Letter: Moving the Library to a Metro Station Area, Kathy Kaplan, Reston Connection, June 14, 2013

The following is a letter that appeared in the hard copy version of the Reston Connection, but did not appear in the online version.  We are publishing here to complete the record and make it more broadly accessible to Restonians. 

Dear Editor,

The county's suggestion that it is "desirable" to move the Reston Regional Library to a Metro station area is troubling to me.  The third draft of the comprehensive plan text written by county staff includes language which should be of concern to all Reston residents.   

The problem with moving the library to a station area is that there will be restrictions on parking in the station areas.  Many people will not be able to park their cars at such a facility.  In addition, there will be many hours each day when people will not be able to reach a library situated at a station area because of nearby gridlocked intersections.   With no plans to build multiple bridges across the Toll Road, the library should be left where it is.  Reston Regional Library should not be moved to serve a transit area at the expense of the entire community.  Our library is a critical amenity and a community resource Reston families depend on. 

Here is the link to the draft: 

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/projects/reston/plantext/05-28-2013_draft3_plan_text-areawide_reston_tsas.pdf

This is the text:

"Library: The TSAs (transit station areas) are served by the Reston Regional library, located in the RestonTown Center at 11925 Bowman Towne Drive. This library facility is one of the most heavily used in the library system in terms of number of visits per year. Options are currently being evaluated to renovate and expand the library. Such a renovation and expansion will be planned to accommodate the future growth in the TSAs. As an alternative, replacement of the current facility with a new library incorporated into a mixed-use development within one of the TSAs is desirable."

 

If you have concerns, you should communicate with Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and Supervisor Sharon Bulova before this 3rd draft is adopted by the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force.  This draft, when approved by them, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, will become the new Reston Master Plan for the area of the Dulles corridor in Reston and the Reston Town Center.  Moving the library to a transit area is NOT desirable and this language should be removed from the 3rd draft.

Sincerely,

Kathy Kaplan