Local Support on Herndon Metro Plan Split

Herndon residests and representatives of local chambers, committees and organizations expressed mixed support during the Herndon Town Council's Feb. 28 public hearing on the Herndon Metro Station Area Plan.  

Richard Downer, co-chairman of the Herndon Chamber Committee of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, said they strongly support the plan presented, but especially the portion . He said proper connectivity will be essential to the town and the plan.

Dave Kirby, a board member representing the Committee for Dulles, said the committee urges the town and Council to support the plans for transit-oriented development around the future Herndon Metro station.

Other’s involved with local chambers and business groups also spoke in support of the project, including Don Owens and Eileen Cutis. Owens said people are watching for economic development opportunities in Herndon and voting for this is voting for the area’s children and grandchildren.

Herndon resident Andrew Snowhite said people have responded to the plan positively, and as a resident of the Downs subdivision, he chose to move to that area because of its proximity to the future Metro station. He said he and many others are looking forward to the positive impact the rail line will have on home values. Herndon residents Barbara Glakas, Eric Boll and Jennifer Boysko, among others, also expressed support. 

Shane Murphy, a lawyer with Cooley LLP in Reston, said as a representative of three of the properties adjacent to the future Metro station, this plan has been two years in the making and they are comfortable with it. He said it is the kind of development the property owners want to see and the Council should move forward so the town and landowners can focus on interim facilities for Metro.

Herndon resident Dave Webster said he still believes the Council should have held off on voting on the plan until it included language addressing the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.

Doug Shuster, a Herndon resident who has closely followed the study and lives near the future station, said it’s great that Metro is coming but the plan being considered by the Council Tuesday night would lead to the “slow destruction of the character of our town.”

The plan is selling the soul of the town in hopes for additional tax revenue, Shuster said. He questioned whether it was worthwhile for the additional traffic jams the plan could create. He urged the council to not approve it and come up with a more worthy plan.

Shuster provided the Council with an alternative vision for planning the Herndon Metro Station area, including addressing standards for building height, Metro access, an internal street network, accessing main roads, density, green space and the town's unique character. For example, the vision said 15-story buildings are acceptable, but should be set back along the Dulles Toll Road, farthest from residential neighborhoods. (The full vision plan is attached to this article.) 

Tom Kellner, a Herndon resident, said when he spoke with people they were more concerned about getting a proper kiss-and-ride and did not care about the station reflecting the character of the town. He said they just want a fast way to get to the station to get to work, though some were concerned about traffic.

Herndon resident Mike Stewart said he didn’t think the plan adequately addressed the definitions of things such as bike lanes, trails, multimodal usage and other modes of transportation other than cars. He said he still doesn’t see a comprehensive look at how people will move from one place to another on bicycles.