Task force criticism not warranted
David A. Edwards
2008-07-09 12:09:36
The exchange of rhetoric concerning the Tysons Land Use Task Force found in The Times is getting a bit wearisome. It appears that those who are most knowledgeable about the work of the task force are going to let task force chair Clark Tyler speak for them. Nevertheless, as scurrilous ventings of those totally opposed to any change, anywhere, anytime continue to appear in The Times, I cannot remain silent lest some reader actually believe this negativism.
First, if we continue our current pattern of development, “by right” with everyone driving personal vehicles to every desired destination from their single family houses scattered across the landscape as far as the eye can see, and every developer seeking to maximize his advantage regardless of the consequence, not only will Tysons Corner not develop as envisioned in the currently operable 1994 plan, but the entire region will not move beyond total gridlock.
There is not going to be enough money anywhere at any time to make the transportation system work if we accept those parameters. We are going to have to dramatically change our basic approach to future development. The Tysons Task Force is seeking to understand the issues and offer its best recommendations as to how to deal with these essential changes.
As for those who continue to advocate that we return to the past, possibly to the 19th century, what can we say? And 1,100,000 residents using horses and carriages won’t leave environmental impact?
As one who has attended far more task force meetings than any of the verbal critics, I have only respect for the style of Tyler’s task of herding 35 or 40 very intelligent, very divergent and very dedicated cats toward some degree of consensus concerning what will be Tysons' future 40 years from now. Members of the task force have endured hundreds of hours of task force deliberations and hundreds of hours of community and neighborhood forums on the subject. They have been strongly influenced by what their friends and neighbors have said to them in these forums. They have been strongly influenced by the work of the several highly qualified consultant groups retained by Fairfax County to assist them. To say that any of these elements has been ignored is totally false.
At the end of the day, however, the task force knows that change is inevitable in Fairfax County and Tysons Corner. Positive change is extremely difficult to achieve. Balancing all the conflicting forces and interests is more than daunting. “How can we create a far better quality of life at Tysons, meet our fiscal and physical obligations, and still leave the surrounding environment in better shape than it would be if Fairfax County did virtually nothing?” is the question.
I am greatly impressed by the fact that the task force, to a person, accepts these challenges and sincerely strives to accomplish this difficult and lofty goal. They sincerely believe that they can accomplish this end, and they are trying very hard to come up with a plan that will accomplish it. Who in the world could ask any group of citizens for more?
That everyone on the task force, or the community at large, will not get exactly all they personally want to see is simply reality.
I congratulate the task force and its chair for a truly Herculean effort. It deserves the broader community’s high respect as the product of its labors enters the political process for further community-wide debate.
David A. Edwards
Reston