It's full-speed ahead for a local nursery school/childcare center and retail project. It received approvals, June 11, from the Fairfax County Planning Commission, and June 16, from the county Board of Supervisors.
The applicant is 11725 Lee Highway LLC, and the site is near the Fairfax County Government Center and Monument Drive. It's on the south side of Route 29 between Holly Avenue and Village Drive, approximately 3,200 feet west of the Route 29/Waples Mill Road intersection.
"We're four weeks away from construction," said Potomac's Michael Michnick, a week after receiving the go-ahead from the Supervisors. "We'd like to open in December/January."
He's both the land owner and developer of what will be known as Lee Plaza. The front part of the land is zoned commercial, and the back — where a KinderCare will be constructed — is zoned residential. The nursery school needed to obtain a special-exception permit from the county to build in a residential area.
However, the applicant may develop the retail portion by right (without special county permission) — putting in 33,000 square feet of retail uses, including restaurants and a Provident Bank.
ATTORNEY ERICA BYRD, representing Michnick, said Ryland Homes and Equity Homes are building on both sides of the project and "the owner saw great interest in a community-serving, retail business."
Planning to set up shop in Lee Plaza are Ledo's Pizza, Quizno's Sub Shop, Chang Le Gourmet, Salon Khouri — an upscale beauty salon, Nail Club Inc., Copyland & Mailbox, and a dry cleaners. Other businesses have also expressed interest in the site.
"We're now in final lease negotiations with Starbucks," said Michnick. "And we have a signed, letter of intent from a barbershop."
An 18,000-square-foot, tree-save area wraps around the back of the site, and a fence is planned around the back and sides, with an enclosed playground. Peak drop-off times for the KinderCare will be different from the retail center's peak-usage times. The 10,000-square-foot childcare center will serve a maximum of 180 children — 120 full-time and some 20, three days/week.
Byrd noted that one access-point off of the service drive in front of the Ryland development, at the existing median break, will serve both the retail uses and the KinderCare. She said just 29 parking spaces are required, but 11 additional spaces — for a total of 40 — will be put in. They'll be specially designated for the use of parents picking up and dropping off their children at the KinderCare.
REGARDING TRAFFIC in the area — and to enable motorists to more easily get onto Route 29 and turn west from the site — Byrd said the developer wants to explore the possibility of having a traffic light installed there. She also said both Ryland and Equity are supportive of the idea.
Byrd said Michnick "will submit a traffic-count analysis to VDOT [Virginia Department of Transportation] so it can determine whether a traffic signal is warranted. If so, we've agreed to pay our pro-rata share of the cost of the signal."
As for Michnick, he's delighted with the county approvals for his project and is happy to see it finally going forward. "My family has owned the ground for 30 years," he said. "And the timing was right [to develop it now]. Progress has moved out here, and the interest rate was reasonable."