Transforming Tysons: At Information Session, Residents Concerned About Traffic, Green Space

As subway tracks have risen over Tysons Corner in the last few years, residents in Vienna and McLean have wondered what the future urban center would mean for their communities.

Now, as the area’s first two rezoning applications prepare to come before a public hearing next week, those concerns – about traffic, cost burden and green space – still dominate discussions  about how the area is changing.

A meeting Thursday in Vienna hosted by Supervisors Linda Smyth (Providence), Cathy Hudgins (Hunter Mill) and John Foust (Dranesville) attempted to tap into those concerns as engineers, developers and county staff offered residents some of the most detailed plans to date about what growth in the area will look like.

While many residents were supportive of the plans -- particularly their inclusion of bike lanes, a pedestrian-friendly mentality, a $1.5 million donation to Fairfax County Pubic Schools and desire to transform Tysons into an arts and entertainment-heavy district – several said some important issues like green space, traffic and cost burden did not appear to have ready solutions.

Among the questions asked at the meeting:

“Where are [all those people] going to play ball?”:  The plan will dedicate 2.8 acres to the Fairfax County Park Authority, said Aaron Georgelas, one of the lead developers on the plan. How that land is used will be determined through the FCPA's regular public approval process, he said. For every 4.5 million square feet of development, Fairfax County requires an athletic field, and that is accommodated in the Georgelas proposal, developers said.

"But not all of those acres are within Tysons limits": The 2.8 acres are divided into about three separate plots, said Elizabeth Baker, who represents the Georgelas Group. Two of those plots are outside the "Tysons district," and one is inside of it.

"What’s your plan for parking?”: There will be some on-street parking available. For each residential building, 1.2 spaces per unit will be provided below buildings or in garages at street level.

"How will people access the metro?" Primarily by foot, bike or bus. There will be a park and ride in Reston, and also a kiss and ride area on the southern end of the Tyson West neighborhood. Georgelas said developers would keep that area open throughout construction -- they would shift it to accommodate buildings as they went up.

How is this affecting traffic?: A traffic study projected that the first two parts of the development would add 875 trips per peak hour, a member of the staff said.Vienna Mayor Jane Seeman said she was participating in a traffic study of how the people and roads within a three mile radius of Tysons would be affected. The results, she said, could help the town make further recommendations.

Will there be bike lanes in all streets? There will be bike lanes on roads that have speed limits of about 25 miles per hour or less. On roads where traveling speed is greater, bikes will be directed to the side of the road or to bike paths for safety reasons, staff said.

What about schools? Students living in Tysons West will be sent to Spring Hill Elementary, Longfellow Middle School and McLean High School, according to current plans. Those schools are currently at capacity, a county planner said. County plans for Tysons show an eventual need for another elementary and middle school, the county planner said.

What does "workforce housing" mean? Under a new county workforce plan specific to Tysons, 20 percent of all housing units need to be dedicated for workhorse housing, Baker said. For those who make 55 percent to 60 percent of the median income, no more than 25 percent of their income will go toward rent. The remaining units would be priced at market rate.

What accommodations will be made for the circulator bus? There will be dedicated lanes along Spring Hill Road and Tyco Road, similar to the one that exists on Leesburg Pike, county planners said.