4010 University Drive

4010 University Drive (Tax Map 57-4-02-087-B) is a parcel in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District, located at the corner of University Drive and Sager Avenue. The applicant is Pathway Homes, Inc. (agent: Molly Navanti), proposing offices and affordable dwelling units with related support services. The project was flagged in Planning Commission staff reports in November and December 2024 as heading to a City Council public hearing. On December 10, 2024, the City Council approved a Special Use Permit allowing upper-story residential/mixed uses, capped at a maximum of 10 dwelling units, on a 4-3 vote. On February 25, 2025, the City Council unanimously approved a Special Exception to modify the non-residential districts dimensional standards table, allowing a maximum density of 28 dwelling units per acre at the site. Both approvals carry conditions, including a required public access easement along University Drive and Sager Avenue to accommodate future sidewalk widening and undergrounding of utilities, which must be recorded prior to issuance of any zoning or construction permits.

In this wiki

• Meeting history — every action, vote, and update, with links to the moment in the meeting video
• Positions & open questions

2024-11-25 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 10: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Planning Division Chief Paul Nabti provided updates on recent and upcoming City Council meetings, including forthcoming public hearings for 4010 University Drive, Tommy's Carwash, and Taco Bell, as well as discussion of the Legislative Agenda and Accessory Dwelling Units.
• [10] A public hearing for the 4010 University Drive proposal for offices and fifteen affordable dwelling units with related support services was noted as scheduled for the December 10, 2024 City Council meeting.
• Status after: in_progress

2024-12-09 — Planning Commission Regular Meeting/Work Session

Agenda item 10: Staff Report (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Staff reported on recent and upcoming City Council meetings and Planning Commission agenda items.
• [10] Staff noted an upcoming City Council public hearing on December 10, 2024 for the 4010 University Drive proposal for offices and fifteen affordable dwelling units with related support services. [10] Location of the proposed offices and fifteen affordable dwelling units project scheduled for a City Council public hearing on December 10, 2024.

2024-12-10 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 8c: Public hearing on Pathway Homes, Inc. request — Special Use Permit for upper story residential/mixed uses at 4010 University Drive

• Outcome: Approved 4-3 (Doyle Feingold, Greenfield, and Lim opposed). Special Use Permit granted for up to 10 dwelling units in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District.
• Vote (passed): Motion to approve the Special Use Permit for upper story residential/mixed uses at 4010 University Drive, limited to a maximum of 10 dwelling units. — Bates: yes, Doyle Feingold: no, Greenfield: no, Lim: no, Ross: yes, Stehle: yes, Read: yes
• [8c] This parcel (Tax Map 57-4-02-087-B) in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District was approved for upper story residential/mixed uses, up to 10 units.

2025-02-25 — City Council Meeting

Agenda item 8a: Public Hearing and Council action – Special Exception for Pathway Homes, Inc. at 4010 University Drive (watch the moment)

• Outcome: Public hearing held. Special Exception approved unanimously, allowing a maximum density of 28 dwelling units per acre in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District at 4010 University Drive.
• Vote (passed): Approval of Special Exception for Pathway Homes, Inc. to allow maximum density of 28 dwelling units per acre at 4010 University Drive — Amos: yes, Bates: yes, Hall: yes, Hardy-Chandler: yes, McQuillen: yes, Peterson: yes
• [8a] The subject property at 4010 University Drive (Tax Map 57-4-02-087-B) in the CR Commercial Retail zoning district and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District was the site of the approved Special Exception.

Open questions

• Zoning permits and construction permits have not yet been issued — recording of the public access easement along University Drive and Sager Avenue is a prerequisite condition that must be fulfilled first.
• The originally described proposal referenced fifteen affordable dwelling units; the approved SUP caps units at 10 while the Special Exception allows up to 28 du/acre — the final unit count and project scope as built remain to be determined through permitting.

Member commentary

• Doyle Feingold — Voted no on the December 10, 2024 Special Use Permit for upper-story residential/mixed uses at 4010 University Drive.
• Greenfield — Voted no on the December 10, 2024 Special Use Permit for upper-story residential/mixed uses at 4010 University Drive.
• Lim — Voted no on the December 10, 2024 Special Use Permit for upper-story residential/mixed uses at 4010 University Drive.
• Hardy-Chandler — Made the motion to approve the February 25, 2025 Special Exception for Pathway Homes at 4010 University Drive, and voted yes.
• Peterson — Seconded the motion to approve the February 25, 2025 Special Exception for Pathway Homes at 4010 University Drive, and voted yes.
• Bates — Voted yes on the December 10, 2024 Special Use Permit and yes on the February 25, 2025 Special Exception — supported both approvals.
• Clara Schweiger (City Planner) — Presented the February 25, 2025 staff report, describing the Special Exception as a request to modify the non-residential districts dimensional standards table to increase maximum density to 28 dwelling units per acre in the CR district, noting the site's location at University Drive and Sager Avenue in the Old Town Fairfax Activity Center.