Anger Boils Over At Reston Zoning Meeting

RESTON, VA -- It was supposed to be a question and answer session with Fairfax County officials to help locals better understand a proposal to increase the density limit in Reston. But as hundreds of yellow shirt-clad Restonians packed the South Lakes High School cafeteria Monday night, it soon became clear that this would be an evening for Fairfax County officials to listen to angry locals, and not the other way around.

The moderator of the meeting tried early on to discourage the attendees from clapping and cheering, but she was quickly booed and shouted down, and never tried again to silence the crowd. And for the next couple hours, Restonian after Restonian stepped up to the microphone to ask a few questions, but mostly deliver a lot of opinions -- and sometimes sharply.

"Do you wanna talk or do you wanna listen?" shot one speaker at a board member who started talking as he was in the middle of his point.

Locals voiced their frustration with the county, arguing that Reston was ill-equipped to handle the large increase in population that they believe an increase in the density limit would bring. Numerous locals argued that until Fairfax County had a clear plan for upgrading the infrastructure of Reston, officials shouldn't be pushing forward with the proposal.

>>>Read more: Reston PRC Zoning Ordinance: 5 Things You Need To Know

They also expressed frustration at the county for appearing to kowtow to developers at the expense of locals who want to see more controlled growth.

Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins was at the meeting, but she remained largely silent -- even when called out by name -- appearing to prefer to let the zoning officials do the talking.

The proposed ordinance has touched a nerve with Restonians, who forced the original meeting -- originally scheduled for last month -- to be postponed until Monday because not everyone could fit in the cramped cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary School. But even in the larger space of South Lakes High School's cafeteria, locals filled the room and then some, waving signs and alternately shouting and cheering throughout the raucous hearing.

Under the proposal, the county would increase the limit on people per acre in Reston's Planned Residential Community (PRC) District from 13 to 16. Fairfax County argues this is necessary in order to meet the requirements of the Reston master plan, but opponents say that it could triple the population and create a nightmare situation in terms of insufficient infrastructure.

Fairfax County has yet to schedule the issue to go before the Board of Supervisors. After Monday night's hearing, officials are certainly on notice that they have a huge fight on their hands -- and in recent years at least, Restonians don't often lose.

"None of us that live here in #reston are pushing for this density change" anyone want to prove this wrong @ggwash? https://t.co/3CP0w2VCxo pic.twitter.com/BnLi18rLjF
— David Whitehead (@DavidWhiteheadC) October 24, 2017

If Cathy Hudgins doesn't get the message from #Reston voters tonight that they disagree w/ her decisions on growth then she needs to resign
— Reston (@Reston) October 24, 2017

Rescheduled-due-to-overcrowding county meeting on Reston overcrowding was overcrowded, shared overcrowded opinions https://t.co/MqtIVHqPRH pic.twitter.com/hqQoskyJkc
— Restonian (@Restonian) October 24, 2017

Image via Fairfax County