Getting It Right

Yes, the fate of our fair community still hangs in the balance with the County’s Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force. 

Phase I of the two-part Master Plan process is into overtime, but mercifully nearing an end. It will recommend development/redevelopment plans for every square inch of the Dulles Corridor, i.e., the areas around rail stations coming to Wiehle Avenue, Town Center and Herndon- Reston West near Polo Fields. 

Phase I  results are a mixed bag at best.  Given the composition of the Task Force, its lack of any clue initially about how it should proceed, and leadership issues, it could have been worse.  For example, consider that the guiding principles and vision for the planning effort were not adopted until AFTER the study’s recommendations were crafted. 

We can thank a handful of dedicated Reston resident Task Force members and a citizens group calling themselves Reston 2020 for serving as voices for the community; raising practical matters such as infrastructure and implementation that were overlooked; and for bringing creative thought for character and beauty to a process otherwise focused on maximizing construction per land unit. 

In the Phase I  recommendations, the Wiehle area fared best in balancing community interests with development, but failed to confront massive shortfalls in supporting infrastructure.  Recommendations for sadly reflect commercial developer influence, which overwhelmed concern for character, imagination, infrastructure and community. It could have been so much better. 

Herndon-Reston West did resist developers’ appetite for existing residential community land and the Sunrise Wetlands Park, but otherwise left the area pretty much to large parking garages and office parks.

The question now before Reston is how to make Phase II —planning development/redevelopment around village centers and residential areas of Reston from North Point all the way to Hunters Woods— successful.  Reston 2020,  which I served on until December, has offered Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins solid suggestions, which, if adopted, could greatly improve prospects for Phase II.

For starters, 2020 suggests that the Task Force be restructured to be representative of the areas under study and the interests directly involved, for example:  owners of, and merchants in village centers; resident representatives of residential clusters, apartments, senior residential buildings, and single family homes; reps of the Reston Association, Reston Citizens Association (including Reston 2020), Reston P & Z Committee, Reston Interfaith, and ARCH.  To this, I would add one or two residential developers with Reston experience.  They, in fact, are experts in the subject matter and are essential but should not overwhelm as the commercial development community tended to in Phase I.

 The Supervisor also asked for suggestions by name, and Reston 2020 has submitted the names of 11 qualified, caring residents to fill the bill.  Further, the citizens group suggested a Phase II Task Force Chair be named. The chair lives in the study area and “has no conflict of interest” such as pay by any entity that may gain an advantage in Task Force activities. 

Postscript:  recently sent a letter to the Supervisor declaring that they should be the

This is major chutzpa not to be taken seriously since RA pretty much stood idly by all through Phase I.  In fact, RA turned aside suggestions that they get involved early in the process.  RA representation on the Task Force with other, to date more active community organizations, is appropriate.

Now, will someone please explain to us all how the construction of rail from Wiehle Avenue to Dulles and beyond is actually going to be financed with no federal or state contribution?