RESTON, VA — The Reston Association Board of Directors signaled Thursday that it intends to take a more active role opposing the proposed redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course, directing staff to begin preparing a formal position statement for Fairfax County officials ahead of public hearings expected this fall.
During a discussion that drew multiple residents to speak and followed months of debate over the future of the 168-acre golf course, board members cited overwhelming member support for the association taking a stronger advocacy role against the proposal to build housing on portions of the course.
According to Acting CEO Peter Lusk, more than 600 association members responded to a recent survey, with 91 percent saying the Reston Association should participate in advocacy opposing the redevelopment. The board packet, prepared before the meeting, reported 86 percent support based on the first 255 survey responses, with final results updated during Thursday's meeting.
Director John Farrell (At-Large) introduced a motion directing association staff to prepare a draft document for submission to the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors addressing the pending rezoning applications.
Farrell's proposed framework would reaffirm the association's long-standing position that Reston should remain a two-golf-course community while opposing residential development on the course. It also calls for preserving the existing championship golf course, opposing lighted driving ranges, night golf, new buildings adjacent to nearby neighborhoods and emphasizing the golf course's contribution to surrounding property values, trails and open space.
The board approved the motion after several directors expressed support for refining the document before it is submitted to county officials.
Vice President Izzy Santa, who requested the member survey, said the results demonstrate that residents support the association becoming involved.
"I do believe that this should be a two golf course community," Santa said. "I do believe that people moved here with the expectation that their backyard was going to remain what they see today, not what could be tomorrow."
Secretary Georgina Cannan thanked residents who participated in the survey and attended the meeting.
"It is incredibly helpful to have community support as we are figuring out a path forward as a board," she said.
Director Margaret Perry also backed preparing a formal statement while cautioning against committing unlimited association resources to legal action.
"I want to be very cautious that moving forward ... that does not give us carte blanche to spend as much money as possible on attorneys," Perry said, adding that residents should be kept informed as the process moves forward.
Director Jennifer Jushchuk said she supports advocating for the golf courses but continued to express concerns about the association's overall land-use advocacy procedures, saying she would abstain from land-use motions until those policies are clarified.
Several residents urged the board to continue opposing the redevelopment.
Whitney Park East Board President Michele Hudnall argued that the issue extends beyond a single property and could establish a precedent for future land-use decisions throughout Fairfax County.
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Hudnall said the proposal bypasses the county's Site-Specific Plan Amendment process, which she argued would normally require studies examining traffic, schools, lighting, noise and environmental impacts before redevelopment is considered.
She urged the board to adopt an active advocacy role with a defined budget and use the association's standing to support maintaining Reston's planning framework.
Julie Bitzer, chair of the Reston Association Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, said the board has already established a policy opposing development on the golf courses and encouraged directors to continue working with Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill), Planning Commissioner John Carter (Hunter Mill) and community organizations.
Before board discussion, Lusk summarized recommendations included in the meeting materials.
Association staff recommended maintaining the board's existing policy that Reston is a two-golf-course community and presented two options: continue monitoring the county's review process or actively advocate against the redevelopment using association resources. Staff also recommended establishing a spending cap if the board chooses an advocacy role.
The staff report also noted that the proposed redevelopment would add 306 stacked townhomes in two areas of the property along South Lakes Drive, Colts Neck Road and Sunrise Valley Drive. According to the report, approximately 1,080 Reston Association households border the golf course and could be affected by changes involving traffic, lighting, noise and density. The report also cites the golf course's role as open space, wildlife habitat and stormwater buffer.
County planning documents currently identify the Reston National property as remaining a golf course and key open space, according to the board packet. The report also notes that Fairfax County Planning Commission hearings on the rezoning applications are scheduled for Sept. 23, with Board of Supervisors consideration expected several weeks later.
The Reston Association board is expected to continue refining its advocacy position over the coming weeks before submitting comments ahead of the county hearings.
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