Where people will live and work in the Reston of the future has been spelled out in changes to the Reston Master Plan, which the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will discuss on Jan. 28.
But where will they play?
Athletic fields have continued to be a sore spot for development watchers. Reston 2020, for instance, says that with tens of thousands of additional residents likely to move into high-density areas around Reston’s three transit stations there will also be an increased need for more athletic fields.
There already is an existing field deficit, the master plan points out, especially in the area lining the Dulles Toll Road, which was formerly designated as commercial only. Growth and development planned for that area, as well as in the one-quarter mile area closest to the transit stations, “will exacerbate the existing deficits,” the Master Plan draft amendment says.
The draft formulated by the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force originally called for 12 additional athletic field to be added in Reston based on projected population growth of about 44,000. The final version that passed the county planning commission last week asks for at a minimum, three fields to be built — one near each of the transit stations.
“The provision of new athletic fields that require larger land areas within Reston TSAs (Transit Station Areas) is especially important and challenging,” the report states. “Creative approaches to providing for sports needs in Reston will be necessary, including integrating facilities within development areas, on rooftops, over stormwater detention facilities, in utility corridors and other alternative locations.”
Fairfax County officials are not pleased that Moody’s designated the county a negative bond rating on Wednesday.
Moody’s said Fairfax County has a smaller reserve than what would earn an Aaa rating and that the county “will remain challenged going forward as management addresses upcoming budget gaps after reducing expenditures.”
The credit rating agency attached a “negative outlook” $305 million in general obligation bonds up for sale next week. The agency cited rising pension costs in the county and effects brought on by last year’s sequestration.
The negative outlook likely means a higher interest rate on the debt payments for the new bonds.
It also put the county on the defensive.
“Fairfax County disagrees with Moody’s assignment of the negative outlook as it ignores the County’s strong fiscal management and the strength of its tax base,” the county said in a statement. “The County has maintained its Triple A ratings through many economic cycles and changes. In assigning the negative outlook, Moody’s notes areas of concern including the County’s reserve balances and pension liability funding. The County anticipates this negative outlook will have no meaningful impact on the County’s upcoming General Obligation Bond sale.”
A county spokesman pointed out that “when Moody’s placed the Fairfax on negative outlook as a result of the indirect linkage with the Federal Government between August 2011 and July 2013, there was no appreciable impact.”
More from the county:
As part of its annual capital program, Fairfax County will sell General Obligation Bonds on Jan. 23 in the amount of $289.6 million primarily for schools ($155 million), public safety ($50 million), transportation and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) ($59.5 million). The County’s Triple A Bond Rating was affirmed by all three bond rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service, which cited County strengths such as: strong and diverse economic base, above average wealth levels and a history of adherence to strong financial policies. In addition, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch reaffirmed the stable outlook for the County. …
The County has demonstrated strong financial flexibility through a combination of reserves, budgetary cuts and tax rate changes. The County believes Moody’s approach has overemphasized reserves as an indicator of financial flexibility in their analysis, and that the County’s existing reserve structure is adequate based on the various other forms of financial flexibility available to the County and the County’s conservative budgeting practices for both revenue and expenditures. Fairfax County has maintained full funding of its two General Fund reserves: 2 percent of General Fund Disbursements (the Managed Reserve) and 3 percent of General Fund Disbursements (the Revenue Stabilization Reserve) since Fiscal Year (FY) 2006.
Beyond these two reserves, the County has access to additional areas of financial flexibility that have proven to be effective during the recession, namely the willingness and ability to raise its Real Estate Property Tax Rate and make significant expenditure reductions. Additionally, there was and continues to be financial flexibility through available reserves that are accounted for outside the General Fund including replacement reserves for vehicles, public safety apparatus, technology equipment and potential losses associated with the County’s self-insurance programs.
A referendum on whether to build a new Reston Community Center facility is unlikely to happen in 2014, RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon says.
The board has been discussing the idea of adding a new recreation center with a 50-meter indoor pool with residents and consultants with Brailsford & Dunlavey since February of 2013. RCC’s current indoor pool, at Hunters Woods, is 35 years old and need of modernization, RCC’s board of governors says. The board has proposed building an additional pool and rec center at Baron Cameron Park or at the area known as Town Center North.
RCC had hoped to be able to present the idea to Small Tax District 5 voters this year. However, Gordon says there still needs to be three-to-six months of more discussion before the plan can move forward, which means if RCC decides to move forward it would not be put to a referendum vote by November. It also would not be cost-effective to hold a special ballot, she said.
“I think it will take the next several months to get an understanding of the best opportunity,” said Gordon. “Once we know roughly where it would be and who we would be partnering with, then we can talk about priorities.”
The Brailsford & Dunlavy analysis last June estimated a new pool facility would cost about $35-40 million if built at Baron Cameron Park on land provided at no cost from the Fairfax County Park Authority. That plan was met with mixed reaction from the community. Many residents near Baron Cameron Park are against the facility nearby and many residents throughout Small Tax District 5, which supports RCC, are against building a facility for the public with Reston taxpayer money.
Gordon said one of the ideas coming out of a two-day RCC Board of Governors retreat last week was the need to examine pricing and cost recovery scenarios. RCC’s usage fees have remained lower than most area facilities, and phasing in increases over the next several years would allow for less of a tax burden on residents if the project proceeds.
RCC raised its aquatics center fees Sept. 1 — only the second time in 34 years that drop-in fees have risen.
RCC has been running for the last several years at a 13-15 percent cost recovery level, Gordon said. An ideal level would be 25 percent, she added. With more money available at the start of building the new project, the quicker RCC could recoup its expense. B & D estimates after five years there cost recovery level would still only be 50 percent (Reston resident rate structure) to 71 percent (Fairfax County resident rate structure).
Cost recovery can make or break a plan. In Arlington County, a proposal to build a $79 million multi-pool aquatics facility ($42 million of it from an approved 2012 county bond) is re-evaluating costs after an original operating deficit estimate of $1 million to $1.3 million was recently upped to $3.8 million after construction bids came in much higher than anticipated.
“The situation at Long Bridge Park in Arlington illustrates perfectly that the longer you are undertaking a project, there is a larger potential for the scope of planning to outstrip your resources,” said Gordon. “The cost of construction goes up.”
Another unknown variable: FCPA’s Master Plan for Baron Cameron Park, which should be released later this month. The Park Authority said last spring it is ready for improvements and additions of many recreational amenities at the 68-acre park at Wiehle Avenue and Baron Cameron Avenue.
The holiday season is officially here. If you need Fairfax County services this week and next, bookmark this guide to what is open Dec. 25-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1.
- Dec. 24 – Closed at noon (exceptions noted below).
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
- Dec. 24 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
Courts –
- Dec. 23 – All courts open. (Circuit Court Clerk’s Office closed.)
- Dec. 24, 25 – All courts closed.
- Dec. 26 – Closed, except for Circuit Court.
- Dec. 31 – Closed, except for Circuit Court.
- Jan. 1 – All courts closed.
Public Schools and School Offices –
- Dec. 23 to Jan.3 – No school for students and teachers.
- Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1 – Twelve-month personnel off.
Library –
- Dec. 24 – Closed at 1 p.m.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Dec. 31 – Closed at 5 p.m.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
- Dec 24 – Regular weekday schedule.
- Dec. 25 – Sunday schedule.
- Dec. 31 – Regular weekday schedule.
- Jan. 1 – Sunday schedule.
Fastran –
- Dec. 24, 25 – Not in service.
- Jan. 1 – Not in service.
- Dec. 24 – RECenters will close at noon. George Washington RECenter, nature centers, historic sites, Frying Pan Farm Park and Green Spring Gardens – Closed all day.
- Dec. 25 – All facilities closed.
- Dec. 31 – RECenters will close at 4 p.m. George Washington RECenter, nature centers, historic sites, Frying Pan Farm Park and Green Spring Gardens – Closed all day.
- Jan. 1 – RECenters open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. George Washington RECenter, nature centers, historic sites, Frying Pan Farm Park and Green Spring Gardens – Closed all day.
- Dec. 24 – Closed at noon.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
- Dec. 24 – Closed at noon.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
McLean Community Center and Old Firehouse Teen Center
- Dec. 24 – Closed at 1 p.m.
- Dec. 25, 26 – Closed.
- Dec. 31 – Closed at 5 p.m.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
Reston Community Center Hunters Woods and Reston Community Center Lake Anne –
- Dec. 24 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Dec. 31 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Jan. 1 – Noon to 5 p.m.
County Trash and Recycling Collection – For residents receiving Fairfax County collection service for trash and recyclables, there will be no trash or recycling collection on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Trash collection for Wednesday customers will occur on Thursday, Dec. 26. Please have your trash and recycling to the curb by 6 a.m. to ensure collection.
Recycling and Disposal Facilities at I-66 and I-95 –
- Dec. 24 – Closed at 1 p.m.
- Dec. 25 – Closed.
- Dec. 31 – Closed at 2 p.m.
- Jan. 1 – Closed.
Pet lovers: Want to shop for a gift for yourself on Black Friday?
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is hosting Black Fur-Day on Nov. 29.
The shelter says fees will be waived on adoptions of all black and mostly-black dogs and cats. Black and darker-colored animals take longer to be adopted so the shelter is offering a special promotion to bring them extra attention.
The shelter is located at 4500 West Ox Rd., Fairfax. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The shelter has more than 25 dogs and puppies, 40 cats and kittens, and dozens of small pets like turtles, birds, snakes, and guinea pigs.
The shelter is also celebrating its annual Home for the Holidays campaign. All adopters will receive a gift bag full of pet-friendly goodies and half-off adoption fees for all adult pets through Dec. 31.
(Photo of Midnight, cat at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, courtesy of Fairfax County Animal Shelter)
