FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review unanimously approved a request from GRI-Regency Centers to renovate the façade of the old Just Tires location at the Fairfax Boulevard and Main Street intersection. The company plans to add two restaurants to the building, including a Shake Shack.
The building under consideration is located at 11040 Main St. in the Kamp Washington Shopping Center. Shake Shack will occupy the Just Tires’ garage area, with a second unnamed restaurant in the former business’ office and reception area. Cox Communications will continue to occupy its space in the building.
The applicant’s plan is to add outdoor dining areas for each of the restaurants.
City BAR liaison Anna Kohlbrenner presented the staff report at Wednesday night’s public hearing. City staff recommended approval of the project with minor changes.
The entire plaza is included in the Kamp Washington Small Area Plan, which seeks to redevelop the area with “urban design, pedestrian oriented transportation infrastructure and open space.”
The proposal the BAR voted 4-0 to accept on Wednesday only concerned changes to the exterior of the building and not a full redevelopment of the plaza property.
“They’re not at the stage of redeveloping the whole site yet,” Kohlbrenner said. “But in the interim use, they’re following through with the small area plan. Their future goals are to consolidate the properties and have a plaza area with a bunch of artwork and mixed use commercial as well.”
Since the changes fall within the small area plan and don’t require rezoning or a special use request, the applicant can move forward with its plan without having to receive approval from the planning commission or the city council.
“If there’s a larger redevelopment, it would most likely go through the planning commission and then city council, and then they’ll implement the small area plan as well,” Kohlbrenner said.
