The Town of Round Hill held a public workshop on March 25 regarding plans to develop approximately 10 acres of land on the west side of Town owned by the Websters. The property, which is located north of West Loudoun Street and south of Walraven Way, is being developed by Round Hill resident Carter Morrow, president of Bay Homes.

Approximately 4.5 acres of the property lie within Town limits and are zoned R-2. Two units per acre can be built by-right with minimum lot sizes of 20,000 square feet. The remaining 5.25 acres lie within the Town and County's joint land management area (JLMA) and are zoned JLMA-1, allowing 1 house per acre. Bay Homes is proposing to develop the property at the by-right zoning, dividing the property into 12 lots.

During his presentation, Morrow stated that his goal is to create an extension of the Town of Round Hill. A single road would run north from West Loudoun Street to meet with an extension of High Street on the north edge of the property. Homes would be built on both sides of this north-south road, effectively creating a new Town block. The developer's name for the property is "Round Hill West."

One aspect of the plan that would require a waiver or modification from the Town is the request that Town allow the project to be served by a 40-foot-wide VDOT-approved street instead of a 50-foot wide street. Morrow stated that by reducing the width, the proposed street will more closely approximate the existing streets within the Town and reduce the amount of paved area on the property.

Another waiver is being requested to allow access to two homes via a shared private driveway rather than a public road with a cul-de-sac. The reasoning is that "elimination of the turn-around and its associated setback requirements will allow more flexibility in the placement of the homes, thus creating a more visually appealing design, and will reduce the amount of paved area (more green space)."

The architecture of the proposed homes would draw its inspiration from existing homes in Town. Styles would include Victorians and four-squares with detached garages. The builder's signature would be custom stained glass in each home.

The home on the southeast corner of the property would be a "signature home" and would face West Loudoun Street; the home built there is likely to be Victorian in style and possibly a reproduction of the Hammerly House (the deteriorating home at 15 West Loudoun).

The lot on the southwest corner will be used for open space and stormwater management. Morrow is proposing to dedicate the property to the Town for use as a pocket park.

Vlad Gavrilovic of Paradigm Design, who is currently working with the Town to develop the Streetscape plan, has been hired by Bay Homes to integrate the development of the Webster property with the Streetscape plan's Western Gateway design. He attended the public information session and presented a concept plan for the pocket park. The plan included placement of the Town gateway sign, an off-road sidewalk, a bridge over any stormwater treatment, benches and a gazebo.

After the developer's presentation, the floor opened for a question and answer session, during which the following points were discussed:

• The 40-foot right of way is acceptable to VDOT.
• Bay Homes expects that curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be required by the Town.
• There will be sidewalk on a minimum of one side of the road. VDOT will maintain one side.
• A homeowners association will be created to maintain open space in the JLMA area.
• Mayor Etro mentioned the Town may consider an annexation agreement to bring the JLMA portion into Town limits. He suggested creating oversized lots to consume most of the open space; the Town might then assume maintenance of the pocket park and the northern strip of land between High Street and Walraven. A conservation easement on the oversized lots was also mentioned.
• The pocket park would not be built by the developer. Bay Homes would provide the required amenities, including the street, sidewalks and streetlights. Any area not "eaten up by engineering" would then be dedicated to the Town, which would then assume costs for developing the park.
• Mayo Etro expressed concern that most of the lot would be consumed by stormwater management; studies have not yet been completed to determine how the stormwater management will be achieved.
• Bay Homes is reasonably confident that VDOT will allow an entrance off of West Loudoun Street. Any problems will likely arise from the expense, not the existence, of the road.
• Mayor Etro stated that the Town would likely support the modification for a 40-foot road if it were approved by VDOT.
• None of the parcel is in the RSCOD (floodplain).
• The sidewalk in the northeast corner would probably tie into existing Town sidewalks via a crosswalk.
• At the moment, Bay Homes hopes to start construction of homes in the spring of 2006.