Colin Mills: Virginia’s Building Code, Now More Accessible, RestonNow, November 21, 2013

by RCA President Colin Mills

 

RCA is a locally-focused organization.  Our primary goal, as our name suggests, is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Reston.  As a result, our projects are usually Reston-specific.  Every once in a while, though, we have a chance to do something that benefits people beyond our community’s borders.  

 

One such effort has recently come to fruition for RCA’s Reston Accessibility Committee and its hard-working chair, Ken Fredgren.  For the last two years, Ken and others have been pushing for the adoption of changes to Virginia’s statewide building code to make it friendlier to people with disabilities. Those changes have now been adopted, and the people of Virginia, not just Reston, will benefit.

 

How did RAC get involved in changing statewide building codes?  As you might know, RAC works with Reston’s commercial property owners and managers to make their properties more accessible for people with disabilities.   In the course of doing this kind of work, they have naturally become familiar with the relevant laws and codes.  RAC felt that Virginia’s building codes could be improved to incorporate more language on accessibility.

 

To address this issue, in 2011 Reston’s delegate Ken Plum sponsored House Joint Resolution  648, which established a working group to recommend accessibility-related changes to Virginia’s building codes and laws.  And Ken Fredgren was tapped to serve on that working group.  This time, instead of helping property owners understand the accessibility regulations, Ken got to help write them.

 

One of the great things about the working group is the way developers, county and city permitting officials, and disability advocacy groups collaborated to develop their recommendations.  It was a fine example of the good that can happen when the private and public sectors work together for a common goal.

 

After a year’s effort, the working group emerged in 2012 with a total of 7 proposed changes to the building code and one General Assembly bill that would provide tax credits for businesses that made accessibility-related improvements.  Ken proudly presented the group’s products to RCA, and naturally we were in full support.  In October of that year, RCA and several co-sponsors held a community forum to discuss the changes and urge Restonians to call and email in support of their adoption.

 

I’m not sure if Ken knew quite what he was in for.  He had already been traveling back and forth to Richmond on a regular basis to meet with the working group, and over the following year, he made several more trips to present their proposals to the Board of Housing and Community Development (which makes changes to Virginia’s building code), then to discuss and make revisions to the proposals, and on and on.   These trips weren’t always easy for Ken, but he kept at it because of his commitment to the cause of accessibility.

 

The proposals went through several rounds of revision; some were dropped, others were modified.  It was a long and sometimes frustrating process.  But Ken persevered; he wrote letters to the Board, exchanged emails with staffers, and kept attending meetings.

 

In the end, the Board approved four of the working group’s proposals.  Together, these changes represent a huge step forward in the building code.  

 

Two of the changes are related to home construction.  One change will incorporate Universal Design standards, which makes buildings easier for older people and those with disabilities to use, for use in building new homes.  Another mandates wider interior doors on the main floor of new dwellings, so that people in wheelchairs or mobility devices can move from room to room.  That second change is important for people with and without disabilities.  Imagine if you invited a friend who uses a wheelchair to your house, only to discover she couldn’t use the bathroom because the door was too narrow.

 

The other two adopted changes relate to the number of accessible spaces required in parking lots.  Another increases the number of accessible parking spaces that must be constructed in large lots.  And the last one calls for additional accessible parking spaces in lots connected to medical facilities such as outpatient clinics and dentist’s offices.  A lot of RAC’s work involves adding or modifying accessible parking spaces, and I know that Ken is acutely aware of the challenge of finding accessible spaces in busy lots. 

 

Thanks to the efforts of Ken and the HJR 648 working group, our building code is friendlier to people with disabilities than it has ever been.  Almost 20% of Virginians have a disability, and I’m proud that my state’s building code is now working for them.  Parking lots, medical buildings, and homes are basic facilities, and people with disabilities should have the same ability to access them as people without. 

 

As our population ages, these changes will also help Virginia remain an appealing place to live.  If people with disabilities can’t find homes with Universal Design features or can’t find places to park where they shop, eat, or go to the doctor, they’re less likely to remain in Virginia and spend their money here.  Accessibility improvements aren’t just good for people with disabilities – they’re good for business.

 

I’m very proud of what Ken’s accomplished with the working group.  These building code modifications are lasting changes that will make life better for Virginians with disabilities, their families and friends, and all of us.

And don’t worry – just because Ken’s been working on this effort doesn’t mean that RAC has stopped making progress on projects here in Reston.  They’ve remained active on several projects all over our community, and I look forward to sharing the news once they’re successfully completed.

 

Most of the work we do at RCA primarily benefits Restonians, and that’s great.  But I’m really glad for this opportunity to do something that has a statewide impact.   Ken Fredgren is a model of hard work and dedication to service, and this example demonstrates how serving your community can have a bigger impact than you ever thought possible.

UPDATE: Ken Fredgren followed up to point out that the building code changes will need to receive written approval from the governor before they become law.  After the governor's approval, DHCD will have several months to implement them.

RAC: Working Hard for Reston, Colin Mills, Reston Patch, May 8, 2013

Our fellow RCA committee makes great contributions to our community and county!  Keep up the good work RAC!

It’s been a few months since I last wrote about RCA’s Reston Accessibility Committee, and the changes they achieved at South Lakes Village Center.  Well, Ken Fredgren and his hard-working group have remained quite active since January, when I last wrote about them, and it’s high time that I shine the spotlight on their latest work.  RAC continues to champion the cause of ensuring accessibility for everyone throughout Reston.

RAC Chairman Ken Fredgren and RAC members accept Community Partnership Award from Fairfax County.

 
On the heels of their success at South Lakes, RAC turned its attention to the Reston Hospital Center.  As you would imagine, accessibility is paramount at a hospital.  So when a RAC member reported that she had had experienced problems opening the bathroom doors at the hospital, not only did RHC staff test the doors and fix them quickly, but they also reached out to RAC to talk about how the hospital could be made more accessible.

RAC performed a survey of the hospital property and made several suggestions for improvement.  And the RHC staff listened!  The hospital now has more accessible parking spaces, access aisles, curb ramps, curb cuts, and crosswalks.  Some of the existing accessible spaces were relocated to provide a more accessible route to the hospital buildings.  They even moved their valet parking service to the main entrance to provide safer and more comfortable access for patients with disabilities.

I’m delighted to know that RHC is now a friendlier place for those with disabilities.  Kudos to RAC for another successful project!  And kudos to RHC for their proactive approach to improving accessibility.  Ken reported that RHC Community & Government Relations VP Tracey White and COO Jane Raymond, who were the liaisons to RAC on the project, were tremendously helpful and pleasant to work with.  I feel great knowing that we have a hospital that cares about ensuring access for all of its patients and visitors.

The RHC effort is just one of several Reston projects that RAC has been working on these last few months.  The other efforts are still in progress, and I’ll be sure to share the news once they’ve been completed.

In addition to his work in Reston, Ken has also been at work in Richmond.  He is continuing to push for the Board of Housing and Community Development to approve the building code changes that his working group proposed.  It’s been a slow process, as the Board has been reluctant to adopt the changes.  This has meant that Ken has had to spend a lot of time and energy revising the proposed changes and driving back and forth from Richmond to attend hearings.

But Ken has not given up; he’s continued to advocate for the changes, and to work to find a compromise that will allow these changes to move forward.  If he is successful (and I believe he will be), people with disabilities all over the Commonwealth will benefit from his efforts.

RAC’s dedication and hard work has earned recognition even beyond Reston’s borders.  In honor of Building Safety Month, last week RAC received the Community Partnership Award from the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.  The award was presented at a ceremony before the Board of Supervisors.  I’m delighted to see RAC receive the recognition it deserves, and I hope that the award might spur others throughout the County to create an Accessibility Committee in their own communities.

Ever the advocate, Ken took a moment during his acceptance speech to call on the Supervisors to create a process to enforce requirements for compliant accessible parking signs throughout the County.  In order for a parking space to be truly “accessible,” it needs to be properly designed (on level ground, with access aisles) and properly signed.  Ken called on the County to perform inspections of accessible parking signs and spaces.  Better yet, both Chairman Bulova and Supervisor Hudgins made a public commitment to address the issue.  I’m hopeful that this will come to pass, and if it does, it will be another move forward for people with disabilities.

As you can see, RAC has kept itself active working on behalf of Restonians with disabilities.  If you’re inspired by what they’re doing, you can now tell them in person, because RAC is getting out into the community.  Last Saturday, for the first time, RAC had a booth at the Reston Farmer’s Market at Lake Anne.  Their booth was stocked with information about RAC and its accomplishments, and they did a fine job spreading the word.

So if you have any questions about RAC, or if you’d like to give them a donation or join the committee, or if you’d just like to say thanks for what they’re doing, stop by their booth.  They’re planning to return to the Market on May 18^th, and they’re hoping to be there every other week while the market is in operation.

As always, I’m inspired by the example Ken and RAC are setting.  Improving access for the disabled is not an easy or high-profile task, but the success of RAC’s volunteer activists is a sight to behold.  With hard work, good will, and a firm interest in the community welfare, RAC is making Reston a better place to live, work, play, and get around.

Commentary: The Spirit of Civic Activism in Reston, Colin Mills, President, RCA, October 3, 2012

It's a busy time at RCA these days.  I think I've started most of my posts in the last couple of months with some version of that statement, but it's true.  There are a lot of hot issues in Reston right now, and we've been active and engaged on the ones within our sphere of influence.

Every once in a while, though, I begin to despair that RCA - and I - can only do so much.  During busy times like this, it seems like I can never attend all of the meetings I should attend, and RCA can't address all the issues we should address.  We have a dedicated and hard-working organization, but we are all only human.  And I worry about who will address some of these issues if RCA doesn't.

But when I do attend meetings, I'm encouraged and reassured by all the citizen activists that I meet.  As I've discussed previously, Reston was settled by a group of pioneers who believed that citizenship is an active duty, and that if you want to see change in the community, you need to make it happen, not wait for someone else to do it.  This spirit of service is not shared everywhere, and Reston is widely known for it.

When I had breakfast with Tom Davis the other week, he mentioned that Reston has a county-wide reputation for its civic activism and involvement, and added that Reston is considered "a high-maintenance area" by local leaders because of its involved citizens.  Speaking as a Restonian, I'm proud of that reputation, and I intend to see that it continues into the future.

Happily, I can report that citizen involvement in Reston is alive and well.  I've attended a couple of events this week that drove home to me what an active, committed bunch Restonians are.
Last Saturday, I attended and spoke at the rally organized by Rescue Reston to protect Reston National Golf Course against the threat of redevelopment. Rescue Reston itself is a success story for civic involvement.  When word spread through the community in July that Reston National's owners were applying to have the golf course declared to be developable, the surrounding residents jumped to action.  In the space of a couple short months, Rescue Reston has raised money for legal counsel, run an awareness campaign to alert Restonians to the issue, and developed an action plan to help Reston protect its open space.  It's a testament to what a group of dedicated people on a mission can accomplish.

The turnout at the rally was tremendous; we had several hundred folks in attendance, many of them sporting Rescue Reston's bright yellow-green shirts.  A lot of attendees were people whose homes border Reston National, but I spotted a number of folks who don't live anywhere near the golf course.  That's an encouraging sign. It shows that Restonians understand that this issue doesn't just affect the homeowners around the course; the principle of Reston's open space and the zoning laws that protect it affect all Restonians.

I was also encouraged by the speakers at the rally who affirmed the importance of open space.  In addition to me and Rescue Reston executive director John Pinkman, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins expressed her support for the preservation of the golf course, and her optimism that the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will uphold the decision that the golf course must remain open space.  Richard Chew spoke on behalf of the Reston Association; he affirmed that RA stands with Rescue Reston on this, and that RA has also retained legal counsel to pursue the issue in court if necessary.

It's great to speak in front of a group of fired-up citizens; their passion and enthusiasm spurs me to keep up the fight.  And it's inspiring to see that so many Restonians take our founding principles seriously, and are willing to stand up and fight for them.

The event I attended on Wednesday morning was very different in tone and subject matter.  RCA's Reston Accessibility Committee held its community forum, entitled "Accessibility: A Call to Action."  The forum was designed to educate the public about the state building code changes and General Assembly bill that were recommended by the HJR 648 Work Group to make Virginia's building codes and laws more disability-friendly.

HJR 648 was a bill sponsored by Reston's own Del. Ken Plum. It established a working group that included representatives of the disability rights community (RAC among them), the building development industry, and local zoning officials.  The group proposed a total of 7 amendments to Virginia's statewide building code, and one bill that would provide tax credits for businesses that made improvements to make their property more accessible to people with disabilities.  The building code changes are now being reviewed by the Department of Housing and Community Development Board, and the bill will be considered in the next General Assembly session.

I had the honor of moderating this forum, but the stars were our panel of experts.  Del. Plum described the challenges that the tax-credit bill will face in the General Assembly, and encouraged us to build coalitions around common interests to help the bill pass.  RAC's hard-working chairman, Ken Fredgren, and one of his work group colleagues, Director Matt Barkley of the Disability Services Planning & Development of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, explained the building code changes and told the audience what they could do to help get the changes approved.  After they spoke, the three panelists took questions from the audience.

The audience was rather different from the crowd at the rally, but they are also activists.  Many of them either have disabilities or have relatives or friends who do.  Theirs is often a quieter sort of activism, but no less vital.  For them, it's a struggle just to have the ability to go where they want and participate in the same activities the rest of us take for granted.  They're tenacious and determined, and their spirit inspires me.

Some of the most moving moments at the forum revolved around the stories these folks had to tell.  One man explained that he has to arrange to visit friends and relatives at restaurants; he isn't able to visit their homes, either because of the entrance stairs or because the doorways are too narrow for his wheelchair.  A woman described the fact that her son, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, had to move out of Reston - out of Virginia entirely, in fact - because he couldn't find a house that could accommodate his condition.  For someone like me, with no disabilities, these stories are shocking; for many of the people in the audience, they're a fact of life.

Ken noted that, to his knowledge, RAC is the only organization in Virginia doing what they do, reaching out to property owners and managers and encouraging them to make their facilities ADA-compliant.  He'd like to see RAC's model spread to surrounding communities, and elsewhere in the state.  I'd like to see that as well.  But it seems fitting to me that Reston, with its tradition of activism, is a pioneer in this form of citizen involvement.

Two different events, two different subjects, two different goals.  But the Recue Reston rally and the Accessibility forum, in my view, shared one common thread: engaged citizens getting involved in the community.  The people at both of these events don't just passively reside in Reston and watch things happen; they get active and make the changes they want to see in the community.

Both of these events left me feeling energized.  I have great ambitions for growing RCA, taking on more issues, and expanding the scope of our influence.  Despite this, I know that no matter how much we grow, RCA will never be able to address all of Reston's issues, or solve all of Reston's problems.  But because we have such active, dedicated, passionate citizens, I'm confident that we'll be able to address all these issues and solve these problems together.
For those of you out there who missed the rally and the Accessibility forum, you may be wondering what you can do to become active and get involved.  I'm happy to report that you can.

If you're concerned about Reston National and the open space issue, our next big target is the BZA hearing on October 24th.  Rescue Reston wants to flood the room with a neon-clad army of supporters, and you can be one.  If you want to have your say, you can submit a written statement or sign up to speak at the hearing.  Contact me or John Pinkman, and we'll provide you with the details.

If you're interested in accessibility and supporting the building code changes, there are three things you can do.  First, as I said, the Department of Housing and Community Development Board is currently reviewing the proposed building code changes, and will be voting on them in the coming months.  You can write or email the Board in support of the changes.  Second, the Virginia House and Senate Finance Committees will consider the tax-credit bill when the General Assembly recovenes in January.  You can write, call, or email the members of those committees and urge them to pass the bill.  Finally, you can contact the County Board of Supervisors and ask them to recommend the tax credit bill be included in the County's legislative package.  If you contact me or Ken Fredgren, we'll provide you with the contact information for those boards and committees.

One of Reston's great strengths is its sense of community, which was built on the foundation of civic involvement and activism.  That spirit makes us a special place, and I'm inspired by the citizen activists I see every day to keep that spirit alive.

Event: Accessibility: A Call to Action, 9AM, RA HQ, October 3, 2012

The Reston Accessibility Committee, another RCA committee, is a co-sponsor of this event tomorrow.  We at Reston 2020 believe you will find the event worthwhile.  The following details are from the Reston Patch.

Accessibility: A Call to Action

October 3, 2012, 9:00 am

12001 Sunrise Valley Dr, Reston, VA | Get Directions »

Light refreshments will be served. Learn how pending proposed accessibility updates to the Virginia building code and a proposed General Assembly bill can improve accessibility for Restonians with disabilities, and how, together, we can help advocate for their success. Your ideas can help! Presentations: Delegate Ken Plum (VA 36th District) Matthew Barkley,  Director, Disability Services Planning and Development, Fairfax County Department of Family Services Ken Fredgren, Chairman, Reston Accessibility Committee of Reston Citizens Association RSVP: Jan Pohl, Reston Interfaith E-mail: jan.pohl@restoninterfaith.org Phone: 571-323-1412 Fax: 571-323-9554 Your response will enable us to plan appropriately for the event. Please tell us about any reasonable ADA accommodations that would be helpful to your participation. For general information other than to RSVP Ken Fredgren, fredgren.k@gmail.com

RA Letter to RTF Regarding Reston's Essential Elements, July 13 2010

071210 Reston Assn. Letter to Task Force re Reston's Essential Elements