Fairfax County planners have come closer to forging a cohesive policy on how to govern new development around rail stops, a key issue ahead of the upcoming extension of Metrorail.
High-intensity construction is expected to sprout alongside new and existing Metro stations as developers seek to build out the lucrative rail-accessible land, but the county now has only piecemeal guidelines on how to shape that development.
The Transit Oriented Development Committee, part of the county’s Planning Commission, reached a consensus Wednesday night on a draft policy that could guide construction for decades to come, said Committee Chairman Walter Alcorn.
The current draft could alter the boundaries of the style of development, allow more flexibility station-to-station, and set guidelines for parking and traffic.
The policy must eventually be approved by county supervisors.
While transit-oriented development has become a priority, as Metro is slated to run 23 milesof track beyond Dulles Airport that cuts mostly through Fairfax County, major construction projects at the Dunn Loring and Vienna Metro stations show the issue is immediately pressing.
