Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections is now open. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.

Today’s profiles are of At-Large Candidates, both of whom are running unopposed.

Ray Wedell is a leader with Rescue Reston, the advocacy group aimed at protecting Reston open space. He is a Realtor in Reston and has a background in finance.

Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?

RW: I love my involvement with, and the positive citizen reaction to, the work on the Rescue Reston Board (preserving the Reston National Golf Course from the ravenous reach of redevelopment by private interests).

Given the intense growth in Reston both now and in the immediate future, we are at the vortex of future growth in Northern Virginia, with complex issues involving the environment, traffic, rising employment, impacts on property values, and the entire Reston way of life. Rather than observe the change and debate its impact from the outside, I prefer to help drive the change in the direction we need it to go.

As hockey great Wayne Gretzky famously said, “Do not focus on where the puck is; focus on where it is going.”

I have the ability to not get lost in the past or present, clinging to the status quo so to speak; we need to be able to anticipate the nature and dynamics of a changing environment, and steer it in a positive direction for Reston residents.

RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?

RW: There are three major issues: 1) Preserving open space and not relinquishing Reston land to private developers for their commercial interest; 2) Preserving open space and not relinquishing Reston land to private developers for their commercial interest; 3) Preserving open space and not relinquishing Reston land to private developers for their commercial interest. Read More

Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections is now open. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.

Today’s profiles are of At-Large Candidates, both of whom are running unopposed.

Michael Sanio is seeking re-election to the RA Board.  He is the association’s current Secretary, as well as a member of the Board Planning Committe and liaison to the Fiscal, Environmental Advisory Committees.

Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?

MS: Reston is on the verge of significant growth with the opening of the Metro Silver Line. Growth that can bring new services to Reston, or more traffic, noise and pollution.

Over the last three years I’ve had the honor to serve on the Board as an At-Large Director, and the Secretary, on the Board Planning Committee, Legal Committee and liaison to Fiscal, Legal and Environmental Advisory Committee.

I will represent all residents of Reston to support and promote:

• Growth that meets the needs of all residents of Reston
• Growth that protects our natural areas
• Growth that ensures our long term economic viability.

RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?

MS: The greatest challenge to the Reston Association is ensuring the growth that will occur, directly benefits the residents of Reston, not only the residents of Fairfax County.

The RA Land Use Review Processes we established during my first term to facilitate discussions with the development community, the county, the Reston Association Design Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Committee will ensure Reston has both a seat at the table, and a voice.

Over the last year we created a Governance Committee, the Governance Committee will focus on establishing a Code of Conduct for members of the Board, and board processes that will improve decision making, provide Reston Association staff clear direction and opportunities for innovation and creativity.

RN: How can RA members better understand what the board does and how can they be better involved in improving our community?

MS: The best way for members of the community to understand what the RA Board does, is to serve on one of the many board committees. The Reston community directly benefits from members active involvement. Read More

Candidates in Reston Association’s 2015 Board of Directors election will take part in a forum at 7 p.m. on Monday at Reston Association headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.

Some of the questions will be asked by a moderator, but there will also be an opportunity for audience members to submit questions. Want to know how they stand on rising assessments, Reston growth, new facilities or anything else important to you? Now is your chance.

There are seven candidates running for four board seats.

Incumbent South Lakes Director Richard Chew is running for re-election against former RA vice-president Andy Sigle and Rescue Reston advocate Julie Bitzer.

In North Point, Dannielle LaRosa is seeking to remain in the spot for another year. LaRosa was appointed by the RA Board to the North Point Director seat last fall after Tim Cohn stepped down for personal reasons. LaRosa will run against Charles Dorfeuille, who has served on the RA Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Community Engagement Advisory Committee, among others.

The two At-Large candidates are running uncontested. At-large candidates include incumbent Michael Sanio and Ray Wedell, a Realtor and a leader with Rescue Reston.

Reston Now will run Q-and-A posts with each candidate beginning next week.

Voting begins Monday at 5 p.m. and will run through the end of the month. Results will be announced at the Annual Members’ Meeting on April 14.

To buy or not to buy? That is a the question Reston Association’s Board of Directors is asking members in regards to RA’s potential purchase of the former Reston Visitors Center.

The first of two public hearings will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. at RA Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.

This is a chance for RA members to speak up on whether RA should spend about $2.65 million to buy the 3,200-square-foot building at 11450 Baron Cameron Ave.  A member referendum is planned for April, and the RA By-Laws say the board cannot make the purchase without the approval of a majority of RA members.

Here is what the referendum will ask:

Should the Reston Association, acting through the Board of Directors, be authorized to:

1. Purchase the Tetra property, inclusive of land and improvements, located at 11450 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA 20190 in the North Point District as an addition to Common Area pursuant to Article IV, Section IV.10 of the Reston Deed; and,
2. Borrow up to $2.65 million on behalf of the association to make the purchase and repurpose the property for future community and recreation uses?

The board announced last month it is looking into purchasing the building, which currently houses Tetra commercial real estate.

The building was the Reston Visitors Center from 1982 to 2003. It sits on 3 1/2 acres near Lake Newport and several RA recreational spaces. RA is not yet certain what the building would be used for, though CEO Cate Fulkerson says it will be “community and recreational space” and not RA offices.

Here are some main points to consider:

RA says it will borrow $2.65 million, based on a recent appraisal. However, the 2014 county tax assessment values the building at $1,428,370.

Financial terms would likely be a zero-interest down payment and financing at 3.45 percent. The term would be a 20-year amortization schedule, but the loan matures at 10 years and would need to be refinanced at that time, says RA CFO David Harris. There would be $16,000 in loan costs at settlement. Read More

After a successful first season offering Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) classes at Lake Anne, Surf Reston is seeking to expand its operation to Reston’s other lakes.

Surf Reston has asked Reston Association for permission to offer occasional classes and outings on Lake Audubon, Newport and Thoreau, according to RA documents.

“In 2015, it is proposed that sessions better utilize all four Reston lakes,” Surf Reston operator Steve Gurney wrote to the RA Board. “Many of the RA members enjoyed seeing Lake Anne from a new perspective and inquired about paddling on the other lakes. Expanding beyond Lake Anne can lighten the footprint of the offering on any one lake in additional to providing options for RA members to explore the water in our community.”

There had been controversy using Lake Audubon when SUP lessons were first proposed for Reston in 2013. At that time, the previous owner of Surf Reston wanted to base operations at Lake Audubon. That proposal received much pushback from Lake Audubon-area residents, who did not want a commercial operation on the all-residential lake.

In 2014, there were two successful paddleboard events at Lake Audubon, said Gurney.

“The majority of sessions are five students and one instructor, ” he said. “Surf Reston would request the potential to have sessions that would not exceed 15 paddlers. For example, Reston Community Center has requested organizing a ‘trip’ for 12 paddlers. These requests would be limited in quantity and during specific day and times to minimize impact.”

Surf Reston is also working with Reston Association to try and offer SUP as part of Teen Camp and Day Camp, as well as several fitness/yoga/paddleboarding combo classes.

The 2015 schedule proposes most SUP classes at Lake Anne, but also classes and tours at Lake Audubon on alternating Wednesday evenings and monthly events at Lake Newport and Lake Thoreau on Sundays.

The RA Board will vote on the summer 2015 schedule at its Feb. 26 meeting.

Photo: Paddleboarding on Lake Anne/Credit: Jim Kirby

The RELAC air-conditioning system will stay in place for 343 Lake Anne-area homes after a resident referendum to remove the deed ordering it failed to pass.

The referendum needed a two-thirds majority of voters to remove the Reston deed item mandating the lake water-cooled system in the homes.

The final tally was 156 votes for no revocation and 118 votes to remove the deed item, Reston Association Board President Ken Knueven said at a special board meeting on Monday. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, he added.

A similar referendum also failed in 2008.

The homeowners in Coleson, Waterview, Wainwright, Washington Plaza, Hickory and Governour’s Square clusters are bound by the Reston deed to use the system. RELAC was touted as revolutionary in the mid-1960s, but has been met with frustration at its inefficiency by many users in recent years.

Some users have complained it is expensive, mold producing and cannot cool the top floors of some of the townhomes. Several homeowners have used a medical exemption to allowed to install, at their own expense, an additional air conditioning system.

Last summer, more than 100 homeowners signed a petition asking RA for the referendum.

John Hunter, who lives in Washington Plaza Cluster, was one of the leaders in the quest to get the referendum.

“We are not giving up,” he told the board on Monday. He also asked for information on how each cluster voted.

“This could be helpful to RELAC,” he said of the company that operates the system, adding the company is sometimes unaware of the issues.

Robert Gerstein of Wainwright Cluster resident said he does not like the concept of revisiting the RELAC issue.

“The folks were very, very diligent about getting the referendum done,” he said. “What [Hunter] seemed to imply was they were going to again canvas each of the clusters an try to have another referendum. I hope you folks consider this is an intrusion on all of us. Let’s get this over with.”

The board heard repeatedly from both sides at meetings over the last several months. Some in favor of RELAC called it an “aesthetic catastrophe” to change the system. They also praised RELAC for being very quiet and were also concerned that rates would rise among remaining customers.

Rising rates were also a concern of RELAC opponents, who said their rates had skyrocketed in recent years. Opponents also said they wanted a choice, and also pointed out that new HVAC units were much quieter than they were in the mid-1960s, when RELAC was first developed.

Homeowners who have been granted the medical exemption have said they have spent $4,000-6,000 on new HVAC systems — which must be disconnected when they sell the home.

(Updated 6 p.m. Thursday to reflect an at-large candidate has dropped out of the race)

Seven candidates have filed to run in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections this spring.

Open seats include two three-year At-Large seats; a one-year North Point seat; and a three-year South Lakes seat.

In the South Lakes District, incumbent candidate Richard Chew will run for re-election to a second consecutive term.

Chew also served a previous three year-term from 2008-11. Directors may not hold their positions for more than two consecutive terms.

Opposing Chew in South Lakes will be two other candidates: Former At-Large Director and RA Vice President Andy Sigle, who lost a bid for re-election to Jeffrey Thomas in 2014. A third candidate, Julie Bitzer, a 34-year Reston resident, will also run for the South Lakes spot.

In North Point, Dannielle LaRosa will seek the one-year term. LaRosa was appointed by the RA Board to the North Point Director seat last fall after Tim Cohn stepped down for personal reasons. LaRosa will run against Charles Dorfeuille, who has served on the RA Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Community Engagement Advisory Committee, among others.

Two candidates will run for the two At-Large spots. At-large candidates include incumbent Michael Sanio and Ray Wedell, a Realtor and a leader with Rescue Reston, a citizens advocacy group who has been active in the fight to save open space at Reston National Golf Course.

Voting in the election begins at 5 p.m. on March 2. Results will be announced at the Annual Members’ Meeting on April 14.

Read more about the candidates in their official statements on the Reston Association website and in upcoming Reston Now articles.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -Day Saints has filed paperwork with the Fairfax County Planning Commission to get approval to add nearly 40 spots to its parking lot at 115 Poplar Grove Dr. in North Reston.

The church wants to expand the southern end on its existing parking lot from 121 to 160 spaces and replace an existing shed. The inquiry has not yet been given a date on the planning commission calendar.

The proposal is really a continuation of a quest that began two years ago.

In 2013, the church inquired with Reston Association about buying three parcels of land on Fox Mill Road. RA did not formally consider selling the land.

RA’s Design Review Board (DRB) did, however, give the church permission in February of 2014 to expand the lot.

That decision did not sit well with neighbors in the Birchfield Woods Cluster.

Birchfield Woods residents appealed the decision, saying it will result “in a net loss of over 80 trees which serve as a buffer between the church and the Birchfield Woods Cluster.”

The DRB initially voted down the church’s proposal in November 2013, with specifics on how the church could revise their plan: reduce the number of proposed parking spaces, reduce the number of impacted trees, and produce a traffic study.

The original proposal offered adding 51 spaces new light poles and removing 117 trees.

The new plan calls for planting of replacement trees and shrubs to provide a 25-foot buffer, as well as a relocated storage shed. The church also reduced the number of additional parking spots to 39, for a total of 160 spaces in the new lot.