Trying to imagine the Tysons Corner of the future just got a little easier.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a 247-page book called the Tysons Corner Urban Design Guidelines Tuesday. The manual contains examples of everything from streetscapes to park benches to trash cans to guide landowners and developers as they begin to transform Tysons.
Redevelopment will change Tysons from its current disjointed collection of office parks, retail and residential into a green, pedestrian-friendly downtown for northern Virginia, supervisors said.
"The guidelines are not law," Fairfax County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova explained. "They are meant to be helpful and provide excellent visuals of what can be done and what we think is attractive and will work in Tysons."
Some parts of the manual spotlight parks, streets and plazas like New York City's Union Square that could serve as a model for Tysons. Other pictures show specific trash cans, park benches and bike racks suggested for developers.
The idea is to change design styles within Tysons to create distinct "neighborhoods," but it will be years yet before the Tysons transformation is complete. Redevelopment is slated to last until 2050.
Follow NBC Washington to get the latest news, events and entertainment anytime, anywhere: on air, online, and on Facebook // Twitter.
