Clusters Galvanize for Golf Course Fight

Citizens who are concerned about potential rezoning and redevelopment at held their first organizational meeting on Friday.

The group is calling itself Rescue Reston, and it is comprised of more than a dozen leaders from clusters contiguous to the Reston National and specifically skilled volunteers, says John Pinkman, a resident of Golf Course View Cluster and one of the organizers.

Rescue Reston has been formed i that the owners of the golf course, RN Golf Mangagement LLC, will go before the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals in October as part of an effort to determine the zoning for the 166-acre course.

 The county said that any changes would have to go through the county master plan, as well as the Reston Master Plan and

To see RN Golf Management LLC's appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals - as well as other documents pertaining to this issue - click here.

Meanwhile, Frank McDermott, the attorney representing RN Golf Management's case to the Board of Zoning Appeals, says the BZA does not decide development. The case before the BZA is only to determine by law the zoning for the Reston National.

"This appeal to BZA will not result in a change in the status quo," he said. "The BZA cannot make that decision. It can only interpret zoning ordinances and entitlements."

Pinkman says Rescue Reston has created an organization framework to channel information and support: Communications, Legal, and Finance. The committee chairs will serve as an executive committee and a director will be decided shortly.

The group has also created a fundraising plan.

Here is some info from the committees:  

Communications (John Pinkman)

The group now has a website (click here to access it), a Facebook page (Rescue Reston) and Twitter feed (@RescueReston).  There will also be yard signs and banners available.

Legal (David Stroh)

The group has identified a law firm to represent them and they will be on board early next week. Hours of legal research have already taken place and have produced positive results.

Finance (Joe Deninger)

The group will be meeting with counsel to determine the type of organization best suited for the mission. Plans will be developed to accept online contributions through the web site. Facing the possibility of diminished home values, the cluster representatives are returning to their boards this week to arrive at a contribution to the legal defense fund.  

"We are keenly aware that the process we are about to undertake will have broad based implications not only throughout other areas in Reston, but county wide as well," Pinkman wrote to golf course-area residents.

"We have a limited time until Oct. 24, when the Board of Zoning Appeals could make a final decision to allow redevelopment.  We know that everyone is upset, angry, and scared," he added. "Expressing what you thought was true is not helpful. All of us labored under false information for years. Let’s not spend time discussing the past, but strategically align to preserve the future by facing facts and channeling skilled resources and funds.

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