Don't Mess With Reston

RESTON, VA — Developers be warned: if you plan a major project in Reston, you'd better dot your i's and cross your t's with the locals. Boston Properties was the latest to find that out recently, but they weren't the first and probably won't be the last.

Reston has been in the midst of an explosion in development in recent years, and it doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. And long-time residents are wary of seeing their once quiet neighborhoods suddenly turned upside down by what they see as developers looking to make a quick buck at their expense. It's resulted in a community that watches any future development projects like a hawk -- and is ready to raise hell when they think a developer is ignoring them.

Boston Properties was the latest to fall afoul of locals with their proposal to introduce paid parking at Reston Town Center through the ParkRTC app, which the developer argued was necessary and would make parking easier and more convenient for everyone. But the proposal fell flat with many locals: not only because it would result in the end of free parking, but because of privacy concerns with the app that many feared made their personal information available to hackers. After a tremendous backlash, Boston Properties recently backed off the Sept. 12 roll-out date and delayed it until January -- when the fight is sure to begin anew.

Boston Properties is not alone in earning the ire of Reston residents. Even today, Sept. 14, a proposal is going before the Reston Association that has angered many Reston residents. It would involve a major redevelopment of the St. Johns Wood Community in North Reston, and a petition is circulating to stop the development -- or at least force the developer, Bozzuto, to answer a laundry list of questions about traffic exits, tree preservations and management of parking, to name a few.

Then there's the incident pictured above. In March 2015, 49 protesters who were members of "Rescue Reston" gathered in front of the Reston office of Northwestern Mutual to spell out a giant "NO," in case executives weren't quite getting their message. They were protesting Northwestern Mutual's attempts to take away Reston National Golf Course for good by developing the property. They were victorious, and Northwestern Mutual abandoned the project.

Rob Weinhold, chief executive of Fallston Group, which represents Boston Properties, said he was "not surprised" at the vigorous response of Reston residents to ParkRTC.

"Having dealt with many community-based issues in my career, I understand and respect the varying points of view and the passion with which individuals choose to express themselves," he said. "It is a true sign of a healthy, vested community. I also know Boston Properties is genuine about their motivation to create more meaningful outreach leading up to activation - seamless transition is the overall goal."

Suzanne Zurn, a Reston resident and creator of the Change.org petition to block ParkRTC, argued that Boston Properties didn't do enough to engage the community in "constructive conversations about such a significant change," and that residents felt they were being ignored.

The opposition in this case, and in many others, shows how unique the community is, she added.

"I chose to put down roots in Reston and raise my family here because this 'new town' offered everything important and valuable to the kind of life we wanted," Zurn said. "One of the things I like about Reston is how our community is passionate about defending, protecting, and advancing the values we were founded on."

So to future developers, Zurn says it's wise to tread lightly.

"When a company or other entity tramples on these core Reston values, they are inviting a fight," she said.

PHOTOS: Rescue Reston supporters say “NO” to Northwestern Mutual’s plans to develop Reston National Golf Course – photo credit Jim Kirby.