Proposed Changes To Reston Comprehensive Plan Face Public Scrutiny

RESTON, VA — Starting Wednesday, the public will finally have an opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes to the Reston Comprehensive Plan before it heads to the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for final approval later this year.

"I looking forward to this phase of the Comprehensive Plan update for Reston," Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn told reporters during a news conference on Thursday. "This was my first board matter on the Board of Supervisors to ask for this study and update and there have been a lot of folks who put a lot of time and a lot of good work into this."

At the end of August, the task force charged with reviewing to the plan that governs development in Reston approved its final recommendations, which include changes and additions in 12 areas: planning principles, heritage resources, transportation, public facilities, land use, affordable housing, parks, environmental stewardship, public art, economic development, community health and equity.

"Since the Reston Comprehensive Planning process was authorized back in 2020, it was authorized to evaluate how development might impact Reston residents, impact public facilities and provide an opportunity to address growth issues within Reston," said St. Clair Williams, senior planner with the county's department of planning and development on Thursday.

Since the last update was made to the comprehensive plan in 2015, many in the community have expressed concern about how development was impacting the Reston area. Task force members worked with county staff for nearly three years to ensure that the proposed planning principles would result in developments that are harmonious with the surrounding neighborhoods and continue the legacy of new town development in Reston, according Williams.

"The land-use recommendations for the village centers, and specifically Hunter Woods, South Lakes and North Point were reviewed to consider whether future redevelopment proposals might require comprehensive plan amendments," he said. "As a result for the village centers, the proposals for existing residential located adjacent to non-resident areas are to remain unchanged. Any proposals for new housing in the non-resident spheres will require an amendment to the comprehensive plan before consideration."

Read the full Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Report.

Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning has scheduled the following meetings where members of the public can learn more about the task force's recommendations and provide their feedback.

• Community Meeting - Transportation Focus: Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. Virtual WebEx Meeting
• Community Meeting (Economic Development Focus) Thursday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. Virtual WebEx Meeting
• In-Person Community Meeting: Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate, 12125 Pinecrest Road.
• Lunch & Learn Friday, Sept. 23, at 12 p.m. Virtual WebEx Meeting
• Commissioner John Carter are scheduled to participate in the meeting about the comprehensive plan.
• In-Person Community Meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., in the second floor conference room at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza in Reston Station.

• Lunch & Learn: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m. Virtual WebEx Meeting

Reston Citizens Association is also hosting a community meeting on Monday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., at RA headquarters. Supervisor Alcorn and Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter will be on hand to answer residents questions.

The Department of Planning and Zoning will be scheduling additional meetings in October. Members of the public can provide feedback via the county's online portal.

"This exercise of updating the Reston Comprehensive Plan for the last two years and continuing with community engagement has national significance," Carter said, in a statement. "It is extending the legacy of the new town that was created by Robert Simon."

Task force members representing the different topic areas in the report and county staff will also be available at the meeting to answer questions from the public, RCA President Lynne Mulston told Patch on Monday.

RA Board President On Task Force Process

Patch reached out to Reston Association Board President Sarah Selvaraj-D’Souza, who answered the following questions about RA's involvement in the task force to date, as well as what residents can expect during the community engagement process.

Patch: What are your thoughts about the task force process so far?

Sarah Selvaraj-D’Souza: RA is pleased with the level of community involvement in the task force process so far and we are especially grateful to Supervisor Alcorn for inviting RA to participate in the manner that we have. RA was represented on the 21-member task force by former Board Director John Mooney and Chief Operating Officer Larry Butler.

What have been RA's priorities for the Reston Comprehensive Plan update?

Selvaraj-D’Souza: We recently posted RA’s position and priorities for the Reston Comprehensive Plan on the RA website. We encourage all our members and Reston residents to review the Association’s position and our advocacy points.

What aspects of the task force report does RA support?

Selvaraj-D’Souza: It is great to see many of RA’s Environmental Advisory Committee’s (EAC) & Multimodal Transportation Advisory Committee’s (MTAC) recommendations included in the Task Force Draft Recommendations. Reston Association is the pre-eminent provider of parks, recreation and open space for all Restonians, and many of our facilities are freely available to all, including non-members. We would like to see this reflected in the Reston Comprehensive Plan along with the other positions and priorities listed in the infographic.

What are RA's plans for the public comment portion of the plan update? What will you be advocating for?

Selvaraj-D’Souza: RA’s advocacy positions are adopted by the Board, and can be found on the RA website. RA Board Directors and staff will be actively participating in community meetings conducted by Supervisor Alcorn, and we plan to provide testimony at future Fairfax County Zoning and Planning and Board of Supervisors meetings around these policy positions.

What is RA's position on the two new areas mentioned in the task force report — equity and access to healthcare?

Selvaraj-D’Souza: RA is encouraged to see the equity statement and access to healthcare referenced in the draft plan.

Equity demands that basic human needs be met for all Restonians. These needs include adequate housing for all demographics and income levels, access to healthcare, including mental health care, opportunities for education and employment at a living wage and the fulfillment of Reston’s seven basic founding principles.

We hope to see equity and public health be more than just aspirational statements but transform into prioritized practical outcomes.

Can you provide details on how RA members can show their support for RA's positions or ways they can get involved in the public hearings?

Selvaraj-D’Souza: Along with encouraging members to visit our RA website for information containing a copy of the final draft and RA’s positions, RA will be conducting meetings to help inform and educate our members on the final draft Comprehensive Plan and RA’s position on the draft plan.

Members are invited to our Sept. 29th Comprehensive Plan Information Session where residents may drop-in between 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at RA headquarters [12001 Sunrise Valley Drive , Reston, VA 20191] to learn more about the plan and the Association’s position on each of the five areas (Parks & Recreation, Land Use/Infrastructure, Environment, Transportation, and Equity).

We will also be communicating the dates for Supervisor Alcorn’s community meetings so that members can attend those meetings as well. The Board and staff are planning to be
out and about in Reston throughout Sept. attending various community events, including the Multicultural Festival on Sept. 17, to talk with members and to share information
with them.

Members will also have the opportunity soon to show their support for RA’s positions on the Comprehensive Plan.