Issue Over DRB Conflict Prompts New Rules

The Reston Association Board of Directors has directed RA's Design Review Board (DRB)  to implement  specific procedures when one of them is hired to advise a property owner seeking changes of  or those who could be affected by the changes.

In a letter to the DRB (the full letter is in the PDF attchedt o this story), the board said:

*  DRB members should disclose professional and business relationships with applicants or affected parties –which has been a long standing practice –  the involved DRB member must also remove himself from discussions.

* During DRB discussions on the application, remove himself and only speak from the audience if directly asked a question by the DRB.

* Minutes of DRB meetings where members have a relationship with an applicant or affected party will now include the disclosure, recusal by the DRB member and record the vote of the presiding DRB members on the application.

The procedures will be in place until the RA Board adopts a formal resolution to replace them.

 The request for procedural changes came in the wake of discussions about the handling of an application pending before the DRB and whether it was a conflict that  DRB member Richard Newlon also the applicant's architect.

 There was additional discussion at Thursday night's Reston Association Board meeting about the ongoing dispute between neighbors on Cutwater Court and Newlon.

 Cutwater Court residents Beau and Susanne Lendman have submitted design proposals to the DRB three times since 2009, seeking permission to tear down and rebuild the property they purchased in 2003.

Beau Lendman said at Thursday's meeting  that engaging the services of Newlon, a longtime Reston resident, has helped them understand what they needed to get approval.

"It wasn't until we engaged the services of Mr. Newlon late last year that we understood what was needed," Beau Lendman said. "We regret not bringing in Mr. Newlon earlier. It would have saved us time, money and many frustrations."

However, some neighbors take issue both with the design plans and with Newlon's involvement.

"We are not against the concept of a rebuild," several homeowners said in a letter to the editor last week and again at the board meeting.

"We do object to the size and mass of the rebuild proposed for this site. The proposed structure would be nearly twice as big as the current house, all above grade, on a small 11,000 square foot lot. It would seriously infringe upon the privacy of close neighbors as well as some neighbors across the inlet. Several huge trees will be destroyed. The proposal is out of scale and not in harmony with the neighborhood.

"Building 'McMansions' on small lots is not in keeping with the character of Reston and is precedent setting. It should be fully debated. The entire proceeding is tainted by Mr. Newlon’s clear conflict of interest and should be rejected. A new hearing should be held with a group of non-encumbered, untainted DRB members."

Newlon recused himself from voting on the application but still participated in the May DRB meeting. A decision on the DRB application has not yet been made.

To see the letter to the editor, click   Patch also has earlier responses from and from RA

The RA Board drafted the eight-point DRB memo after a closed-door executive session after Thursday's meeting.

 In other RA board news:

* The board approved a motion to write a letter to VDOT

* The board approved a motion to write a letter to Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins urging her to defer the July planning commision hearing

The RA board says there are major unresolved issues wtih the proposal, which was endorsed by Reston's Planning and Zoning Committee last month.

The board also says the DRB should be able to review the plan before it moves forward.

The latest plan from JBG calls for two five-story mid-rise buildings, one multifamily four-story building and 59 townhouses for a total of 804 units. Fairway currently has 328 garden-apartment style units.

* Discussed potential parks and recreation projects. The Parks & Planning Committee asked the board in February to consider parks and recreation improvements in one package.

- including the much-discussed $3.8 million indoor tennis facility and a $7 million indoor pool partnership with Reston Community Center.

The remainder of the projects are typical projects- pathway lighting, improvements to Brown's Chapel and existing pools, and sign upgrades.

No decisions were made and the board agreed further discussion is needed before they can narrow down what projects might eventually move forward.