Read on.

By Kafia A. Hosh and Derek Kravitz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 23, 2010; A01

Fairfax County officials on Tuesday approved a landmark proposal to allow the transformation of Tysons Corner from a sprawling, auto-dependent office park into vibrant, walkable city.

The Board of Supervisors voted 8 to 2 after a six-hour public hearing on new building rules and a 20-year blueprint for Tysons, its most significant land-use decision in recent years. The proposal permits Tysons to become a city of office and residential towers with sidewalk cafes, boutiques and manicured courtyards. It also calls for energy-efficient buildings, affordable housing, park space and a new street grid to filter local traffic. A planned circulator bus system would ferry riders among future Metrorail stations, offices and shopping malls.

"Tysons is a downtown. While it may not be a municipality, it will be a community," Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill), whose district includes the employment hub, said before the vote. "Tysons is not going to be an auto-oriented environment. It's going to be walkable for the people who live there and for the economy."

Decades of growth turned Tysons from a rural crossroads into the nation's 12th-largest business district, home to the corporate headquarters of companies including Capital One, Freddie Mac, Booz Allen Hamilton and Hilton Worldwide. But it also created a sprawling expanse of high-rise buildings and wide, congested roads, prompting county officials to revaluate the area's future.

The proposal, which was recommended by the Planning Commission last month, permits the densest development within a quarter-mile of four Silver Line Metro stations being built as part of the rail extension to Dulles International Airport. At least 75 percent of all development would be located within half a mile. The plan places no limit on residential projects in housing-starved Tysons but caps office development at 45 million square feet through 2030. About 27 million square feet of office space exists in Tysons, with plans for 6 million more approved, including a future expansion of Tysons Corner Center.

The biggest hurdles have yet to come. Excluding the rail system, officials have yet to identify a way to fund about $1.5 billion in road and transit improvements needed through 2030.

The public hearing was the culmination of five years of planning. The county was under pressure to adopt a final land-use plan because the four Metro stations are slated to open in 2013.

Supervisors Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) and Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield) voted against the plan.

The three Republican members of the Board of Supervisors attempted to delay a final vote until mid-July in what Frey called an attempt to "digest" the four hours of testimony heard Tuesday night "for transparency's sake."

But the seven Democrats on the board said too much time -- more than five years -- had been spent debating the plan's merits from the level of density allowed near Metro stations to building heights.

"This has been an extraordinary process that has involved so many people through it. It's been the whole spectrum, from business to landowners to neighbors," said Supervisor Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence), whose district includes portions of Tysons. "And everyone has had so much opportunity for input."

Public speakers included nearly 70 people, a mix of residents, developers and members of advocacy groups.

Residents asked the county to consider traffic safety and to preserve the trees that buffer their neighborhoods from busy roads.

Vienna Mayor M. Jane Seeman supported focusing growth in the area of the four Metro stations.

"I'm looking out for the little guys, the residents who live in the Tysons area and will be impacted if growth outpaces the amenities and the transportation improvements," she said.

Landowners, who already pay a tax to fund the county's share of the rail extension, said the plan was loaded with too many development conditions that would discourage construction. In addition to the green building and affordable housing requirements, the plan expects developers to fund a street grid and provide space for parks, fire stations, schools and other public facilities.

"We can't set the highest possible bar on every single front," said Anthony J. Calabrese, an attorney for several Tysons landowners.

But James P. Zook, Fairfax's planning and zoning director, said at least five development proposals have been submitted to the county. "We expect more applications to be filed in the near term," he said. "That's an indication to me that there are those who believe that the perimeters of the plan will work for them."

Before the vote, Stuart Mendelsohn, the outgoing chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, who is a land-use lawyer and a partner at Holland & Knight, said limiting density would discourage development in areas beyond the rail stations. "There will be development at some stations, but most of Tysons will take much longer to redevelop than it might have before the county staff severely modified the plan," Mendelsohn said. "I believe this plan will be seen as a missed opportunity."

But Charles Hall, a founding member of the Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition, said that increasing density beyond the rail stations could push growth to outlying areas. "If you create a big swath of cheaper land a half a mile away, where do you think people will want to put their buildings?" he asked.

Residential developers pushed for reduced affordable- and workforce-housing requirements, saying that the measures would make redevelopment too costly.

The Tysons plan calls for 20 percent of housing to be devoted to those who make $51,350 to $123,240, or 50 to 120 percent of Fairfax's median household income of $102,700. In exchange, developers would be allowed to build 20 percent more units.

Lynne J. Strobel, a land-use lawyer with Walsh Colucci Lubeley Emrich & Walsh representing several Tysons Corner developers, urged supervisors to cut the lowest tier of workforce housing, for those earning 50 to 60 percent of the median household income in Fairfax. That would include annual incomes of $51,350 to $61,620. Starting salaries for teachers and police officers in Fairfax County range from $44,000 to $49,450.

Tysons developers have sought to influence the planning process for Fairfax's de facto downtown for years. The top campaign contributors to the 10-member Board of Supervisors over the past five years include McLean-based WestGroup, which is trying to sell its 24 Tysons buildings piecemeal; partners in the Georgelas Group, a McLean developer planning the area's first transit-oriented development at Leesburg Pike and Spring Hill Road; and Pence-Friedel Developers, which nearly bought much of WestGroup's holdings before the deal fell through in January.

Tom Fleury, a longtime Tysons developer now with the Penrose Group, supported the plan's adoption. "Tysons is the epicenter of the universe in terms of viable real estate development, and it's been kind of in flux for five years," he said. "The market isn't going to wait for ever for something to happen. The time is now."

Fairfax County police are searching for a gunman in an armed robbery at a 7-Eleven in Vienna that was captured on security cameras.

The suspect entered the Park Street store at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, drew his gun, pointed it at the counter clerk and demanded cash, police said. He complied.

The gunman then followed a second clerk into the store's office, where he beat the worker with bottles, police said. The weapon was fired during the assault, but no one was struck.

The suspect then ordered the workers to exit the store, police said, after which he fled in a vehicle.

Police describe the suspect as a 20-something, heavy-set man, between 5' 6" and 5' 9" tall with dark hair and a full beard. He wore black pants, a black baseball cap and carried a green shopping bag.

Anyone with information is asked to call 866-411-8477.

-- Mike McPhate

View Video:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/crime-seen/video-gunman-robs-vienna-7-ele.html

Opponents of election changes, such as Historic Vienna Inc. official Laine Hyde, said the May elections draw voters who are familiar with the candidates and therefore more likely to make informed decisions. “Those who come to the polls in May . . . do so out of a fierce loyalty to the town,” Hyde said. “It’s our election and Vienna’s issues only.”

How did a community such as 22180 ever get to the point that an absolute brainless wonder such as Hyde could acquire power to have influence? Hint: she has been giving political sponge baths so to speak to Mother Maud for well over a decade. That loyalty brings benefits!

Bottom line, Hyde wants May elections for one reason: political power. What is that political power? Well, she gets to call herself the President of Historic Vienna, Inc.! It's a political job that most people don't know about, but one that cements Hyde as a member of Vienna's machine. A machine needs obedient poodles to stay in power and Hyde knows how to sit and role over exceedingly well.

Note: If you have the free time read the past posts about Hyde on this site. You really can't make this stuff up.

"BEAUTIFUL IN HISTORIC VIENNA --WRAP PORCH, BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES -supposedly planted by Thomas Jefferson; HISTORIC VIENNA WHAT A RARE opportunity to live in WINDOVER HEIGHTS, STEPS FROM VIENNA CENTER. BRICK PATIO & CHARMING WALKWAY; INSIDE OF HOME RENOVATED TO A CLASSIC STICKLEY/POTTERY BARN FINISH WITH ADDED MODLINGS, UPDATED KITCHEN W/ GRANITE, FRESH PAINT & MORE. A TRUE CHARM"

Thomas Jefferson? Really? The lies never stop...

Paul Layer is one of the loyal machine members. He sits on a Town Board making up rules as he goes -- frustrating well-intentioned people just because he seems to love the small power it affords him. Further, he is a primary reason for so much of the phony historic headlines that have dominated Vienna news for the last decade.

Why point this out? Educating Vienna citizens about community gadflies like Paul Layer is what this site does best.

Paul Layer, Vienna

Guy Allbright: Historic Vienna Pioneer

Notice how much less dumb Town stuff seems to be going on since every little thing got chronicled here? Or, maybe just no more Maud. Just a thought.

The discussion will include building height, minimum lot size, parking ratio, floor-area ratio and other topics related to mixed-use development.

For information, call the town’s Department of Planning and Zoning at (703) 255-6341 or e-mail dpz@viennava.gov.

Sun Gazette

Motorists driving inappropriately through Vienna could be socked with fines of around $400, if town officials authorize additional penalties for speeding in certain residential zones.

Town Council members at their March 8 work session decided to have the town’s Transportation Safety Commission review a proposal that would add a $200 civil penalty for violations occurring in those zones.

Drivers already pay $5 for each mile per hour over which they exceed the speed limit, plus more than $60 in administrative fees.

More bad news: Judges may not waive the extra residential fine unless offenders agree to perform 20 hours’ community service.

The residential-speeding fines could be collected only along minor arterial, collector and local streets, which must be at least 300 feet long to qualify, said Town Attorney Steven Briglia.

A traffic engineer, or that person’s designee, first would have to cite data showing that motorists along those roads regularly go at least 10 mph faster than the posted speed limit.

In their initial proposal, town officials said these streets meet the above criteria: Park Street, S.E., between Kingsley and Tapawingo roads; Courthouse Road, S.W., between Nutley and Locust streets; Kingsley Road, S.W., between Nutley and Cottage streets; Old Courthouse Road, N.E., between Country Club Drive and Westbriar Drive; and Malcolm Road, N.W., between Orchard Street and Lawyers Road.

Young people often speed along that last stretch of road while trying to get to James Madison High School, said Mayor M. Jane Seeman.

Council members George Lovelace and Michael Polychrones said the higher fines would discourage drivers from speeding.

But council member Howard Springsteen urged caution before fining motorists so severely.

Council member Laurie Cole said she wanted to find out from officials in other jurisdictions whether the fines reduced speeding, or produced any unintended consequences.

Some Town Council members said the residential-speeding fees could prompt motorists to speed down other streets not covered by the ordinance.

Town officials agreed higher fines would get the public’s attention.

“I think you’re going to get a lot of feedback,” said Vienna Police Chief Robert Carlisle.

If Fairfax County officials move forward with plans to bring back the county’s vehicle-decal fee, Vienna residents could feel the pinch.

Vienna eliminated that fee several years ago, but the town is part of Fairfax County, which has the authority to impose its fee on town residents if the town government chooses not to.

The Vienna Town Council on March 1 authorized town officials to advertise a public hearing on a proposal to begin charging a $33-per-vehicle fee - the same rate Fairfax County is considering.

State law limits Northern Virginia localities to charging no more than $33, while most other Virginia jurisdictions are limited to $25. The fee is on top of the personal property tax for vehicles.

The hearing likely would be held in early April. Because Vienna officials adopt their annual budget after Fairfax County does, the town could rescind its reinstated vehicle tax if county officials abandon theirs.

Vienna Town Manager John Schoeberlein said he is preparing his fiscal year 2011 budget proposal without anticipating revenues from a vehicle tax, but said if residents were going to get stuck with the county’s tax anyway, the town should follow suit to keep the revenues in Vienna.

Schoeberlein said he did not know if the town could negate the county’s tax while charging Vienna residents a lesser amount. When Vienna last charged a vehicle tax, it brought in about $250,000 per year in revenue, he said.

For decades, Virginia localities required motorists to display a decal or metal plate on their vehicles, in order to prove that the personal property tax on the vehicle had been paid.

Fairfax County officials eliminated the decal fee - and the decal itself - in 2006, when the county government was flush with tax revenue. Under the new county proposal, the fee could come back while the decal probably would not.

Few people love the personal property tax on vehicles - the phrase “No Car Tax” swept Jim Gilmore to the governorship in 1997, even though the tax was not eliminated during his tenure or later. And there has always been a mixed reaction to the decal itself.

James Campbell, a Northern Virginia resident, thinks it’s stupid and annoying.

“I have lived in a number of states and other countries, and as far as I’ve been able to determine, none of them has a tax to prove you paid your taxes,” he said. “I don’t understand why we haven’t been required to buy a large, ugly sign we must nail on our houses, saying we paid our real estate taxes.”

But other localities have made the best of the situation. In Arlington, which has kept the decal (and the fee), there is an annual contest to choose the design, based on submissions by high school artists.

It’s official: “Aunt Alice’s house” is historic.

The Vienna Town Council on Feb. 22 unanimously placed a house at 214 Nutley St., N.W., on the Register of Vienna Historic Structures, Sites and Places.

The house’s moniker derives from a previous resident, Alice Taylor, who lived in the house until 1978.

According to an application by the house’s current owners, Edward and Melissa Maillett, the structure is one of the best remaining examples of a house formerly owned by a freed African-American.

“We’re proud to live in an older home that has a link to Vienna’s past,” Edward Maillett said. “We’ve added on to the house, but respected its original structure.”

Former Union officer Harmon Salsbury deeded the property to Gilmore Taylor for $107 on Oct. 4, 1907. The site was part of Salsbury’s several-hundred-acre estate, a portion of which became the Windover Heights subdivision, Vienna’s only historic district.

Salsbury developed an affinity for his African-American troops while commanding a division of the 26th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Infantry. After the Civil War, Salsbury sold land to blacks in Vienna under easy credit terms, according to the Mailletts’ application.

The Mailletts, who purchased the house in 1995, removed its siding to expose the old German clapboard. The house’s interior has exposed wooden beams and retains much of its original pine wood floors, the application read.

The house’s original footprint is intact and the structure’s older, front portion still rests on a stone-rubble foundation with a dirt cellar floor, according to the application.

The house sits quite close to Nutley Street, a result of the town’s taking of 8 1/2 feet of land in 1969 to widen the roadway.

In addition to the town’s review, the Mailletts’ application passed muster with Historic Vienna Inc.

According to Fairfax County tax records, the more modern part of the two-story house was constructed in 1935, with an addition built in 2004.

Council member Laurie Cole said the house’s new status did not protect it from future changes.

“Things can still happen to this house,” Cole said. “It can still be remodeled.”