A 1982 office building on 3.5 acres near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station could give way to up to 70 townhouses and a new public park.

The proposal for 1950 Roland Clarke Place, located south of the Dulles Toll Road and north of Sunrise Valley Drive, would scale back the site's planned density. The current Comprehensive Plan allows redevelopment at 3.55 FAR with up to 407 apartments and roughly 135,700 square feet of office space. The amendment would add an option for single-family attached homes at about 20 units per acre, dropping the intensity to approximately 1.15 FAR.

The plan is heading to the Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday.

Approval at this stage would not authorize construction. It amends the Comprehensive Plan only; a separate rezoning application would still be required before any building begins.

The traffic difference is stark. County transportation analysis estimates the townhouses would generate about 483 daily vehicle trips, compared with more than 3,400 under the existing plan. Even the current office building produces roughly 1,064 daily trips.

County planning staff recommends approval, according to a staff report from June. Staff said the proposal reflects the area's transition toward residential development while still supporting what the report calls broader transit-oriented goals near the Silver Line.

The site sits just beyond a half-mile from both the Wiehle-Reston East and Reston Town Center Metro stations. Neighboring parcels along Roland Clarke Place have already converted from office to housing in recent years: Valley and Park (54 townhomes), Sunrise Square Community (34 townhomes and 10 multifamily units), and The Point at Reston (308 apartments at 1941 Roland Clarke Place), all developed after 2015.

The applicant, represented by Cooley LLP, originally proposed multifamily housing at up to 2.2 FAR before revising the concept to single-family attached homes during the review process.

The amendment would also require a public park component. County planners recommend incorporating an urban park or destination playground with connections to adjacent park spaces, including a pocket park built on the site in 2021.

Under county policy, at least 12 percent of the residential units would need to be affordable housing. School impact projections estimate the 70 townhouses would generate about 33 students, fewer than the 44 to 145 students possible under the current plan.

The Planning Commission hearing begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Residents who want to speak must register by 1 p.m. that day by calling 703-324-2865 or signing up online. Written comments can be emailed to [email protected]. The Board of Supervisors will hold its own public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m.