Arlington County Board approves Harris Teeter site plan amendment after neighbors raise tree and height concerns

Arlington County Board members on Nov. 18 approved a site‑plan amendment for the Harris Teeter project at 600 North Glebe Road and 520 North Tazewell Street that adjusts interior floor area and unit distribution for Buildings 2 and 3 while preserving the originally approved maximum height.

The board took the action after a presentation by county planning staff and a lengthy public comment period from neighbors living at the adjacent Hyde Park condominium. Planning staff described the amendment as interior changes that do not affect bulk or overall building height; applicant representatives said the changes respond to market conditions and a redesign of the building structure that permits a reduction of one floor while maintaining the previously approved height by increasing floor‑to‑floor heights.

The amendment was introduced by Gabriella Green of the planning division and explained by Evan Pritchard for the applicant. Pritchard told the board the project remains within previously approved height limits, will deliver the park and other community amenities, and will replace trees removed during construction and in some locations plant additional trees to exceed canopy requirements.

Hyde Park residents urged a different outcome. Laurie McManus said neighbors had lost significant green canopy and asked why the developer would keep the same height after removing a story: “If they're reducing the building by a story, I would prefer that they lower the height.” Daniel Bluestone and Stephanie Walker echoed concerns that the massing would significantly reduce sunlight and views for many units and asked the board to require a one‑floor height reduction rather than letting the developer increase floor heights to keep the same total elevation.

Planning staff and the applicant responded that some trees could not be preserved in place because of an encroaching foundation and retaining‑wall issues and that Dominion Energy transformer siting limited the locations for street trees. Staff said standard site‑plan conditions require bonds for trees proposed to be preserved and allow an applicant to either plant replacement trees on site or pay into the county's tree canopy fund when preservation is not feasible.

Board Member Maureen Coffey moved to adopt the site‑plan amendment ordinance for SP315. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair de Ferrante. After additional discussion about buffering and landscape mitigation, the board approved the amendment unanimously.

The board asked staff and the applicant to continue engagement with Hyde Park residents on landscaping and screening and to complete delivery of the publicly committed park concurrent with the final phase of development. The developer told the board it still targets substantial completion and final completion in 2027.

The vote was 5‑0 to approve the site‑plan amendment; the board recorded conditions requiring delivery of the previously approved green roof and other site amenities.