RCA Comment to RTF Endorsing Proposed Reston Vision and Planning Principles Statement, Feb. 22, 2011

Thank you, Chairman Nicoson and members of the Reston Task Force.

As President of the Reston Citizens Association, I am pleased to announce RCA’s endorsement of the Vision and Planning Principles statement prepared by the Vision Sub-Committee.  While there may still be a few points we could quibble with and others will share their own views of the statement this evening, I want to take a few moments this evening to explain why RCA supports this important statement.  

At its core, the new Vision and Planning Principles statement balances the needs, directions, and goals of all of Reston’s diverse stakeholders—landowners, businesses, employees, residents, and visitors, current and future.  It is also broadly consistent with the nine Planning Principles proposed to the Task Force by our own Reston 2020 Committee a year ago. 

• It promotes the continuation of core Reston values, including protecting the environment, providing abundant public open space and natural areas, pursuing architectural excellence, and sustaining residential diversity.
• The statement calls for advancing Reston’s economic growth, an essential ingredient of its success.
• It addresses Reston’s endemic transportation problem through smarter land use, infrastructure development, and public transit strategies.
• And it highlights the importance of continuing community participation in shaping and monitoring Reston planning and zoning in the future of Reston.  RCA’s Reston 2020 Committee plans to be a part of that long-term effort. 

RCA deeply appreciates the work of the Task Force Steering Sub-Committee and—most importantly—the work of the Vision Sub-Committee in bringing these diverse and sometimes conflicting ideas into clear and concise focus.  

We hope that tonight’s discussion may lead to a few constructive additions to this vision statement, but we are anxious that some changes may detract from its elegant balance and comprehensiveness.

Marion Stillson

President, Reston Citizens Association

2/22/2011