County Board members voted unanimously on Saturday (Jan. 24) to approve redevelopment of the vacant Inn of Rosslyn motel site for new apartments.
“We are facing a housing crisis. This crisis is today,” Board member Takis Karantonis said in support of the proposal by Monument Realty to construct an eight-story building totaling 141 units, including 13 committed-affordable units.
County staff had sought denial of the rezoning and site-plan applications. Among staff concerns was the project at 1601 N. Fairfax Drive did not meet open-space requirements for the corridor.
Staff suggested the developer construct a taller building with the same number of units, to allow for more open space around the building’s periphery. Officials with Monument, however, said going beyond eight stories would require more expensive construction techniques that would render the entire proposal uneconomic.
That position resonated with the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights Civic Association, which supported Monument’s plan as presented despite some lingering concerns.
“No developer is going to undertake the project under current economic circumstances” unless it can be constructed affordably, said Leslie Arminski, representing the civic association at the meeting.
The result could be similar to that experienced at the Key Bridge Marriott site, where an aging, unoccupied building was left to decay for years.
“We don’t want that here,” Arminski said.
Neither did County Board members, who said the project wasn’t perfect, but was good enough.
“There’s a lot of open space nearby,” said Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, addressing the major staff concern.
The site, home to a motel for decades before its closure 2021, has never had open space, he said.
One concern of the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights Civic Association remained unaddressed. The association feels the parking required on the site will not be enough, Arminski said.
It is a frequent concern of neighborhoods in urban areas, which sometimes feel the county is low-balling parking requirements to meet environmental goals, only to see residents of new buildings park on adjoining streets when not enough spaces are provided on site.
The adopted project’s total floor-area ratio, or FAR, will be an estimated 5.3.
FAR compares the total square footage of developed space divided by the square footage of the lot, with larger figures equating to more intense development.
Since it didn’t meet development guidelines in the Fort Myer Heights North Area Plan, the project would have been limited to an FAR of 3.24 absent County Board approval of the rezoning and site plan.
As envisioned by the developer, the apartment building will include units ranging from efficiency size to two bedrooms.
In other Jan. 24 County Board action:
Federal funding will support EV charging: Board members accepted a $400,000 federal grant to support electric-vehicle charging stations in four locations countywide.
“That funding is critical,” de Ferranti said, to “keep moving forward” on electric-vehicle infrastructure.
Four charging ports will be provided at each of the locations: Barcroft Community Center, the adjacent 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive parking garage, Walter Reed Community Center and Bluemont Park.
Funding comes from the Federal Highway Administration through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The county government will provide a $100,000 match.
In addition, Board members directed staff to evaluate the potential for zoning changes that could make it easier to install EV-charging stations across the county.
“We’re trying to understand and plan well,” de Ferranti said.
Fort Myer Drive sidewalk/signal project approved: Board members approved a contract worth up to $2.82 million for a sidewalk/signals project on Fort Myer Drive.
Sidewalk improvements will occur along 250 linear feet of the roadway between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Langston Blvd. There also will be two new traffic signals and new curb ramps at three of the corners of the Fort Myer Drive/Langston Blvd intersection.
The bids of three firms deemed responsive to the solicitation were above the budget for the project. County officials negotiated a revised scope of work for a lower price with the low bidder, Milani Corp. LLC.
Two new ‘specimen trees’ designated: Board members approved the designation of two trees on private property as “specimen trees,” providing protections against their damage or removal.
The trees are a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) at 1710 S. Queen Street and a black oak (Quercus velutina) at 4022 18th Road N.
Owners of the properties requested the designations.
Specimen trees are designated by the County Board once a year. Decisions are based on a tree’s outstanding size and quality for its particular species.
