Prepared Statement of Terry Maynard, Co-Chair, Reston 2020 Committee, for the Board of Supervisors Hearing on the Draft Reston Master Plan

   Reston 2020 Prepared Statement to BOS Re Draft Reston Master Plan

RCA Comment on the Draft Reston Task Force Report, January 22, 2014

The following comments refer to the January 10, 2014, draft of the Reston Task Force report.  The draft RTF report has not been discussed in any meeting of the task force and includes material that has not been discussed by the task force as well as recommendations with which RCA strongly disagrees.  RCA dissents from the RTF report.  

   RCA Comment on Draft RTF Report, January 22, 2014

Draft Reston Task Force Report, January 10, 2014

Below is the text of the e-mail Reston Task Force (RTF) Chairman Patty Nicoson shared with members of the task force asking them to review and comment on the latest draft of the RTF report.  A copy of the draft report is embedded below her note.

The RTF report is intended as a complement to the draft Reston Master Plan   representing the views of task force members.  By in large, it simply reinforces the numerous flaws in the existing draft plan, including calling for a "goal" of 20% open space as passed by the developer and land use attorney controlled RTF in its last meeting rather than a 20% "minimum."  It adds a few words on the importance of implementation (see p. 43), but in the process fails to mention any community involvement in any adopted process, a prerequisite for a balanced and effective approach to implementation. 

Dear Reston Master Plan Task Force Members,

 

Attached is the latest version of the Draft Task Force Report.  Over the last two months since our last writing group meeting, Van Foster, Bill Penniman, and I have been working on editing the document to try to eliminate duplication (although there is some because some of the same elements are discussed in the station are sections) and to conform the names of the areas and districts to those used in the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

 

We will work on adding graphics and some of the Figures from the Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

 

Let me know if you are prepared to support the document or if you think we should have another meeting if there are substantive changes you would like to see.

 

This report reflects task force input over time.  It is consistent with our discussions, the subcommittee reports, and the votes of the task force including those on the Vision and Planning Principles and Achieving the Vision for Reston documents.

 

As has been discussed in the past and noted by staff, it is important for the Task Force to have its own report to share its work and to give the community, county officials, and developers a sense of how the task force viewed the important issues facing Reston as it moves into its next 50 years connected to the Metropolitan region by Metrorail.

 

Last night, January 9, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the Reston Transit Station Areas Comprehensive Plan Text and three follow on motions proposed by Commissioner Frank De La Fe addressing asking the Board to direct staff to

 

1.      develop specific  urban design standards for Reston;  

2.      development of an inclusive process for a funding plan for transportation in Reston; and

3.      develop evaluation of the operational and enhanced streetscape plan and priorities.

 

Happy New Year!

 

Patty

   Draft Reston Master Plan Task Force Report, January 10, 2014

Notes on the RTF Report Writing Sub-Group Meeting, September 4, 2013

                                                                      5 September 2013              

                                                                      R. Rogers              

Notes on the meeting of the Reston Task Force Report Writing Sub-group: 4 September

 Summary: The Reston Master Planning Report Writing Sub-group met for two hours on 4 Sept to hash out several issues for the TF meeting on 10 Sept.  The three proposals—expand the TOD areas by moving the central point from the station platform to the station entrances, count hotels as residential, and re-allocate residential at the stations (the Goudie proposal) were all nixed.  Heidi indicated the RCA call for less flexibility in the draft will probably not be possible.

***

The meeting was attended by John Carter, Joe Stowers, Judy Pew, Bill Penniman, Nick Bauer, Dick Rogers, and Matt Valentine from JBG. Patti Nicoson chaired and Hedi Merkel provided staff support.

In response to questions from Dick Rogers, Heidi indicated that the only “closed” issue is the square footage per office worker--that would have to be taken up with the Planning Commission.  Re the schedule, she and Patti implied there could be minor slippage from the Oct 30 date with the Planning Commission. They will look at a two week postponement.

Re the extensive Reston Association comments of 16 August, Heidi said these will be addressed in text boxes.

Heidi said a version 6 will be forthcoming but is unlikely to be available before Monday 9 Sept.

Heidi called the meeting with RCA President Mills and RCA TF Rep Maynard “fruitful”.  She stressed that there will be changes in the parks section in particular.  However, she said there was limited ability to make any changes re stiffening language as RCA had proposed.  She said Maynard contrasted the overall draft with the urban design section (which tells developers how precisely to do various design elements).  However, Heidi said that “one simply could not have a checklist that had to be met” as RCA seemed to be proposing.

Some panel members asked what the flexibility issues were.

Patti suggested that any unresolved issues could be presented in the TF report.

Issues

           

Station platform or entrances?  There was a long discussion on this that recited familiar arguments.  Eventually John Carter summarized the issue as of having little significance at Wiehle and RTC except on the east and west edges.  He suggested that the plan have some language that would give some flexibility to properties on the boarder lines but to keep the existing boundaries.  This won the day.

Hotels as residences.  There was little support for classifying hotels as residential.  The consensus was the keep hotels in the commercial category.

Residential balance at stations: The idea that residential units should be shifted from Town Center to the other TOD areas was quickly disposed of.  There was no strong proponent of the concept in the group.  No change.

Apparently the results of these discussions will be summarized Tuesday.

Other Issues

HM noted that the new draft will have several new paras about what is special with Reston.

John Carter again brought up his proposal that Reston be “visionary” in Fairfax County. He laid out 5 issues:

·      Get the jobs household balance right.

·      Push for Bob Simon’s “placemaking.”

·      Be more aggressive re community facilities

·      Have a recreation center at the station area.

·      Focus more on getting a university here.

·      Create “LEEDs neighborhoods” with LEEDS architecture, a tree canopy, place making” and walkability.

John said all this would “put Reston out in front.”

Judy Pew raised several issues including the need for interior sound proofing in condos, the need for urban parks and a civic center and the need for harmonious design in Town Center North.

Next

           

There was a desire for the group to meet again after the 10 Sept TF mtg. Tentatively a meeting was set for 17 Sept at 7 PM. There also will be a regular TF meeting on 24 September.

There was talk of an additional TF meeting in Sept but this was left a little vague. Keep posted.

     

Draft Reston Task Force Report, V.7, February 26, 2013

This version of the draft Task Force report includes new sections on performance standards, implementation, and density issues, among other changes.   Comments are welcome and encouraged either here on the blog, email terrmayn@yahoo.com, or call Terry Maynard (RCA's task force representative) at 703-476-5376. 

   Draft Reston Task Force Report, V. 7, February 26, 2013 by   Terry Maynard

Agenda: Reston Task Force Meeting, February 26, 2013

 

The draft Comprehensive Plan text and the latest draft of the RTF report are posted separately for your review and comment. Do not have the latest "Achieving the Vision" language.  Comments welcome on all draft documents here on blog, by email to terrmayn@yahoo.com, or call Terry Maynard (RCA RTF representative) at 703-476-5376.