New Housing Development on Clarke Property on Old Bridge

Construction will begin this week on a neighborhood of 20 single-family homes on Old Bridge Road next to Lake Ridge Nursery, Occoquan District Supervisor Mike May recently announced.  

The project is a "by right" development approved for rezoning back in 2006. It will be constructed on the Clarke Property, where Clarke Electric used to be. It will be accessible by a right in and right out on the south side of Old Bridge Road.

"Once a rezoning has been approved, the owner of the property (and any subsequent owner) has a vested right to develop the property according to the specifications, proffers, and commitments negotiated at the time of the original rezoning," May said in a statement. "In other words, a rezoning is valid 'forever' as long as the developer honors the original commitments when engineering and building his or her project."

May said that the property now has a new owner and the owner is ready to move forward with development. 

"No additional approvals are required by the Board of Supervisors. However, this is not to say that the county government has no oversight of the project at all, May said. "Although we have no ability to deny the property owner his right to pursue the project, the county must still ensure that all commitments are honored. Specifically, the county will review and oversee the project as it is completed for compliance with our Zoning Ordinance, Design and Construction Standards Manual, transportation regulations, and the proffers."

These proffers include buffers between the homes in Old Bridge Estates, the preservation of about 60 percent of the property as "green open space," storm water impact prevention, and the completion of the Old Bridge sidewalk in that area.