McLean resident Lauren Murray hopes that close truly does only count in the game of horseshoes and is not part of the Comprehensive Plan's vernacular.
"I want to make sure the system works for us. We know this property will be developed. We were just waiting to see what would be proposed for the property. If the county stands by its mission and the Comprehensive Plan, there should be nothing to be worried about," said Murray, a 10-year resident with her family at Hunting Ridge Lane.
Hunting Ridge Lane is a neighboring street to Linway Terrace, a locale that is currently zoned at R-1, meaning one residential unit per acre.
"There's a rambler with a garden in back on the property," said Murray.
However, there is an application to the county on file by Marwan Moheyeldien for rezoning the property to PDH-3, allowing for planned development that is innovative and creative in design for residential and secondary use, said Adrienne Whyte, chairman of the McLean Citizens Association (MCA) Planning and Zoning Committee. Examples of a secondary use include, but are not limited to, a riding stable, veterinary hospital, day care center, drive through bank and a driving range. The application was discussed at the Planning and Zoning meeting of Jan. 29.
The Comprehensive Plan allows for a PDH-3 zoning on property greater than two acres. The Linway Terrace property is 1.2 acres.
"One-point-two is close to two," said Walsh, Colucci attorney Keith Martin representing the applicant during the Jan. 29 meeting.
"PDH-3 seemed pretty outrageous given the rules pertaining to the property," said Murray. "It's an inappropriate application. It's an attempt to get more houses on the property. It's not compatible with the rest of the neighborhood," she said.
"The MCA will oppose that rezoning application. It does not meet the minimum district size," said Whyte. "It's a ludicrous application — it does not meet the purpose and intent of a 'P-district,'" she said.
Murray said she and her neighbors appreciate the support of the MCA. "The MCA has resources helpful to the community at-large," she said. Murray and a group of about two-dozen neighbors met this past Sunday, Feb. 10 to discuss the zoning application.
She said that only three of the neighbors attended the meeting of Jan. 29 because many did not know that application was on the agenda. "More would have attended if they knew," said Murray.
Martin had sent notices to the neighbors immediately abutting the property, as he was legally required to do, but not to all 23 homeowners. "I called Keith and he sent a copy of the letter to all 23 neighbors," said Murray. "He agreed to meet with the neighbors," she said, but indicated that a date has not yet been set.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission will hold its public hearing on this application on May 2.
"The county should protect its homeowners," said Murray. "We will be vocal as a neighborhood," she said.