Developer seeks up to 450 housing units and ground-floor retail in Seven Corners plan amendment

Michael Wing, a planner with the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, opened the county’s community outreach meeting by describing a plan-amendment nomination for the Pistone/Grand Mart parcels in the Seven Corners area. The consolidated site is about 3.15 acres and, under the developer’s concept, would support approximately 448 multi‑family units, roughly 30,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail and about 17,000 square feet of open space under a shared/underground parking structure. Wing said the Board asked staff to analyze a mixed‑use option of up to 450 units and a 3.0 FAR.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan guides future rezoning and development. Staff emphasized tonight’s review is plan‑level—an amendment would enable future zoning applications but does not itself permit construction. The county must decide whether the land bay should be redesignated from a transition area to an “opportunity area,” a change that carries additional conditions in the Seven Corners plan.

County and agency issues identified by staff included utilities, stormwater, schools and parkland. Wing said Fairfax Water can serve the site but sanitary sewer pipes west on Route 50 “appear inadequate” and require a detailed capacity study before decisions about build‑out. Schools staff projected an increase of about 13 high‑school, nine middle‑school and 27 elementary‑school students; county staff said existing and planned capacity can accommodate those increases though a small high‑school deficiency was noted in longer‑term projections. The Parks Authority’s preliminary review indicated a need for a little over one acre of urban park space; staff said it remains to be determined whether proposed open areas would qualify as public parkland under county standards.

Developer presentation and intent: Sarah Mariska, representing the property owner, said the existing Grand Mart and Pistone’s restaurant “have reached the end of their useful life” and described the owner’s goal of a long‑term, community‑serving mixed‑use project with retail, a public plaza and right‑of‑way dedication. Kevin Akon, who identified himself as the family company’s principal, said the owner intends to hold the property long term and build a development “that doesn’t just plop houses willy‑nilly” but provides public amenities and neighborhood‑serving retail.

Community concerns and preferences: Neighbors repeatedly asked where primary access for 448–450 units would be located and whether the project would proceed only after Ring Road work is complete. County staff said entrance feasibility (Hillwood versus the Route 50 service drive or Route 7) “needs to be studied further” and that phase one of the Ring Road is progressing independently of the plan‑amendment review. Robert Patillo, president of the Greater Hillwood Citizens Association, urged that any access be from the Route 50 service drive rather than Hillwood, saying Hillwood already carries “close to 10,000 cars a day” and that the neighborhood opposes adding a new through connection.

Next steps: staff reiterated the SSPA (site‑specific plan amendment) is in impact analysis and public engagement; they will consolidate agency comments, prepare draft plan language and—if appropriate—advance a staff recommendation and public hearings later in the year. The developer said it has filed a zoning application that has not yet been accepted for processing.

Ending: County staff provided an email and phone contact for follow‑up comments and said there will be additional opportunities for public input as the staff analysis and draft recommendation advance.