Home Depot originally planned to build a new store in the Chantilly Crossing shopping center being constructed along Route 50 and Lee Road in Chantilly. But when things fell through, it looked around for a new spot and found one practically right next door.
A Mr. Zumot came to the Tuesday, June 18, meeting of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee to present information about the plan and ascertain the members' thoughts about the idea.
"He told us that Home Depot bailed out of Chantilly Crossing because they couldn't get the leasing deal they wanted," said WFCCA chairman Jim Katcham. "But they still want to be in the area, so they contacted Zumot, who owns the land."
The site is on the south side of Penrose Place, just south of and adjacent to the Chantilly Crossing project. But it's currently zoned for industrial use, so Zumot would first have to obtain an amendment to the county's Comprehensive Plan, or a rezoning, before he could use that land for commercial purposes. As it turned out, the WFCCA saw merit in the proposal.
"That's a good location for big box-top stores, and the industrial zoning hasn't generated anything in recent years," explained Katcham. "Only Southern States is there — and has been for years, but the rest of the land is vacant."
So, in concept, the WFCCA gave Zumot a thumbs-up on his idea, and he'll return again in nine months, or so, with further details and updates, after filing his paperwork and going through the county process.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs