Gallows Road: Board clears 32-home plan despite traffic worries

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Oct. 27 to rezone an eight-acre parcel on Gallows Road, clearing the path for Madison Homes to construct 32 single-family detached homes. The site is located directly across from Woodburn Elementary School. Eleven existing houses on the lot will be demolished to make space for the new development.

Local residents did not oppose the addition of housing units themselves. Their primary objection focused on the condition of Gallows Road, which they described as unsafe. A crosswalk with a flashing light stands in front of the school, yet drivers frequently fail to stop for pedestrians. Witnesses reported numerous near misses at the crossing.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has completed a transportation study for the corridor. That document recommends two synchronized, three-way traffic signals at the intersections with Aston Street and Hemlock Drive. The agency expects to release the final report by the end of the year. However, no funding is currently available for the project, meaning installation could be years away.

Before the vote, representatives from safe streets advocacy groups, neighborhood associations, and the Woodburn PTA asked the board to pause the rezoning approval. They wanted the developer to commit to paying the full cost of the signals. Instead, the board accepted a one-time cash contribution of $50,000 from Madison Homes toward that goal.

Supervisor Andres Jimenez, who represents the Mason district, acknowledged the valid safety concerns during the public hearing. He stated that the frustration over the pace of transportation improvements is understandable. Jimenez promised to advocate for prioritizing this specific section of the corridor when the board reviews the study’s recommendations in the future.

The new development will include a 10-foot-wide trail along the Gallows Road frontage. Private roads and sidewalks will connect the homes within the site. A stormwater facility built on the southwest corner of the property is designed to handle a 100-year storm event. To reduce traffic impact, the project will remove nine existing curb cuts and provide a single point of access onto the road.

The rezoning follows a separate approval for a comprehensive plan amendment for the site. The new homes will sit on land previously occupied by a smaller residential cluster. The single access point aims to streamline vehicle entry and exit for the 32 new households.