Maple Avenue Commercial Corridor Survey Open In Vienna

VIENNA, VA—After recent Maple Avenue Commercial (MAC) corridor development proposals have been met with public outcry, the Town of Vienna is surveying residents and business owners on what they want the area to look like. The online survey is open through Nov. 12.

The survey asks participants to rate pictures of mixed-use buildings up to four stories tall on a scale of 1 to 5. The images represent a range of placemaking, building design, and site design characteristics.

"We’ll be finding out from the community what the look and feel of the Maple Avenue corridor should be," said Planning Director Cindy Petkac in a news release. "The guidelines to be developed are the community’s vision for Maple Avenue and will define Vienna’s vernacular, if you will, for the commercial corridor."

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/MapleAveSurvey to take the survey.

Anyone who needs a computer or assistance can visit Town Hall from 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5, as well as 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7. The survey is also available from a laptop at the Vienna Farmers Market from 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 20 and 27.

After the survey, the Board of Architectural Review will develop design guidelines and amendments to MAC using survey feedback. Survey results will be shared at the Nov. 15 Board of Architectural Review meeting at 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

Under the current timeline, the Town plans for a public comment period on the guidelines from Dec. 20-Jan. 10. The Town Council public hearing is initially set for March 25, 2019.

"We’re providing guidance on what the community is looking for, not prescribing exactly what a building must look like," said Petkac.

The MAC initiative is aimed at encouraging "pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use development and redevelopment along the Maple Avenue corridor to reinforce Maple Avenue's role as the Town's main street," according to the Town code. On the other hand, the Town intends for development to not hurt the small-town character or the nearby residential neighborhoods.

The Town Council voted on Sept. 17 to temporarily suspend the MAC ordinance as the design guidelines are developed. However, Inside Nova reports that two proposals had been sent to the Town for consideration before the temporary suspension of the MAC ordinance kicked in 10 days after the vote.

Image via Town of Vienna