Reston Association Board President Kathleen Driscoll McKee has mentioned in recent articles for Reston Patch and the Reston Magazine that people should get involved in phase two of the revision of Reston's master plan. In phase two, the task force will recommend zoning changes to add residential units and more commercial and retail space to the village centers. What McKee neglects to spell out is that the neighborhoods around the village centers will be considered by the task force for rezoning to high-density.
What does this mean? It means developers will be able to buy out entire neighborhoods and redevelop whenever they want. The state legislature passed H.B. 2954 in 2007, a bill which counteracts the Supreme Court's Kelo vs. New London decision. Our neighborhoods cannot be taken by eminent domain by the county to increase revenue. However, developers can "consolidate" neighborhoods by making us offers we can't refuse. They can buy us out. Once the zoning is changed, Reston will be wide open for residential redevelopment.
Currently the "footprints" of the village centers include some existing neighborhoods. The task force set up by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) will consider whether to expand, contract or leave those footprints as they are.
Hunters Woods Village Center's footprint includes the following neighborhoods: Glade at Hunters Woods condos, Hunters Woods Village condos and Hunters Woods retirement apartments. In addition, Hunters Square, Hunters Crossing condos and Glenvale condos may be considered for rezoning to high-density because of their proximity to the village center.
South Lakes Village Center's footprint includes Harbor Point condos and the Thoreau Place assisted-living center. In addition, Villa Ridge condos, Lakeport and Southbridge may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
The North Point Village Center footprint includes The Apartments at North Point and North Point Village condos. In addition, Summer Ridge condos, Hampton Pointe condos and St. Johns Woods apartments may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
Tall Oaks Village Center footprint includes Tall Oaks at Reston retirement apartments, and Bentana Park condos and Villas de Espana may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
In her suggestions for residents to get involved, McKee has not indicated how residents may participate in the planning process. Currently the task force is heavily weighted with developers, their attorneys, architects and engineers. Many are not residents of Reston. Recently representatives of Reston Association, Reston Citizens Association and the Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners suggested to Hudgins that a different configuration of the task force is needed for phase two. Local residents need to be represented to discuss and vote about possible rezoning and redevelopment of their own neighborhoods. Hudgins has indicated a willingness to consider reconfiguring the task force to include residents on various subcommittees.
Neighborhoods in the vicinity of the village centers need to appoint representatives to participate in phase two. This needs to be done now, as phase two will begin early next year.
Hudgins can be contacted at the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive Reston, VA 20190, 703-478-0283, hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Kathy Kaplan, Reston
UPDATE: Kathy's letter also appears in the Reston Patch at "Task Force Phase 2 will bring big changes."
What does this mean? It means developers will be able to buy out entire neighborhoods and redevelop whenever they want. The state legislature passed H.B. 2954 in 2007, a bill which counteracts the Supreme Court's Kelo vs. New London decision. Our neighborhoods cannot be taken by eminent domain by the county to increase revenue. However, developers can "consolidate" neighborhoods by making us offers we can't refuse. They can buy us out. Once the zoning is changed, Reston will be wide open for residential redevelopment.
Currently the "footprints" of the village centers include some existing neighborhoods. The task force set up by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) will consider whether to expand, contract or leave those footprints as they are.
Hunters Woods Village Center's footprint includes the following neighborhoods: Glade at Hunters Woods condos, Hunters Woods Village condos and Hunters Woods retirement apartments. In addition, Hunters Square, Hunters Crossing condos and Glenvale condos may be considered for rezoning to high-density because of their proximity to the village center.
South Lakes Village Center's footprint includes Harbor Point condos and the Thoreau Place assisted-living center. In addition, Villa Ridge condos, Lakeport and Southbridge may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
The North Point Village Center footprint includes The Apartments at North Point and North Point Village condos. In addition, Summer Ridge condos, Hampton Pointe condos and St. Johns Woods apartments may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
Tall Oaks Village Center footprint includes Tall Oaks at Reston retirement apartments, and Bentana Park condos and Villas de Espana may be considered for rezoning to high-density due to their proximity to the village center.
In her suggestions for residents to get involved, McKee has not indicated how residents may participate in the planning process. Currently the task force is heavily weighted with developers, their attorneys, architects and engineers. Many are not residents of Reston. Recently representatives of Reston Association, Reston Citizens Association and the Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners suggested to Hudgins that a different configuration of the task force is needed for phase two. Local residents need to be represented to discuss and vote about possible rezoning and redevelopment of their own neighborhoods. Hudgins has indicated a willingness to consider reconfiguring the task force to include residents on various subcommittees.
Neighborhoods in the vicinity of the village centers need to appoint representatives to participate in phase two. This needs to be done now, as phase two will begin early next year.
Hudgins can be contacted at the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive Reston, VA 20190, 703-478-0283, hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Kathy Kaplan, Reston
UPDATE: Kathy's letter also appears in the Reston Patch at "Task Force Phase 2 will bring big changes."
