Kristi King, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Fairfax County already is looking ahead 40 years with plans for Tysons Corner, and those plans include what could be a property tax hike of up to 10 percent.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to create a Tysons Service District that will help pay to create a green, walkable, mass transit-friendly urban center some planners describe as a mini- city.
The actual tax rate will be set in county’s new budget that will be hashed out in April. The 10 percent number is based on proposals included in the Tysons Service District plan.
County Supervisor Pat Herrity, R – Springfield, voted against establishing the district. A news release from Herrity’s office shortly after the Jan. 8 vote says the following:
“I can’t support the tax district because there are better options than burdening our current and future residents and businesses with a 10% tax increase.”
Residential properties account for about 17 percent of the new service district. The rest of the properties are commercial. A county spokeswoman tells WTOP the Board of Supervisors can’t exempt homeowners, but it will urge the General Assembly to pass a measure to do so.
The tax increases as outlined in the approved Tysons Service District plan would raise $253 million. The county estimates $3.1 billion will be needed over the next 40 years to transform Tysons from a traffic nightmare into a community friendly to walkers, cyclists, bus, rail and cars.
By the end of the year, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority plans to open four Metrorail stations in Tysons Corner along what’s been dubbed the “Silver Line,” a rail line that will go to Dulles International Airport.
The service district’s name of simply “Tysons” seems to be an official declaration of something adopted of late casually. Some believe Tysons “Corner” sounds dated and sleepy considering the transformation coming to the area and that “Tysons” is more befitting what soon will be considered a mini city.
A book on the history of Tysons Corner notes that it was known as Tysons Crossroads in 1868 when Edmund Flagg bought three corners of the crossroads.
“This Was Tysons Corner, Virginia: Facts and Photos” also details how the first Tysons Corner Shopping Center was approved to be built at the intersection of Routes 7 and 123 in 1962.
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