Final steps for Reston master plan, Fairfax Times, January 16, 2014

Fairfax Times reporter Kali Shumitz lays out the basics of the draft Reston Master Plan as it heads to the Board of Supervisors for approval along with reaction from RA and RCA.  Here are some excerpts:

The planning document that will guide development around Reston’s future Metro stations is headed to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final approval later this month. The Fairfax County Planning Commission signed off on the document last week.

Two major Reston stakeholder groups say they are not completely satisfied with the wording of the document the Planning Commission approved, but that it is headed in the right direction.

The master plan covers, in great detail, matters such as development levels, architectural styles, transportation and infrastructure, environmental protections, and affordable housing requirements for the station areas. . .

What is lacking from the plan is a mechanism to implement the vision for Reston, according to Colin Mills, president of the Reston Citizens Association. The replanning of Tysons Corner included the creation of a new community-based entity to ensure that the plan is adhered to.

“We would like to see an implementation entity like they have in Tysons,” Mills said. “If implementation isn’t someone’s responsibility, it is no one’s responsibility.”

The chief concern for the Reston Association, the organization that acts as sort of a giant homeowner’s association for most of Reston, is ensuring that RA continues to have a seat at the table as redevelopment moves forward, said Ken Kneuven, RA board president.

Both RCA and RA also have lingering concerns about the infrastructure needed to support the new residents and businesses growth will bring.

“Growth is a good thing, but it obviously has an impact on Reston Association’s assets and infrastructure,” Kneuven said. RA operates parks, community centers and recreation centers, among other services.

RCA is particularly concerned about the need for parks, Mills said. The plan calls for one new sports field in each of the three station areas, but it is estimated that 12 new fields will be needed, he said.

“There are nine additional fields that have to come from somewhere, and it’s not clear where they are going to come from and who is going to be paying for them,” Mills said.