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Neighborhood Coalition Demonstrates the Power of Activated Citizens

Navid Roshan-Afshar
@thetysonscorner
October 1, 2012

If you ever feel like your voice, and those of your neighbors and fellow citizens, is smothered or muted by the unbridled weight of the economic elite, then perhaps you need the following story from our region to remove your political cynicism.

We have been reporting about the neighborhood coalition movement growing along western Tysons and eastern Vienna to save a significant natural preserve which acts as a buffer and amenity for hundreds of community members. Approximately 4 months ago they were confronted with plans which showed a highway ramp going through the forest as well as offloading thousands of commuters onto local roads. At that point it was referred to as a preferred option due to it’s cost efficiency and relative ease of implementation due to the lack of master planning necessary with several individual land owners. The plans, put together by transportation engineers, did not analyze how detrimental of an impact this plan would have on residents, pedestrians, and cultivating an urban fabric in Tysons.

Point 1: Putting an off-ramp prior to the 495 and Route 7 exits on the Dulles Toll Road will clearly pull more users than what the road is capable of. There is no chance that this road would operate as intended when it would allow users to get off the highly congestion region of the toll road one exit early and to avoid Route 7 all together. This road would be instantaneously another disastrous corridor of the growing region and would only continue to encourage commuters to avoid transit. This all would be antithetical to the purpose of the Tysons Master Plan.

Point 2: It destroys a very healthy forest which has been deeded over many decades in several stages as a preserve, resource protection area, and conservation area. Coalition leader Pam Konde has put in a lot of research in the legal history of the property which clearly states the forest must remain in a natural state.

After telling everyone within ear shot why this forest should not be sacrificed for the purpose of “easy” design it appeared last week that the coalition was gaining traction. In a meeting with county officials they found that their concerns were no longer falling on deaf ears. To ensure that the points would not be forgotten in some concession with FCDOT or commercial land owners, the neighborhood planned for a block party and rally to send the point home. In attendance were several state and county officials including Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman.

It was obvious that what had started with the outrage of a dozen attendees at a county transportation meeting had evolved to a political, and more importantly, a future planning liability. The option is now all but dead, pending a FCDOT meeting coming up this month, but based on the fervor that the last meeting created it will likely be navigated carefully by the County.

So what does this teach us about the power of people?

  • Firstly, no matter how much financial opposition you may be confronted with, the voice of an educated and united populace is not something that elected officials have the luxury of ignoring. The winner of an election is not whomever has the most money, no matter what some political analysts tell you, but by those with a message which resonates with voters.
  • Secondly, if you want to get attention, avoid the heart strings and go straight to the stomach. Nothing grabs attention like food and beverages. There is nothing wrong about promoting a good cause, spreading information, and grilling some great food with your neighbors.
  • Thirdly, local issues are the ones that mean the most to living the life that you want. A lot of times, especially in this area, we focus on national issues. There is nothing wrong with being educated on large scale debates, but if we don’t pay attention to what is happening in our own backyards then we will be non-participants in discussions that effect our daily lives.

Without the presence of a dozen residents in an inconspicuous planning meeting, there could be hundreds of residents facing the loss of their forest for the beautiful view of a flyover ramp. Their children would be at significant risk when crossing roads. Their ability to walk or bike to work would be impeded by the ever growing Boone Boulevard divide, once planners deem the 1st phase of construction “not enough”. In short;

“An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as free people.” – Thomas Jefferson.

If we want to make our voices heard, we have to first be educated and active in the discussion.

See the Coalition’s letter to Fairfax County

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




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