A local non-profit, Stonecrest Home Arts, Inc., has requested a Special Permit from Fairfax County for the construction of a residential building at 815 Walker Road, which is immediately south of Great Falls Village. The planned building would be home for up to 12 unrelated women over 18 years of age living in intentional kinship. Residents closely related by their faith will live, eat, and worship together as members of the Stonecrest household. Although the property has an R-1 designation, the Board of Zoning Appeals may allow certain uses within a given zoning district, thus, a Special Permit is being sought.

Stonecrest’s stated objective is to bring Stonecrest staff closer to the activities it has promoted and served for decades, including educational programs for women and girls in the area, building on its relationships with Oakcrest School in Vienna and Longlea Conference Center near Culpeper.

The proposed 14,500 sq. ft. (including the lower level) colonial-style home has been deemed a “convent, monastery, seminary or nunnery” by the Department of Planning and Development, Zoning Evaluation Division. The building would contain 10 to 12 bedrooms and 10 to 12 bathrooms.  Residents will share a kitchen, living spaces, and other common areas.

Addicott Hills, the HOA for the adjacent neighborhood of Thunderhill, recently met with representatives of Stonecrest to review the proposed plans for the “home arts center” and then with the Land Use and Zoning Committee, Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA).

While further discussion is pending, several concerns were expressed in early meetings. These include:

• Whether (i) a group home of 10 to 12 unrelated individuals is in keeping with the more rural low-density character of Great Falls and, (ii) the exception, if approved, would it establish a precedent for other group homes in Great Falls. Per the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, infill development in the Hickory Community Planning Sector of the Upper Potomac Planning District where the proposed building would be located, should be of a compatible use, type, and intensity.
• The potential for additional traffic and safety issues on Walker Road. As parking will be provided for each of the residents who will likely be working outside the facility, it is anticipated that the volume of traffic may be higher than would be generated by a single house, or up to 3 single-family homes should the property be subdivided. Because the driveway as designed, with a 69 feet wide entrance, will be located in a hilly area of Walker Road, there is concern that driver visibility may be limited. 
• Whether the ecological system of the neighborhood will be overburdened and, more specifically, if septic and stormwater management facilities will be sufficient [and appropriately maintained]. (Note: Portions of the property are designated as Resource Protection Areas, and as such, certain land disturbing activities are prohibited without prior approval by the county.)
• The extent to which meetings or other events held at the home are attended by others who are not residents, as the Statement of Justification for the special permit indicates that “the building will also be used as a home base for apostolic outreach in the surrounding community.”

Stonecrest is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Directors, serving women and girls in the Washington, D.C. metro area since 1959. Its stated goal is to serve as a “leadership hub,” focusing on providing spiritual, intellectual and practical resources and inspiration for personal initiatives within the community by being a center for women who seek to strengthen their character, relationships, and professional undertakings, according to its website, which also states that “the  spiritual and doctrinal formation of Stonecrest is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church.” 

The Fairfax County staff report on the project is due out on or about April 20, and the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 28. 

To learn more about Stonecrest see https://www.stonecrest.org.

To learn more about Opus Dei see https://opusdei.org/en-us/.

Content updated to reflect current project report and hearing dates.