Thompson Farm 2019
8915 Lee Hwy

Goodbye Thompson Farm - Hello subdivision!


Thompson Farm - aka Walnut Hill Farm, on Lee Hwy between Merrifild and Vienna Metro
A brief history of Walnut Hill Farm
September 25, 2019
The Planning Commission voted to approve the application, sending it to the Board of Supervisors for final consideration. There is no reason to expect any further change to the plan.

Friends of Accotink Creek written comments to the Planning Commission


Plannng Commission discussion of Thompson Farm (47 minutes)


Video submmitted to the Planning Commission for the September 25, 2019 hearing

July 16, 2019
The applicant has made a revised submittal. Given the resubmittal, the public hearing for this case will be deferred into September.

Planning Commission staff provided a summary of the changes:
• We postponed the July meeting in order for the applicant to continue working with our stormwater reviewers and Urban Forester on their review comments.
• The plans were changed in regards to those calculations.
• We also told the applicant we were not in support of off-site nutrient credits and that all water quality measures were required to be handled on-site.
• We also wanted to be sure the Tree Preservation Plan & Invasive Species removal plan would be for the land dedicated to the Park Authority as well as the tree preservation areas that would remain with the HOA.
• The applicant worked over the summer with VDOT to ensure their trail connection over the culvert on Lee Highway could be constructed since we felt that was an important pedestrian link to the trail that will connect Route 29 to Route 50.

July 6, 2019
Land Development Services this week provided the timeline below, which includes the Planning Commission hearing scheduled for a week later than what's currently posted at the farm entrance. Staff was quite responsive; she provided a good overview of the process and the status:
  • July 8 - Meeting with Providence District Supervisor Smyth
  • July 17 - Final plans posted online
  • July 31 - Planning Commission Hearing at 7.30pm at the Government Center
The understanding is that if the Planning Commission votes to approve the plan at the July hearing, construction could start the next day. If they don't vote to approve, that would result in a longer decision-making process, with opportunity for more input from the County and the community. These negotiations often result in better outcomes, from an environmental perspective.

Link to the zoning amendment request – Application: RZ/FDP 2019-PR-001
Fairfax County Planning Commission July 2019 Meeting Agendas
“For more information on an application, including the staff report, return to this page approximately two weeks prior to the meeting date and click on the application number. You can also contact the Department of Planning and Zoning staff at 703-324-1290.”

The Department of Planning and Zoning is receptive to direct requests for information, their main number is 703-324-1380, the number listed on the sign is 703-324-1290. You can ask to schedule a time to go in and view the plan if you find the online version is too blurry to read well.

You can also contact the Providence District supervisor's office at 703-560-6946 - , or the Providence District Planning Commissioner. Both are very attentive to development projects like this, and receptive to community comments/queries. The Friends of Accotink Creek have a special connection to the Thompson Farm (aka Walnut Hill Farm). Read more in our April 20, 2015 Bulletin

Walnut Hill Farm has in recent years been the site of organic gardening projects. Read more HERE