Advisory Committee Supports New Bank, Assisted Living Center

The construction of two new projects — a $45 million assisted-living facility in the Chantilly area and a new stand-alone BB&T Bank branch at the Centreville Village Center plaza — inched forward after a recent citizen’s land-use committee voiced their support.

The Western Fairfax County Citizens Association Land-Use Committee last Tuesday heard proposals for the separate projects, recommending approval for both. The developers now must take the recommendations to the county planning commission. The committee had previously reviewed both proposals on a preliminary basis, but Tuesday’s action represented a formal thumb’s up.

Bank Branch to Move

Bob Lawrence, a representative of BB&T, told the panel the bank had made extensive changes to their preliminary proposal to build a new 3,000-square-foot branch at the extreme south end of the shopping center along Stone Road, near Braddock Road. The developer included changes such as adding green space, reducing the number of parking spaces and extending a trail/footpath through the property. The one-story building will still have a walk-in lobby, three drive-thru tellers, an ATM and the bank’s 25-foot iconic glass tower at the entrance. Lighting and signage will be adjusted so it won’t annoy the neighbors, Lawrence said.

When it opens, it will replace an existing branch at the shopping center on Stone Road near Stonecroft Boulevard, Lawrence said. The narrow property at the Centreville Village Center shopping center has been difficult for developers because it is small and adjacent to an underground gas pipeline. Plans from two gas stations and a fast-food restaurant fell apart because of the site’s limitations, which includes strict nighttime quiet hours. County staffed approved the plan.

Assisted Living Facility

Representatives from the retirement developer, Smith/Packet, told the panel that their company plans to build an independent living/skilled nursing facility, on a vacant 8.5-acre site along Centreville Road near Rachel Carson Middle School. The 160-unit, multi-story independent living building, the Crossings at Centreville, would be separate from the 166-bed nursing facility, the Centreville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, said Jonathan Puvak, an attorney assisting in the project. The application is to be heard by the planning commission on Dec. 5.

After county staff denied the application, the developers decided to come back to the committee for a new recommendation, said Lynne Strobel, who is also working on the project. Before coming back to the committee, developers met with Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey and John Litzenberger, a planning commission member.

Both made a number of architectural and green space suggestions that were incorporated into a revised proposal, but staff refused to review the new version, Strobel said. The new project has a different, more contemporary look and will feature more landscaping and a covered pedestrian walkway between the two buildings, Strobel said.

“I really like what you’ve done and this project really looks good, much better,” said Chris Terpak-Malm, a committee member. “This is certainly something that we need.”

The committee recommended that the project be approved and asked that county staff take another look at the proposal.