We learned how to hit a golf ball at Top Golf/Rudy’s.  (We’re the kids in the collage)  Eventually, I (Ethan) made the Edison golf team.  Now we are asking for your help to save Rudy’s so that other kids can have the same opportunity to have fun and learn how to play golf.  

According to Google, ‘Kingstowne, Va.’ is the second largest planned community in Northern Virginia and “One of the best places to live in Virginia.”  We think that is because Kingstowne is about so much more than housing.  It is the ‘common-enjoyment’ facilities in Kingstowne like the movie theater, pools, community centers, library, shopping and restaurants that make Kingstowne, as well as the surrounding communities, one of the best places to live.  Rudy’s restaurant/driving range/mini golf is one such place.  

A pending redevelopment proposal, set to be voted on by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, would replace Rudy’s with 174 townhomes.  The purpose of this petition is to stop that redevelopment plan.  Please sign the petition telling the Board of Supervisors that you want the parcel of land on which Rudy’s is located to remain as recreation-zoned, non-residential land.  Feel free to cite your reason, from the list below or other, in the comment section.  

If you wish to do more, you can send an email: 

ClerktotheBOS@fairfaxcounty.gov. Subject line: Plan Amendment 2015-IV-RH1, Topgolf Site, Kingstowne Area.

or video:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/budget-public-hearing-video-testimony

to the Board of Supervisors.   (Make sure to title your submission:  Plan Amendment 2015-IV-RH1, Topgolf Site, Kingstowne Area).

(Video Comments must be received before 9am on Monday, January 22, 2024)

We will present the results of this petition at the public hearing, so please sign (and ask your friends to sign, too)

Thank you for helping us save Rudy’s -

Ethan and Alyssandra Behle

Reasons for maintaining recreational zoning/keeping Rudy’s

1.       Kingstowne attraction:  Major benefit to living in Kingstowne and nearby.  It makes Kingstowne a unique community with a Top Golf-style eatery/driving range/mini golf in the community.

2.       Increased home value:  Increases home values due to such a facility being on-premises.  

3.       Employment:  Provides employment to dozens of workers.

4.       Something for everyone:  Offers more than just golf, such as mini-golf, sports bar, party room, catering for groups, lessons and special events.

5.       Golf:  Only driving range/place to learn to play golf, within a 20 minute drive of Kingstowne  (Only other nearby driving range, Hill Top, has already been converted to residential.)

Reasons for not wanting residential development

1.       Traffic:  The current plan calls for 174 townhomes which will generate an anticipated 1,275 daily trips.  Most of those trips will be on Van Dorn street which is already crowded at high traffic times.

2.       Public Services:  Increases need for additional public services, i.e. police, fire, E.M.T., sanitation, schools, etc.

3.       Density: This proposed development would add an estimated 475 people to our already crowded area. The proposed density of this development is 10 dwelling units per acre compared to the 3-4 dwelling units per acre recommended in the existing comprehensive plan. (The Kingstowne area as a whole was developed at 3-4 dwelling units per acre.)"

For more info, go to:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/topgolf   (Illustration of newest development plan at link:  Staff Report Addendum II)