Summary:
- County leaders voted 5–4 to formally oppose a casino planned near the Spring Hill Metro station.
- Officials say the project lacks community support and has been driven by the state rather than local voices.
- Residents, business owners, and local groups continue to speak out against the development.
Fairfax County officials didn’t leave much room for doubt on Tuesday, with the Board of Supervisors firmly coming out against the idea of putting a casino in Tysons. Their arguments: the project doesn’t fit the area and lacks the support of the community.
The proposal that calls for a casino and entertainment district near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons Corner was pitched as an important economic boost by supporters. However, county leaders pushed back, saying the location isn’t right.
Walter Alcorn of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,
We’ve seen in other parts of the commonwealth where there are successful casino proposals, we’ve seen those come up through the local government, through local communities. This has been the opposite, this has come really from the state down to the local level. So it doesn’t have the community support
The board voted 5-4 to update its state legislative program to formally oppose the Tysons casino plan.
The idea first surfaced in 2023 and has been floating around ever since. It’s tied to a much larger development that would include restaurants, shops, a hotel, and a casino of about 200,000 square feet right off the Silver Line.
People backing the Virginia casino project say it would create jobs and generate major tax revenue, but many residents, small business owners, and local groups have been telling county leaders from the start that they don’t want a casino in Tysons.
Prioritizing the Voices of Fairfax County Residents
The Tysons Stakeholders Alliance said in a statement to FOX 5.
We’re encouraged to see the Board of Supervisors clearly prioritize the voices of Fairfax County residents and the long-term success of Tysons with today’s meaningful developments. The strong opposition we’ve heard from residents, business owners and community leaders matters. We hope the concerns raised today, and the clear opposition from the Tysons community, continue to shape the conversation in Richmond as policymakers consider any potential casino proposal
Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay said his main focus has always been making sure residents aren’t left unprotected.
What I have been concerned about since day one isn’t necessarily we are for or against it, it’s to make sure the protections that residents of this county need are in the bill
The General Assembly reconvenes on January 14. While casino legislation hasn’t been reintroduced yet, county leaders are bracing for it to return.
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