Reminder: Community Meeting on Street Designs Tonight — Bike lanes, crosswalks and center turning lanes will be among the topics of conversation at a Fairfax County Department of Transportation community meeting tonight at Dogwood Elementary School. Colts Neck Road, North Shore Drive and Twin Branches Road are being considered for the changes. [Reston Now]

Local Students Named to Honors Choir — A total of 77 Fairfax County middle-school students have been named to the 2017 All-Virginia Middle School Honors Choir, which will perform April 27-29 in Blacksburg. Among the honorees are Chelsea Camacho, Hannah Carter, Violet Sather and Thalia Tran from Langston Hughes Middle School; and Johnny Park, Hannah Townsend and Mackenzie Trimble from Herndon Middle School. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Fellowship Square Foundation Names New Director — Christy Zeitz (pictured), formerly the executive director of HomeAid Northern Virginia, is the new executive director of the Fellowship Square Foundation. Zeitz was also the former director of development for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance of Reston. The Reston-based Fellowship Square Foundation provides affordable housing and supportive services to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. It operates four properties, including Lake Anne Fellowship House and Hunters Woods Fellowship House in Reston. [Fellowship Square Foundation]

Home Listings Down in County, Sales Up — The number of active home listings in Fairfax County in January was 1,977. That number is down 17.4 percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, 794 homes were sold in the month, up 6.9 percent from January 2016. The average sale price was $545,772, up 8.1 percent. [Fairfax County]

Photo of 1900 Reston Metro Plaza courtesy James Schaeffer Jr. on Facebook; photo of Christy Zeitz courtesy Fellowship Square Foundation

Several years in the making, work will soon begin on construction of a 230,000-square foot senior living facility at a former site of the United Christian Parish church.

Ground is scheduled to be broken on the IntegraCare facility at 2222 Colts Neck Road on March 30. The project, expected to be completed by 2020, will include 91 independent-living units along with 79 assisted-living units, 24 memory-care units and 16 units for high-acuity patients.

The 4.3-acre site was first approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for 210 independent-living units in 2007, but the plan was later amended to the current design. The new plan was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in May.

The building is to be constructed in two wings, one along Colts Neck Road and the other along Reston Parkway. The former church building still stands on the wooded site, the entrance to which is roughly across from the entrance to Hunters Woods Village Center. A permit application to demolish the building was filed March 9 with Fairfax County.

This will be Wexford, Pennsylvania-based IntegraCare‘s first facility in Virginia.

Illustration via Fairfax County; Map via Google

A developer has submitted an application to rezone another property off Sunset Hills Road near Wiehle-Reston East Metro station to residential use.

Faraday Partners LLC has made the request for 2.9 acres at 1808 Michael Faraday Court to become a multifamily dwelling area. The Washington Business Journal reports the proposed project is a seven-story apartment building with up to 261 units.

Quoting the statement of justification, the project is described as drawing upon “traditional motifs that are reminiscent in design, height and historic loft-style industrial buildings found in revitalized urban areas.”

Michael Faraday Court is a short road off Sunset Hills with no outlet. In addition to the property in question, it is home to the SkateQuest facility and an office building.

A 2-acre portion of the site is currently zoned I-5 (general industrial), while the other nine-tenths of an acre is zoned I-4 (limited industrial). The site is the former home of the Academy of Christian Education, which moved to Parkridge Boulevard last year.

This is just another in an ever-growing list of residential projects proposed for the corridor east of Wiehle Avenue. Others include:

• The JBG/1831 Wiehle project, which would bring 1,300 to 1,500 new residences on six parcels between Wiehle Avenue and Michael Faraday Drive
• 175 multifamily units and 13 townhouses at 11111 Sunset Hills Road, just east of Michael Faraday Drive and adjacent to the JBG/1831 Wiehle project
• The Lofts at Reston Station, 44 residences at 1825 Michael Faraday Drive (approved by Fairfax County in October)

Numerous additional projects are in the works on the west side of Wiehle Avenue as well. In 2014, Fairfax County reworked Reston’s land-use plan to encourage such development in the area of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, as well as the future Reston Town Center and Herndon stations.

“In the future, the three station areas could become home to a total of 30 million square feet in offices and 28,000 housing units,” the county said in its announcement of the plan’s revision. “The plan aims to make [the Wiehle-Reston East] station area an education-focused neighborhood with housing that is well-connected to transit by new walkable streets.”

A D.C. woman stabbed a man in the arm last week in Herndon, police say.

The incident took place Friday in the 600 block of Elden Street, according to the Herndon Police Department’s weekly report. Police say 24-year-old Ronice Pannell stabbed the man after arguing with him. The victim was transported to the hospital, treated and released. Pannell was charged with malicious wounding and held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

In a separate incident, a 34-year-old Herndon man faces multiple charges including possession with intent to distribute PCP. Those charges were filed after the man, Lefonte Hogan, fled from an officer who attempted to initiate a traffic stop Thursday near the intersection of Elden Street and Alabama Drive.

Police say Hogan drove down Parcher Avenue and stopped in a wooded area at the end of the street before fleeing on foot. He was apprehended and charged with eluding, resisting arrest, destruction of property and driving on a revoked license, in addition to the drug charge. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and held without bond.

Meanwhile, the Reston District Station of the Fairfax County Police Department reported the following crimes in the past week:

LARCENIES:

1600 block of Becontree Lane, cell phone from residence

11900 block of Bowman Towne Drive, cash from residence

2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, beer from business

2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, beer from business

2500 block of John Milton Drive, liquor from business

Soapstone Drive/Stoneview Square, cash from vehicle

2000 block of Twin Branches Road, wallet from vehicle

2000 block of Wethersfield Court, license plate from vehicle

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Anyone with information about any of the incidents reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Still Waiting for Willard’s — We reported in January that Willard’s BBQ would soon open at 11790 Baron Cameron Ave., in the Home Depot Shopping Center. On its Facebook page, the restaurant later said it was aiming for a March 14 opening. In a response to a follower’s question Tuesday, though, it now says it hopes to open by the “end of this month.” [Willard’s BBQ]

Red’s Table Chef Talks About Life of Cooking — Adam Stein, the executive chef at Red’s Table (11500 South Lakes Drive), talked with a culinary website about what fuels his passion for food. [The Daily Meal]

Young Professionals Event Slated for Brewery — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce will host an event Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Crooked Run Brewing (22455 Davis Drive, Sterling). The event will be the kickoff of the Young Professionals Cocktail Connection Networking for the year. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]

Reston-Based Company Sold — ObjectVideo, which develops video analytics software for automated security surveillance systems, is headquartered at 11600 Sunrise Valley Drive. The 19-year-old company, whose work has been widely used by the U.S. defense and intelligence communities, has been acquired by Tysons-based Alarm.com. [Washington Business Journal]

‘Rock of Ages’ Gets Good Review — Reston Community Players’ performance of “Rock of Ages” opened last weekend at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) and will play through April 1. A review says Chris Dore’s “sexy, fun” choreography does an excellent job “showcas[ing] very talented dancing in the ensemble.” Carole Steele’s costumes are said to be “transformative and appropriately gaudy” for the ’80s theme. [DC Metro Theater Arts]

After the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed the Reston Transportation Funding Plan last month, the next step will be the official creation of the Reston Transportation Service District.

Community meetings on the subject are slated for Tuesday, March 21 from 7-9 p.m. at Coates Elementary School (2480 River Birch Road, Herndon) and Wednesday, March 29 from 7-9 p.m. at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston).

The $2.27 billion, 40-year funding plan, which includes a 2.1-cent/$100 of assessed value tax assessed to properties in the Reston Transit Station Area, was approved Feb. 28 by the Board. Under the agreed-upon plan, current homeowners in the TSA will be responsible for up to $44.6 million of the estimated cost. The remainder of the tax funds (totaling $350 million) will be collected from commercial/industrial properties and from residential properties built in the future, according to information provided at the Feb. 28 meeting. The list of parcels included in the TSA is available on the Fairfax County website.

A public hearing on the creation of the Reston Transportation Service District is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Fairfax County Government Center. (12000 Government Circle Parkway, Fairfax). Individuals interested in speaking at the public hearing before the Board of Supervisors are asked to register in advance with the Office of the Clerk to the Board.

More information on the Reston Network Analysis is available on the Fairfax County Department of Transportation website.

(Edited 4:15 p.m. after meeting agenda was posted on RA website)

A special meeting of the Reston Association Board of Directors that had been scheduled for tonight has been postponed due to weather.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the findings in StoneTurn Group’s review of Reston Association’s purchase of the Tetra/Lake House property and the subsequent overruns in the cost of its renovation. The special meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The agenda for Monday’s special meeting includes a 20-minute overview of the report and 90 minutes of discussion between the community and the board about its contents, followed by board consideration.

Tonight’s meeting of the Design Review Board has also been shelved, according to Mike Leone, RA’s communications director.

“With the threat of refreezing roads and sidewalks later today, along with increased wind, RA has decided to cancel all meetings for this evening,” he said.

It took until March 14 for the first and potentially only snowstorm of the season to hit the Reston area, and its results are underwhelming for many who have been patiently waiting.

Monday morning, we asked readers to predict how much snow would fall during this weather event. More than 43 percent of respondents to our unscientific poll said we would see 4-8 inches. Another 20 percent called for 8-12 inches, while about 5 percent wanted a foot or more.

The National Weather Service’s official snowfall readings for Fairfax County this morning report between 1 and 3.5 inches of snow, with the highest numbers in the Vienna area.

At least one Facebook reader took issue with terminology that was being used to describe the storm.

“‘Significant snow has fallen’ — every picture is of ice and slush,” Brenda Leong wrote on our Facebook page. “I suppose an inch or so is significant compared to the nothing all winter — but it’s certainly not the 5 to 7 to 12+ we were led to expect.”

Not everyone is unhappy with the relatively small amount of snow, though, as Douglas Errett shared with us on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/MrErrett/status/841653419970564097

Dominion Power reports just a handful of power outages, affecting 189 customers as of 10 a.m., in the county.

The National Weather Service says flurries are possible throughout the rest of the day, but conditions as a whole are on the rise.

Weather conditions have started to improve across our area. Snow flurries possible for the rest of the day. #DCwx #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/XgSmcca0OQ

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) March 14, 2017

VDOT encourages drivers to stay off the roads to allow plows to finish their work. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue reminds residents to use moderation when cleaning up heavy, wet snow — if they have any to clean up.

Take It Slow When Shoveling Snow. Heavy snow can be a health risk. More: https://t.co/j4xBGAlPTE #snow pic.twitter.com/CaUOhSyaz9

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 14, 2017

Photo of Reston Parkway courtesy Karen Eldridge on Facebook

Accident Reported on Dulles Access Road — An accident was reported at about 8:30 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the Dulles Access Road, in the area of Hunter Mill Road.

Reston Hospital Center Using New Breast Cancer Technology — A new device is being used by surgeons at the hospital to precisely localize small tumors and direct their removal during surgery. RHC is the first medical center in the area to use the SAVI SCOUT radar localization technology. [Reston Hospital Center]

Dozens of Guns Stolen from Chantilly Store — Three suspects were caught on video surveillance stealing 35 guns from 50 West Armory on Metrotech Drive on Saturday. Fairfax County Police are trying to track them down and is asking for any help the community can provide. [Fairfax County Police Department]

SLHS Alum to Play in NCAA Basketball Tournament — Princess Aghayere, a 2015 South Lakes High School graduate, will play with the University of Pennsylvania Quakers women’s basketball team in the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The Quakers’ first-round game against Texas A&M will air on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. Saturday. [NCAA]

VDOT traffic cam image from Wiehle Avenue at Reston Station

The Virginia Department of Transportation is telling residents that if they don’t have to go out today, don’t.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain has fallen in Reston and the surrounding area, and drivers are being advised to stay off the roads. VDOT warns that anyone who must travel should reduce speeds, use extreme caution and be alert to icy and inclement conditions. Road temperatures are expected to remain below freezing all day, with potential for continued refreeze.

To see current road conditions and snowplow activity, visit www.vdotplows.org.

Simulation shows wintry mix continuing next few hours, before precip ends as snow late morning to early afternoon: https://t.co/wuM0TkJR4y pic.twitter.com/oBaVmQ5cma

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 14, 2017

Area closings, cancellations and other re-schedulings include:

• Fairfax County Public Schools are closed.
• Reston Association offices will open with a 2-hour delay. RA evening meetings have been called off.
• All Reston Community Center programs are canceled today. The pool will open at 9 a.m.
• The Lake House will be open at 9:30 a.m. for the School Day Off program.
• All School Age Child Care (SACC) centers in the county are closed.
• The Office of Personnel Management says federal employees are working on a 3-hour delay today. Employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework.
• Metrorail is operating on a Saturday schedule. Metrobus services are working under the Moderate Snow Plan.
• Fairfax Connector bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule. Check www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status.
• There will be no county trash or recycling pickup today.
• MVB Bank (1801 Old Reston Ave.) will open on a 3-hour delay.
• The Capital Bikeshare system will remain open today; however, there will be no rebalancing of bikes.
• For information about FASTRAN, call 703-222-9764, TTY 711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/fastran.htm.
• Fairfax County government offices are open. However, employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.
• Today’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting will start at 1 p.m.
• View the county’s public meetings calendar for any potential cancellations of public meetings of Fairfax County government Boards, Authorities or Commissions.
• The Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court have not yet made a decision on operating status.

If you have a closing or cancellation to add to our list, please email [email protected]. Use the same address to send us any snow day photos or other information you would like us to share with the community.

Photo via @RenaeDitmer on Twitter

Community group Reston 20/20 is calling for an independent committee of RA members to be formed to delve deeper into the circumstances surround Reston Association’s controversial Tetra/Lake House deal.

The group made the recommendation Monday as part of a 10-page analysis of StoneTurn Group’s review of the transaction and subsequent cost overrun, which was completed in February.

According to Reston 20/20’s recommendation, the committee should be formed after the board’s elections have completed in April. At that time, four new members will join the nine-person board.

“In light of the fact that the current Board majority was immersed in all the events described here and in StoneTurn’s report, it has no credibility in conducting any further actions on Tetra,” said Terry Maynard, co-chair of Reston 20/20. “The new RA Board, installed next month with a majority not involved in Tetra, should tackle the issues we raise here and any others it finds in a deep dive effort by a committee of Restonians.”

The majority of which Maynard speaks will be made up of the four new members plus director Sherri Hebert (Lake Anne/Tall Oaks District) who was elected in 2016, following the conclusion of the transaction and renovations. Hebert has also recently called for more community involvement in the analysis of the report. (Two other continuing board members, Julie Bitzer and Ray Wedell, were elected in April 2015 — after the purchase proposal had been drawn up and scheduled for referendum, which passed with 53 percent of the vote in May 2015.)

In its analysis, Reston 20/20 says StoneTurn’s report provides “important new information on the timeline of actions leading to the excessive price paid for the property and its huge repair costs,” which it says is “a vital first step in understanding fully what transpired in this unfortunate venture for RA and its members.” The analysis goes on to ask numerous followup questions, many related to personal responsibility for decisions made during the process, including:

• “Did RA agree on the price prior to Board approval in January 2015? If so, why? Who made that decision and why?”
• “Who altered the appraisal instructions to assume Tetra was in good repair and the hypothetical restaurant use was large and extended into the lake?”
• “Why wasn’t conflict of interest specifically discussed in the StoneTurn report?”

Reston 20/20 says it wants the citizens’ committee to have “unlimited access to all RA records relating to Tetra; the authority to interview RA employees, contractors and others with possible knowledge about Tetra; and the authority to request records from contractors who worked [with] RA on the Tetra purchase and renovation.”

A group of Reston Association members, working under the name Mediaworld Ventures LLC, had been selected in September 2016 by the Board of Directors to complete a review of the purchase and cost overrun at a cost of $1. The parties could not agree on the terms of a contract, however, and negotiations were terminated in January. The board agreed later that month to have StoneTurn complete the review at a cost of $45,000.

StoneTurn’s review provided 15 recommendations to the RA board for how to avoid a similar situation from happening in the future. Reston 20/20 members say without rooting out more specifics of the transaction, changes to procedure may have minimal effect.

“We believe it is vital to understand the full details of what transpired, including identifying any violations of policy, procedure or the law and the persons involved in those activities. If we do not dig out these details, RA runs a serious risk of repeating many of the same errors in the future no matter what process changes are added.”

The RA Board of Directors has a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (weather-permitting) to discuss the results of StoneTurn’s report and the recommendations for the board that were provided within.

After a snowless winter, it looks like Reston will finally be hit.

Forecasters are predicting several inches of snow for the area, with an outside chance of a foot or more, beginning tonight and continuing into Tuesday.

We're lowering the snow forecast a little in the immediate area. Remains a (complicated!) significant snowstorm. https://t.co/sVDps838I1 pic.twitter.com/DuzOHrDUiW

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 13, 2017

The National Weather Service has placed an area including Reston under a winter storm warning that is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday and last through 2 p.m. Tuesday. According to the alert, their official predictions include the following:

* PRECIPITATION TYPE…Snow…possibly mixed with sleet at times
Monday night.

* ACCUMULATIONS…Snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches.

* TIMING…Snow will overspread the area Monday evening and
persist through Tuesday morning.

* IMPACTS…The heavy snow will create difficult travel
conditions and may produce scattered power outages.

* WINDS…Northeast 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* TEMPERATURES…In the lower 30s.

Simulated satellite of what's about to happen the next 2 days #noreaster #blizzard #Stella pic.twitter.com/PjFmiJ3KPQ

— Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) March 13, 2017

In preparation for the storm, the Virginia Department of Transportation began pre-treating roads Sunday. The department is encouraging drivers to adjust their schedules to be off roads before the evening rush hour Monday and overnight.

“This will help avoid being stuck on the roads when the storm begins, and to allow crews room to work more safely and efficiently,” VDOT said in a release.

In addition, VDOT asks that vehicles be parked in driveways, or that communities coordinate to all park on the same side of the road, to allow a larger path when plows begin to focus on neighborhood streets.

NEW: National Weather Service reduced their forecast from 6-8" to 4-6" in Washington, DC. We will release a new map following PM models! pic.twitter.com/h6Z1I20Mkn

— Mike Thomas (@MikeTFox5) March 13, 2017

Such a significant snowfall would also have an impact on public transportation.

Metro will suspend its MetroAccess paratransit services at 4 p.m. today, and they will remain out of service through Tuesday. In addition, Metrobus service changes are possible and will be announced based on weather conditions and forecast.

Fairfax Connector is reminding users that service may be reduced, modified or suspended, on a route-by-route basis or systemwide. Riders are encouraged to monitor schedules online or call customer service (703-339-7200) for updates.

Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation on Twitter (@VaDOTNOVA)

More Speak Out Against Paid Parking — The owner of Obi Sushi says sales are down about a third since Boston Properties initiated paid parking at Reston Town Center. Meanwhile, the president of the Reston Citizens Association says it’s just one more sore spot to a community battling an increasing cost of living. [Washington Post]

Retired Detective’s Story Gains Attention — As we reported, retired Fairfax County Police Department detective Bruce Wiley took care of a 17-year-old intruder at his Beaver Circle home last week using no more than a flashlight and a baton. Since, he has shared further details about the incident with Washington television stations. “I was lucky that he didn’t have a gun,” he told one. [Fox 5 DC/WJLA]

Nominations Still Open for Reston Volunteer Awards — Candidates for Reston Association’s Volunteer Service Awards can still be nominated until Friday. The awards recognize individuals, families, groups and businesses that make a significant contribution to the community through volunteer service. [Reston Association]

SLHS Baseball Star Continues His Success — Jared Abelson, a 2015 South Lakes High School graduate, picked up two hits for Macalester College in a game over the weekend against Marian University in the Tucson Invitational. The sophomore is batting .478 through six games this season. [Macalester College Athletics]

A half-dozen residents have thrown their hats in the ring for an At-Large seat on the Reston Association Board of Directors, and they faced the community Thursday in a candidate forum at RA headquarters.

Roberto Anguizola, Eric Carr, Mike Collins, Charles Dorfeuille, Ven Iyer and HeidiAnne Werner are all vying for the three-year term on the board. The forum provided them an opportunity to tout their abilities, as well as their goals if they should be elected.

When contemplating the 2018-19 Reston Association budget, which will be approved later this year, candidates said there is a wide number of factors that must be considered. Collins, who was an RA board member from 2010-2013, said it is important for the board to get back to fundamentals.

“We’re not doing the very basic thing we have to do, and that’s maintaining our facilities to the best of our ability,” he said. “That’s going to require laser-like focus by the board, they are going to have to be intimately familiar with our operations, and they have to just say no.”

Dorfeuille, an eight-year resident and a member of the Community Engagement Advisory Committee, advocated for a line-by-line analysis of the budget that separates essential items from non-essential.

“We are spending too much for what I believe we as a community are being given,” he said. “What is non-essential, we look at in the line-by-line review of what we can reduce or what we can de-prioritize.”

Iyer, also an eight-year Reston resident and the president of a technology business, said the budget must be brought in line without continuing the trend of increasing assessments.

“Our assessments have nearly doubled in the last 15 years — this is not sustainable and it is not warranted,” he said. “In another 30 years, the Reston as we know it now will only be affordable for the wealthy top.”

Carr, a former cluster president with over 20 years of nonprofit and government management experience, said a long-term capital plan is needed so the RA board can “get [its] arms around” the existing capital assets that need to be addressed.

“We think about these 40-, 50-year assets we own in two-year budget cycles,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense and it’s very hard to project into the future, and we continue to get surprised when pools fall into disrepair or when pathways need maintenance.”

Werner, a lifelong Restonian who works as an association manager, said natural environments need to be protected from development. She added that services, programs and facilities available to Reston Association members need to be optimized.

“This really is to put a focus on our facilities, to make sure they are in the proper maintenance and attractive for members to use,” she said.

Anguizola, a trial attorney who has lived in Reston since 2008, said his top priority would be to address aging infrastructure in the community. He touted partnerships with nonprofit groups and businesses as a way to achieve that goal without increasing assessments.

“Most of the recreational facilities and amenities in Reston were built in the late ’70s, early ’80s,” he said. “They need attention, and that’s going to cost money to keep them at the level everyone expects them to be at.”

Collins said the board must do a better job of managing its staff and analyzing its needs in the effort to keep costs down.

“The board needs to have firm controls on the budget from the get-go, they need to be willing to get into the details, get behind the top-level numbers and again, say no,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t need a new truck, we don’t need a new computer system. I hate getting into the weeds like that, but apparently we need to do it.”

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Syazana Durrani and Victoria White, candidates for the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District seat on the Reston Association Board of Directors, squared off in a candidate forum Thursday at Reston Association headquarters.

White, a contracts administrator who has lived in Reston since 2004, said she has become distressed with the way the RA board has operated in recent years.

“The big commitment I’m going to make is to find out why we aren’t making good decisions within the RA, why we’re not meeting our budget line items such as at the Lake House, and what I can do to help preserve green space within Reston Association lands and in our community in general,” she said.

Durrani, a six-year resident, described Reston as a charming place with an unmatched sense of community she wants to help grow and prosper.

“We need to keep beauty in the green space, beauty in the people, beauty in the community, beauty in the association,” she said. “When we work together, I think that’s when we are our best.”

White said bringing “civility” back to the board is a goal of hers.

“When you go to a board meeting, at times there is a lack of civility among board members and a lack of civility between the board and the community,” she said. “I’d like to bring it back to where there is a modicum of respect between the two.”

When asked about the need for pedestrian lighting in the area, including around Hunters Woods Plaza, White said she is “not necessarily a fan” of the idea.

“I worry about the animals that live in the woods and how the light would impact their sleep cycles,” she said. “I also wonder about the safety benefits from having lights — as anybody who walks through lights on a lighted path at night knows, when you’re under the light you see everything around you, but when you reach the end of the light you can’t see what’s two feet in front of you.”

White said additional patrols by Fairfax County Police Department officers are necessary to increase safety and decrease crime in the area. Durrani said CCTV could be used to make problem areas more safe, and she also believes cluster associations should be engaged in public safety.

“Just getting together, I think, and helping one another — that’s what community is about,” she said.

Both candidates spoke about the Pony Barn proposal, which is currently on hold, saying that it is the type of project Reston Association must be more careful when undertaking.

“How in the world [did we go] from a $30,00 budget that suddenly went up to $350,000?” White said. “These are things that made we want to get interested [in becoming a board member].”

“Everyone loves a beautiful butterfly garden,” Durrani said. “But I don’t think right now we need something like that.”

Director Ray Wedell’s proposal for tiered assessments based on property values was something both women said they can get behind — at some point in the future.

“As time has marched on, the difference between the high end and low end of property values in Reston has gotten further and further apart,” White said. “This is definitely something we should be discussing; however, I think maybe we should be discussing it a little bit further down the road, because we do have some very pressing issues.”

Durrani said the proposal is in line with her goal of continuing Reston’s sense of community for all.

“The vision that I have for Reston is all within our fingertips — the brilliant minds, the passionate communities, the efficacy of the symbiotic relationships,” she said. “I see the discussion, the proposal of the tiered assessments, really mirrors that.”

The candidates also answered questions on better member outreach, future capital improvements and more. The forum can be viewed in full on Reston Association’s YouTube channel.

The candidate who wins the race will serve a three-year term on the board. Voting will continue through April 3 and can be done by mail or at reston.org.