Planning Commission recommends city buy 222 West Cameron Road for greenway, flood mitigation

The Falls Church Planning Commission on Nov. 18 recommended that the city purchase 222 West Cameron Road, a small floodway parcel the city says is key to connecting the Cavalier Trail and reducing flood risk. The commission’s motion passed with six votes in favor and one abstention.

City Manager Wyatt Shields told commissioners the city has a pending contract on the parcel and a purchase price of $795,000. "The purchase price, for this is $795,000," Shields said during his presentation, noting the roughly 7,000-square-foot lot contains a single-family house and lies inside a FEMA-designated floodway and 100-year floodplain. Staff said the parcel is identified in the city’s open-space planning documents and would be used for parkland and to complete a continuous greenway from Oak Street to South Maple.

Shields and staff emphasized flood-risk mitigation as the parcel’s immediate public purpose and described the property’s underground culverts and conveyance function. Commissioners asked how the city would treat the property in the interim between acquisition and eventual greenway construction; Shields said the city would likely demolish the existing structure and maintain the lot as green space, keeping grass mowed and engaging neighbors about acceptable interim treatments.

Commissioner questions also touched on whether the city could rent or convert the property to housing. Shields said the site’s floodway location makes it unsuitable for continued housing and noted state law constrains municipal housing uses in some cases.

The commission’s motion, read aloud by a commissioner during the meeting, recommended that the city purchase the property “not to exceed $795,000” and stated that the ultimate use and design would be developed through broader community engagement. The staff report and presentation point to the acquisition’s role in both the long-term Cavalier Trail greenway connection and immediate flood mitigation benefits.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; City Council had already taken action on the acquisition earlier, voting in favor at a prior meeting, and staff said council has budgeted one-time funds and a budget amendment earlier in the year for the purchase. Next steps described at the meeting include continued coordination with neighbors on interim maintenance and formal council follow-up on the purchase authorization.

Vote tally: motion passed with a majority in favor and one abstention.