High Rise Planned for Parcel Between W&OD and Hidden Creek

Another high rise may soon be part of the Wiehle-Reston East skyline — and this one is also may cast a shadow on one of Reston’s Golf Courses.

Golf Course Overlook LLC has filed a rezoning application with Fairfax County seeking to convert a three-acre parcel wedged between Sunset Hills Road and a corner of the private golf club. The site, northwest of the W&OD Trail, is about one-third of a mile from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station and currently is Golf Course Plaza, a 45-year old, three-story office building with surface parking.

Developers would need to change the zoning from I-5 (General Industrial) and RE (Residential Estate) zones to Planned Residential Mixed-Use to proceed with the plans for a single high rise with 413 residential units.

Plans call for replacing the office building and surface parking lot at 11480 Sunset Hills Rd. with an approximately 392,600-square foot building with three levels of underground parking.

“The property’s location, adjacent to the private Hidden Creek Country Club and Washington and Old Dominion (‘W&OD’) Trail, provides a unique opportunity for a residential use in the Wiehle-Reston East Transit Station Area,” the application says. “It will allow natural views across the attractive golf course and immediate access to the W&OD Trail for both recreation and access to the Metro Station.”

The property is part of Isaac Newton Square, an aging low-rise office park  that is considered to be Reston’s next big area for transformation. This is the first application filed for Isaac Newton Square, which currently has allowed densities of up to a 2.0, which is relatively low density. The new project would seek much higher density due to its location close to the Metro.

It is also one of several rezoning or development applications surrounding Reston’ golf courses. While a years-long zoning appeal to change public course Reston National has been shelved for now, there are plans for major development (API building, Association Drive, Commerce Park, VY) along Sunrise Valley across the street from Reston National, which ultimately will be located in between Wiehle-Reston East and the future Reston Town Center Metro.

This is the first application that plans to build near Hidden Creek’s property, but is part of several development projects along Sunset Hills and Wiehle (1831 Wiehle, The Aperture, Michael Faraday).

The application states “the attractive structure will provide an elegant addition to the TSA, visually different to some of the other residential buildings existing and proposed.”

The building, designed by Davis Carter Scott, will be constructed of steel or concrete. “By going up, rather than out, the project is able to achieve more within a smaller footprint.”

The developer says higher densities are necessary to afford the extra constructioncosts necessitated by the design.

The applicant also seeks to  remove an existing point of access from Sunset Hills to the VDOT park-and-ride lot and provide access to the lot through the property. It also plans 34 percent open space, some of which will be as an urban park between Sunset Hills and the W&OD Trail. The park would have a lawn area, landscaping, and a shade structure that includes equipment for bike repair or maintenance.

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