Public Input Sought on Vienna's Future

PHOTO: Maple Avenue rendering courtesy of Town of Vienna

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VIENNA, VA -- As work on the Town of Vienna’s update to its comprehensive plan concludes, the public is invited to provide feedback through two upcoming public hearings, one before the Planning Commission next Wednesday, May 11 and one before Town Council before it considers adoption of the revised plan at its Monday, May 23 meeting, according to a news release from the Town of Vienna.

Want to weigh in? The Planning Commission meeting next Wednesday takes place at 8 p.m. at Council Chambers at Town Hall, 127 Center St. S.

A draft of the comprehensive plan is available for public review at viennava.gov. (Click on the “Town Comprehensive Plan” tab under the Planning and Zoning Department.)

The Vienna Comprehensive Plan offers a vision for a future Vienna that is a greener and more sustainable community with a vibrant and walkable downtown and multimodal connections that provide convenient access to destinations as well as stronger social connections and economic growth, the Town notes in its announcement.

Last updated in 2010, this comprehensive plan update provides a vision for how the Town could grow and evolve into the future.

“The comprehensive plan,” says Planner Michael D’Orazio, “is committed to maintaining Vienna’s small-town charm and single-family residential character, but it also encourages more diverse and compact housing options in the form of mixed-use projects along Maple Avenue.”

Some of the big ideas put forward in the draft of the comprehensive plan include:

• creating a downtown along Maple Avenue that provides a strong sense of place through encouragement of mixed-use redevelopment and potential implementation of design guidelines for signage, streetscape, and architecture as well as installation of public art
• building a public parking structure in the central business district that would address the issues of limited parking and walkability and provide for “park once” access to multiple businesses and destinations as well as more compact development
• creating master plans for each of the Town’s parks to clearly delineate usage and services, better meet the needs of residents, and identify and fill gaps in availability
• encouraging environmentally conscious decisions and practice
• enhancing placemaking, economic development, and walkable streets through a transportation study of Maple Avenue that would consider a variety of options including roundabouts, street parking, bike lanes, and landscaped medians

The comprehensive plan notes that while Vienna’s central business corridor can’t be expected to – nor be desired to – compete with retail experiences provided at Tysons and Merrifield, it can be enhanced in a way that would provide a viable shopping alternative. Another goal set by the plan is to manage the impact of nearby regional development on Vienna’s transportation system.

“As we implement the comprehensive plan,” says Planning Deputy Director Hyojung Garland, “we hope to encourage adoption of design guidelines that will help create a sense of place as you walk along Maple Avenue. We want to create active streets that are accessible, walkable, alive, and vibrant.”