place at the Fairfax Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway. To view the latest presentation on the Lake Anne Redevelopment Plan, Click Here. 

The Board of Supervisors public record is open. You can send comments Supervisor Cathy Hudgins at [email protected]. 

A vote of final approval from the board would clear the way for the project will add needed density to the Lake Anne area with 1,037 residential units (including replacement of the 181 affordable units at Crescent). It also plans 60,000 square feet of retail; a 15,800-square-foot grocery store; and 78,000 square feet of office space. 

The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the county planning staff report.

Lake Anne Plaza will not be redeveloped as it is a historic property. However, nearby revitalization is expected to improve the retail district at Lake Anne.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 11-0 on Thursday to recommend approval of the project  to the Board of Supervisors.

A big sticking point held over from the Jan. 8 planning commission meeting was the contribution of developer Lake Anne Development Partners to the Fairfax County Park Authority. LADP wanted to proffer $100,000; the park authority wanted them to pay $1.4 million. The two sides reached a deal at a $500,000 contribution prior to Thursday’s planning commission meeting.

The planning commission also agreed to waive some conditions set forth by the planning staff concerning residential street length, transitional barriers and underground stormwater facilities.

LADP was chosen by the county in 2013 to redevelop the aging Crescent Apartments, which was purchased by the county in 2006 for affordable housing.

See the entire staff report on the project on Fairfax County’s website.

Photo: Artists rendering of Lake Anne-area redevelopment/Credit: LADP