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Coalition Update
May 3, 2025
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This Update is focused entirely on the Public Hearings for the redevelopment of the Franconia Governmental Center that is now bundled in the "Franconia Triangle" site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) being proposed by the County. This is not an external SSPA, but one sponsored by the County and championed by Franconia District Supervisor Lusk. The Governmental Center site redevelopment is being separately promoted as "affordable housing". As much as the issue of affordable housing is paramount throughout the County, the manner in which it is being implemented in this case is being challenged by local residents.
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Two Public Hearings were held by the Fairfax County Planning Commission (PC) in April. Due to the overwhelming number of people testifying in favor and against the redevelopment of the center, the PC deferred their vote on the matter to next Wednesday, May 7, to allow time for the commissioners to assimilate the testimonies and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors (BOS). Although no additional public testimony will be allowed at the May 7, PC meeting, written comments will be accepted until that date.
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The Board of Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing on the SSPA for Tuesday, May 13. They will make the final decision after considering the recommendations of the PC and hearing public testimony. Again, it is possible the BOS will schedule additional hearings and defer* their decision to a future date. Written comments continue to be accepted until the date the BOS is scheduled to issue their final decision.
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*Deferrals have become more common; a decision is made on a later date during a "decision only" meeting, though still public. No additional testimony is heard. Decision-only meetings usually include comments by the PC or BOS to explain their votes.
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Our County, District, and residents are facing unprecedented financial challenges. We must continue to be good stewards of our community and each other. I believe we are fully capable of being creative, purposeful, and resilient without sacrificing our humanity and respect for each other.
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- Public Hearings: Franconia Triangle et al.
- Planning Commission Defers Decision on Franconia Triangle
- Opposition Coalition Organizes Against Proposed Redevelopment of Franconia Govt Center
- Background: Franconia Govt Ctr Site and Affordable Housing
- In The News
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Franconia Triangle et al.
The redevelopment of the Franconia Govt Center site is now included in the "Franconia Triangle" (Specific Plan Amendment 2023-IV-2S). See previous Coalition Updates.
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The PC will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors following two days of extended Public Hearings. Similarly, the BOS will review the staff report with the PC's recommendations, and hear public comments, but will make the final decision on the site-specific planning amendment (SSPA).
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Following all Public Hearings, the PC and BOS may make changes to the Staff's recommendations, request addition information, and/or defer a decision to a later date. Deferrals have become very popular by both bodies, and a decision is later made as a "decision only" meeting, though still public. Decision-only meetings usually include comments by the planning commissioners or board of supervisors to explain their votes.
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If the BOS approves the SSPA, the Franconia Triangle site would continue through the rezoning land-use process to include:
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- 120-unit "affordable housing" apartment building (new)*
- 79 townhouses (new)
- 150 multi-family apartments (new)
- 44,520 square feet for office space (reduced)
- 62,512 square feet for retail (increased)
- 34,921 square feet of institutional space, incorporating the existing church and fire station (no change)
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Planning Commission Defers Decision on Franconia Triangle
At the second Planning Commission Pubic Hearing on April 29, more than 110 residents submitted video/audio testimony in opposition to the proposal that would allow a private developer to turn the taxpayer-owned Franconia Govt Center property into a 4-story, 120-unit affordable apartment building.
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Due to the unprecedented number of prerecorded statements, the Planning Commission (PC) had to hold this additional public hearing to listen to all the testimonies. The PC also opted to defer their decision (aka recommendation to the Board of Supervisors) until Wednesday, May 7.
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Opposition Coalition Organizes Against Proposed Redevelopment of Franconia Govt Center
A separate coalition of Franconia Community residents has created a draft email to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to express opposition to the current proposed redevelopment. Simply fill in your name, etc., and submit. The PC and BOS email addresses are automatically included.
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The opposition coalition is also asking for an additional 100 pre-recorded (audio or video) statements to be played at the Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 13.
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Residents can come to any of their three "drop-in" events to record a statement (limited to no more than 3 minutes). Those who can't make any of the events can contact the organizers directly for more information at franconiacoalition@gmail.com.
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Sunday, May 4, 3-6 pm (drop-in anytime)
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Franconia Volunteer Fire Station (Bingo Hall)
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6300 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22310
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(Please use the driveway to the left of the building, park in the rear, and enter through the door from the parking lot.)
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Saturday, May 10, 11:30 am-3 pm (drop-in anytime)
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John Marshall Library (Large Meeting Room)
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6209 Rose Hill Drive, Alexandria, VA 22310
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Sunday, May 11, 3-6 pm (drop-in anytime)
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Franconia Volunteer Fire Station (Bingo Hall)
6300 Beulah Street, Alexandria VA 22310
(Please use the driveway to the left of the building, park in the rear, and enter through the door from the parking lot.)
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- Nomination Phase
- Screening Phase (current)
- Evaluation Phase (concurrent for the Franconia Govt Center redevelopment)
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program
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In The News
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- Vote Deferred After Hours of Testimony on Franconia Triangle Affordable Housing Plan
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- Franconia Government Center Proposal Could Set Precedent
While the Rose Hill proposal has been deferred, Rose Hill Civic Association is concerned that approval of the Franconia project will set a precedent as well as overwhelm our suburban community as described in Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan.
https://storage2.snappages.site/87grz1rwug/assets/files/Rambler2025Q1.pdf
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Franconia Govt Ctr Site and Affordable Housing
The redevelopment of the Franconia Govt Center (FGC) site has been swept into the larger project now referred to as the "Franconia Triangle" (more specifically, Site-Specific Plan Amendment 2023-IV-2S). The proposal for the FGC site is to build a 4-story, 120-unit affordable apartment building. What this means is that the FGC site is being reviewed as part of a larger proposal.
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For more information, see:
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Redevelopment and Housing Authority
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The redevelopment of the site is now under the purview of the Fairfax County Redevelopment Housing Authority (FCRHA) which will also hold Public Hearings and then vote on the "Comprehensive Agreement". A vote in favor will set the stage for project financing and construction by Franconia Development Partners LLC with FCRHA. The agency is known to finance such projects.
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Franconia Land Use Advisory Committee
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The Franconia Land Use Advisory Committee (an independent volunteer group appointed by Supervisor Lusk to represent civic and homeowners’ associations in the District), voted in December 2024 (25 in favor to 4 against) to recommend that the original site-redevelopment proposal be deleted from the encompassing SSPA 2023-IV-2S. The primary concern of the Committee was the increased density such a site would further add to the already approved and proposed new residential developments in the Franconia District.
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The current government center proposal is supported by Good Shepherd Housing and a group of Northern VA housing activists who refer to themselves as YIMBYS (Yes in My Back Yard). Their singular goal is to increase affordable housing in the region and nationwide.
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Opposition to the current proposal has been organized by the Franconia Coalition which argues the site is a poor choice for affordable housing. The site is adjacent to several gas stations, sits on Franconia Road (six lanes), has no pedestrian crossing, and is across the street from a shopping plaza. In addition, they object to the County "giving away" the publicly-owned site to a private developer. The developer would pay a total of $10 (ten dollars) to lease this taxpayer-owned property for 99 years, and only has to keep the units affordable for a portion of that time.
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Mark Your Calendar
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The Coalition Calendar provides detailed information on upcoming Public Hearings and other Fairfax County meetings on land use affecting primarily the Rose Hill Planning District. Each event includes an option to add the event to your online calendar. (Fairfax County provides a single basic list of ALL public County hearings and meetings.)
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Take Action!
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Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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All Board of Supervisors meetings held in the Board Auditorium and Conference Room 11 are available to view live on Channel 16 and stream online. BOS meetings have different requirements for public testimony than PC meetings.
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Stay In Touch!
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The Rose Hill Coalition LLC provides current information and supports full transparency on land-use issues directly affecting the Rose Hill Planning District within Franconia in Fairfax County, Virginia. More than 300 subscribers!
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