Land development in and around the Kingstowne community is regulated by the Fairfax County Department of Zoning which works directly with land developers to coordinate projects.  

The development of Kingstowne has been one of the largest land use projects undertaken in southeastern Fairfax County.  The 12,000 acres on which the community is built was formerly a gravel pit site owned by the Leehigh Cement Company.  The purchase of the site in the mid-80's launched the beginning of a massive land use master plan that encompassed both the residential and commercial areas.  Through the work of the Board of Trustees, the Kingstowne community has been closely involved with each phase of development as the master plan has come to fruition on both the residential and commercial sides.

The land development process in Kingstowne…

The Kingstowne Residential Owners Corporation (KROC) Board of Trustees (BoT) informs the community of land use issues in process through presentations at the community's annual meeting, special meetings, or articles written in the Kingstonian or posted on the Website.

Developers of projects that most directly affect Kingstowne are invited to give a briefing at one of the regularly scheduled monthly Board of Trustees meetings, which are open to the public.  BoT meeting agendas are posted online, and KROC Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) members are also notified when land use presentations will be made during BoT meetings.  The KROC Board of Trustees uses residents' feedback from the informational meetings to determine whether or not there is sufficient interest in the project to host any further meetings.  All NAB representatives are invited and urged to "weigh in" on projects, as are all members of the community.  Eventually, the KROC Board of Trustees is asked to support most land development projects and determines whether or not it will do so by first taking a vote at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees.  Following that, that vote is exercised by three homeowner members who carry the board's vote to the Lee District Land Use Committee. 

In Kingstowne, the Board of Trustees closely follows all land development that may affect the community.  That information is always available to homeowners, however it is ultimately the responsibility of homeowners themselves to understand the County's zoning and development plans for their neighborhood and surrounding area.  Individual land use projects can be researched at http://ldsnet.fairfaxcounty.gov/ldsnet/ or by calling the following departments:

Zoning 703-324-1290

Permits 703-222-0801

Site and Subdivision Plans 703-324-1730 

Residents who wish to follow specific local land use projects can do so by attending Lee District Land Use Committee meetings which are held monthly in the Helen Wilson Community Room of the Franconia Government Center.  Information about the agendas of these meetings can be attained by calling 703-971-6686. a few days prior to each meeting.

More information is also available at the county website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov. 

Curious about the Fairfax County process?  Visit Land Use 101and learn more about how it all works.

Springfield Mall Revitilization
In July 2009, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to redevelop the dilapidated Springfield Mall site into a mixed-use town center.  Since the approval, Vornado Realty Trust has been securing the necessary building permits and site plans.  Fairfax County has expedited all permits for the mall.  Vornado is preparing mock-ups that show the tiling, railing, and roofing of the future town center design and has just completed a mock-up that is displayed outside the second floor entrance to Macy's.  Vornado has also undertaken short-term renovations in some of the mall anchor stores.  JCPenney has recently renovated its store and Target is underway with its own renovation.

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
BRAC is the US Department of Defense's method of reorganizing military installations to adapt to changing circumstances.   Between 14,000 to 19,000 jobs are slated for transfer to Fort Belvoir by September 2011.  This transition will impact transportation systems, the natural environment and the quality of life in the Alexandria.  Click here for more information.

Wegmans
Located at the corner of Beulah Street and Telegraph Road on a former construction debris landfill, the Hilltop Village Center is often called Wegmans.   In addition to this anchor tenant, there will be an additional 100,000 square feet of retail uses and 113,000 square feet of office space.  The existing Little League field will be replaced and prelocated on the site that will also include an adult soccer field, youth baseball field, pavilion, playground, and open play area.  The owners of the site hope to deliver the site to Wegmans in late 2011 for an opening in late 2012.  

Liberty View
(Lewin Park neighborhood at the corner of Beulah and Franconia-Springfield Parkway).  Consistent with the approved Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) area plan review, the project is a rezoning application to permit high quality "Class A" offices adjacent to the Joe Alexander Transit Station (Springfield-Franconia Metro Station).  The scale and orientation of the prject will mirror the high standards established by MetroPark, including orienting the building to face the public streets and effective screening of parking structures.  A public hearing is expected in late January or early February 2011.  Construction on the first phase of the project could begin when final engineering plans are approved, most likely in spring 2012.  

Office Building Next to Kohl's
A proffer condition amendment was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last December to convert a previously approved hotel to a 113,000 square-foot office building next to Kohl's in Kingstowne.  A site plan and permits are now in county review and construction is expected to begin in mid-2011.

Palisades Development
Palisades Development has future plans for 10 single family homes on the property located between the First Baptist Church and the storm water management pond along Hayfield Road.  An application has been filed with the county and it is beginning the land use process. 

Jefferson Funeral Chapel
(East of South Van Dorn on Castlewellan Drive).  The Jefferson Funeral Chapel will be filing a Special Exception Application with Fairfax County in the near future to allow for an on-site embalming room that would accomodate the wishes of family members regarding their deceased loved ones.  There would be no visible change or expansion to the building or the site as a result of this request.  This minor change would slightly reduce the number of vehicular trips to and from the site.

Walhaven Woods
(Clames Drive, near the intersection with Higham Drive and bordered by Lake Village Drive on the South and East).  Walhaven Woods was approved in 2010 as a 32-unit independent living facility.  Its development will improve an area dumping ground.  The project will provide expanded housing opportunities for the area's aging population and allow seniors to maintain established relationships with family and friends.  In contrast to larger institutional facilities of this type, the project is designed to offer a low density residential scale and appearance.  The project also features concierge services, on-site activities, extensive open space, alking trails, and areas for gardening.  The project will also incorporate the latest wired and wireless technology to facilitate further communication and interaction among the community's residents and provide convenient access to necessary services.