RA Shares Letter Sent to County Supervisors Opposing PRC Density Cap Increase

Reston Association staff posted a copy of a letter sent to Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins officially opposing the county’s proposed increase in the Planned Residential Community (PRC) District Residential Density Zoning Ordinance Amendment, following last week’s community meeting.

The amendment would increase the maximum allowed population per acre in the Reston PRC from 13 persons up to 16.

The zoning change could also open up Reston’s village centers to increased major residential development. The proposal would allow the Board of Supervisors to approve developments above 50 residential units per acre within the district’s Transit Station Areas (TSAs) — so long as the projects comply with the area’s master plan that guides development.

The letter comes in response to spirited opposition from several hundred people who attended a public meeting on Monday, Oct. 23 at Reston’s South Lakes High School. Passionate residents spoke out for roughly two hours against the proposal. The auditorium’s 600+ seats were full, with a solid perimeter of standing audience members as well, plus an overflow room nearby was full of even more people, following along on video. A video of the meeting is available to watch on RA’s YouTube channel.

The letter thanks Sup. Hudgins and the other board members for providing detailed information and holding the community meeting, which RA staff said were “crucial in order to reach an informed decision regarding whether or not to support the amendment, proposed by County staff.”

“The Community Meeting held at South Lakes High School on October 23, 2017, with well over 900 in attendance, was informative. Based on both the County staff panel discussion and the community comment, the Reston Association Board of Directors opposes the County Staff’s proposed PRC District Residential Density Zoning Ordinance Amendment,” the letter reads.

In the letter, the RA staff also asks county supervisors to hold off on any further consideration of the PRC density cap increase until RA staff and county staff together can examine the Reston Master Plan portion of the county’s Comprehensive Plan:

“The Reston Association Board acknowledges and greatly appreciates your willingness, as stated at the conclusion of the Community Meeting on October 23, to initiate a review of certain elements of the Reston Master Plan portion of the Comprehensive Plan. Accordingly, the Association respectfully requests that the County defer further consideration of the proposed PRC amendment until certain elements in the Reston Master Plan portion of the Comprehensive Plan can be reviewed.

Next month, the Association will provide you with a detailed outline of the important areas the Reston community believes need to be reviewed in the Reston Master Plan before the PRC Ordinance matter is again considered by County staff and the Reston community.”

In conclusion, RA staff said they would like to work collaboratively with supervisors and county staff on matters that affect Restonians’ futures.

“Your reply to these requests is eagerly awaited by Reston Association and its members. We look forward to hearing back from you
soon on next steps,” the letter concludes.

RA President Sherri Hebert signed the letter, and said in a statement regarding it on the RA website, “The sustainability of Reston’s unique planned community structure is everyone’s goal. Because we share this common goal, I am confident we can work together to attain it.”

In addition, the statement said that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted to direct RA staff to “work with Fairfax County staff to exclude Reston from the proposed Building Repurposing Comprehensive Plan amendment as it applies to the conversion of office to residential.”

Read a full copy of the letter on the RA website.

Documentation regarding the Land Use Agreement and Board discussion is available on the RA website.

Recent Stories

Chase Bank is seeking to add a drive-thru to a recently opened branch in the Herndon area (via Google Maps) Chase Bank is seeking Fairfax County’s permission to add a…

What do I do if school doesn’t fit my kid? That’s the question that so many of the parents and families ask when they’re looking at small independent schools like…

Fairfax County police vehicle with lights (file photo) The Fairfax County Police Department touted the county’s status as the safest jurisdiction of its size following the release of its year-end…

A Great Falls man pleaded guilty on Friday (March 15) to failing to pay $1.8 million to the Internal Revenue Service.

×

Subscribe to our mailing list