On October 14, 2020, MCA President Rob Jackson acted as moderator for a public citizens information meeting focusing on Tysons - 10 Years After Fairfax County Adopted the Revised Comprehensive Plan. Rob was joined by Fairfax County Supervisors John Foust and Dalia Palchik from the Dranesville and Providence Districts respectively. Supervisors Foust and Palchik addressed a number of current issues facing Tysons and the Tysons area such as plans to make Tysons more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly, planned mixed use development, adequacy of schools and recreational areas for projected resident growth, and transportation and transit developments. To see a video of the October 14th meeting, please go to the MCA Facebook page (there is a link is on the home page of the MCA website).
Background: In June 2010, the Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County approved major changes to the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons. Fairfax County adopted additional amendments in 2013. The Plan was designed to take advantage of the four new Metro stations that were, at that time, planned to open in Tysons in 2014. Since 2010, we’ve seen major changes in Tysons, including the opening of the Silver Line, approval and construction of many new buildings, more residents, new restaurants and shops and some new parks and open space. The Plan revisions triggered a wave of rezoning applications and construction in what is likely the largest redevelopment plan in the United States. More than 1700 acres are affected. The changes have had major impacts on our local transit system, parks, open space, schools, police and fire, storm water management systems and virtually everything else in the northern portion of Fairfax County. But we’ve also seen more traffic, much of which cuts through McLean neighborhoods; increased crowding at some schools and now, in 2020, economic confusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2050, the plan is to transform Tysons into a walkable, green urban center. It will be home to up to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs in that year. Tysons is envisioned as Fairfax County's "downtown," or a 24-hour urban center where people live, work and play. Three-quarters of future growth will be within a half mile of the stations. Many offices and homes will be a three to six minute walk from the stations, allowing people to get around on foot, bicycle, bus or subway.