The BZA Erred on the Comprehensive Plan Requirement for Development of Reston National Golf Course

The BZA got it wrong on the Comprehensive Plan issue. The Planned Residential Community (PRC) ordinance is unique to only 3 geographic areas in Fairfax County, all of which have green open space as an integral factor in the planning. It is complicated to those who do not deal with it often or ever, and this includes members of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

The last time the BZA made a ruling in a PRC District (it was Reston) was in 1992 when they were later overruled by the Supreme court - see http://reston2020.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-1990s-virginia-supreme-court-opinion.html.

On April 15, 2015 the BZA essentially turned the clock back to the fall of 2012 and ruled based only on the evidence in hand in 2012 - almost 3 years ago. They stated they were ignoring all of the evidence presented since the Zoning Administrator’s 2012 determination letter.

Rescue Reston expects to take this case to the Circuit Court where all of the evidence will be considered. Your support and donations are needed to challenge this threat to Reston’s most important defining characteristic -- its open space. More info at RescueReston.org.

The implications of this BZA decision reach far beyond these 166 acres of recreational open space. If Reston National Golf Course falls to development, the Hidden Creek Golf Course on the north side could be next. And what if the U.S. Government decides some day to sell the 105 acre U.S. Geological Survey property in Reston? These are key pillars in the Reston Master Plan that the citizens of Reston and all of Fairfax County must not allow to fall.

RCA has written a one-page information sheet to explain these unique PRC Districts - please read and share:

What is a PRC (Planned Residential Community) District?

“PRC Zoning Districts are established to encourage innovative and creative design for land development; to provide ample and efficient use of open space; to promote a balance in the mix of land uses, housing types, and intensity of development; and to allow maximum flexibility in order to achieve excellence in physical, social and economic planning and development of a site.”[1]

Fairfax County has only 3 of these unique PRC Districts and they all have green open space as an integral factor in their design.

Fairfax County’s Hunter Mill District has the economic powerhouse and the largest, Reston,[1] an internationally known planned community. Fairfax County is currently updating Phase II of the Reston Master Plan, which is incorporated into the County Comprehensive Plan. Reston’s Land Use Maps are being updated to include all public parks, private recreation and private open space. “Reston’s two golf courses are planned to remain.”[2]

The Braddock District has Burke Centre, a Planned Residential Community with the motto “Nature and Community in Harmony.” With 1,700-acres in 3.16 square miles,[3] it has only one homeowners association, named the Burke Center Conservancy.[4] The HOA name itself implies their dedication to integrating wildlife and the environment with their community.

The third PRC and smallest is in the Springfield District. The Cardinal Forest subdivision,[5] a condominium community, is nestled into nearly 100 acres of old growth forest.

There are 5 types of Planned Districts in Fairfax County’s Planned Development District Regulations, [6] but it is only the PRC District that requires a comprehensive plan amendment in addition to the Development Plan Amendment (DPA) required for the other 4 types of Districts. This is a very key distinction and one that is not well understood by those who do not specialize in PRC zoning.

“Adequate and well-designed open space for the use of all residents” is one of the defined purposes in the PRC ordinance (see page 24, footnote 7). For those who carefully choose to live in a PRC, it is one of its most important defining characteristics.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Virginia

[2] http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/reston/staff_documents/20141219_v2working_draft_summary.pdf

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_Centre,_Virginia and http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/comprehensiveplan/area3/pohick.pdf

[4] http://www.burkecentreweb.com/committee_main.asp

[5] http://www.cardinalforest.com/ and http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/comprehensiveplan/area4/springfield.pdf

[6] http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoningordinance/articles/art06.pdf