Agenda: Reston Town Center Committee Meeting, May 4, 2010

Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force:
Town Center Committee

Committee Members: Pete Otteni (Co-Chair), Robert Goudie (Co-Chair), Phil Tobey, Mark Looney, Rae Noritake, Bill Keefe, Susan Mockenhaupt, Terri Phillips, Joe Stowers. Heidi Merkel (staff).

Committee Mission Statement: The Committee will look at what if any changes should be made to the County planning documents to accommodate Town Center’s future growth, including the following:

1. Consider if north and south Town Center need to be better integrated. Some considerations:
a. Should a north-south, pedestrian-friendly connector through the extended urban core be defined (much as Market St. connects east with west through the core)?
b. To what extent, if at all, does New Dominion Parkway interfere with realizing this goal?

2. Consider goals for the possible future development of the North County Government and INOVA parcels.
a. What additional public and community facilities are needed and could be accommodated?
b. Are public-private partnership opportunities available to encourage development of such parcels and needed facilities?
c. How can expansion of the library and police station best be incorporated into the plan?

3. Consider future residential density amounts and concentration.

4. Review the grid and consider what updates based on projected future development are warranted, with a goal of ensuring the free flow of especially pedestrian and bicycle but also vehicular traffic from the Town Center Metro station to the north end of the Spectrum lot and everywhere in between.
a. Review the Reston Metrorail Access Group (RMAG) recommendations for Town Center.
b. Review conclusions/recommendations generated at prior bike/ped “summits” and whether any additional bike and ped improvements should be recommended.
c. Consider whether improved pedestrian crossings are warranted and, if so, which ones -- especially across the main arteries framing the urban core (Reston Parkway, Bluemont, Town Center Parkway, and New Dominion).
d. Does an internal Town Center bus, trolley, or other circulation service make sense?

5. Consider what infrastructure improvements beyond those affecting the grid should be recommended.
a. How can open space be encouraged and protected?
b. How should public parking needs be addressed and where should such parking be located to ensure both commercial success and an urban core free of vehicular congestion?

6. Consider key urban design issues to further build upon Town Center’s unique identity.
a. This might include signage, street plans, and landscape treatments.
b. Consider incorporating a plan for public art and art galleries (using IPAR as a resource) that enhances Town Center’s position as a locus for the arts.

Timetable for deliverables: The Committee will seek to have recommendations prepared for presentation to the Task Force at the Task Force meeting to discuss Town Center.

General Requirements

Committee members will be appointed by the Task Force Chair from among the Task Force’s members. The Committee will report to the Task Force and be accountable under the County FOIA and regular Task Force order, assisted by County Staff. Non-voting expertise could be sought if the Committee deems that appropriate.