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Developer previews 6‑story residential concept for 10430 Democracy Lane in Old Town Fairfax
Summary
Combined‑use developer previewed a pre‑application for 10430 Democracy Lane seeking rezoning to a planned development residential (PDR) in Old Town. The concept calls for a six‑story building with roughly 260–280 units, structured parking and new open space; staff and commissioners pressed for unit mix, accessibility commitments and shadow/line‑of‑sight studies.
At a Feb. 9 work session, City staff and an applicant team briefed the Planning Commission on a pre‑application concept for 10430 Democracy Lane, in the Old Town Fairfax Activity Center. The site is currently a roughly 60,000‑sq‑ft office building on 3.22 acres; the applicant proposes to rezone CR (commercial retail) to PDR (planned development residential) under the transition overlay district.
Staff described the small area plan’s recommendation for new residential or mixed‑use development up to six stories with new publicly accessible open space. The concept presented would replace the office building with a new six‑story multifamily development of roughly 260–280 units, about 458 structured parking spaces and approximately 28,000 sq ft of open space. Staff emphasized a full tree inventory, improved sidewalks and active‑street sections will be required if the application proceeds.
Evan Pritchard, representing the applicant, said the project is in an early stage and the final unit mix is not yet fixed but the team expects primarily one‑ and two‑bedroom units with a smaller number of three‑bedrooms. He confirmed the proposal will meet the city’s 6% affordable‑housing requirement and said accessibility will be “TBD” at this concept stage but that the team intends to provide an appropriate number of accessible units. “We are early enough in the process that we are still determining what the final unit mix is gonna be,” Pritchard told the commission.
Commissioners focused on design and context: sight‑line and shadow impacts for adjacent Leighton Hall/The Flats, the character of Old Town as cumulative projects come forward, and how this parcel fits into a larger downtown redevelopment picture. Commissioner Cunningham urged more explicit consideration of cumulative impacts, asking how the city will manage several concurrent projects and the character and amenity needs (for example, transit, green space and community centers) that will emerge as additional residents arrive.
Staff and commissioners concluded the briefing provided useful early feedback; staff indicated the applicant should return with a formal submission (rezoning, master development plan, special exception(s) for height as needed, and major certificate of appropriateness for architecture/landscaping). A city council briefing is scheduled for Feb. 24, after which a formal application is expected.
