In a work session Tuesday (video), Reston’s Design Review Board and Kensington Senior Development made progress on the latter’s plan to put a 91-unit assisted-living facility at 11501 Sunrise Valley Drive.
A re-worked sketch for the proposed facility presented to the DRB at the session pushes the building farther away from nearby townhouses on Approach Lane, part of the Wethersfield Cluster. Where previous proposals had the building within 50 feet of the nearest residence, the new configuration leaves about 80 feet.
The proposal also caps the building at three above-ground stories over one level of underground parking. The center portion of the building would have only two above-ground stories, with a rooftop garden accessible from both sides.
Previous designs for the proposal featured as many as five stories.
“This seems to me to be progress,” said Richard Newlon, DRB vice chair, who was very critical of previous plans. “I think this is going in a direction that is going to be just better.”
The facility would be at the site of the current Good Beginnings School. The property has not yet been sold, with the deal contingent upon the plan’s approval.
Several residents of the Wethersfield Cluster spoke during the session, expressing their concerns about lowered property values, privacy and architectural compatibility.
“The sentiment of the community is that the mass and height of this building is inappropriate at this location so close to a residential community,” said Stephen Cerny, president of the Cluster Association.
DRB members remained skeptical of how the facility would be viewed from Approach Lane and from the adjacent Sunrise Valley Convenience Center. They implored the developer to bring more detailed exhibits to future meetings to address those issues.
While DRB was happy with the effort to move the building farther away from the nearby townhouses, retaining more tree buffer in the process, they asked the developer to explore whether inching even closer to the Sunrise Valley Drive side of the property would be possible.
Screencap via Reston Association/YouTube
Record Highs Possible Today — The National Weather Service is predicting high temperatures in the low 90s for the entire region today. The record high at Dulles International Airport for this day in history is 89, set in 1986. [National Weather Service/Twitter]
First RA Board District Meeting Tonight — Residents of the South Lakes District are invited to attend a meeting with their representative on the Reston Association Board of Directors, Julie Bitzer, tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. at Terraset Elementary School (11411 Ridge Heights Road). [Reston Association]
SLHS Grad Honored for Social Activism — Ainsley Eakins, a 2014 graduate of South Lakes High School, has been honored with the Wesleyan University’s Social Activism Award. It is given for exemplifying the spirit of social activism and helping constructive social change happen. According to her LinkedIn page, Eakins is a member of a Student Advisory Committee task force assigned to develop a student resource center for marginalized groups on campus. [Wesleyan University]
File photo via Fabio Rossi/Flickr
The dozens of residents in attendance at Monday’s Reston Planning & Zoning Committee meeting were asked to raise their hands if they oppose the county’s plan to increase density limits in the Reston Planned Residential Community District.
The response was practically unanimous.
After hearing — many for the second time, after a May 3 meeting — the Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning’s presentation, numerous attendees spoke up to share their concerns. One of the most repeated was a thought about the seemingly short timeline of the county’s plan to amend the zoning ordinance.
“The County and the community need to understand the implications for Reston of the zoning ordinance amendment and quite possibly amend it so that it is consistent with Reston’s vision and planning principles,” said Terry Maynard, co-chair of the Reston 20/20 committee and an outspoken opponent of the proposal. “This will take time, not the headlong rush the County and Board [of Supervisors] seem to be in to get this amendment passed with three public meetings in three weeks this month.”
The third public meeting on the DPZ’s proposal is slated for Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary School (11510 North Shore Drive). The DPZ says it is hoping to bring the plan before the Board of Supervisors in July, followed by a Planning Commission public hearing in September and the Board public hearing in October.
The DPZ says the current limitation of 13 persons per acre in the Reston PRC “cannot support the amended Master Plan.” It is planning to recommend the Board of Supervisors change that limit to 16 persons per acre. It says that would allow for up to 18,737 more people in the long term, beyond the current cap.
Reston’s PRC District is currently at about 11.9 persons per acre.
SLHS Students Help at ‘Senior’ Prom — Members of Interact (pictured) recently volunteered at the Senior Senior prom, an annual dance and lunch for senior citizens, and a favorite club activity. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Water Main Break Still Affecting Herndon Parkway — A water main break Monday afternoon on Herndon Parkway between Spring and Grove streets is still being patched this morning. The inner loop is open to one-way traffic; the outer loop remains closed. Water service restoration is underway and is expected to be completed later this morning. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes. [Town of Herndon/Facebook]
Lake Fairfax Picnic Areas Closed Weekdays — Several picnic areas at Lake Fairfax Park will not be available on weekdays through June 30 because of the ongoing stream restoration project at the park, which has been delayed by weather. Rental areas will remain available on weekends. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Photo courtesy Fairfax County Public Schools
As a going-out-of-business sale continues at Kmart in Herndon (494 Elden St.), the town’s mayor says there are big plans in the site’s future.
In a comment on Reston Now’s Facebook page, Mayor Lisa Merkel says the Kmart’s closing has been “coming for a while,” but that she has been in recent contact with the building’s owners and is optimistic about its future.
“They are going to upgrade the facade significantly and subdivide the very large space into several new businesses,” Merkel wrote. “I was mostly pleased with what they shared and gave some specific feedback that we are looking to elevate the status of that end of the center.”
Merkel said she could not share specifics about the new businesses coming in, as leases are still being negotiated.
Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Kmart owner Sears Holdings Corporation, said the store will remain open for customers into late July. He called the decision to close the store “difficult, but necessary.”
“We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as previously announced. We often hear from our members who are disappointed when we close a store, but our Shop Your Way membership platform, websites and mobile apps allow us to maintain these valued relationships long after a store closes its doors. As a result, we hope to retain a portion of the sales previously associated with this store by maintaining our relationships with the members who shopped this location.”
Kiefs also said customers can continue to shop at the company’s other area locations, and that employees who are eligible will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at those stores. The nearest remaining Kmarts will be in Springfield and Annandale, while Sears has stores at Dulles Town Center and Fair Oaks Mall.
The 84,000-square foot store was purchased in August by Florida-based real estate-investment firm Sterling Organization at a cost of $7 million. At the time, the firm’s CEO said “the real estate fundamentals of — and the demographics surrounding — this property are nothing short of exceptional.”
The rest of the shopping plaza, known as Herndon Centre, is owned by A.J. Dwoskin & Associates Inc.
Metro’s Art in Transit Program is recommending the vision of a Colorado-based artist to become the motif of the future Reston Town Center Metro station.
Last week, the program unveiled the proposal of Joshua Wiener as its pick for the public art installation at the station’s walkways over the Dulles Toll Road. Wiener’s designs, which are shown on his personal website, consist of powder-coated aluminum sculptures of a bassist, a horn player and a drummer, as well as flowing red and teal ribbon designs down the corridors.
Wiener’s proposal was chosen over two other finalists. The program received 45 total submissions for the project. The Art Review Panel included the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Public Art Reston and other Virginia-based visual art professionals.
According to the Art in Transit Program, the public art initiative benefits Metro as a whole by:
- Creating attractive transit facilities
- Building livable communities by creating public spaces that reflect the artistic, cultural and historic environment
- Creating economic opportunities for artists, engineers, fabricators and other professionals
WMATA’s Customer Service Operations and Security Committee approved the proposal at its Thursday meeting. The full WMATA board will vote on it this summer. Upon board approval, WMATA will enter into contract with Wiener to develop, fabricate and install the artwork.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which is overseeing construction of Phase II of the Silver Line, is funding the public art effort. The project’s funding is capped at $250,000.
Up in Minnesota, the Macalester College Scots are heading to their first NCAA Division III baseball championship tournament, thanks in large part to a local player.
The Scots are going to the tournament after winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship Saturday. Jared Abelson, a 2015 graduate of South Lakes High School, started the title game with a leadoff single and scored on a hit by the next batter, setting the pace in a 13-5 win over Bethel University. Abelson ended the game 2-for-5 with an RBI, and he ended the three-game playoff tournament with a .500 batting average.
The sophomore’s playoff performance was no fluke. Abelson, who plays center field and catcher, finished the MIAC season sixth in the conference in batting average (.371), hits (53), runs scored (35) and on-base percentage (.451).
In 2014, Abelson told the South Lakes Sentinel why he loves playing baseball.
“It’s all about overcoming obstacles. The beauty in baseball is that you don’t have to be 6’5″ to be the best player. Anyone can be great; you just have to be the hardest working guy, especially in the offseason.”
According to his profile on the Macalester College Athletics website, Abelson is 5 foot 9.
Abelson and the Scots start the 56-team tournament Thursday night in Whitewater, Wisconsin, with a game against Concordia University Chicago.
Photo via Macalester College Athletics
Proposed redevelopment of Reston Town Center North will be the topic of a community meeting hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services along with Supervisor Cathy Hudgins later this month.
The upcoming meeting will be held in the cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary School (11510 North Shore Drive) from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 31. DPWES is scheduled to provide a brief presentation about the Town Center North-Mixed Use Area, including the Request for Proposal process for the Reston Regional Library and Embry Rucker Shelter.
According to the DPWES:
“Located midway between Tysons and Dulles International Airport, future Reston Town Center North is part of a quickly urbanizing area in northwestern Fairfax County. The Board of Supervisors envisions redeveloping the property from a collection of irregularly-shaped parcels, which are incompatible with Reston Town Center and surrounding development, into a vibrant urban, mixed-use environment that complements Reston Town Center and surrounding development.”
DPWES says the redevelopment would allow for the creation of a central green space open for public use; mixed-use development compatible with adjacent Reston Town Center; a walkable community connected to surrounding communities, Reston Town Center and public transportation; an expanded library to serve a growing population; upgraded delivery of human services; and affordable housing provided for workforce.
As part of the redevelopment, the area would be realigned into nine parcels, which would then be rezoned. A 2.6-acre public park is proposed for the center of the development. The first two parcels slated for redevelopment are the library and the shelter, which will be fully replaced. The Fairfax County Park Authority also has rights to build a 90,000-square-foot recreation center in the area, and the North County Human Services Center would also be replaced.
Redevelopment of the whole area — bounded by Baron Cameron Avenue, Town Center Parkway, New Dominion Parkway and Fountain Drive — is expected to take more than a decade.
The county last held a community meeting on the proposal in November 2015, shortly after a land swap was completed between the county and Inova, which also included Reston Towne Green, a five-acre parcel, being transferred from the Park Authority. Comments shared by community members during the meeting included suggestions about the locations and amenities of the library and shelter, as well as concerns about parking and open space.
Maps courtesy Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Tenants Unhappy at Cosmopolitan — Residents of the luxury apartment building in Reston Town Center (1855 St. Francis St.) say the property management company is slow to respond to complaints and address safety concerns. They are organizing in the attempt to get the building’s owners to treat them better. [Fairfax County Times]
SLHS Alumnus Named to Virginia High School Hall of Fame — Among the inductees this year is Alan Webb, a 2001 graduate of South Lakes. Webb, who competed in the men’s 1,500-meter competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics, set a new U.S. high school record for the 2,000-meter race while at South Lakes, and was the first high school student to run a sub-4 minute mile in indoor track. In his senior year, he was named High School Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Great Falls Fire Department Marks 75 Years — A product of civil defense in World War II, the volunteer fire department was founded May 5, 1942. There were 29 founding members, mostly farmers and shopkeepers. Great Falls historian Karen Washburn shares more details about its history in a 4-minute video. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
SoccerFest Coming to Lake Fairfax — The tournament, June 24-25, is open to children and adults of all skill levels. Early-bird registration pricing is available through May 26, and registration will close June 16. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Following his own vision, Evan Matz has transformed his three World of Beer locations — including the one at Reston Town Center.
The large “World of Beer” signage has been removed from the Reston Town Center restaurant (1888 Explorer St.) as Matz has left the chain and rebranded the location, as well as his former WoB franchises in Arlington and Fairfax, into a new concept he says is designed to bring the community together.
Now known as Crafthouse, the restaurants are offering a full menu of American craft fare and a drink menu that Matz says supports local breweries, bourbons, whiskey, wine and spirits. According to a press release announcing the rebranding, the mission of the new restaurant is “Drink Local, Eat Local, Support Local.”
“After collecting feedback from our customers about their ideal restaurant experience, I’m confident that the local Arlington, Reston and Fairfax communities will embrace Crafthouse and will appreciate the changes we’re making,” Matz said in the release. “After more than five years, we have learned a lot from our loyal customers who want more than a pretzel and beer.”
Matz opened his World of Beer restaurant in Reston Town Center in June 2014.
The new menu at Crafthouse includes build-your-own burgers, tacos and flatbread pizza, along with a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, entrees and more. For more information about Crafthouse, visit its website or follow it on Facebook.
Signs are going up this morning at Kmart (494 Elden St., Herndon) advertising a store-closing sale.
The 84,000-square foot store was purchased in August by Florida-based real estate-investment firm Sterling Organization at a cost of $7 million. At the time, the firm’s CEO said “the real estate fundamentals of — and the demographics surrounding — this property are nothing short of exceptional.”
The chain announced 150 store closures earlier this year; however, the Herndon location was not on that list.
A manager at the store Friday morning told Reston Now he was not authorized to provide further details about the situation.
(Updated at 12:10 p.m. after Reston Association’s annual Community Yard Sale was postponed.)
Another SafeTrack Surge Starts Next Week — Metro’s latest round of work will have five stations on the east end of the Orange Line closed, which will also affect Silver Line traffic. Tuesday through June 15, trains will operate between Wiehle-Reston East and Stadium-Armory only every 12 minutes. This means more than 50 percent fewer trains during morning peak hours. Fairfax County is suggesting alternatives for commuters, including car pooling and buses. [WMATA]
League of American Cyclists Honors County — Fairfax County has been recognized with Bronze-level status as a Bicycle Friendly Community. It is one of 416 communities nationwide that have been honored. [Fairfax County]
Community Yard Sale Postponed to Sunday — With rain in the forecast, Reston Association’s annual Community Yard Sale has been postponed from Saturday. It will now be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sunday at 1900 Campus Commons Drive, at the corner of Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue. Those planning to attend are still encouraged to call 703-435-6577 after 4:30 a.m. Sunday to check the event’s status. [Reston Association]
County Embracing Driverless Future — Fairfax County is the testing ground for self-driving cars and connected infrastructure in Virginia. Officials recently brought in autonomous-vehicle experts, policymakers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs to share their research. [Fairfax County]
Reston Couple Share Love Story — Roger and Anita Lowen are approaching 50 years of marriage. It all started, they remember, with a prank call. [Washington Post]
A plan by the Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning to increase the population density limit in the Reston Planned Residential Community District by three people per acre will go before the public another time.
The DPZ will share information about the proposal during a community meeting Wednesday, May 24, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary School (11510 North Shore Drive). In addition, the public is invited to see the proposal presented to Reston’s Planning & Zoning Committee on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive).
Residents first had a chance to hear about the plan during a public meeting on the proposal on May 3.
The DPZ says the current limitation of 13 persons per acre “cannot support the amended Master Plan.” It is planning to recommend the Board of Supervisors change that limit to 16 persons per acre. It says that would allow for 18,737 more people in the long term.
“The adopted Comprehensive Plan, which includes the Master Plan for Reston, cannot be implemented without also updating the density limits contained in the Zoning Ordinance to support the Plan,” the DPZ says.
According to the presentation, the proposal is to “increase the overall persons per acre limitation to continue to accommodate planned development in accordance with Plan.” To make that happen, the department is “recommending that the Board be able to approve individual developments in excess of 50 [dwelling units/acre] in TSAs and when in accordance with Comprehensive Plan recommendations.”
Changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Master Plan made in 2014 and 2015 focused growth around Reston’s three Transit Station Areas, Reston Town Center and the community’s village centers.
Reston is currently at about 11.9 persons per acre, according to information provided by the DPZ. The plan does not propose to change the persons-per-acre limitations in low-density (3.8), medium-density (14) or high-density (60) residential areas; nor does it propose changing the dwelling units-per-acre limitations on individual properties in low-density (5) or medium-density (20) residential areas.
Anyone seeking further information about the proposal is encouraged to contact the DPZ’s Zoning Administration Division at 703-324-1314 or [email protected].
Reston PRC District map via Fairfax County Planning & Zoning
A high-end beauty salon that closed its Reston Town Center location last year plans to open near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
Salon Nordine & Day Spa will move into a new location at 11389 Reston Station Blvd., according to a permit processed by Fairfax County this week. The RTC location of the salon, which had been in business for about 13 years, was shuttered in September.
Maggie Parker, vice president of communications for Reston Station developer Comstock Partners, said the business will be the first street-front tenant on Reston Station Boulevard. The business owned by Fairfax County stylist Nordine Elabassi has two other current locations, in Merrifield’s Mosaic District and in Gainesville.
“It’s a lovely hair salon with full-service treatments and spa,” Parker said. “We’re delighted to have him.”
Café chain Sweet Leaf also plans to open soon in the development.
Event Canceled – Due to inclement weather, Saturday’s #RestonExpo has been canceled. #Reston pic.twitter.com/tfo5scNZGQ
— Reston Association (@RestonOnline) May 11, 2017
Citing a wet and dreary forecast for Saturday, Reston Association has canceled this year’s Reston Expo event.
“We want members and exhibitors to have a great experience at this annual outdoor event and rainy, cold conditions just don’t make it enjoyable,” said Mike Leone, RA’s communications director.
The event, which had been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Reston Association’s headquarters, was slated to be an opportunity for area businesses — in the fields of “home, garden and more” — to share their products and services with residents. Food trucks, music and a kids’ tent were also planned for the free event.
Leone said the event went on through light showers last year, but torrential rains are another story. He said exhibitors were “completely supportive” of the decision to call off this year’s event.
“Apparently, there was another similar event in a nearby community last Saturday and many of the exhibitors/vendors participating in our Expo participated in that event,” he said. “The feedback we received was that last Saturday’s event was a ‘bust’ — extremely low attendance due to the rain.”
The most recent weather forecast for Saturday from Capital Weather Gang calls for steady rain, perhaps up to an inch, with brisk wind as the storm passes through.
Leone said RA “hope[s] to find a date to reschedule later this year.”
