Getting Ready For Phase Two

By now, everyone in Reston has heard about the Task Force that is working to update the original, 46-year-old Reston Master Plan.

 Since December 2009, the 24-members of the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force have focused on the development surrounding the future metro stations.  That’s Phase One and Vice President Paul Thomas, is representing Reston Association. 

Once the Task Force agrees ona list of guiding principles to present to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Phase Two, which will examine development around Reston’s five village centers, will begin.

At that point, after more than a year of both day and night meetings, Paul will take a break from his duties on the Task Force and I will fill his seat.  He continues to be an ardent representative for Reston’s interests, with a great personal passion for Reston’s future.  Currently, I am “shadowing” Paul at the Task Force meetings, so that I will be prepared for the transition. 

Let me pause here for a paragraph to explain that there is no firm date for the conclusion of the work on Phase One – just sometime this year.  Therefore, it is too early for definitive guidelines for Phase Two. 

For example, we don’t know yet what is meant by the term, “development around the village centers,”  which is a stated goal of Phase Two. Certainly, the Task Force will not be proposing or designing the kinds of commercial development within the centers. 

As you may know, the RA Board has requested that Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins make RA the lead organization for Phase Two because the village centers and surrounding neighborhoods are all within RA boundaries.

While there are many questions, we do know that the product from the Task Force will be a set of guiding principles presented to the Board of Supervisors – which will make the final decisions on the comprehensive plan updates. 

Shortly after Paul Thomas was appointed to the Task Force, the RA Board of Directors engaged our advisory committees – whose specific perspectives could help inform Paul’s work. 

For example, the Environmental Advisory Committee has weighed in on the impact of development around the metro stations.  Transportation Advisory has kept the Board and community informed about the impact of more vehicles upon our roads. 

The Communications Advisory Committee is developing a community-wide communications plan to help everyone understand and engage in the process.

As I prepare to represent RA in Phase Two, I will be reaching out to each of our committees again.  Over the next couple of months, I’ll be asking each one for time on their agendas to discuss how each one can help.

 For example, the Reston Neighborhood Advisory Committee will be front and center in developing essential questions for the Task Force to consider.  The Pedestrian and Bicycling Committee could advise us on how to keep the connections between village centers, schools, neighborhoods and facilities.  Transportation is essential to keeping abreast of all the required county impact studies. 

This will all be an ongoing dialogue, and I am counting on everyone to help me be informed and ready to represent our community as we continue to plan for the next 46 years.

Please feel free to contact me, any committee chair or any board committee liaison to add your observations and aspirations for Phase Two.