Downtown McLean Design Guidelines Endorsed By Board Of Supervisors

MCLEAN, VA — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed new design guidelines for downtown McLean at its Tuesday meeting, guidelines that will be used to enhance the look of McLean’s commercial district in the coming years.

The design guidelines were the result of a multi-year effort that included multiple community engagement opportunities. Feedback from McLean residents played a vital role in shaping the design direction and underscored shared desires for downtown McLean, the county said.

At the Sept. 12 meeting, the Board of Supervisors endorsed Volume 2 of the District Design Guidelines for the McLean Community Business Center. Volume 2 is a companion document to the county's Volume 1 Urban Design Guidelines for Fairfax County Revitalization Areas.

The documents, prepared by the Community Revitalization Section of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development, are meant to be used together by developers when designing projects in downtown McLean. Volume 2 contains guidance on the structure and appearance of streetscapes, building frontage, lighting, street furnishings and stormwater management.

In a Sept. 6 letter to the Board of Supervisors, the McLean Citizens Association expressed its support for the guidelines, stating, “We believe the Guidelines are an excellent example of county staff and community collaboration in planning for the future of downtown McLean.”

The county and McLean residents both expressed support for “maintaining a small town feel with brick sidewalks, street trees, outdoor cafés, lively park spaces and lush landscapes,” the county said.

Among other designs, the guidelines call for brick paver sidewalks; street trees and multi-layered landscaping; outdoor dining areas and gathering spaces; thoughtful integration of signage and lighting; and benches, trash and recycling receptacles, and bike racks that fit the character of the area.

The design guidelines will apply to development proposals for all properties located within McLean Community Business Center, or CBC, an area centered around the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Old Dominion Drive and bounded by Dolley Madison Boulevard on its northern edge.

The McLean CBC contains several neighborhood-serving shopping centers that are accessible from Chain Bridge Road or Old Dominion Drive, the county noted in the District Design Guidelines.

“The vision of these District Guidelines is to assist in the implementation of the Plan vision for a visually cohesive, livable, pedestrian-oriented, and economically viable urban community, and to promote a clear and consistent process for developments and/or capital projects,” the county said. “They provide design options for creating an inclusive, sustainable community that aspires to high environmental standards, a high quality of life for its residents, and its own unique identity.”

The county emphasized that the design guidelines are not prescriptive and are not a substitute for the codes and ordinance provisions associated with the development review process.

“The Design Guidelines are intended to provide a frame of reference to be used for making specific design decisions; however, it is strongly recommended that the District Guidelines be followed with respect to elements in the public realm,” the county said.