ICYMI: Is Reston About to Get Crushed by Overdevelopment?

This article was originally posted June 26.

Fairfax County has implemented new zoning changes that have many residents of the county, including Reston, concerned that their neighborhoods are about to be overwhelmed by development.

The county approved zoning changes at a public hearing Tuesday that would allow for higher-density development around Metro stations and in commercial areas, according to a WTOP report, which noted that the zoning changes were made because current zoning wouldn't allow the county to achieve its comprehensive plan.

But residents in Reston, Seven Corners and Baileys Crossroads in particular are concerned about the rezoning plan, according to the report. The residents are worried about overdevelopment, with more high-rise apartments causing a huge increase in traffic in the area as well as densely packed schools that could affect the quality of children's education.

Reston has already achieved a tremendous amount of growth in recent years, and plans for new high-rises seem to be unveiled on a regular basis for this exploding suburb of Washington, D.C.

The Reston Comprehensive Plan by the Reston Association predicts another 25,000 residents will move into Reston in the next 30 years, and the addition of a million more square feet of office and retail development.

"Undoubtedly there will be more traffic with more people and more development," the Reston Association acknowledges on its website. "With Metro running down the middle of Reston, it is hoped (and likely) that more residents will use alternatives to automobile transportation, including walking, biking and buses. Many developments will offer incentives to get away from single-occupancy vehicle trips. The Reston Metro Access Group provided a suite of recommendations to improve non-motorized access to the Wiehle Reston East Metro Station, and many are being implemented today."