Fairfax BAR recommends approval for six‑story Courthouse Plaza redevelopment despite staff’s recommendation of denial

The Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review on July 16 voted to recommend City Council approval of a proposed six‑story mixed‑use building at Courthouse Plaza, 10300 Willow/Willard Way (Case BAR240008), including nine special exceptions that would allow a height of 71 feet, a density the applicant calculated as 36 dwelling units per acre, and relief from several sidewalk and landscape dimensional standards.

Staff presented the application and urged caution. Anna, the planning staff presenter, told the board that "staff believes that the proposal does not comply with the provisions of the zoning ordinance stated under section 6 5 7 approval criteria and is not in general conformance with the design guidelines for the Old Town Fairfax transition overlay district and therefore recommends that the Board of Architectural Review provide a conditional recommendation of denial to the city council." She reviewed the Old Town Fairfax Small Area Plan guidance, described the existing Safeway‑anchored shopping center and the applicant’s proposal to demolish roughly 25,000 square feet of commercial space to make way for the new building and pocket park.

Applicant representatives said the project seeks to realize the small area plan vision while acknowledging constraints posed by existing leases and surrounding properties. Molly Novotny of Curata Partners said the project "starts reshaping the property toward that vision" and emphasized efforts to respond to prior BAR feedback on massing and materials. The design team showed renderings, a four‑brick palette, varied cornice heights, balconies and a proposed 8,950‑square‑foot total of public open space (the pocket park plus an enhanced pedestrian area).

Board members and the design team spent extensive time on materials, ground‑floor activation, loading‑dock treatment and the Safeway wall that will face the new park. The board asked whether the Safeway wall is part of the application; staff and the applicant confirmed it is included and will be renovated. A nearby resident, Renee Thompson, urged the board to consider stormwater and parking impacts, saying the 300‑unit scale was “a little bit jarring” and noting concerns about runoff for properties downhill.

The board debated two separate questions: whether the project meets the BAR’s certificate‑of‑appropriateness standards and whether to recommend the nine special exceptions the applicant requested (including adjustments to sidewalk widths, tree placement, lot coverage above 90 percent, and an exception for upper‑level interior heights of 8'11"). After discussion the board moved and voted to recommend approval to City Council for the certificate of appropriateness and for the special exceptions; the motions carried on roll call votes.

The board’s recommendation is advisory; the next step is City Council review and any required zoning approvals and permits. The board’s approvals were conditioned on conformity with the July 2025 plans and renderings, securing required zoning approvals and permits prior to construction, and landscaping modifications per the urban forester at the site‑plan stage. If Council approves, the applicant must return for follow‑on BAR review of facade updates for the remainder of the shopping center before residential occupancy, as described by the applicant during the meeting.

What’s next: The project will go to City Council for final land‑use approvals; the applicant must secure zoning and site‑plan approvals and complete façade updates to the existing retail center in subsequent BAR reviews.