Reston Spring

Reston Spring
Reston Spring

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Community Call to Action, CPR, January 31, 2018

NOTE:  The following is re-posted from the Coalition for a Planned Reston's (CPR's) website.

 
The community’s voices are the most powerful means of assuring that Reston remains a planned, diverse, and welcoming community. Please make sure yours is heard!

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Representatives from the Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR) and Reston Association (RA) met with Supervisor Hudgins and representatives of the Fairfax County Planning & Zoning and Transportation Departments on 24 January 2018 to discuss the county zoning amendment that would increase the density cap from 13 to 16 persons per acre in the Planned Residential Community (PRC).
  • CPR representatives proposed specific amendments to the Reston Master Plan, including the removal of an unexplained road bisecting a portion of the Hidden Creek Country Club golf course.

Our proposals:

  • Postpone Fairfax County’s review of the zoning amendment until the county can hold additional meetings with the public.
  • Improve the Reston Master Plan so as to eliminate the county’s perceived need to increase the density cap.

Where we are now:

Supervisor Hudgins appeared open to further discussions BUT the Fairfax County Zoning administrator, Leslie Johnson, is reluctant to slow down the process until county staff reviews CPR’s proposed amendments to the Reston Master Plan.
Fairfax County has scheduled meetings on the Reston zoning issue for 6 March and 5 April. A public hearing with the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for 15 May.

Your call to action!

  • Email Leslie Johnson, the Fairfax County Zoning Administrator at leslie.johnson@fairfaxcounty.gov
  • Email Supervisor Hudgins at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-478-0283
Tell them:
  1. To withdraw scheduled county meetings on the PRC Zoning District Amendment from the calendar;
  2. That real consensus can be reached through continuing dialogue with Supervisor Hudgins, the Planning Commissioner, and other County officials;
  3. That reasonable amendments to the Reston Master Plan will eliminate the need for increased density; and
  4. That the “Road from Nowhere” (bisecting the Hidden Creek County Club golf course) needs to be removed from the Reston Master Plan.
As we noted at the top of this post, the community’s voices are the most powerful means of assuring that Reston remains a planned, diverse, and welcoming community. Please make sure yours is heard — email or call today!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

PRC Zoning Amendment Update, Coalition for a Planned Reston

 
 
This is a message from the Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR), a volunteer group of residents from the Reston Citizens Association, Reclaim Reston, and Reston 20/20, who are concerned with planning and zoning issues that threaten our planned, diverse and welcoming community.

Winter has arrived with a fury and the struggle continues to stop Fairfax County’s effort to pass a zoning amendment increasing the density of Reston. Here is an update of what you may have missed during the holidays:
 
What we didn’t hear:

  • No word from Supervisor Hudgins on her commitment to meet with the community to discuss possible amendments to the Reston Master Plan. Remember, at the October 23, 2017 community meeting attended by more than 900 Reston residents, Supervisor Hudgins said, “I want to listen and hear your views. I want to make sure I hear and understand your views with any kind of change that we make. . . . I’m willing to hear the concerns. I want to mitigate the concerns. And I want to work with you to do that.”
  • No response from Supervisor Hudgins to a letter from the Reston Association.  The RA’s letter outlined areas to amend the Reston Master Plan that might alleviate the County staff’s felt need to increase the density increase for the Planned Community area of Reston (PRC).
  • Not a peep from Fairfax County planning staff in response to a letter from the Reston Association.  The RA requested information about the source of a road on the map of the grid of streets that would link Isaac Newton Square with American Dream Way; the road would destroy the Hidden Creek Country Club golf course.
  • Silence from Supervisor Hudgins in response to requests from CPR. CPR asked to meet to discuss possible amendments to the Reston Master Plan following the beginning of the term of the new Hunters Mill Planning Commissioner, John Carter, on January 10. 

What we did hear:
 
The County has announced their meeting schedule on the proposed Reston PRC Zoning Ordinance Amendment to permit significant density increases.
  • March 6, 2018 - Board of Supervisors Authorization Item
  • April 5, 2018 - Planning Commission Public Hearing
  • May 15, 2018 - Board of Supervisors Public Hearing

What we need to do:
 
Community involvement did cause the County to blink—as the calendar for moving forward with the zoning amendment was delayed—but it appears that our officials are counting on the surge of citizen concern to subside in the winter chill as the County simply moves forward without engaging with us.

In the coming days CPR will-
  • Submit to Supervisor Hudgins specific proposed changes to the Reston Master Plan as discussed with in the community meeting held on December 11.
  • Commence an outreach effort to the County Board of Supervisors and planning staff.
  • Intensify and improve our community communication via Facebook and other social media.
  • Seek additional volunteers who are willing to work hard on Reston land use issues. 

Please reply to this email or join our “Planned Reston” Facebook page  to send us a private message if you are able to commit to more time and energy to keeping Reston a Planned Community.
 
CPR will be reaching out to you for your input and involvement. Keep reaching out to us with your questions, recommendations and requests to volunteer.
 
Sincerely,

Coalition for a Planned Reston