RCA: Choose Right Scenario for Reston

Reston Citizens Association president Colin Mills is urging the Reston Master Plan Task Force to choose a development scenario with lower density as the group moves forward with its recommendations for transit-oriented development (TOD).

In a letter sent Thursday to Patty Nicoson, Chairman of the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force, Mills and RCA outline their support of Fairfax County's latest draft Reston TOD area planning scenario—"Scenario G."

Scenario G rolls back some of the permitted densities and adjusts the mix of uses to a slightly more residential orientation.

The letter responds to two letters sent to Ms. Nicoson by attorney Andrew A. Painter of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich & Walsh PC criticizing Scenario G as restricting the development opportunities of two of his clients with properties in the Wiehle Avenue TOD area.  

Mills points out that RCA has endorsed urban mixed-use transit-oriented development in the Metro station areas since the task force was established as long as they are the right densities of the right mix in the the right places. 

 The County's Department of Transportation demonstrated through a detailed engineering analysis that development in 2030 under the previous baseline planning scenario—"Scenario E"—would bring key area intersections to a virtual standstill—three- and four- minute traffic light delays at peak use being the norm—even with county upgrades (such as new turn lanes, adjusting traffic light timing) at intersection.

"No development project, no matter how innovative or attractive, can be 'great' if it comes at the cost of Restonians' quality of life," Mills says in the letter. "RCA, supported by its Reston 2020 community planning committee, will continue to advocate for sustaining, if not improving, the quality of life in Reston through "win-win" development planning and implementation, including meeting vital infrastructure and amenities needs, throughout the Reston master planning process."

To read the full letter, see the PDF atatched to this article.