On the Docket: Reston Heights, Sunset Hills; Reston Patch, December 7, 2012

Progress on two more projects near International Center, Reston Station.

By Karen Goff

Next up in the development of Reston: a discussion about new projects at Reston Heights (near International Center) and adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.

The Reston Planning and Zonning Committee will be discussing two future developments at its Dec. 17 meeting.

JBG's Reston Heights West has been approved for nearly five years. . . .

Developers are seeking to reduce these (approved building) heights . . . .

The amended plan also includes a proposed signalized intersection on Reston Parkway. . . .

The rest of the article is here.  

Restonians, including RCA, opposed this development proposal intensely years ago largely because of the impact on Sunrise Valley Drive traffic.  The accepted proffer of a signalized intersection will not improve traffic flow on Sunrise Valley Drive; in fact, it will delay traffic.  All it accomplishes is making it easier for people--residents, workers, shoppers, etc.--to enter and exit the planned new development.

Since the Reston Heights development plan is driven primarily by the future arrival of Metrorail at Reston Parkway station, added proffers making the vision of transit-oriented development (TOD) feasible would be important if they can be added at this late date.  There are two specific proffers the P&Z Committee should insist upon:

• Construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge over Reston Parkway near the Dulles Toll Road linking the expansive development to the Reston Town Center Metrorail station.  Relatedly, build a connecting pathway along the DTR from the east to west boundaries of this property.  All this would be part of the pathway along the DTR first recommended by the RMAG four years ago. 
• Construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge across the Dulles Corridor to the Plaza America center.  

These added bridges would substantially contribute to the walkability of the southeast quadrant of the Reston Town Center TOD area as residents would be within easy walking distance of both the commuter rail line and basic shopping while commuting workers could easily walk to jobs in the International Center/Reston Heights area.

It would be a start toward making the Reston Town Center area a more walkable community.