The Reston Association Board of Directors is seeking to fill the vacant North Point District Director seat. The term will expire in April 2015.

North Point Director Tim Cohn resigned his position last month for personal reasons. His term expires in April 2016.

The board will appoint a new board member from the group of qualified applicants. The new appointed member will only serve until an election is held next year. At that time, the North Point position will be placed on the ballot and the winner will serve out the term until 2016.

RA members interested in applying for the seat must complete a Statement of Candidacy and submit it to the assistant secretary of the association by July 21 at 5 p.m. You can download the form below. All qualified candidates will be asked to appear before the board on July 31.

RA Directors help represent their community and set policy for the association.

Download the statement of candidacy form from Reston Association’s website.

• Word version
• PDF version

The Fairfax County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday night on the transformation of Reston Town Center’s surface parking lot to a mixed-use development.

Developer Boston Properties’ plans for the surface lot at Reston Town Center include two high-rise residential buildings as well as a park with a yoga area, public art and picnic areas. The 6.35-acre site, called Block 4, is currently a 251-space surface parking lot, the only remaining surface lot at Reston Town Center. The lot is currently zoned for up for 250,000 square feet of office space.

According to the county planning staff report, which recommends approval of the project, the 250,000 square feet of office density represents the last remaining non-residential density available under the proffered maximum 3.465 million square feet of non-residential development approved within Reston’s urban core.

The meeting is at the Fairfax County Government Center, 8:15 p.m. To sign up to speak, visit the Planning Commission website.

Boston Properties is seeking to move the office development to Block 5, where the current FedEx/Kinkos and Ann Taylor are now located, with additional office space above.

The plan calls for turning the three-story retail/office building, part of One Fountain Square, into a 17-story building with 276,788 square feet of office space and 7,800 square feet of ground-floor retail. The building would also have four levels of underground parking.

Block 4 and 5 development will flow into other approved high-density development nearby.

The Spectrum, a low-rise strip mall located just across New Dominion Parkway, has been approved for redevelopment into 774,879 square feet of non-residential use and 1,422 multifamily residential units in seven new residential buildings. The new area will feature a hotel, and Harris Teeter is the only retailer expected to remain under the current plan.

Additionally, part of the Spectrum will wrap around the planned 23-story office tower at Bowman Towne Drive and Reston Parkway. That building, which will contain retail and 18 stories of offices, was approved by the supervisors in 2012.

On Thursday, the Reston Association Board of Directors will hold a special meeting to discuss who can get an exemption from RELAC, the lake water-fueled air conditioning system that about 300 homes near Lake Anne are required to use.

Homes that have a RELAC system are bound by deed to use it unless owners can show a reason for a medical exemption. The RA board has been discussing changes to the RELAC policy since last year. It was slated to be revisited by February.

Read More

Reston Association is investigating what maybe causing hundreds of fish to turn up dead in Lake Thoreau.

In the last several days, RA staff has picked up 110 dead fish and residents have reported another 100, says RA Watershed manager Nikki Bellezza.

This is a sponsored column by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.  

One of the many benefits of living in Reston is having access to the 15 Reston Association Pools in our community. (Even if you aren’t an RA member, you can still get a pass to the RA pools.)

Like most amenities in Reston, the pools were situated throughout Reston with the idea that people could walk to their neighborhood pool — and they do. Every pool features lap lanes, areas to splash around, and plenty of lounge chairs.

But over the years, each pool has developed it’s own personality and attracts people for different reasons. Here’s a lowdown on what each pool offers so you can plan your day in the sun (or shade).

For children of all ages

• Autumwood (11950 Walnut Branch Road, North Reston)
  This pool’s large wading area with a fountain is great for toddlers. There is also a covered picnic area and playground nearby.
• Glade (11550 Glade Drive, South Reston)
  With a 20-foot slide, this pool is a favorite for kids of all ages! Parents can relax in the spa while the kids are sliding or diving off the one-meter diving board. There is also a wading pool for the little ones
• Hunters Woods (2501 Reston Parkway, South Reston)
  This pool features separate water basketball and volleyball areas, a diving board, and children’s splash area. For the parents, there is a large spa. The pool also features an ADA ramp into main pool.
• North Hills (1325 North Village Road, North Reston)
  This pool features two shallow play areas, one of which has a fountain. For family day at the pool, there are also picnic tables, a grass beach area, and a picnic pavilion with grills. And don’t forget the spa.
• North Shore (11515 North Shore Drive, North Reston)
  This heated pool is a family favorite. It opens early in the season and is the last pool to close in September. The pool features a spa, wading pool, ADA ramp to the pool deck, ADA hydrolift chair into the main pool, and shaded upper deck with picnic tables.
• Shadowood (2201 Springwood Drive, South Reston)
  This is a smaller and quieter pool than Glade, but feature a small slide for the kids. There is also a wading pool and small picnic area.
• Uplands (11032 Ring Road, North Reston)
  This is the premier pool for families with toddlers. The zero-depth children’s pool (0-3 feet deep) has interactive fountains, a cold-water spa, and an interactive sand pit. The pool also has an ADA in-water wheelchair.

For serious swimmers

• Lake Newport (11601 Lake Newport Road, North Reston)
  This is Reston’s only 50-meter pool and is a favorite for serious swimmers. There is also a sand volleyball area, and two one-meter diving boards, a wading pool, and a covered picnic area with grills.

For sun worshippers

With plenty of sunny spots, these pools are great if you want to get some serious rays.

• Dogwood (2460 Green Range Road, South Reston)
• Golf Course Island (11301 Links Drive, North Reston). There is also a large playground with grills next to the pool — perfect for summer parties.
• Lake Audubon (2070 Twin Branches Road, South Reston). In addition to your pool amenities, there is a boat ramp to Lake Audubon nearby if you want to take out your canoe or sunfish.

For shade seekers

If you want to spend the day at the pool without spending a day in the sun, these pools are perfect for you.

• Lake Thoreau (2040 Upper Lake Drive, South Reston)
• Newbridge (11758 Golf Course Square, South Reston)
• Ridge Heights (11400 Ridge Heights Road, South Reston). This pool is heated. It opens early in the season and is one of the last pools to close.
• Tall Oaks (12025 North Shore Drive, North Reston)

For spa lovers

If you love the Jacuzzi as much as the swim, visit these pools:

• Glade
• Hunters Woods
• Lake Thoreau
• North Hills
• North Shore

Which pool is your favorite?

Reston Association North Point Director Tim Cohn has resigned from the board for personal reasons, RA announced.

The association’s CEO, Cate Fulkerson, said the process to fill Cohn’s seat will be discussed at the special board meeting on June 12. Cohn’s term expires in April 2016.

Cohn was elected to the board in April 2013, running unopposed for the spot that was vacant after North Point Director Mike Collins did not run for re-election.

During his tenure, Cohn served on the CEO Selection Committee and as board liaison to the Pedestrian & Bicycling, Transportation and Tennis advisory committees.

“Tim’s commitment to RA was evident in his time on the RA board. His passion for the essential elements of Reston guided his thoughtful decision making process and illustrated his dedication to maintaining the unique characteristics which define Reston,” Fulkerson said in a statement.

RA President Ken Knueven said the board will miss “Tim’s insight and perspective on the board, but know the Reston community will still benefit from his active involvement and steadfast loyalty to the successful future of Reston.”

Photo of Tim Cohn courtesy of Reston Association.

Friends of Reston, the nonprofit that supports Reston Association, is trying to determine which bird best represents Reston. The organization is asking citizens for vote for a bird.

The finalists were chosen by Friends of Reston based on their year-round presence here and ease of recognition, says Katie Shaw, executive director of Friends of Reston.

“In recognition of Reston’s 50^th anniversary this year, it seems like a good time to honor one of the wonderful wild neighbors in our diverse community,” says Shaw.

 The five nominees: Read More

The boats are ready to go for summer. Thursday, May 22 is the first day of boat rental season at Lake Anne Plaza.

Reston Association provides boat rentals by the hour Thursday to Sunday until Labor Day weekend.

Rental tickets can be purchased at Reston’s Used Book Shop, 1623 Washington Plaza (near the fountain). Contact the book shop by calling 703-435-9772.

Hours:

Thursdays, 4 – 8 p.m.
Fridays, 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Cost:

$6 per boat for 1-hour rental

Things to Know:

There are canoes, rowboats and pedal boats available. Boat operators must be 16 or older and a parent or legal guardian (18 years of age or older) must sign a waiver/agreement and accompany passengers under the age of 16.

Swimming is not permitted. Pets are not allowed in boats.

There will also be paddleboard lessons at Lake Anne this summer. Surf Reston Stand Up Paddleboarding will begin in early June, says owner Steve Gurney.

The Reston Association Board of Directors has called a special meeting for June 12 to revisit who can get an exemption from using RELAC.

RELAC is the much-maligned cooling system powered by lake water and used by about 300 homes in the Lake Anne area. When it was installed in the mid-1960s, it was touted as quiet and environmentally friendly.

But as time went on, the system was found by many customers to be inefficient and mold producing. Furthermore, prices have risen rapidly the last few years, users say.

Homes that have a RELAC system are bound by deed to use it unless owners can show a reason for a medical exemption.

The RA board has been discussing changes to the RELAC policy since last year. It was slated to be revisited by February.

The issue: who should be able to obtain an exemption? Should a person have to prove a medical issue, and should that issue be called a handicap? What documentation must they show? And should that exemption be updated annually or should it be in place, as it currently is now, as long as the homeowner is in the home?

Those ideas were not received well by many RELAC users, who attended the December RA meeting expressing privacy concerns and taking issue with being designated handicapped. That terminology is put in place because fair housing laws state that accommodations must be made for someone with a handicap, said RA attorney Ken Chadwick.

The RELAC issue has led some Lake Anne-area residents to organize a referendum to free them from RELAC. Washington Plaza Cluster resident John Hunter began the process over the winter.

A previous referendum, in 2005, was defeated 130-100.

“Our goal is to make it so people have a choice,” Hunter says. “If they are happy with RELAC, great. If not happy, then they can get off of it.”

Hunter, who has lived in his home about four years, used the medical exemption to get off of RELAC. He said the system could not reach the third floor of his townhome, where it was routinely 80 degrees in summer. He said he installed an electric heat pump at a cost of more than $6,000. He will still have to put the RELAC coil back in place when he sells the house, he said.

To get a change in the covenants, interested RELAC users would have to petition the RA Board of Directors. The board would then pay for a referendum of all RELAC customers. The vote would have to be a two-thirds majority in order for the board to consider the change.

As Memorial Day approaches, it is nearly time for Reston Association members to check out the many outdoor pool choices they have each summer.

It’s also time to pay for pool passes. A common comment on RA stories posted on Reston Now is why members must pay for pool passes.

Current RA annual assessments are $634, which entitles members to use all 15 pools, dozens of tennis courts and other RA amenities.

But after writing the big check, families must then pay for pool passes. At $25 each for adults and $10 for members under 18, that’s $70 for a typical family of four.

Pass fees rose from $20 to $25 in 2013, which will result in an additional $75,000 for RA this year and will an additional $75,000 in 2015, RA budget numbers show.

Reston Association sold 14,618 adult member pool passes in 2013. That’s income of $365,450 for RA’s $13 million budget. There were also more than 7,000 children’s passes sold, as well non-resident passes and tennis-only passes.

RA’s budget shows guest passes generated $7,000 for the association and non-resident memberships brought in $40,000.

The pools are expected to bring in $905,000 in 2014, says Larry Butler, RA’s Senior Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources. But the pools are projected to cost $1.66 million this year as well.

So while the pool passes bring in money, pool operations are not a money maker for RA says CEO Cate Fulkerson.

“The additional cost to obtain the passes is intended to help offset the cost of operating the pools and tennis courts,” Fulkerson said. “All of the fees collected for the member recreation passes go directly to the pool operations.  Alternately, fees collected for non-member tennis only passes go to help off-set tennis court maintenance. “

RA is looking at ways to save money in this area, Fulkerson said. The association is examining better ways to issue passes rather than to print new plastic passes each year.

“We want to move away from issuing passes annually,” said Fulkerson. “We would prefer some type of ‘on-site’ code for users to access our pool and tennis facilities.  We hope to launch a pilot program in 2015, with full roll-out in 2016 and 2017.”

Do you think there should be an extra fee for pool passes? Tell us in the comments.

Photo: Hunters Woods Pool/Credit: Reston Association 

Is 2014 the year indoor tennis moves forward in Reston?

Reston Association’s  Tennis Advisory Committee has urged the RA Board put indoor tennis as a high priority for this year. The board said at a planning meeting this week that it will make indoor tennis part of a broader conversation as it looks at the community’s recreation needs as a whole.

“We should talk about what amenities [Reston] needs to support a diverse community,” said At-Large Director Michael Sanio, who has been an advocate for tennis in Reston. “We have a whole slew of amenities here. But there are clearly amenities that would make us a world-class community. We need to look broadly and prepare for when someone says they want to build here, we’ll be able to say ‘this is what we want.’ “

Reston Association currently has 52 outdoor courts, but no indoor courts. Indoor tennis has been a much-debated topic in Reston over the last several years.

In 2008 and 2009, RA and Reston Community Center jointly studied building a $65 million recreational facility at RA’s Brown’s Chapel Park. That was met by resistance from neighbors and ultimately dropped by the board.

In 2010 and 2011, RA researched covering five courts at Lake Newport at a cost of $3.8 million — much of which would be borrowed by RA. After board debate and feedback from the community, the RA board voted in late 2011 not to put the issue to referendum and to direct RA staff to look for public-private partnerships in the future.

Meanwhile, Reston Community Center has been studying building an indoor recreation facility at Baron Cameron Park for more than a year. That facility would feature a 50-meter indoor pool, but indoor tennis is not currently part of the plan. Baron Cameron Park, owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is also undergoing its own Master Plan revision that may or may not include building the indoor rec center.

RCC currently has a 25-meter indoor pool at Hunters Woods, but RCC officials and the swim community say the 35-year-old facility is outdated and overcrowded.

The Baron Cameron indoor pool plans have also been met with mixed reaction from community members. Big issues often mentioned: cost (about $30 million) and the location’s impact on noise and traffic.

Sanio says indoor tennis is just one of several amenities Reston could use, along with the 50-meter pool, basketball courts and an indoor track.

With major development planned for Reston as Metro’s Silver Line prepares to open here, the timing may be right to not only assess Reston’s needs, but also obtain developer proffers to held finance them.

“RA staff, with the assistance of the re-created [RA] Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, will develop and implement a community-wide needs assessment to evaluate future amenities of all types,” said Sanio.

“The data compiled will not only assess the current needs of the community, but will also assist the board as it addresses future development, redevelopment and the impact and benefits of all proposed projects. Having organized and structured input from the community will provide a road map for RA priorities which we can then share with developers, the county and with our community partners and stakeholders.”

Photo: 2010 rendering of Lake Newport indoor tennis/Credit: Reston Association

South Lakes High School students and the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) on Thursday unveiled a temporary art installation that turns the Lake Thoreau spillway into a colorful pyramid.

“Pyramid of Light” will remain in place for about eight weeks, said IPAR executive director Anne Delaney.

The project was created by SLHS art students Sammy Nazam, Gabriella Rando, Margaret Lashley, and Tehmeena Salahin, with guidance from SLHS art teacher Marco Rando. The students designed the work, built a  model, created the plexiglass panels, and had to go through the same process as any other artist to get their work approved by Reston Association’s Design Review Board.

Turning the spillway into public art was the idea of James Pan, a Reston resident who suggested the concrete square that can be seen from South Lakes Drive would be a great space for art. He offered financial support if the students would work on a project, says Delaney.

Pan was at the dedication on Thursday, along with the students and teacher, RA representatives, IPAR members and Reston founder Bob Simon.

In his remarks, RA board president Ken Knueven pointed out that public art is one of the founding principles of the community.

Is there an emerging black market for Reston Association pool memberships? 

Over the weekend, RA staff noticed a posting on Craigslist.com offering pool passes for sale.

The poster said he owns a few homes in Reston and wants to recover the transfer fee of $260 he recently paid when closing on his most recent property.

“I’ve paid for the yearly fees already,” the poster writes. “A single or family pool pass set can be purchased if you email me with your contact info and your address. The Reston Association loophole allows renters with a valid lease … get a pass for the year of 2014. The term of the rental can be a day, or weekend or any time period. I am thinking $100 per adult. $75 rental and your $25 pass fee.”

Laura Kowalski, RA’s Deputy Director for Recreation, says there is no loophole and the passes are nontransferable. She said RA is investigating taking action against the would-be seller.

RA annual assessments are now $634 per household and pool passes are $25 ($10 for under 18) for each family member. RA also has non-member pool memberships available. Those prices vary, but generally range from $365 (individual member) to $625 (family pool and tennis).

Kowalski said that even with rising prices, RA has not seen potential scalpers very often.

RA’s heated pools at North Shore and Ridge Heights open for the season this Saturday. The rest will follow Memorial Day weekend.

Photo: Ridge Heights Pool/file photo

Residents who live in the Hunters Woods section of Reston have been notified about plans for a new cell phone tower that may be built on the edge of Hunters Woods Park.

The proposal is for a 115-foot monopole that would be located in the wooded area behind the soccer field at the park off of Reston Parkway. The equipment will be located in a fenced-in and secured shelter at the park, which is part of Reston Association.

The proposal comes from AT&T and Milestone Communications, a Reston firm that develops partnerships between cell phone companies and landowners (such as schools and towns) for tower locations.

There will be a public meeting on the subject at 7 p.m. on May 12 at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.

Milestone has teamed with local entities many times over the last several years. There are several hundred existing cell phone poles on Fairfax County Public Schools land, including at South Lakes High School, Herndon Middle School, Madison High School and Carson Middle School, to name a few.

The proposal to put the pole on RA-owned land would have to go through RA’s Design Review Board., says Larry Butler, RA’s Parks and Recreation Director. It would also go through the Fairfax County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

There have been two proposals in the past to build a tower on RA property, says Butler. One request was dropped by the carrier; the other was not approved by the DRB.

RA would benefit financially from the arrangement. The cell phone companies pay the landowners to lease the pole space. FCPS, for instance, has made more than $4 million from the arrangement over the last six years, FCPS officials said.

Milestone collects rent from the wireless carriers on its towers, 40 percent of which goes to FCPS. Schools receive $25,000 each time a tower is built, and then $5,000 from each wireless carrier that leases space on the tower.

Milestone says schools and parks are ideal locations for these towers because they often have existing structures, such as field light poles, in place. Many Milestone towers are disguised as trees, so lots of times they go unnoticed.

The alternative is putting them in more prominent places, he said, and pouring that money into a privately-owned property, instead of into the schools, Milestone CEO Len Forkas has said.

As citizens add more wireless devices to their collections, wireless traffic is expected to grow exponentially. Milestone estimates that data traffic in 2015 will be 56 times the volume it was in 2009. What’s more, the poles must be located close to the people (and the devices) they are serving.

FCPS has done studies on cell phones being located on school grounds and has determined the practice is safe.

To read more information on the potential Hunters Woods cell tower, visit HuntersWoodsWirelesspole.com.

Photo: Proposed cell phone pole/Credit: Milestone

Former Reston Association CEO Milton Matthews has been named the new President of the Columbia Association, the organization announced Friday.

Matthews has signed a two-year contract and will make a base salary of $200,000 and will be eligible for a bonus of up to 7.5 percent of his salary.

As part of his contract, Matthews will have to relocate to Columbia from Rockville, Md., where he currently resides. Matthews’ wife is Rockville’s city manager, which led to his decision to leave Reston, which also has a residency requirement.

“I have known for a long time that Columbia is a special place,” Matthews said in a statement. “Columbia Association has a reputation for providing quality, innovative and responsive services and programs, and I am honored to have been chosen to be a part of this exceptional organization. I look forward to working with the CA Board of Directors and the staff at CA and the 10 villages, and becoming involved with the Columbia community.”

Matthews will begin his job June 2. He replaced former CA President Phil Nelson, who served the last five years in the post. Nelson stepped down on April 30 after his contract was not renewed.

Matthews left his post with RA last May after an eight-year tenure. He was replaced by Cate Fulkerson, who was promoted from within RA.

Andy Stack, the chairman of CA’s Board of Directors said the similarities between RA and CA will help Matthews acclimate to the job. Similar to Reston Association, the Columbia Association is a $65 million mega-homeowner’s association that operates Columbia’s open space, outdoor pools, pathways and fitness facilities.

Matthews was a finalist for the CA job in 2009, when Nelson was hired.

Several Restonians were honored for their service to Fairfax County at the annual Volunteer Fairfax Awards on Friday.

Among the 2014 Service Award Winners:

Adult Over 250 Hours — Ashleigh Soloff

Reston Association Special Events Coordinator Ashleigh Soloff also serves as a volunteer Auxiliary Police Officer at the Fairfax County Police’s Sully District Station.

Volunteering since 2004, she has taken on a variety of administrative duties. Among them: streamlining the countywide auxiliary police records system and facilitating a monthly auxiliary police meeting, providing  support to patrol officers on the street.

FCPD says Soloff’s dedication was tested when a drunk driver struck the cruiser she and another officer occupied while driving a patrol shift. 

“APO Soloff remained calm and professional as she assisted the patrol officer in arresting the driver for hit and run drunk driving,” Lt, James Krause said in Soloff’s nomination. “This continuous level of commitment has provided leadership and positive examples many fellow APOs look up to and aspire toward.”