10120 Fairfax Boulevard
Summary
10120 Fairfax Boulevard (Tax Map 47-4-23-000-D) is a vacant pad site within the Boulevard Marketplace Shopping Center in Fairfax. ABTB Mid-Atlantic, LLC sought approvals to develop a Taco Bell drive-through restaurant there, requiring a General Development Plan (GDP) amendment, Special Use Permit, Special Exception for parking landscaping, and a Major Certificate of Appropriateness. The applicant filed a formal application on February 6, 2024, and work sessions were held with the Planning Commission on June 10, 2024, and with City Council on June 25, 2024. On September 9, 2024, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended (7-0) that City Council approve the GDP amendment (dated August 19, 2024) but took no action on the remaining items. The matter was scheduled for a City Council public hearing on December 10, 2024, as noted in the November 25, 2024 Planning Commission staff update. At the December 10, 2024 City Council meeting, all four approvals — Ordinance No. 2024-14 (GDP amendment), Special Use Permit, Resolution R-24-39 (Special Exception), and Major Certificate of Appropriateness — were adopted 4-2, with Council Members Lim and Stehle opposed. The project is now fully approved.
Recent updates
[8a] This parcel (Tax Map 47-4-23-000-D) is the site of the approved Taco Bell drive-through restaurant development within Boulevard Marketplace.
[10] Address of the Taco Bell project scheduled for a December 10, 2024 City Council public hearing.
What members have said
At the December 10, 2024 City Council meeting, Staley stated that the project is 'not a positive addition to this particular site,' expressed concern that the shopping center 'cannot handle' a drive-through, and noted that a drive-through would remain 'for the next several decades.' He voted against all motions, while acknowledging the applicant's efforts and his colleagues' consideration of alternatives.
At the December 10, 2024 meeting, Greenfield seconded multiple motions and proposed adding an additional condition (condition number two) to the Special Use Permit approval, indicating engagement with the details of the approval.
At the December 10, 2024 meeting, Ross made the motions for the Special Use Permit, Special Exception, and Certificate of Appropriateness, and voted in favor of all four approvals.
At the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting, Lockhart made the motion to recommend City Council approve the GDP amendment for ABTB Mid-Atlantic, LLC, which passed unanimously 7-0.
At the September 9, 2024 Planning Commission meeting, Coleman seconded Lockhart's motion to recommend approval of the GDP amendment, which passed unanimously 7-0.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
- Sep 9, 2024Planning Commission · item 6a
[6a] Subject property (Tax Map 47-4-23-000-D) for the proposed drive-through restaurant and Special Exception.
- Nov 25, 2024Planning Commission · item 10
[10] Address of the Taco Bell project scheduled for a December 10, 2024 City Council public hearing.
- Dec 10, 2024City Council · item 8a
[8a] This parcel (Tax Map 47-4-23-000-D) is the site of the approved Taco Bell drive-through restaurant development within Boulevard Marketplace.