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Manassas Park hears proposal to sell city parcel for Northfield development with 11 affordable units; vote deferred
Summary
City staff outlined a proposed sale of a roughly 1.5‑acre city parcel to Northfield for 38 units as part of a larger 213‑unit project; the developer would pay about $4.2 million at closing with roughly $3.8 million due as units reach certificate of occupancy. Council deferred a final vote to Feb. 4 to allow review of contract redlines and plats.
Manassas Park officials opened a public hearing Jan. 28 on a proposed sale of a portion of city land to the Northfield development, which would place 38 units on the city-owned portion of the site and about 175 units on an adjacent parcel currently owned by a private owner. City staff said the city portion is roughly 1.5 acres of a 3.5‑acre parcel and will include a conservation easement along Manassas Drive.
Keith (city staff) told the governing body that the project as presented would deliver five percent of the city portion as affordable housing—about 11 units—and provide a central green space with a playground, multipurpose courts and landscaping. The proposed product mix includes stacked condominiums and townhomes; staff said Northfield proposes two parking spaces per stacked condo and two to four per townhome, plus approximately 75 on‑street guest spaces.
Dean (city attorney) described the proposed payment structure and legal steps. Under the terms discussed, Northfield would pay the city $4.2 million at closing and the remaining about $3.8 million in tranches as units receive certificates of occupancy; a deed of trust would be recorded to secure the later payments and partial releases would be recorded as market‑rate units sell. Dean said the transaction remains subject to final site‑plan and subdivision approvals and that staff will circulate a redline purchase‑and‑sale agreement for council review ahead of a vote.
Council members questioned staff about public access to the green space, traffic impacts, and whether on‑street parking might be lost if the traffic study recommends road widening. Dean said the green space will likely be absorbed by the Blooms Crossing homeowners association and available to that community, and that all routine feasibility studies (traffic, stormwater, sediment/erosion control) will be required as part of site‑plan review. Staff said they do not currently anticipate a traffic signal but will rely on the traffic impact study to determine specific mitigation.
Stephen Collins, introduced as a Northfield representative, was present to answer questions and said the developer is "excited about this deal" and looks forward to working with the city.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The governing body closed the public hearing and deferred a vote on the purchase‑and‑sale to the council meeting on Feb. 4 to give the public and council time to review the redline agreement and the recorded plat.
Next steps: staff will circulate the redline purchase‑and‑sale and the recorded plat to council members before Feb. 4; a formal vote on the sale is scheduled for the Feb. 4 meeting.
