Besides making hefty donations to Fairfax County parks and schools, Camden Monument Place has also agreed to build some affordable dwelling units (ADUs) in its apartment project in Fair Oaks.
It had earlier proposed contributing money toward the construction of ADUs elsewhere, but the county wanted some low-cost apartments included in that particular complex, so the developer complied.
"We've jettisoned the idea of writing a check," said Camden attorney Tony Calabrese of the Reston firm of Cooley Godward. "We're going to build the units." He said 19 apartments — 5 percent of the units — will be ADUs.
He was speaking, Tuesday, Aug. 5, before the Springfield District/Fairfax Center Land-Use Committee. And when he was finished, the committee members approved of the proposed zoning amendment that the project needs before it can move forward.
Based in Texas, developer Camden wants to construct a four-story apartment complex with a plaza and some small retail businesses. Called Camden Monument Place, it would be at the corner of Monument Drive and Fair Lakes Parkway, near Fair Oaks Mall.
"Camden owns and manages 50,000 properties in 145 communities in the U.S.," said Calabrese. "It's their first foray into Fairfax County, and they're excited about the demographics of this place. This is the absolute, epicenter site in terms of the right mix of retail, residential and restaurants."
The land in question had been zoned for offices since 1985, but no one built any there, and Camden believes that a more urban, residential project would support the office uses in the area. And on May 19, the Board of Supervisors approved a plan amendment converting this property from office, mixed-use to multi-family, residential use.
But that's just part one of the process; part two entails also getting the county's blessing for a zoning amendment, changing what was originally proferred for that site. The development will be 402,000 square feet total, including 3,000-6,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail stores, such as a deli, coffee shop or dry cleaners.
Planned are 372 units on 7 1/2 acres. At least 55 percent of the apartments would be one-bedroom, and 45 percent, or so, 2-bedroom. The buildings would have elevators and would front on Monument and Fair Lakes, with a trail along Monument.
A swimming pool, gym and rec center would be on site for the residents' enjoyment, and virtually all the parking would be contained inside one of the buildings, on the back side. Parking would not be allowed on either Monument Drive or Fair Lakes Parkway.
"A unique feature of the site — and something that makes it a little more urban — is including a residential bridge of apartments over the community's internal road," said Calabrese. "We like the way it looks."
Actually, he added, Camden is really proud of the architecture for the whole project, as well as the various elements. "There's an open-space park, and there should be a nice synergy between it and our plaza in the northern portion of the site," he said. A possible focal point of that plaza, said Calabrese, might be a fountain.
"We're hoping for a significant, public gathering space in our plaza," he said. "We hope to woo a Starbucks, deli or cleaners [in that area], or some combination of them."
Acknowledging that quality development is a "key component" of the land-use committee's decisions regarding projects in the Fairfax Center area, he said Camden has "paid great attention to detail" in what's proposed for Fair Oaks. For example, the buildings will be set back quite a ways from the perimeter streets, and a good number of trees will line both Monument Drive and the Fair Lakes Parkway.
"We're excited about the internal system, as well, with some nice pedestrian linkage and a community pool," said Calabrese. As for the development's main road, he said, "We like the vitality of having some [minimal] street traffic, internally. And we could even close down that street on Saturdays, since it's private, and have, for example, a farmers market or a kids choir there."
Furthermore, he said, at county staff's suggestion, Camden has widened its internal, green courtyard to 60 feet to "create a nice ambiance." And the stormwater-management pond (in conjunction with an underground system, too) will be stocked with large goldfish.
As for the proffers, Camden's agreed to pony up approximately $300,000 to the county school system. And at Springfield District Planning Commissioner Pete Murphy's request, it's putting in 8 percent more parking places than the zoning ordinance requires.
Calabrese said the developer will also provide "one/third of a million dollars" in on-site recreational amenities for Camden's residents. "We think this should meet the [county] Park Authority's requirement of a $955/unit donation to the Park Authority, if we didn't provide recreation on site," he said.
Camden is also designating $100,000 — some $265/unit — toward athletic fields in Popes Head Park. Since the donation had to go to a regional park, Supervisor Elaine McConnell told the developer where she wanted to see these funds earmarked.
The apartment complex will have an extensive, tree-save area, and the buildings will have 10, ground-level access points. Calabrese also noted that this residential project will generate a third less traffic than the huge office development initially intended for that site would have.
Camden will still help with local transportation improvements. However, luckily for Camden, the would-be office developer already made a $1.2 million contribution to the county, years ago, so it fulfilled this obligation for the new developer.
Land-use committee member Jeff Saxe said this money went toward construction of the West Ox Road/Route 50 Interchange, "so we've all been using the money provided by the prior land owner." Nonetheless, Camden will still lend a hand.
It's agreed to taper a lane of the Fair Lakes Parkway into the site and will either build a bus shelter or write a $20,000 check for it to the county's Office of Transportation. Camden will donate $5,000 to the SmarTrip program to provide the first 500 residents with rechargeable fair cards for the Fairfax Connector system, Metro buses and Metro rail.
In addition, Camden will have bicycle racks and a sidewalk and trail system. It will also donate $5,000 for installation of a pedestrian, "count-down" stoplight at Monument Drive and West Ox.
Calabrese said the developer will retain a professional, commercial-retail broker for 12 months to actively market up to 6,000 square feet of the project. But Saxe asked if that period could be extended to 15 months. "I'd love to see retail development there," he said. "I think it would keep some trips off the street."
Committee member Claudette Ward then recommended approval, and Fred Bailey seconded her. "I like this plan very much," said Ward. "And I'm glad they're going to build 19 ADUs and save as many trees as they can." The committee then gave the proposed zoning amendment its unanimous approval.
It goes before the Planning Commission on Sept. 17 and to the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 29. The earliest construction could start would be summer 2004, with completion by spring/summer 2006. Said Calabrese: "We really think this'll be a nice amenity — one that you'll be proud of when you drive by it, someday."