Reston Association approves electric vehicle charging station standards

The Reston Association has adopted standards for what electric vehicle charging stations must look like when new ones are built outside residences and businesses.

The RA’s board of directors approved a document that creates restrictions and guidance for when the devices are installed.

The association already required property owners to have plans reviewed and approved by its Design Review Board. But the new standards create formal criteria.

“We are finally bringing this before the board,” said Cam Adams, the association’s director of covenants administration, before the unanimous vote yesterday in favor of the measure. The approval marks a 10-month process that began in January.

RA referred to the new standards as a guideline, but the approved document notes several restrictions in addition to preferences. According to the association, the document is acting as a blueprint for RA’s review of projects.

The measure restricts the use of bollards, stating no more than two can be used in front of a station, and says wheel stops are encouraged over bollards. It also adds that the use of the bollard at a station will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

It also restricts the use of wooden pedestals and limits the height of stations to 6.5 feet.

Among the guidelines, the document recommends that clusters, condos and apartments installing one in a common area have a parking plan to help “prevent sporadic installations on the common area.”

The standards also state that wall-mounted units will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Interior charging stations, such as those in garages, are unaffected by the existing and new rules. And existing stations are grandfathered in, the association said previously.