Despite testimony from citizens opposed to the project, the Board of Supervisors Monday approved a rezoning application that would put 14 houses on a 7-acre tract of land in Dunn Loring that used to be a goat farm.
Residents of the neighboring community, Dunn Loring Gardens, had opposed the design of the project, saying the developer, BBV Building Companies, had created lots that were on steep inclines or that used loopholes in county rules to be considered legal.
"It's not about how many houses we have on this," said Flint Webb, a resident of Dunn Loring Gardens. "It's about making sure that we have the best plan possible for the neighborhood."
Webb and others complained that an unorthodox design would make one of the new homeowners responsible for a piece of land on the other side of a sound wall from the rest of the property. The sound wall would effectively cut the property in two.
Mary Ann Godfrey, the planning and zoning staff member who reviewed the application, said the arrangement "may not meet the spirit and intent of the ordinance but in fact meets the ordinance and that happens a lot."
Not everyone, however, agreed with the residents of Dunn Loring Gardens. Ray Whorley, a longtime resident of Vienna, said the BBV application "seems to be pretty reasonable going forward the way it is."
Whorley, a realtor, is listed as a possible broker for the new properties.
Residents of Dunn Loring Gardens had also expressed concern that several people associated with the developer had contributed to Providence Supervisor Gerry Connolly's campaign for Board Chairman. Supervisors Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) and Michael Frey (R-Sully) have also received contributions from the developer.
"Frankly, given the choices we face, it's about as good as we're going to get," Connolly said of the application.