Notes on RTF Wiehle Committee Meeting, November 17, 2010, Dick Rogers

          Wiehle Sub-Committee Meeting, 17 Nov 2010

 All present except Paul Thomas.

Retail: Co-chair Bill Penniman handed out a map of proposed grid streets with retail emphasis centering on the new Reston Station Blvd.(map on county website). A minor revision proposed to extend the retail street area into Isaac Newton (G-1). In addition, the report is to more strongly say that Plaza America should be re-developed to face/access the blvd.

Soapstone: Technical difficulties due to different grades on each side of the DTR were noted. The committee decided to flag this as a major design issue that needs to be looked at urgently to get the crossing done.

Density and Balance

     Bill Penniman and Van Foster tabled their charts of proposed sub-unit densities and FARs (not yet on website). Not all committee members had yet focused on this.

     The discussion focused on generalities.

     Mark Looney said he was concerned that the time focus was getting too short range; that it should be on a longer period—30 to even 50 years.  The GMU figures should be used for only near term guidance, not for what the area should look like over time. If TF is incremental in planning, it will get an incomplete product.(Comment: These and other sub com comments seem to have be triggered by Heidi Merkel’s 9 Nov overview, particularly areas that might be re-developed earlier-–her “blue map”—see county website.)

     Mark then went on to argue that the plan should call for substantially more capacity than what the committee thinks will actually be developed.  This is because developers will pick and choose what they can best do with financial success. (Comment: The need for a long term focus strikes me as appropriate but the idea of more capacity than needed seems to just grandfather in development rights that will come back to haunt us)

     Mike Corrigan aided by Judy Pew raised the issue of the absence of a focus on infrastructure development. Mike argued that this should be the first issue resolved before looking at specific development. Dave Edwards called the sub-coms attention to the issue of Hunter Mill road. The chair did not want to take this one on. (Comment: The projections handed out by Penniman and Foster on traffic were striking.  Under the “DPZ staff option” a doubling of traffic was projected.  Under a GMU 2040 option a tripling of traffic was projected.  This is an area with already failing intersections.  Overall, this discussion went over ground that might have been covered in May/June.)

     Although little was said about specific sub-units, the chair summarized what he thought was a broad consensus:

·         a wedding cake approach with density tapering off

·         a “Northside heavy” emphasis on developments and density

·         retail along  Reston Station Blvd

·         a heavy residential component

·         maybe more residential away from the station.

Heidi Merkel, FC DPZ, who was at most of the meeting, said she thought it may be easier at this point for the staff to come back with staff proposals to help fill in some of the density/balance gaps.  She said the staff would want to build in “flexibility.”   Chair was uncertain this would when this would occur and if it would help the sub-com complete its work soon. 

Next steps: 

The next sub-com meeting will be 1 December in the hope of finalizing a report for presentation to the TF on 7 or 14 December.  Bill P. urged members to go back to review the 27 Sept preliminary to see what needs to be added. He also noted that the sub-com also needed to review issues relating to Plaza America and Fannie Mae for inclusion.