Applauding Development Near Vienna Metro Station
As a resident and taxpayer, I write in support of the recently approved Metro West development near the Vienna Metro station ["Plan for Dense Development Approved Near Vienna Metro; Fairfax Backs Multiuse Project as 'Smart Growth,' " front page, Dec. 7].
I concur with the statements made in a Sept. 30 article in The Post ["Project Near Vienna Metro Reflects Facts," Fairfax Extra]: "County policy plans, for example, include Land Use Objective 12(a), which says, 'Concentrate the highest level of development intensity in areas of transportation advantage; i.e., the Tysons Corner Urban Center, cores of suburban centers, and transit station areas.' "
The other point worth noting, which I rarely hear from my fellow Providence District residents, is the opportunity to create affordable housing and senior housing at this Metro site. As a member of the Fairfax County Tenant-Landlord Commission, although my views are my own and are not meant to represent the commission, I understand the need for affordable housing, especially near transit sites.
It is disappointing to read about such strong opposition from residents. At a recent Leadership Fairfax retreat, my fellow classmates chose "affordable housing" as one of the six topics for our Leadership Fairfax Class of 2005 to address. Clearly, in concert with the Briarwood Trace successes, we need to find more opportunities to include not only affordable housing, but also senior housing at a mixed-use site.
I applaud the efforts of Planning Commissioner Ken Lawrence; he compiled an extensive list of resources and case studies on transit-oriented development.
I know that often issues do not have 100 percent support. However, as Fairfax County planners have noted, this type of density at a Metro site is good for the future of Fairfax County.
Michael C. Aho
Fairfax
Metro West Will Increase Traffic and Urbanization
I am disappointed in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which recently rewrote the Comprehensive Plan to allow a huge new development called Metro West. The high-density development is proposed next to Interstate 66 near the Beltway and includes a dozen high-rises up to 14 stories tall. If zoning is approved, a new round of urbanization will consume the suburbs that we call home.
I commute on I-66 and the Beltway each day, and I don't see how the roads can handle so many more cars from such excessive development. The negatives for Northern Virginia include:
• Traffic gridlock. The junction of I-66 and the Beltway is already a major bottleneck. A study shows that Metro West will increase traffic by about 900 cars an hour at rush hour. Traffic gridlock will make this crossroads the next Mixing Bowl. Who will pay for the large road improvements that will be required, and when will they be built?
• Less Metro parking. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is selling land to the developers and losing up to 750 parking spaces at the Vienna Metro station. Parking should not be reduced at this end-of-the-line station. Current Metro riders will be forced back into their cars. Is this smart growth?
• Urban sprawl. About 4,000 condos and townhouses plus office towers and a hotel are proposed in several developments in a one-mile area along I-66. Whole neighborhoods are being bulldozed to make way for high-rise condos. Metro West is already encouraging more development proposals. Is any neighborhood safe from rezoning?
By approving high-density development like Metro West, the Board of Supervisors shows no concern for residents who have to live with its decisions. Citizens groups repeatedly asked for compromise, but officials ignored them. Residents will have to wait for the elections in three years to be heard, when we can vote for a new Board of Supervisors.
Mark Tipton
Fairfax
