When residents asked about incorporating the TOD principle of "managed parking" into this plan, Fairfax officials replied, "The developer won't go for it." Managed parking arranges residential and commercial parking near stations to encourage those who live and work close by to take mass transit.
There are other reasons that many are skeptical of the county's claims that it is imposing strict traffic control measures on the developer.
Another is that the developer has openly declared that the highest density will be built at the site, whether or not attempts at traffic control measures actually work.
Other flaws and questions about the plan, such as its effects on Metro and the absence of a full traffic study, are too numerous to list here.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the unsound application of TOD to this plan is the fact that it is being promoted as a model for future developments elsewhere in the county, including along the proposed Metro expansion to Dulles.
Because the county is setting precedents that we may have to live with for years to come, FairGrowth.org urges residents to vigilantly monitor the upcoming zoning process for the Fairlee-MetroWest plan.
William S. Elliott
Spokesman
Fairfax Citizens
for Responsible Growth
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
You asked if the Fairfax County supervisors had the citizens' best interests at heart when they amended the Comprehensive Plan for development to increase density at the Vienna Metro station.
If by residents you meant developers or those able to afford $400,000-$800,000 homes -- yes, they did. If you meant the rest of us who live or work near the Vienna Metro station, or use Metro to commute farther down the Orange Line -- not at all!
Beverly Schlotterbeck
Annandale
Transportation researcher Diane Mattingly contributed to this column.
Dr. Gridlock appears Sunday in the Metro section and Thursday in Extra. You can write to Dr. Gridlock, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. He prefers to receive e-mail, at drgridlock@washpost.com, or faxes, at 703-352-3908. Please include your full name, town, county and day and evening phone numbers.
