Transforming Tysons

Tysons CornerComprehensive Plan

Matt Ladd, AICPDepartment of Planning & ZoningFairfax County, VirginiaSeptember 26, 2011

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Tysons in the DC Region

11 miles to Dulles Airport

11 miles to Downtown DC

Image source: Google Maps

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Tysons Today

• Economic engine of Northern Virginia

• 12th largest CBD in U.S.

• 105,000 jobs; 17,000 residents

• Auto-oriented, single-use development pattern

• Few transit options

Image source: Fairfax County EDA

Tysons Today

“That it is also a strip-malled, traffic-clogged mess does not take away from the fact that it is one of the great economic success stories of our time.” – Time

Quote source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587284,00.html

Tysons Today

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Why Re-Plan Tysons?• Metrorail expansion to

Dulles with four Tysons stations

• Regional growth management strategy to concentrate development in activity centers

• Tysons is not sustainable (economically or environmentally) as a suburban office park

Image source: Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

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Vision for TysonsA livable urban center

• 75% of growth within 1/2 mile of Metro• 200,000 jobs; 100,000 residents• Built around transit and walking• Affordable/workforce housing• New street grids to break up

superblocks• Maximum parking requirements• Parks, plazas, and open space• High level of environmental

stewardship• Arts, cultural, recreation opportunities

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Transit-Oriented Density

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Land Use Pattern

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Density and Land Use Pattern

2011 2050

Red Dot = 50 EmployeesBlue Dot = 50 Residents

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Pending Rezoning Applications

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Typical Condition

Spring Hill Rd

Tyco Rd

Rt. 7

Image source: Bing Maps

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Proposed Future

Spring Hill Rd

Tyco Rd

Rt. 7

Image source: Georgelas Group

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Typical Condition

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Proposed Future

Image source: LCOR

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Public Process

Planning CommissionRecommendation

(May 2010)

Board of SupervisorsAdoption

(Jun 2010)

Three Rounds ofAlternatives and

Community Workshops(2007 – 2008)

Task ForceRecommendationsPresented to Board

(Sep 2008)

Planning CommissionCommittee Reviews

4 Plan Drafts(2009 – 2010)

Task ForceDevelops Guiding

Planning Principles(2005 - 2006)

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Building Community Support

• Robust public input process

• Education campaign

• Successful TODs in the region

• Transparency

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Robust Public Input Process

• 45 community workshops and focus groups over 5 year period

• Hundreds of task force and committee meetings

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Education Campaign

• Focused outreach sessions on a variety of topics

– TOD and Transit

– Density

– Implementation

– Traffic Impacts

– Bike Tour

Image source: Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

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Successful TODs in the Region

• Arlington’s Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor

• Bethesda, MD

• Silver Spring, MD

• Downtown DC

Image sources: Coalition for Smarter Growth; Arlington County

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Transparency

• Frequently updated web site with meeting and outreach materials, videos

• Monthly fact sheets

• 4 Comp Plan drafts made available for comment

• Regular open house events on redevelopment proposals

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For More Information

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons