10230 Main Street

Summary

10230 Main Street is the site of the historic Farr House (also known as "Five Chimneys"), situated on approximately 9.38 acres on the north side of Main Street, west of Barcroft Drive and adjacent to the Farcroft neighborhood. Ox Hill Development Company has proposed developing the property into a 96-room hotel with a spa, pool, conference and event center, and restaurants. On February 10, 2025, the Planning Commission held a pre-application briefing at which staff presented an overview of the concept plan — noting that the property is listed in the comprehensive plan with parcel-specific considerations, including a Resource Protection Area (RPA) at the rear, the absence of any current historic designation (though one is recommended to be explored), and guidance that any development should retain the existing house, minimize RPA disturbance, and consider its relationship to the adjacent Farcroft neighborhood. No formal action was taken at that meeting. On February 25, 2025, the City Council held a pre-application work session discussion on the same property; again, no formal action was recorded. The matter remains in the earliest stages of the application process, with neighboring residents from the Farcroft HOA already engaged and raising concerns.

Open questions & options on the table

• Whether a formal application will be submitted by Ox Hill Development Company and on what timeline.
• Whether the property will be explored for inclusion in a historic overlay district, as recommended by the comprehensive plan.
• How the proposed development will address the Resource Protection Area at the rear of the property.
• How the proposed development will address its relationship to the adjacent Farcroft neighborhood, including tree buffering and other compatibility concerns raised by neighbors.
• Whether the existing Farr House (Five Chimneys) will be retained as part of any development plan.

Discussion time

Minutes of named discussion per transcribed meeting.