Evening star., 1951-11-29
Board Rezones Tract
In Fairfax for First
Department Store

Commercial zoning Of a 1872
acre tract on Lee boulevard a
short distance past the Arlington
Fairfax line has paved the way for
Fairfax County's first large de-
partment store.
The Board of Supervisors re-
zoned the property yesterday from
suburban residence to general
business. The vote was unanimous
on motion of Supervisor C. B. Run
yon. seconded by Maurice w. Fox,
after nearly two hours of protests
were heard from nearby residents.
Attorney Glenn U. Richard, rep
lresenting the owners, said large
department store was interested
in building on the site and plans
called for 2,400 off-street parking
spaces. He said the name of the
interested department store could
not be disclosed at this time.
Space for Other Stores.
Mr.. Richard said the store would
not be as large as the new Hecht
Co. store in Arlington. There
would be space for other smaller
stores, he said.
The Hoyt report on business
and population trends in nearby
Virginia was read by Mr.. Rich
ards to show that Fairfax Coun-
tvs rapidly growing population
needs a major shopping center.
He read an editorial that appeared
in The Star last Saturday stating
that there was no reason why
Fairfax County should not have
its own up-to-date shopping ia
cilities to keep pace with its de-
Ivelopment.
Buffer Strip Provided.
The planning commission rec
commended the rezoning. provided
a buffer strip of residential zoning
was set off along Lee boulevard
and along the eastern boundary Of
the property.
Owners of the property are M.
Seth Horne, Harold A. Naisbitt
and William B. Ingersoll. In ad-
dition to Mr.. Richard, they were
represented by Attorneys Andrew
! w. Clarke and Lytton Gibson.
Opposition to the request came
from resident of nearby Lee Boule-
ward Heights. They said more
commercial development in the
area would increase traffic con-
gestion on Lee boulevard, par
ticularly in the Seven Corners
area which they said was one OF
the most hazardous traffic inter-
sections in nearby Virginia. They
complained that the rezoning
would bring commercial property
closer to their homes, and de-
crease the residential values. Let
boulevard, opponents said, shoule
be kept as free as possible IRON
commercial development so its ust
as a through highway would not
be ruined.
Action on Other Requests.
Other rezoning requests granted
included:
i Two-thirds of an acre on the
north side of Lee boulevard 6
half mile west of Fairfax Circle
granted from rural residence tt
rural business; 3.8 acres on the
north side of Lee boulevard from
Lee boulevard west of Fairfax
Circle, granted from rural resi-
dence to rural business; ST acre!
on the east side Of No. l highway
ESQ feet south of Popkins lane
lgranted from rural residence te
general business: is acres or
Route % about 500 feet south o1
Lee highway, granted from rura
residence to general business.
Also, two acres at the south.
west corner of Little River turn.
pike and Roberts lane, from
suburban residence to genera
business; 124 acres at the north.
} west intersection Of Franconis
and Backlick roads in Springfield
granted from agricultural districr
!, Ito urban residence; 11.2 acres al
i, Springfield near the preceding
tract from urban and suburban
residence to agricultural. The las
| rezoning was requested because
1.-THE property is to be donated fol
a school site by the Crestwooe
d Construction Corp, which is de.
veloping 600-acre housing prof.
tect at Snrin0feld. -~.-.