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Board directs superintendent to negotiate temporary lease to resolve Centerville High School FAR issues
Summary
To keep a planned Centerville High School renovation on schedule, the board authorized staff to negotiate a temporary lease (or other measures) to satisfy Fairfax County floor area ratio (FAR) requirements and asked for a progress update by Aug. 28, 2026; the board also added quarterly reporting on a broader zoning fix for schools in RC zoning.
The Fairfax County School Board on June 25 authorized the superintendent to negotiate a temporary lease extension and directed staff to evaluate Centerville High School’s renovation scope in light of local zoning (floor area ratio, FAR) constraints.
Chair Ms. Anderson explained the historical context: when Centerville was built in 1988 the division obtained FAR density from adjacent Park Authority land through a lease arrangement; that lease expired in 2018 and subsequent attempts to secure replacement density have not produced an agreement. Board members said the temporary lease authorization is intended to buy time while the county, the Park Authority and FCPS pursue a longer‑term, divisionwide zoning solution.
The board added an amendment requiring quarterly updates from the superintendent on both Centerville and other FCPS sites affected by Residential Conservation (RC) zoning, citing a December 2025 board motion to seek a global resolution. ‘‘This is a vital step as we move forward with the anticipated renovation and expansion of Centerville High School,’’ Ms. Anderson said. Members emphasized the need to balance the renovation schedule with a fresh review of project capacity assumptions and nearby residential growth.
The motion passed unanimously. Staff said funding for the Centerville project has been staged and the division is ready to proceed once zoning/permit issues are resolved; staff will return an update to the board by Aug. 28, 2026, including scenarios and recommended next steps.
The board’s action is intended to keep an urgent renovation on track while seeking a countywide zoning fix that would reduce the need for one‑off lease negotiations at each affected school.
