Herndon To Prohibit Casinos As Town Seeks Control Of Downtown Land From Comstock: Updated

HERNDON, VA — Town of Herndon leaders are moving to formally withdraw a proposal that would have regulated gambling facilities, instead opting to change the town code to strictly prohibit casinos within town limits. The move follows a period of legislative uncertainty regarding casino development near Metro stations in Fairfax County.

Mayor Keven LeBlanc told Patch on Tuesday that the town initially sought to change its code in January to protect the community’s development plan for the area surrounding the Herndon Metro station. While staff originally proposed a set of requirements for casinos that were "impossible to meet," LeBlanc said the town is now moving toward an express denial because the threat of state-level casino legislation has been "overcome by events" following a gubernatorial veto.

"We determined that to be safe, we should move forward with our own change to our code to prohibit gambling facilities [in] the town limits," LeBlanc said.

The Herndon Planning Commission is expected to recommend a formal denial of the previous gambling language at a public hearing next week. The Town Council is then scheduled to vote to withdraw the request on May 26. LeBlanc emphasized that there was "never a casino proposition in downtown Herndon" and that the town's actions have been preventative.

On April 9, Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill that would have allowed a casino in Tysons, though Herndon leaders said their action was already underway before the veto.

Since 2023, Comstock Holding Companies has spent more than $3.5 million on lobbyists and political contributions to push its casino legislation through the general asssembly, according to financial filings with the Virginia Department of Elections.

Old Town Land Dispute

The town also remains engaged in a legal effort to reclaim land in downtown Herndon from Comstock. Although the developer backed out of the Old Town redevelopment plan, it still holds the deed to the property.

The town filed a lawsuit and subsequently requested a motion for summary judgment on Feb. 27. According to LeBlanc, the town has been waiting approximately 10 weeks for a ruling from the Fairfax County Circuit Court.

"The hope is, once we have that deed back, we'll have everything else ... already done [in] work with the community," LeBlanc said regarding future development. If the court rules in Herndon's favor, Comstock retains the option to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

Future Development Plans

While legal and zoning matters proceed, the town is launching several community-focused initiatives to guide future growth:

• Downtown Action Plan: A group focused on reshaping and activating the entire downtown area beyond the disputed Comstock parcel.
• Metro Gateway: A consolidated group looking holistically at transit-related growth and density near the Herndon Metro station.
• W&OD Corridor Plan: A forthcoming initiative to activate the Washington & Old Dominion Trail area and shift retail focus to connect the Metro and downtown.
• Herndon 2050: The town’s comprehensive plan currently undergoing community review.

Also See ...

• Fairfax County Leaders Applaud Veto Of Tysons Casino Bill
• Fairfax County Casino Bill's Fate Decided By Gov. Spanberger
• Union Rally Urges Governor To Sign Fairfax County Casino Bill