Fairfax County officials are voicing concerns about the transformation of Tysons Corner as a massive public hearing — and a potential Board of Supervisors vote — looms.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to discuss the Tysons Corner Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday, and a vote is expected.
Roughly 60 local residents and business leaders have signed up to speak at Tuesday’s meeting. At least two Fairfax officials aren’t sure the Tysons plan is ready for prime time.
“My fear is that in our quest to write a perfect plan, we’ve locked down too many details,” said Supervisor Jeff McKay, D-Lee.
McKay said residents and business owners wanted “flexibility” in terms of land densities, or the property allocated for private business and residential development. McKay said he hoped to see that flexibility included in the final plan.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission last month approved a roughly 40-year road map for residential and commercial development in Tysons Corner, one of the most successful business districts in Northern Virginia. Fairfax supervisors have been meeting with county staff and planning officials to discuss the plan.
McKay also said he feared the plan’s numerous building and zoning requirements would be too rigorous for many private developers. The comprehensive plan includes stipulations related to the size, scope, use and architectural progressiveness of all new developments.
“I just hope we’re not setting ourselves up for an endless chain of plan amendments every time somebody comes to us with a good development,” McKay said.
Supervisor Pat Herrity, R-Springfield, said the plan’s requirements were “too onerous.”
“I’ve got serious concerns about the smaller land owners being able to comply with the [plan’s] provisions,” Herrity said.
He said he worries private businesses would head to other jurisdictions in search of more lenient building regulations.
“The future success of Tysons Corner is not preordained,” Herrity said. “Developers have options. And if we make it too attractive to go to Loudoun County or Prince William County, that’s where they’ll go.”
Both McKay and Herrity said they aren’t certain how they will vote.
But Supervisor Linda Smyth, D-Providence, said the plan was “by and large” ready for approval.
Smyth, whose district encompasses Tysons, said county officials would make “a few little tweaks” but said the planning commission had performed most of the heavy lifting.
“They did the work for us. We have a good plan that there’s no use unraveling,” she said.
