With MetroWest and the Dunn Loring developments already approved in the name of TOD, and planning for the redevelopment of Tysons already so far along, it may seem something of an afterthought to many to begin the process of defining TOD now.

But this is nevertheless an important step in taking setting limits and processes to manage growth and, most importantly, to let citizens have both input and influence in the planning process.

The challenges now are twofold: First, establish a second layer of planning efforts to address a host of issues such as 1) applying TOD principles at bus hubs; 2) ensuring that neighborhoods surrounding TODs are not eaten alive by chronic up-planning efforts in years to come; 3) determining how to realize the desired protection for roads, schools, parks, and other infrastructure that will be burdened by TOD; 4) protecting the watershed and the Chesapeake Bay despite the loss of tree canopy and increase in impervious surfaces and added stress on sewers and stormwater management systems, etc.

Second, implement the policy immediately and transparently and devise means to monitor compliance and enforce it. This should start this very day by ensuring that the Tysons Workshops scheduled for next week comport with the community inclusion principles of the TOD Policy. One of the fundamental principles of TOD (not just here in Fairfax but everywhere), it that the community must be involved and respected in making planning decisions. Six 3.5 hour public workshops to address four "Alternatives for Growth" at Tysons are scheduled for next week -- three during the workday and three in the evenings. Citizens must register in advance and may only attend one workshop. These workshops should be evaluated against the community inclusion guidelines of the new TOD Policy, which promise "a broadly inclusive, collaborative, community participation process." Given the stakes at Tysons, I do not think these limited one-time workshops fulfill the now-enacted requirement to be broadly inclusive and collaborative with citizens. I would invite the County to augment this plan with additional options for citizens to participate.

I do not think that it is practical to have half of the workshops scheduled during the work day. The people who need to care most about rush hour mobility are... let's see?... yes... I believe they would likely be...at... work.