RA Board Passes Two Motions Related to Redevelopment

The Reston Association Board of Directors approved two motions regarding the redevelopment plan for the Tall Oaks Village Center at a special meeting held Wednesday night.

The first motion authorized RA Board President Ellen Graves to draft a letter to Fairfax County Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins and Planning Commissioner Frank de la Fe requesting project developer Jefferson Apartment Group meet the Urban Land Institute’s defined standards for public plazas and meeting areas.

Jefferson Apartment Group purchased Tall Oaks Village Center in 2014 for $14 million, and now plans to turn it into a neighborhood with at least 140 residences including condos and townhouses.

The Urban Land Institute encourages features like public, outdoor plazas and meeting areas, and it preaches their importance in a community.

“A successful public realm is one in which commerce, social interaction, and leisure time activities may mix easily in an attractive, pedestrian-friendly, outdoor setting. People are drawn by the simple enjoyment of being there. If that enjoyment is to be felt, the public realm and public spaces must be well designed and programmed.

“The public realm is open to programs that are significant to the community such as charity events, holiday events, and civic events. It becomes a true public place, taking on a life of its own. As part of the community that goes beyond simple commerce or public relations, it ultimately becomes a place with a history. The public realm should allow for the integration of the people, the place, and the larger community.”

The RA Board also approved a motion to allow RA counsel to inform Fairfax County/INOVA that a parcel of land located in the area known as Reston Town Center North is RA-covenanted property.

The RA Board stressed that any future development on land north of Reston Town Center is subject to RA Design Review Board standards and that new residents will be members of the association.

Patch file photo