Board approves Heritage Hunt rezoning

GAINESVILLE, Va. -- The Marque at Heritage Hunt isn’t just for the 55-and-up crowd anymore.

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors unanimously approved the rezoning of The Marque at Heritage Hunt senior living development on Tuesday evening.

The move allows the developers to lift the age restriction of the 55-and-older community, which had been struggling to fill its vacancies in a down real estate market.

The rezoning issue had been a contentious one with the school board, which took umbrage with the initial proposed proffer amount.

The school board sent a letter to supervisors after the planning commission voted against the approval of the rezoning.

In its letter, school board chairman Milton C. Johns questioned the developer’s proposal to only give cash proffers for each unit filled by a family with school age children.

Traditionally, developers pay proffers for each housing unit regardless of who lives there and before occupancy, helping the county and school system to plan for future growth.

After negotiations with county staff the last two months, the developer has agreed to pay approximately $1 million for all 200 units to help mitigate any overcrowding impacts on area schools.

The first of 10 equal payments is due a year from now.

“The timetable to receive the proffer money was not standard, but we could live with that as long as it was understood that this was a one-time thing to address the unusual circumstances of this case, and not setting a precedent for the future,” stated school board member Donald P. Richardson of Gainesville stated in an e-mail Wednesday.

“I think this change strikes a balance between protecting the School Board's interest while allowing for new development,” Johns stated in an e-mail Wednesday.

Attorney Mike Lubeley, who represents the developer, said the owner is committed to keeping the facility the way it is. He cited as an example a proffer that states that no tot lots or basketball courts will be built and the current senior-oriented amenities at the facility.

The reason for changing the proffers has to do with the difficulty in refinancing for age-restricted housing and the current status of the real estate market, Lubeley said. As of mid-March, the current building was 55 to 65 percent occupied with the average age of residents at 79 years old.

Opened in the fall of 2006, The Marque at Heritage Hunt is a luxury apartment complex located in Gainesville. Some of the amenities include a fitness center, pool, putting green, movie theater, salon and library.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.