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Tennis Discussion Brings Crowd to Brown's Chapel
Neighbors want to know more about proposed facility.
Mike Collins, Reston Association Board member, representing the North Point neighborhoods, explains the steps involved in making a decision about the proposed tennis facility.
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Just an errant ball bounce from Reston Association's proposed indoor tennis site, Brown’s Chapel was filled Monday night with people wanting to know more.
Mike Collins, Reston Association board member representing the North Point area, called the meeting to allow Mike Miller (local resident and architect) to present his concept sketch for the proposed indoor tennis site at Lake Newport.
An earlier study of all Reston Association owned tennis properties ruled out other sites for various reasons such as lack of sewer and water lines, inadequate parking among the., Miller was asked by Reston Association to develop these sketches for this site only.
Collins explained briefly the history of the tennis proposal and explained to the group that we are “very much the beginning of this process."
The facility, estimated to cost about $3.8 million, was developed last year after RA did not move forward on a $65 million facility in 2009. The board has set a timetable for the tennis plan for 2011, including deciding later this year whether to hold a referendum to poll the community on the issue.
The concept design is essentially the same “footprint” as the current tennis courts at Lake Newport. At its highest point, the building would be 35 feet high, but much of the building will be built into an existing berm as a screening element. The design plans for five tennis courts, a meeting room and customer service area.
“There is an economy to using this site,” said Miller, pointing out that the plans are not expanding, not making it larger and not building it from scratch.
The next step in the process is to continue community meetings as well as review information from accounting and engineering consultants.
Over 50 people attended the meeting, predominantly neighbors from the community surrounding the suggested site who were vocally against building tennis structure at that location
“Is this necessary? It seems like we are shoehorning a commercial building into a park space,” said one attendee.
In general, people in this group had questions about the need for the indoor tennis facility, concerns about its impact on the natural area of the community around the proposed building and reservations about the costs involved in building the facility.
“Reston Association’s tennis program is growing year after year," said Larry Butler, Reston Association's Director of Parks and Recreation. "Over 1,600 people participate in lessons, tournaments and leagues. The Reston tennis community has requested this indoor facility.
“We are not changing the use for this site, we’re extending its use," said Butler.
The tennis community is investigating fundraising options to bring to the table as the discussions continue.
Collins said that there will be more community meetings to discuss usage, building and operations costs and financing. He encouraged all Reston community members – whether they play tennis or not, or live in the proposed area or not – to learn more about the proposal. All of the studies, notes and plans are available on the Reston Association website.
Reston Association last week approved up to $4,000 to spend on independent consulting firms that can review the RA assumptions and check the proposed numbers and feasibility.
Kathleen Driscoll McKee, Reston Association president, said at the meeting is important to look at every angle.
“It is very important to hear what both sides have to say because there is so much passion on both sides of this issue," she said. "The RA Board is charged with doing the right thing. No decisions have been made. I have to be convinced this is the right thing for our community. I’ve been working very hard to build trust with the community – we want to listen to what they have to say.”
As the meeting ended, Collins reiterated: “This is not a done deal, very far from a decision. Let’s keep talking.”
What do you think about the proposed tennis facility?
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John Farrell
9:56 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The RA indoor tennis site selection study was done by Urban Engineers in 2007 not 2003. It was reviewed by the RA PPAC in 2009 and it's recommendation was forward to the RA Board 2009-10.
Thanks for providing the link to the 14 documents relating to this issue.
It was impressive that 6 RA Board members were at the meeting together with Milton Mathews, the RA Executive Director and John Higgins, the RA Treasurer.
It was disappointing that absolutely no one from RA's Tennis Advisory Committee was at the meeting last night. They have been relentless in insisting on this facility. Why wasn't someone from that group present to advocate for this proposal and to hear the unanimous opposition?
Terry Maynard
10:29 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Larry Butler: "Over 1,600 people participate in lessons, tournaments and leagues. The Reston tennis community has requested this indoor facility."
So ALL RA members should pay additional fees so 1,600 people can play tennis more frequently.
Why does that make sense at any level?
Kathy
1:50 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
If the tennis players succeed in making 23,000 families pay for their winter hobby, the argument could be made that RAshould support other hobbies as well. Reston needs a Writers Center. Why should we have to drive all the way to Bethesda? Many of Reston residents would benefit from a state-of-the-arts computer graphics studio. And I am sure other people could think of other hobbies that they would like supported by our neighbors.
John Bauer
4:07 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
RA President Kathleen Driscoll McKee said at last night’s meeting that “The RA Board is charged with doing the right thing.” Another Board member said that the RA governing documents state that any facility built by Reston must benefit the majority of Reston residents. Is a $4-5 million, 48,000 square foot commercial indoor tennis building at Lake Newport (1/3 larger than the existing six court outdoor tennis area) that will serve only 5-6% of residents really the right thing for Reston in this economy? A facility that would not even be available until 2015! The resounding answer from the homeowners who attended last night’s meeting was NO.
The proposed price tag is for engineering and construction only. It does not include staffing, insurance, operations and maintenance costs or the approximately $75K needed to conduct a referendum. RA wants to tear down the six newly renovated existing outdoor tennis courts at Lake Newport and replace that open, beautiful park-like space with an enormous commercial building with only five courts that would ruin the natural surroundings of the Lake Newport community while increasing traffic and noise. We think RA can spend our money more wisely elsewhere. We said NO to the ill-conceived Brown’s Chapel project and we say NO to indoor tennis at Lake Newport.
John Farrell
4:53 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
John
How do you get "1/3 larger than the existing 6 courts?"
What's curious about the poll result that I didn't get to share last night is that the 1600 current tennis participants is only 2.7% of RA members.
When questioned people regularly over report their intention to engage in a socially approved behavior in the future. Example, the percentage of voters at any election is never as high as the percentage who tell pollsters they intend to vote in pre-election polling. So too with exercise. 5-6% say they would use an indoor tennis facility but only 2.7% use the current outdoor facilities.
If 1600 people currently participate in RA tennis programs, it is reasonable to believe that the actual numbers of RA members who will use an indoor facility will be substantially less than 1600. 10% less; 20% less? Who knows. But a market survey of those 1600 for their price point of resistance would be an essential part of any financing plan.
John Bauer
8:03 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The archtectural drawings from Mr. Miller show the increase as increased footprint from about 36000 sq.ft. existing to 48000 sq. ft. for the new facility; hence the 1/3 increase. I agree with you comments about the poll and its future impact.
Diane Blust
7:39 am on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Several questions about this proposal:
1. Stormwater management needs to be fully addressed.
2. Increased traffic in the area needs to be addressed.
3. Funding: Who and how? I don't believe the non-tennis playing members of RA should pay for a facility that will be used by such a small percentage of the members. If the environmental issues are resolved so that the facility could be constructed, it should be funded 100% by the tennis community. After all, RA members will be providing the land (if the proposed location is used) and, presumably, exterior grounds maintenance for the facility.
4. Location: Has anyone contacted any developers in the RCIG or Town Center to discuss having one of them or a group proffer an indoor tennis facility for current and future Reston residents?