Fairfax County can now consider as many as 483 homes on 27 acres near Dulles. The Board of Supervisors voted 8-0 on July 14 to amend the county’s long-range plan for land at Centreville and McLearen roads.
The vote did not approve 483 homes, construction or a specific site plan. It changed the planning guidance for the property. Any project still has to go through the rezoning and development-review process.
Dulles housing plan: Quick facts
What did Fairfax County approve near Dulles?
The county approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the southwest corner of Centreville Road and McLearen Road in the Dulles Suburban Center. The new language lets the county consider residential development at up to 18 homes per acre when at least 15 acres are assembled for one coordinated plan.
At the full 27-acre scale, that works out to a maximum of 483 homes. It is a ceiling for future review, not a promise that 483 units will be built.
A planning option is not a building permit
The July vote changed what Fairfax County may consider on the site. A developer must still submit or advance a rezoning, address staff comments, complete technical studies and return for later public decisions.
Where is the Dulles housing study area?
The land sits near Route 28 at Centreville and McLearen roads, west of Reston and south of Dulles International Airport. It is part of the Dulles Suburban Center, an area with office buildings, parking lots and major road connections.
County planners said a future residential plan should include pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Transportation, schools, parks, stormwater and other infrastructure would be examined in greater detail when an actual development application moves forward.
How does the 281-townhome proposal fit in?
K. Hovnanian has a separate request under review for 281 townhomes on roughly 15 acres within the larger study area. That application was not approved by the July 14 plan-amendment vote.
If the townhome case advances, Fairfax County will review the layout, transportation work, public facilities and other commitments attached to that proposal. The Board of Supervisors would have to act on the rezoning separately.
What could this mean for nearby schools and roads?
FFXnow reported that a full 483-home buildout could add nearly 200 students. The area is currently associated with Floris Elementary, Rachel Carson Middle and Westfield High, though school boundaries can change.
The county staff report also calls for a connected street and trail network rather than isolated residential blocks. Exact improvements will depend on the project that is eventually submitted and approved.
What happens next?
The Comprehensive Plan amendment is finished. The next public steps belong to individual development applications, including the pending 281-townhome case.
For residents following the site, the useful documents will be future staff reports, transportation analyses, public-hearing notices and revised plans. Those will show whether a proposal stays at 281 homes, grows closer to the 483-unit ceiling or changes again.
Read more Northern Virginia real-estate and development news from DC Spot.
Frequently asked questions about the proposed housing near Dulles
Did Fairfax County approve 483 homes near Dulles?
No. Fairfax County approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment that allows consideration of up to 483 homes. A specific 483-home construction project was not approved.
Where could the new Dulles-area homes be built?
The study area covers about 27 acres near the southwest corner of Centreville Road and McLearen Road in Fairfax County’s Dulles Suburban Center.
What did the Fairfax County Board vote on?
The Board voted 8-0 on July 14, 2026, to change the long-range land-use guidance for the site.
Are 281 townhomes approved near McLearen Road?
No. K. Hovnanian’s separate request for 281 townhomes on about 15 acres remains under county review.
How dense could the housing be?
The amended plan allows consideration of residential development at up to 18 homes per acre with a minimum 15-acre consolidation.
When could construction begin?
No construction date has been announced. A development must complete rezoning, technical review, later approvals and permitting before work can begin.
Feature image courtesy Famartin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated July 22, 2026. The vote and planning details were checked against Fairfax County’s staff report and meeting coverage from FFXnow. The separate rezoning remains under review.
