As Fairfax County considers developing regulations to govern the use of short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb), three community meetings — including one in Reston — have been scheduled to gather community input.
The community meeting in Reston will be held Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive). Additional meetings are slated for Alexandria on Sept. 13 and McLean on Sept. 25.
Community members are also invited to submit their input in an online survey, which is available through the end of August.
Currently in Fairfax County, short-term rentals — properties rented for less than 30 days at a time — are only allowed with approval of a special exception by the Board of Supervisors to classify a home as a bed and breakfast. In Reston, where residents must follow county laws related to the practice, short-term rentals have been the source of debate. Most recently, at the May meeting of the Reston Association Board of Directors, short-term rentals at a home on Trails Edge Lane were the topic of controversy.
At that meeting, the Board decided to consider amending its governing documents to clarify the RA’s position on homesharing, to strengthen its standing in the effort to stop violations of county rules.
This county’s proposed zoning rules for short-term rentals may address issues including where the rentals will be allowed in the county, how often they can be rented out, what types of properties can be rented out, and how many people will be allowed to stay in a property at any one time.
According to information provided by the county:
The county is considering the regulations as a result of new state law passed this year that allows localities to require registration of short-term rentals. The Board of Supervisors directed county staff to initiate an analysis of STRs and propose draft zoning regulations.
Ultimately, the board will decide whether to adopt the new rules, and both the Planning Commission and board will hold public hearings on the zoning rules before any action is taken. No public hearing dates have been scheduled at this time. Any additional meetings and the future public hearing dates will be posted on the short-term rental webpage.
To get more information or to offer feedback, contact the county’s Zoning Ordinance Administration Division by email or call 703-324-1314.
Free Concert Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark bringing funk blues to the stage. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Police: Keep Your Vehicles Locked — Capt. Ron Manzo, chief of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station, says thefts from unlocked vehicles are among the most common crimes in the community. They can be avoided by simply locking the door, he said. [Reston Patch]
Chorales Discussed in Podcast — In the most recent edition of “Fairfax 50+” podcast series, host Jim Person talks with Jeanne Kelly about her work with Encore Chorale, the nation’s largest choral program for older adults. The group has 21 chorales in the DC Metro area, including in Reston. [Soundcloud]
Loving Everything Reston — In an opinion piece, Reston’s Karen and Jim Cleveland share why they love Reston and how they hope its new residents will become involved in the community. [Connection Newspapers]
As input sessions on a proposed capital improvement project at Hook Road Recreation Area will soon begin, one member of the Reston Association Board of Directors has big questions.
Ray Wedell, an At-Large director who lived on Hook Road for seven years, has been adamantly against the project proposal from the start. He says the future of that park must be evaluated in a “deeper and more meaningful way” than what is currently being approached by RA.
In a five-page statement (download in full) that he recently presented to the Board, CEO Cate Fulkerson and RA staff members, Wedell argues the emphasis should be on preserving the “beautiful and peaceful open space” at the park rather than on enhancements to what he views as little-used facilities.
“I submitted this as part of the record before the first budget meeting, which I could not attend. I asked it be part of the record. Having heard nothing from any of the 18 recipients in the RA brain trust concerning my piece, I brought it up at the next budget meeting (very lightly attended), and again asked that it be included as part of the record,” Wedell told Reston Now. “Although politely added to the record, my sense is that it will be buried. The procedure to follow on this Hook Road project (and maybe even the ultimate outcome) [has] already been determined long ago. My opinions will be circumvented as much as possible.”
Wedell’s opinions focus in large part upon changes to the eastern portion of the property, which features four tennis courts, a tennis practice wall and a basketball court — all amenities the director says are greatly underused.
There are four tennis courts that are lit at night. There is amazingly little use of these courts during most of the year, as I have often documented. There is also no check that I can ever decipher that the few people playing there are actually Reston residents paying for the privilege. Alongside the tennis courts is a practice tennis wall, another wasted space rarely used. There is also a paved basketball court. This is almost never used.
Instead of renovating these facilities, which he says would be “expensive and unnecessary,” Wedell says they are perfect places to increase parking at the recreation area.
All of this territory can be beautifully re-purposed at minimal expense, and likely less upkeep. Furthermore, my proposal could draw heavily from private donations, whereas none of the retrofit projects to keep Hook Road as is would do so.
The Herndon Police Department is looking for new officers to join its force.
According to the job listing on the Town’s website, the position pays about $53,000 in base salary, with additional pay contingent upon qualifications. In a post on Facebook, the Department says those incentives are provided based upon years of law enforcement experience, college education, military service and bilingual ability.
“We are always accepting applications for certified and non-certified applicants,” said Lisa Herndon, HPD public information specialist. “This post serves to let officers with [Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services] certifications know we are accepting applications for lateral transfers.”
For more information about what it takes to be part of Herndon’s police agency, call 703-435-6824. For more information about HPD, visit its website.
Photo collage via Herndon Police Department on Facebook
Reduced pool hours in the 2017 schedule drew the ire of many in the Reston community.
Now that the season is nearing its end, those members and others will have the opportunity to share feedback from their summer experiences.
The Reston Association Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee will be made available on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon during an open house at The Lake House (11450 Baron Cameron Avenue). They will be collecting member input on the 2017 pool schedule, as well as thoughts and suggestions about what should be done in 2018.
This year, no pools were open on weekdays prior to Memorial Day. (In 2016, both the North Shore and Ridge Heights pools were open from 1-7 p.m. each weekday beginning May 14.) Through June 23, only four pools were open on weekdays, with one (Glade) open only three hours a night.
In addition, as school is starting next week — one week earlier than in past years — North Shore and Ridge Heights will be the only two pools open the week preceding Labor Day, from 4-7 p.m. each evening. However, RA has announced that Lake Audubon and Lake Newport pools will both be opened for Labor Day weekend.
North Shore and Ridge Heights pools will remain open on weekends and weeknights through Sept. 24.
Mike Leone, communications director for Reston Association, told Reston Now in April that the 2017 schedule was developed as part of an effort to “identify significant cost savings.”
“During the 2017 budget development process, the Board directed staff to identify significant cost savings in the budget to accommodate other strategic goals. Based on facility usage data collected over the past three years that shows a decline in pool attendance as well as feedback from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, the Board of Directors approved pool schedule options by which the proposed aquatics budget could be reduced while still serving the interests of the membership as a whole.”
Members brought up concerns about the pool schedule during general member input sessions earlier this year. Those suggestions are being considered by the RA Board of Directors as part of their budget process.
Anyone who has input to share but is unable to attend the Sept. 10 event is invited to email comments to [email protected].
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled to make a report on the issue to the Board of Directors at a budget work session Sept. 18.
School Board Vote Approaches — The special election to fill a vacancy for at-large Fairfax County School Board position through the end of 2019 is Tuesday. The last day to absentee vote in person will be Saturday at the Fairfax County Government Center. [Fairfax County]
Blood Drive Slated for Monday — The Inova Blood Donor Services bloodmobile will be at Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive) from 1:30-6 p.m. Monday. All donors will receive a free T-shirt. [Inova Blood Donor Services]
Future One Reston Town Center Building Showcased — Real-estate developer Akridge is promoting its 23-story One Reston Town Center building, coming to the corner of Reston Parkway and Bowman Towne Drive, near the Spectrum shopping center. It will feature 420,000 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail. Check out the specifics in a Washington Business Journal ad. [WBJ]
IT Solutions Company Comes to Reston — Govplace, a leading solutions provider for the public sector, has expanded its operations with the opening of a new 14,367-square foot office in Reston. The office space is located at 11111 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 200. [Govplace]
A meeting next week will allow Reston Association members a chance to learn more about a future project at the Hook Road Recreation Area.
“This first meeting on the Hook Road Recreation Area is intended to be a kick-off for the project,” according to Sabrina Tadele, RA’s board and committee liaison. “[It] will be followed by multiple community input meetings this October soliciting member feedback on what improvements (if any) should be made at this site.”
At the meeting, slated for Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive):
- Members will receive an overview of the process undertaken by Reston Association’s volunteer Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee to select this site
- The schedule for future community input meetings will be shared
- Staff will provide an outline of final project deliverables
- The design consultant engaged for the project will be introduced (This firm has been selected to help facilitate the development of a master plan for the site based on community input and the guidance of the Hook Road Working Group)
- The opportunity to serve on the Hook Road Working Group will be highlighted for any members interested in contributing to the development of this project on an ongoing basis.
The Reston Association Board of Directors voted at its July meeting to form the group. The group’s purpose will be to provide to the Board, by January, recommendations for implementing solutions that affects both park users and adjacent property owners. The recommendations are to be determined after the series of public input meetings, in coordination with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and the project design firm.
The group’s recommendations, according to its purpose, should:
- Enhance the use of Hook Road Recreation Area through facility renovations and improvements including but not limited to restroom facility additions and evaluation of existing amenities;
- Improve landscaping and hardscaping;
- Increase accessibility and improve safety for users; and,
- Fit within the budget constraints set by the Board.
The park was selected by RA’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee for “full-facility enhancement” after multiple facilities were evaluated last year. “Full-facility enhancement” is part of the new capital project methodology that was adopted by the RA board in 2016. The idea is to take a facility that has pieces of replacement work in the plans in the capital reserve study and, instead, doing comprehensive work to upgrade the facility all at once.
In December, the Board authorized the allocation of $50,000 from the Repair & Replacement Reserve Fund for the purpose of developing design concept plans related to the Hook Road project, which may help to resolve any current site configuration challenges that may exist based on community input.
During Board discussion of the project at its March meeting, At-Large Director Ray Wedell was especially vocal in his opposition to the project. During an animated speech, he said it is “an excellent field as it sits” and “what Reston should represent.”
“For the life of me, I have no idea what you people are going to propose to change it,” he said. “[People who live near the park] are quite content with how it is right now.”
The Hook Road Recreation Area was originally developed in 1965, with additions of tennis and basketball amenities in 1973. Since, the property has remained relatively unchanged.
Photo courtesy Reston Association
Police are still seeking the suspect in last week’s attempted sexual assault on North Shore Drive near Tall Oaks Village Center.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the suspect is a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s, with a stocky build, brown hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray shirt with red lettering, a red ball cap (shown in a police sketch as a Washington Nationals cap) and shorts.
The suspect fled the scene in a gray or silver four-door Hyundai with a license plate that is believed to begin with a V, police say.
Police say that at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, the suspect came out of a wooded area near the Tall Oaks Village Center, approached a 22-year-old woman from behind and pulled her off the sidewalk into the woods before attempting to remove her clothes. He apparently fled before any sexual assault took place.
The FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1300 block of Dasher Lane, property from vehicle
13000 block of Elm Tree Drive, bag from vehicle
10800 block of Hunter Gate Way, flashlight from vehicle
2500 block of Monroe Street, property from residence
10800 block of Murray Downs Court, cash from vehicle
10800 block of Murray Downs Court, property from vehicle
11700 block of Olde English Drive, package from residence
12800 block of Pinecrest Road, purse and cash from vehicle
12800 block of Pinecrest Road, purse from vehicle
13100 block of Plotner Farm Road, GPS from vehicle
2300 block of Soapstone Drive, cigarettes from business
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, electronics from business
11600 block of Vantage Hill Road, laptop computer from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
2500 block of Centreville Road, 2002 Mercedes-Benz C240
2000 block of Gunnell Farms Drive, 2015 Jeep Wrangler
Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
Police in Herndon reported several major incidents in their weekly press report.
- On Thursday, officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 500 block of Florida Avenue. The victim reported that an unknown suspect tried to gain access to the dwelling, doing approximately $1,000 worth of damage to a rear door. The FCPD helicopter and K-9 unit were used in an attempt to locate the suspect, to no avail.
- Also on Thursday, officers responded to a robbery on in the 1000 block of Elden Street. The victim reported that his backpack, containing identification and a cellphone valued around $500, was stolen by two suspects. The suspects were described as black males, with no further description.
- At about 1 a.m. Friday, officers observed a vehicle driving erratically in the 1000 block of Elden Street. The suspect attempted to evade police before getting crashing his vehicle behind a business in the block. The driver, 25-year-old Elmer Luis Matamoros Aguirre, of Herndon, was charged with felony eluding, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath test and no operator’s license. He was transported to the Fairfax Adult Detention Center, where he was held without bond.
- Friday afternoon, as we previously reported, police responded to an apparent armed robbery of a check-cashing business in the 1100 block of Elden Street. Four suspects fled the scene on foot.
Fairfax County teachers, including in Reston and Herndon’s public schools, are in classrooms this week for training, preparation and a little fun before their students return to class Monday.
Take a look at some pictures that have been shared from the schools on social media so far this week as teachers and staff ready themselves for the start of the 2017-18 school year.
Just back from the beach! Meet our first grade teachers at HES! @fcpsnews #FCPSBacktoSchool17 #herndones pic.twitter.com/ZoZv8VUXsd
— Herndon Elementary (@Herndon_ES) August 22, 2017
Welcome back Seahawk Staff! Thank you to our parents for breakfast this morning. pic.twitter.com/PNHciHr1PX
— South Lakes High School (@southlakeshs) August 21, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/TerrasetFCPS/posts/1932238190358838
Investing in a caring HHS school climate. @PosProject #OtherPeopleMatter pic.twitter.com/uEvgCp7lYe
— Herndon High School (@HerndonHS) August 22, 2017
Meet our new teachers! E. Gaba (5th), B. Jennings (6th), S. Hardtke (3rd), & K. Feldman (SPED). pic.twitter.com/nCx2tL2XTx
— Fox Mill ES (@FoxMillES) August 17, 2017
Monday’s solar eclipse provided a unique bonding opportunity for school staffs.
Making memories through engaging learning and opportunities at Lake Anne! pic.twitter.com/fgpuQ4phZF
— Lake Anne Elementary (@LakeAnneES) August 21, 2017
Floris Elementary teachers check out the eclipse! @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/uSCTgpHhPA
— Gail Porter (@gaporter3) August 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/ForestEdgeES/status/899704040346595333
Hot Again Today — Once again, Fairfax County emergency officials want to make sure residents are aware of the dangers of excessive heat. Temperatures are expected to again reach the 90s today, with a heat index topping 100. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Safety, Health More Urged for School Year — School starts next week, and Fairfax County officials want to make sure all the information residents need is being shared. Topics emphasized include the need to watch for stopped school buses, where to go for anxiety and stress relief, how to pack a healthy lunch and more. [Fairfax County]
‘Fake News’ Seminar Tonight — George Mason University’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, along with the Fairfax County library system, is sponsoring a workshop titled “News Blues and How to Defuse.” It will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Centreville Regional Library. [WTOP]
Herndon Firm Working on Tank Protection — Herndon-based Artis is working on Iron Curtain, defense technology that would protect US Army tanks from rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles. [Business Insider]
Anywhere you looked in Reston and Herndon this afternoon, there were people wearing special glasses and looking into the sun as the first nationwide solar eclipse in decades passed over.
In our area, about 82 percent of the sun was blocked out at the event’s peak, around 2:42 p.m. Monday. Gathering spots across the area were filled with people enjoying the rare celestial event.
At Herndon High School, community members began lining up at 8 a.m. to get a free pair of eclipse-viewing safety glasses. The line wound around the school campus by the time their official eclipse party began at noon, and Principal Liz Noto said the 1,000 glasses the school had been given by Goddard Space Flight Center were gone by about 12:20.
“I did not realize how many people would be in need of glasses,” Noto said. “I thought we’d have extra.”
Those who were lucky enough to get glasses staked places on the school’s lawns and watched the moon pass in front of the sun. Ann Erickson, of Reston, said she remembered seeing an eclipse when she was a little girl in Arkansas, but that was “long ago.”
“If the clouds would go away, that would be nice,” Erickson said as she and her friends sat outside the school. “We just decided we’d all come and see it together, and it will be fun.”
At Reston Town Center, buildings emptied as hundreds of people gathered in common places to watch the show. Jorge Sanchez, of Sterling, and his wife, Melissa, were in Town Square Park wearing special eclipse-themed T-shirts.
“Ever since 2015, when I read in the news there would be an eclipse, I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, can’t wait for it,'” he said. “We ordered some funny shirts. My wife, she’s kind of along for the ride — she’s a good sport.”
Everyone's a kid again today at Reston Town Center for #Eclipse2017 https://t.co/nW2nbKx2RI
— Dave Emke (@emkedave) August 21, 2017
Several dozen employees from Appian were in Town Square Park, laughing and watching the eclipse through not just glasses, but through a colander and pinhole projectors made from shoeboxes and cereal boxes, among other means. Lang Ly, Appian’s senior vice president of strategy, said the crew had been readying themselves for the outing for quite a while.
“It’s a company team-building event. Last Wednesday, we got together and did a little ‘brown bag’ to create little solar-eclipse viewers,” Ly said. “We had a lot of fun. We’re a bunch of geeks.”
The next solar eclipse to pass across the United States will take place April 8, 2024. Reston will be at about 90 percent totality for that event.
In order to comply with Virginia code regarding flood protection and dam safety, Reston Association crews will remove 143 trees in North Reston next month.
Most of the trees to be removed (131) are located near Butler Pond. Another dozen trees located near Bright Pond will also be removed.
The issue was brought to RA’s attention during a recent dam inspection by GKY & Associates.
According to Virginia code:
Dam owners shall not permit the growth of trees and other woody vegetation and shall remove any such vegetation from the slopes and crest of embankments and the emergency spillway area, and within a distance of 25 feet from the toe of the embankment and abutments of the dam.
Butler Pond is located on the west side of Reston Parkway near the intersection with Route 7. The trees in question line Reston Parkway, with most on the eastern side.
Bright Pond is located on the east side of Reston Parkway, north of the intersection with Wiehle Avenue. The trees in question there are located on the southeastern side of the pond, near Reston Association’s Pink Trail.
RA’s arborist and environmental crews are expected to begin the work during the first week of September. RA plans to replant trees beyond the 25-foot buffer area within the natural area behind Stones Throw Drive, beginning later in September.
Map of Butler Pond work plan courtesy Reston Association
(This article was updated at about 4:15 p.m. after Fairfax County Fire and Rescue provided a press release on the incident.)
Work is continuing as usual today at Bechtel (12011 Sunset Hills Road) after a Sunday fire on the building’s 11th floor.
Affected employees remain at work Monday but have been moved to other areas of the building, said Iva Zagar, Bechtel spokesperson.
“[Our facilities team] has been really helpful to the people who have been affected, to point them in the right direction,” she said. “I haven’t heard that anybody can’t do work, so everything is smooth this morning.”
The two-alarm fire before 8 a.m. Sunday at the One Reston Overlook building was electrical in nature, said Bill Delaney, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue public information officer. It involved a junction box around a set of work stations, he said, but how the box failed remains under investigation.
“They know it started there, but they’re still trying to figure out exactly what occurred,” Delaney said.
A restoration crew is at the site Monday working to clean up damage caused by the flames and accompanying smoke. According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, damages from the fire are estimated at about $40,000. About 20 employees were working in the building at the time of the blaze; however, no one was reported injured.
“The good news is, the fire sprinklers did their job — they were able to contain the fire,” Delaney said. “Then our folks got there and were able to put the remainder of the fire out, but it did generate a good deal of smoke, and there was some damage as well from the actual flames.”
Light smoke damage was also reported in the 12th floor, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Bechtel is the largest construction and civil engineering company in the United States, and is one of the largest privately owned companies in the nation. Its Reston location is its nuclear, security and environmental business office.
There will be three seats available on the Reston Community Center Board of Governors come October, as three incumbents come to the end of their three-year terms.
As the nomination period ended last week, though, only three names are on the list — those three incumbents.
Bill Keefe, William Penniman and Vicky Wingert all applied for another term on the Board. No other candidates stepped forward.
Each of the incumbents have candidate statements posted on the Reston Community Center website.
Board seats are filled by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, with guidance from the results of a community preference poll. Voting in the poll is Sept. 8-29, with the county BoS making its decision the next month. Each property in Small District 5 (SD5) will receive a ballot in the mail. Mail-in ballots must be received by no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, while walk-in and online ballots can be submitted through 5 p.m. the following day.
Leila Gordon, RCC executive director, said the poll must be held even though there are only incumbents on the list.
“We have no leeway on holding the poll if only the same number of people run as there are seats open,” she said. “Per our Memorandum of Understanding with Fairfax County, we are obligated to have the Poll every year.”
A candidates’ forum will be held Monday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).
Headshots courtesy Reston Community Center. From left: Bill Keefe, William Penniman and Vicky Wingert.
Enjoy the Eclipse! — Remember to keep your eyes safe as you check out the celestial display this afternoon. If you take any photos during the event, share them with us at [email protected] and we will consider publishing them this afternoon. [Fairfax County/YouTube]
New Labor Day Pool Hours — Lake Audubon, Lake Newport, North Shore and Ridge Heights pools will be open Labor Day weekend, until 7 p.m. each day. [Reston Association]
In-Custody Death at Adult Detention Center — A 46-year-old male inmate was found unresponsive at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, and he was pronounced dead about 45 minutes later at Fairfax Hospital. An investigation is underway. [Fairfax County Police Department]
School Board Candidates’ Forum This Week — A special election to fill the vacant At-Large seat on the Fairfax County School Board is Aug. 29. A candidate forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McLean High School. [LWVFA]
Reston Station Building Lights Get Thumbs Up — Last week, we asked what you think about the new lighting on the 1900 Metro Plaza building. Nearly three-fifths of our readers said they like the color-changing display; while only about a quarter said they don’t. [Reston Now]
