The developer pulled the plug on the Railroad Cottages project and they are backing away from our neighborhood entirely. Greedy attempts to cram density into our street failed because we refused to let them destroy our community for a quick payday. Stay vigilant because we know these developers will always …
May 26, 2017
Final supporters
Friends,
A developer is planning to build 11 houses on land that is zoned for 3 houses. They will be spaced 6 feet apart (you read that right, only 6 feet apart). Each house will be 1,500 square foot, 2-story, 2-bedroom + den and list for about $700,000, and targeted to age 55+. The property site is 1¼ acre, and is right behind our house and next to the bike path (W&OD Trail). We and our neighbors believe the proposed project design (Railroad Cottages) is much too dense and the compact site will not accommodate the amount of people nor the amount of cars it will generate.
We are concerned by the density, increased traffic (it is on a dead-end, one-lane street), fire emergency response risk, inadequate parking, storm water drainage issues, W&OD Trail impact, increased noise, and removal of almost all vegetation and trees.
We and our neighbors applaud the concept of affordable senior housing, but not at the expense and disregard for the current residents and how it will significantly impact them. We ask you: Is this type of housing good for the community in this location, or is the developer primarily interested in potential profit (he stands to profit several million)?
An ordinance was passed a few years ago that prevents building 2 houses on 1 lot. This is 11 houses on 3 lots. If someone can change the rules and build this behind our house what is to prevent them from building something like this behind YOUR backyard too? We do humbly suggest the developer only build the 3 houses the site is zoned for, or at a bare minimum, significantly scale back the overall scope and scale of their design.
Go see it for yourself. The address is: 1006 Railroad Ave (take West St to Fowler, then Fowler to the end, turn right on Railroad Ave and go to the end).
What can you do?
- Attend the April 17 Planning Board meeting at courthouse building at 7:30pm
- Sign our online petition “No to Railroad Cottages”
- Put a sign in your yard (“No to Railroad Cottages”)- we will provide the signs
- Email or call the city manager Wyatt Shields: [email protected] 703-248-5004
Please forward this email and tell everyone you know! Thank you for your support.
Updates
May 1, 2017
The developer thought we would roll over and let them cram these houses into our neighborhood without a fight. This momentum shows they were dead wrong and we are just getting started.
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2017
36 Comments
We cannot start changing the laws so one family can make millions of dollars. It is not fair, and it is not right. Do not bend the rules - stick with them. Mr. Young has given a lot to our community - but this is not right. You could be looking at 44+ children entering the schools from changing this from a 3 home zoning to allow 11 homes.
Too many homes too close together. I would support 5-6 small homes instead of the 3 the plot is zoned for under R-1 low density residential. But this is too many.
Wondering how 11 houses, and the vehicles belonging to the households, can fit onto 3 lots - 1.25 acres. Not sure that $700K is affordable housing for seniors.
Besides being bad for nearby property owners, this is also bad for people who use the WOD trail.
Totally opposed. If every property owner in town can't double and triple the number of dwellings on their property, why should this developer?
For those doubting Falls Church residency of those making comments, many people may post from work which will skew the location based on their work's location or internet configuration. I am a Falls Church resident, 201 N West St, but my work's internet make it appear I am in another city/state.
Theresa Twiford, a partner of Bob Young's, tried to do this project - 8 cottages - on land at 26th St. Because of VA and FC setback laws, she was only allowed 2 houses. More info can be found at the 7/7/14 and 8/4/14 FC Planning Commission Docs here: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/364/Planning-Commission
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The developer pulled the plug on the Railroad Cottages project and they are backing away from our neighborhood entirely. Greedy attempts to cram density into our street failed because we refused to let them destroy our community for a quick payday. Stay vigilant because we know these developers will always …
May 26, 2017
Final supporters
Friends,
A developer is planning to build 11 houses on land that is zoned for 3 houses. They will be spaced 6 feet apart (you read that right, only 6 feet apart). Each house will be 1,500 square foot, 2-story, 2-bedroom + den and list for about $700,000, and targeted to age 55+. The property site is 1¼ acre, and is right behind our house and next to the bike path (W&OD Trail). We and our neighbors believe the proposed project design (Railroad Cottages) is much too dense and the compact site will not accommodate the amount of people nor the amount of cars it will generate.
We are concerned by the density, increased traffic (it is on a dead-end, one-lane street), fire emergency response risk, inadequate parking, storm water drainage issues, W&OD Trail impact, increased noise, and removal of almost all vegetation and trees.
We and our neighbors applaud the concept of affordable senior housing, but not at the expense and disregard for the current residents and how it will significantly impact them. We ask you: Is this type of housing good for the community in this location, or is the developer primarily interested in potential profit (he stands to profit several million)?
An ordinance was passed a few years ago that prevents building 2 houses on 1 lot. This is 11 houses on 3 lots. If someone can change the rules and build this behind our house what is to prevent them from building something like this behind YOUR backyard too? We do humbly suggest the developer only build the 3 houses the site is zoned for, or at a bare minimum, significantly scale back the overall scope and scale of their design.
Go see it for yourself. The address is: 1006 Railroad Ave (take West St to Fowler, then Fowler to the end, turn right on Railroad Ave and go to the end).
What can you do?
- Attend the April 17 Planning Board meeting at courthouse building at 7:30pm
- Sign our online petition “No to Railroad Cottages”
- Put a sign in your yard (“No to Railroad Cottages”)- we will provide the signs
- Email or call the city manager Wyatt Shields: [email protected] 703-248-5004
Please forward this email and tell everyone you know! Thank you for your support.
Updates
May 1, 2017
The developer thought we would roll over and let them cram these houses into our neighborhood without a fight. This momentum shows they were dead wrong and we are just getting started.
Reached 100 supporters
May 1, 2017
36 Comments
The cottage housing development code change (Ordinance 1966) allows for the Railroad Cottages but they still must get approval from the city. While cottages in general provide an interesting, and possibly beneficial, alternative to townhouses the ordinance makes it clear that they are a temporary experiment and there will be a review of the projects completed after 3 years. If the experiment is expected to succeed then the Railroad Cottages CANNOT be built as planed because the lot is simply too irregular for an effective implementation. TLDR: Cottages can be good but this lot is too irregular
We cannot start changing the laws so one family can make millions of dollars. It is not fair, and it is not right. Do not bend the rules - stick with them. Mr. Young has given a lot to our community - but this is not right. You could be looking at 44+ children entering the schools from changing this from a 3 home zoning to allow 11 homes.
Too many homes too close together. I would support 5-6 small homes instead of the 3 the plot is zoned for under R-1 low density residential. But this is too many.
Wondering how 11 houses, and the vehicles belonging to the households, can fit onto 3 lots - 1.25 acres. Not sure that $700K is affordable housing for seniors.
Besides being bad for nearby property owners, this is also bad for people who use the WOD trail.
Totally opposed. If every property owner in town can't double and triple the number of dwellings on their property, why should this developer?
For those doubting Falls Church residency of those making comments, many people may post from work which will skew the location based on their work's location or internet configuration. I am a Falls Church resident, 201 N West St, but my work's internet make it appear I am in another city/state.
Theresa Twiford, a partner of Bob Young's, tried to do this project - 8 cottages - on land at 26th St. Because of VA and FC setback laws, she was only allowed 2 houses. More info can be found at the 7/7/14 and 8/4/14 FC Planning Commission Docs here: http://www.fallschurchva.gov/364/Planning-Commission
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The cottage housing development code change (Ordinance 1966) allows for the Railroad Cottages but they still must get approval from the city. While cottages in general provide an interesting, and possibly beneficial, alternative to townhouses the ordinance makes it clear that they are a temporary experiment and there will be a review of the projects completed after 3 years. If the experiment is expected to succeed then the Railroad Cottages CANNOT be built as planed because the lot is simply too irregular for an effective implementation. TLDR: Cottages can be good but this lot is too irregular