The Herndon Town Council formally adopted changes to its comprehensive plan.
At a Tuesday (Jan. 28) meeting, the council approved changes recommended by the town’s planning commission and staff.
The updated plan incorporates a new chapter on economic development and clarifies that the plan should be reconsidered up to 2024, by which time downtown Herndon is expected to be built out.
Other changes include:
- Pursuing a cooperative relationship with the county and regional entities for public infrastructure
- Continued assessment of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities
- Advancing pedestrian and multimodal facilities, including Van Buren Street improvements, trail lighting along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail
- Ensuring residents with a half-mile from a park have access by all forms of transportation
- Replace “heritage” with “historic” when referring to heritage preservation efforts.
Virginia’s code requires the review of comprehensive plans at least once every five years.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently approved changes to improve road safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
At the board’s Tuesday meeting, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk jointly unveiled a proposal to initiate a review of the county’s Department of Transportation’s ActiveFairfax planning process.
ActiveFairfax is a transportation plan that includes a Bicycle Master Plan and Countywide Trails Plan Update for the county.
“Sixteen pedestrian fatalities in our county in 2019 is too many,” Alcorn said. “Most of our built environment is still designed for moving vehicles, which creates obvious conflicts and we need to evolve toward safer walking and cycling.”
More from the board matter:
The commitment of Fairfax County to address this is clear, including more than $300 million in funding approved for stand-alone bike and pedestrian infrastructure projects over the past decade.
Most of these projects have been implemented, while some are still in progress. It should be noted that the $300 million in funding doesn’t include bike and pedestrian projects that are being implemented as part of larger roadway projects, or in VDOT’s repaving schedule…
Due to the General Assembly reallocating funding for Metro’s State of Good Repair Initiative, the Board deferred a number of bike and pedestrian projects last year. And we all have examples of more bike and pedestrian projects to be done, if more funding were available.
Fortunately, the General Assembly is looking at options for increasing transportation funding, but currently they don’t go far enough.
Alcorn and Lusk want the county’s departments and the Virginia Department of Transportation to coordinate their efforts and also want FCDOT to review the following:
- working timeline for the ActiveFairfax Plan
- external communications strategy for the planning process
- evaluation of the current approach for funding pedestrian improvements
- examination of how tech can improve pedestrian and bicycle safety ahead of ActiveFairfax
- whether the county can achieve measurable safety goals like Vision Zero
Lusk called recent pedestrian-involved fatalities and injuries along county roads a “public safety crisis.”
The Board of Supervisors will continue the discussion about the ActiveFairfax Plan at the transportation and public safety committee meetings, according to a press release.
Reston Association’s elections committee has certified seven candidates to run for open seats on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Each year, members have the opportunity to elect three new individuals to the nine-member board. Caren Anton, the director for the Hunters Woods and Dogwood District, is the only candidate seeking re-election for the three-year term. The seat is uncontested.
Kerri Bouie, the director of interior design at Wingate Hughes Architecture, is up against Robert Petrine, who has 28 years of experience in the private sector, for an at-large seat with a three-year term.
For the at-large seat for a one-year term Paul Berry, who brings more than 10 years of experience in private business, is up against Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza, the owner of Kiln & Co. at Lake Anne Plaza.
Mike Collins, an attorney who also served as a director from 2010 to 2013, and Jennifer Sunshine Jushchuk, vice president of technology, talent at consulting at the Rural Broadband Association, are competing for the apartment owners’ seat, which also has a three-year term.
The month-long voting period kicks off on March 2 and ends on April 3 at 5 p.m. Election results will be announced at RA’s annual members’ meeting in April.
Candidate statements are available online.
Photo courtesy Reston Association
Floris Conservatory Delayed in Herndon — “When preparing to build a $40 Million, 48,000-square-foot arts and music conservatory in a sustainable design utilizing energy and green building techniques, with a minimum of 231 parking spaces to serve three shifts of 365 students a day and introduce traffic calming measures while retaining a historic place of worship and converting three historic homes to non-residential use in ultimate condition, an applicant may need a little more time than the initial approved special exemption allowed to establish the use.” [Fairfax County Times]
M&T Bank Marks Grand Opening — “M&T Bank marked the grand opening of its newest branch in Reston with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. More than 50 individuals attended the Jan. 22 event, including members of the bank’s regional senior leadership and Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) and other guests.” [Fairfax County Times]
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
Changes to Reston Station Promenade — a project with nearly 1.3 million square feet of development north of the Wiehe-Reston East Metro Station — were officially approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Jan. 28).
Comstock plans to convert a planned 250-unit residential building into an office building, slashing the total number of to 340. The hotel along Reston Station Boulevard will also be shifted so that most of the building faces Wiehle Avenue.
The company also scrapped a woonerf — a Dutch-style living street without sidewalks and curbs that are shared by pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars. The street, which was one of the more unique design features of the site, was removed to improve walkability for pedestrians and discourage car traffic.
“By rotating the hotel’s orientation 90 degrees, the new design brings more daylight into the Promenade — and it makes the entire development more visible to Metro riders coming north from Reston Station, Comstock’s development next to the Wiehle station,” according to the county.
Comstock will also convert an urban plaza into a corner park. The company also plans to pitch in $2.3 million for the construction of an athletic field.
Comstock will also purchase board-owned property for $3 million in order to shift density within the development and create space for a more cohesive design. Selling off the 1.3-acre area owned by the county is expected to bring in roughly $9.6 million annually for the county.
Photos via Fairfax County Government
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will kick off his first town hall next week in Reston.
Alcorn, who pledged to host several community engagement meetings in this term, plans to discuss his priorities for the district at the Feb. 3 meeting. It is set to take place from 7-9 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne’s Jo Ann Rose Galley (1609-A Washington Plaza-N).
His presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session with attendees. Residents are encouraged to RSVP by emailing [email protected] with the subject “Feb. 3 town hall.”
The next town hall is planned for Feb. 24. A time and location has not been announced yet.
In his first board matter earlier this month, Alcorn moved to kickstart a 12-to-18 month period to review Reston’s Comprehensive Plan.
Staff photo by Ashley Hopko
A cybersecurity company that was founded in Virginia has announced plans to expand in the Town of Herndon, according to a release by Gov. Ralph Northam.
Expel, Inc. will expand its headquarters at 12950 Worldgate Drive, creating 164 new jobs in engineering, customer experience, IT, marketing and sales team over the next three years.
“There’s a fantastic pool of tech talent location in Northern Virginia, and we have close proximity to strong education institutions and major tech companies,” said Dave Merkel, Expel’s CEO.
The company, which is investing $1.4 million in the expansion, offers managed security on-premises and in the cloud, including 24/7 monitoring through security operations using security tools that customers already have.
The expansion was made possible through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, which provides consultancy and funding services to help companies create new jobs.
Here’s more from Northam’s office:
“Virginia has emerged as a national leader in cybersecurity and continues to be at the forefront of workforce development in this rapidly-evolving industry, thanks to companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Governor Northam. “We are thrilled to support this homegrown Northern Virginia business as they grow and expand and look forward to their ongoing success in Herndon.”
“Herndon and the 86th District continues to attract tech companies and workers of all backgrounds because we work hard to create economic growth while maintaining an accessible community and excellent quality of life,” said Delegate Ibraheem Samirah. “I’m excited to see the growing tech center in Herndon and hope that it solidifies Herndon’s position as the best place to live and work in the Commonwealth.”
“I am proud to see that the Town of Herndon continues to attract and retain the best and brightest companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Senator Jennifer Boysko. “Working to recruit a diverse and talented workforce continues to strengthen our robust economy. I welcome Expel Inc.’s expansion in the 33rd Senate District.”
Image via Google Maps
Moving Day for Fire Station 25 — “Station 25, Reston, A-Shift had a busy day moving to their new temporary station, located at 1840 Cameron Glen Drive. FCFRD personnel will be operating out of the temporary station while the new Station 25 is built. Crews will maintain continuous emergency response to the Reston community during construction. The existing station on Wiehle Avenue will be demolished in the next several weeks.”
Three Suspects Rob Bicyclist on Washington & Old Dominion Trail — A man was riding his bicycle along the trail near the 1000 block of Crestview Drive when three victims showed him a weapon and took his belongings. The incident happened on Jan. 24. [Herndon Police Department]
Reston Association Board Voting Begins in March — Voting for the month-long election for the Board of Directors begin on March 2. Ballots will be mailed to members and voting can be done online or by mail. [Reston Association]
Playing Games at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods — Residents can gather at the center today (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. to play board games and other tabletop games. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own game collections. [Reston Community Center]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking $8.6 million for several transportation improvements in south Reston.
At a board meeting today (Tuesday), county officials voted in favor of seeking funds from the National Virginia Transportation Commission three projects in Reston.
The county is seeking to offer a new Fairfax Connector transit service from the Reston South Park-and-Ride Lot to Crystal City, Pentagon City and the Pentagon in Arlington.
If approved by the commission, residents could also see bicycle and pedestrian improvements at the park-and-ride and surrounding neighborhoods. ADA-friendly infrastructure is also planned.
A fenced-off recycling drop-off area at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Lawyers Road would be transformed into a pedestrian entrance with a Capital Bikeshare station. The existing walkway between the back of the lot and Lawyers Road would also be realignment to meet ADA standards.
Additionally, new intersection improvements — including a traffic signal and pedestrian crossings — are planned for at the intersection of Fox Mill Road and Pinecrest Road.
The county is also seeking a second entrance to the McLean Metro Station — a project that county officials ranked as a higher priority funding request than the projects in Reston.
File photo
Reston Association’s tennis programs are getting a nod from a national organization next month.
The Professional Tennis Registry, a South Carolina-based organization that aims to educate and certify tennis teachers around the world, named RA the “Public Facility of the Year.”
Here’s more from RA on the award and its tennis offerings:
RA tennis programming had a solid 2019, with 550 junior (ages 3-17) lesson-takers from beginners to 4.5-level advanced players. More than 350 adults took lessons. RA works hand-in-hand with the USTA to hosts tournaments for all age groups and levels of play. More than 350 players participate in GWTA, NVTL, Reston Team Tennis and senior leagues. The associatioon also promotes tennis via its scholarship program.
RA has 52 tennis courts across more than 1,300 acres of land, including six permanent courts for children’s tennis.
PTR will present the award at a symposium in South Carolina next month.
Photo courtesy of RA
Reston Association has hired design consultant Kimley-Horn to lead the design and engineering process for Lake Thoreau’s pool.
The company will share findings of its site analysis at a public meeting on Feb. 11 at RA headquarters. The meeting — which kickstarts discussions about the future of the pool — will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The future of the degraded facility, which opened in 1981, has been in question for the last several months.
A previous consultant hired by RA found major structural problems with the pool, including possible safety issues like a deteriorating retaining wall and cracks in the pool shell and concrete deck.
The pool will remain closed until a renovation plan is implemented.
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Local police are investigating an armed robbery that happened earlier today at the 7-Eleven on 2303 Soapstone Drive in Reston.
Four men wearing masks — including one with a firearm — entered the store and stole property around 4:28 a.m. today, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“One man brandished a firearm at the clerk while another man jumped over the counter and stole property,” according to FCPD.
The race and age of the suspects are unknown, police said.
Image via Google Maps
VB Juice Bar, which serves up a variety of fresh juices, opens in Herndon’s Junction Square neighborhood today (Tuesday).
The owners told Reston Now they pride themselves in serving clean juices without unnecessary sugars and processed ingredients.
VB Juice Bar offers a selection of cold-pressed juices — from “beet it” to “black detox” — as well as ginger and turmeric shots. Customers can also purchase smoothies and nut milk like strawberry almond milk, vanilla chaser milk, and cocoa almond milk. Other products include toast and a dragon fruit bowl.
The business is located at 702 Elden Street).
Photos via VB Juice Bar
Blackboard Inc. Opens New Global Headquarters — The leading education technology company officially opened the doors of its new global headquarters in Plaza America on Monday. The company considered “best value, convenience to public transportation, commuter routes, airports, and life-style amenities” when making the decision to choose Reston. [PR Newswire]
Big Activity at Reston Station — Chris Clemente, Comstock’s CEO, talks about “big activity” at Reston Station. [Commercial Observer]
Sunoco Gas Station in Herndon Robbed — The gas station on 12370 Coppermine Road was robbed on Friday, Jan. 25. Police believe a man threatened a store clerk with a knife and took off with cash and merchandise. The suspect is described as black and in his 20s. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
After more than three years of planning and one year of construction, the newly renovated aquatics facility at Reston Community Center is now open to the community.
The Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center — which features a 25-yard lap pool, a teaching and exercise pool, and a new roof and systems for water filtration and air — opened today (Monday). The outdated facility was constructed in 1979.
RCC worked with mosaic artist Valerie Theberge, Hughes Architects, Branch Builds and county to complete the project. Construction delays and other setbacks pushed the opening date from last year to early 2020.
The facility also includes better stormwater management features and updates to locker rooms.
“This ambitious project reflects the broad input and engagement with our swimmers that we sought from the beginning of our work,” wrote RCC Board of Governors Chair Beverly Cosham in a statement. “All the features address needs they described for us; the professionals worked to incorporate as many of the community’s ideas as possible.”
To celebrate the pool’s opening, RCC is offering a $1 drop-in access rate per visit throughout February. Classes and exercise programs begin one week from today on Feb. 3.
Here’s more from RCC on the project:
During the closure, RCC partnered with the Fairfax County YMCA Reston, Herndon Community Center and Reston Association to offer special aquatics discounts for RCC patrons during the renovation period.
“We are very happy to reopen,” said Leila Gordon, RCC’s executive director. “This project came in under budget and with excellent results. It took a little longer than we anticipated due to labor shortages in the construction industry that hit the aquatics specialization areas very hard. Nonetheless, the entire team worked extremely hard to get us open without sacrificing high quality standards. There will be a necessary period of completing punch list issues and establishing all our new routines, but we are thrilled to have the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center filled again with swimmers of all ages.”
The pool closed on Jan. 1 last year to jumpstart the renovation effort.
Photos via RCC
