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Planning commission reviews West Falls grocery‑size amendment after developer cites leasing realities
Summary
At a work session the Planning Commission reviewed a developer request to reduce the West Falls voluntary concession requiring a 39,200‑sq‑ft grocery to 32,900 sq ft to accommodate a new grocer (Fresh Market); staff and the developer said the change would free about 6,300 sq ft for other tenants and preserve projected tax revenue.
The Planning Commission held a work session on a West Falls request to amend Voluntary Concession (VC) Number 2, which would reduce the minimum grocery size from 39,200 square feet to 32,900 square feet.
Henry Zhang, the West Falls planning point of contact, said the amendment responds to leasing realities after the originally contemplated grocer dropped out; the new prospect, Fresh Market, prefers a smaller footprint. Zhang said the change would make it easier to complete Phase 1 construction and would free roughly 6,300 square feet for other tenants, increasing leaseability and tax revenue potential.
Marybeth Avedisian of Hoffman and Associates, representing the developer, said Fresh Market’s prototype emphasizes prepared foods and a substantial back‑of‑house kitchen, and that the chain told the developer it can operate profitably in the reduced footprint. Avedisian explained that the voluntary concession’s prior lease‑driven numbers (from an earlier prospective tenant) contributed to the specific square‑footage threshold and that applying the same 2% allowance to the Fresh Market lease produced the 32,900 figure.
Commissioners pressed the developer and staff on competitive effects — noting nearby larger supermarkets, including a Harris Teeter and other chains — and whether a smaller footprint could force a replacement tenant in a few years. Staff and Avedisian said Fresh Market’s market strategy and the developer’s ability to lease the remaining space supported the amendment; staff recommended scheduling the item for a public hearing on May 7 and returning to the Planning Commission for final consideration.
Next steps: staff will schedule a May 7 public hearing and the developer expects to provide a letter of intent; staff will continue to coordinate zoning and parcel assignment details required for implementation.
Topics: West Falls VC amendment; grocery tenant leasing and local economic impact; procedural scheduling for public hearing.
