Voting in the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members should have received an election guide and ballot in the mail last week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Today’s Q & A is with Andy Sigle, the incumbent and one of five candidates running for the three-year At-large term.

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A: I have lived in Reston for 8 years.

Q: What inspired you to run for the board?

A: I firmly believe — and my experience confirms — that the best communities are the ones where the residents get involved. I have enjoyed participating as a volunteer for Reston Little League, Reston Swim Team Association, Reston/Herndon Youth Softball, Vale United Methodist Church, Forest Edge and Hunters Woods Elementary Schools, Langston Hughes Middle School, South Lakes High School, and Reston Association.

As I got more involved at Reston Association, I learned about the duties of the Board and believed that I would be an asset to it.  I am so glad that I ran and have been able to get involved in our community from this aspect.  Thank you for the opportunity. Read More

Voting in the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members should have received an election guide and ballot in the mail last week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Today’s Q & A is with Colin Mills, one of five candidates running for the three-year At-large seat.

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A: I am a lifelong Restonian. I grew up here, swimming in our pools, attending our summer camps, walking our trails to get baseball cards at the Tall Oaks Giant or candy at the Lakeside Pharmacy. I decided to stay in Reston after college because I treasure everything our community has to offer: environmental beauty, recreational amenities, ample shopping and dining options, and (hopefully) soon, the Metro as well. I love living in a well-planned, balanced, diverse community with such smart, engaged citizens.

Q: What inspired you to run for the board?

A: As RCA [Reston Citizens Association] president, I have worked productively with RA on a number of shared issues, from the protection of Reston National Golf Course to the revisions to Reston’s Master Plan. I’ve enjoyed interacting with the RA Board and staff on these issues, and I would like to work with them even more closely. With the change that’s likely coming to Reston in the years ahead, I want to help RA shape the community’s future. I decided that this is the time for me to step up and get involved. Read More

Voting in the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members received an election guide and ballot in the mail this week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Today’s Q & A is with Mason Miller, one of five candidates running for the thee-year At-large seat.

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A: My family moved to Reston in 1971. We first lived at Inlet Court in Lake Anne. In 1977, we moved to Charlestown Lane in Hunters Woods. I relocated to San Diego for four years from 1987 to 1991. Since returning, I have lived in Hunters Woods, Lake Anne, Tall Oaks and South Lakes. Doing some quick math, I have lived in Reston about 39 years..

Q: What inspired you to run for the board?

A: My love for Reston and my appreciation for the history of the area. I have lived here, with some breaks, since 1971. As a child, I enjoyed playing in Reston’s woods and along many of the creeks that run through them. With all of the development on the horizon, I want to do everything I can to make sure that the same resources I enjoyed as a child are available to the children who will be here in 20 years.

Q: What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

A: 1. Keeping Reston as a single community, not two communities divided by the Dulles Toll Road.

2. Mitigating the effects of adding a huge number of households concentrated around the new Metro stations.

3. Making sure that Reston Association’s various property holdings cannot be developed in the future.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

A: I would like to see Reston grow, while maintaining Reston Association’s natural resources and community. I would also like RA to examine putting deed restrictions on land owned by RA so that they could not be developed for any use other than Reston Association’s. There was a story recently in the local media about a proposal by a church to purchase RA land that borders Fox Mill Road. The feeling I got was that the board was not really inclined to make a sale of that land. While I am glad that the current board did not seem to want to sell any RA land, I think it would be better in the future if it was not even an option.

Q: How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

A: I have done a number of things over the years professionally. My experiences growing up and working in Reston are varied and have exposed to me to a huge number of Reston’s individual neighborhoods as well as Reston as a whole.

Read More

Voting for the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members will receive an election guide and ballot in the mail this week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Michael Mackart is one of five people running for the three-year At-large seat.

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A: 6 1/2 years.

Q: What inspired you to run for the board?

A: I am concerned about unchecked growth in Reston and want to have a voice in that process. I was encouraged by friends to run for the board because they trust my judgment and know I want what’s best for Reston.

Q: What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

A: 1) Growth and growing pains associated with the opening and development around the Metro stations. 2) Updating our infrastructure without overburdening the residents with increased assessments. 3) Preserving our Reston way of life.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish by being on the board?

A: I would like to bring a voice of reason and be an agent of positive change for the Board and Reston. I would like to be a part of shepherding Reston to a place of greatness in Northern Virginia as we continue to grow as a vibrant community without losing what love about living here.

Q: How will your personal or professional experience help you in your role with RA?

A: I have extensive experience volunteering in the Reston community and interacting with businesses and people. I believe those experiences give me a feel for the pulse of what is important in our community. My professional career as a leader and manager in federal law enforcement gave me invaluable experience interacting with diverse groups of people. I am able to lead, innovate and negotiate common ground to find solutions because of that experience. I believe those skills are imperative to achieving successful results in a setting such as the RA.

Voting for the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members will receive an election guide and ballot in the mail this week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Today’s Q & A is with Gerald Volloy, who is running for the one-year At-Large seat (made available when Donna Rostant resigned last year).

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A.  My wife and  I have lived in Reston for 17 years, and live on Lake Audubon, where we can often be found enjoying dinner on our boat, enjoying the wonderful natural environment of Reston, and tying up with neighbors to sustain established relationships.

Q:  What inspired you to run for the board?

A. For the last four years I’ve served on the [Reston Master Plan Special Study] Task Force planning how to accommodate and mitigate the impacts of Reston’s future growth and development and the critical challenges the Reston Association will face as a result of Metrorail. Protecting Reston’s values, its natural resources, and sense of community will require strong and informed leadership. My background as Reston Association’s past CEO, as a community, business, and military leader arm me well to meet those challenges.

 Q: What are three of the biggest concerns you have for Reston?

A: 1.  Reston’s future development around the Transit Station Areas at Wiehle, Reston Parkway, and Herndon Monroe will not only bring significant new commercial development, but — eventually — also about 40,000 new residents. The Reston Association will incur financial impacts from the development, which will have impacts upon Reston’s existing open space, natural areas, lakes, watershed and recreational facilities.  My concern focuses on how future development and residents will be assimilated within the greater Reston community.  Membership within one of our two master associations — either the Reston Association (RA) or the Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) – is essential to maintaining our community’s integrity, high standards of design and maintenance, cohesiveness, sense of community, and values. Read More

Voting for the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election is now open. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.

Reston Association members will receive an election guide and ballot in the mail this week. 

Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.

Today’s Q & A is with Rachel Muir, who is running for the one-year At-Large seat (made available when Donna Rostant resigned last year).

Q: How long have you lived in Reston?

A: Our young family moved from Leesburg, VA to Post Mill Lane in North Reston on Feb. 27, 1988.  I first became involved in Reston’s community life, visiting Reston’s church communities, joining the Reston Master’s Swim Team in 1984-85 and becoming involved with the Reston Triathlon in 1986. A sudden move from Colorado to Virginia brought us to Leesburg but we soon relocated to Reston, a community we love and where we have happily lived the past 26 years. Over that time we have lived in both north Reston and south Reston and in a condo, two single family homes and a townhouse. We have enjoyed being in easy walking distance to schools and shopping areas and living adjacent to one of Reston’s treasures, the Walker Nature Center. These versatile lifestyle options make our community an attractive place to live.

Q: What inspired you to run for the board?

A: A belief in the importance of public service was handed down to me by my parents.  They both served in World War II and met here in the Washington area. Their continued service as outstanding public employees and community volunteers, have always inspired my actions.  Reston is a community of volunteers and our schools, arts, cultural activities, conservation of natural landscapes, and our remarkable sports programs all run on the powerful engine of volunteerism.  I have been part of many of these activities over the years.

I am inspired to run for the Board now because the decisions made over the next few years will shape the future of Reston for decades. It is a time of great opportunity and also a period of risk where the social, economic and environmental values that make Reston a sustainable and livable community can be diminished or lost.  My experience in environmental science and policy, urban studies and ecology are skills that are well suited to meet the challenges currently facing RA. Read More

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has dropped its inquiry to buy Reston Association land on Fox Mill Road, RA CEO Cate Fulkerson said.

The church is, however, looking to expand the 121-space parking lot at its current location at 1515 Poplar Grove Dr. in North Reston, and some neighbors at Birchfield Woods Cluster are not pleased with the environmental impact.

At a Feb. 18 meeting, Reston Association’s Design Review Board (DRB) — the committee that establishes and reviews Reston’s design standards — voted to allow allow the church to expand the lot.

Birchfield Woods residents are appealing 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 voted down the church’s initial proposal in November, 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 tree .

“Birchfield Woods and affected parties are appealing the Feb. 18 decision as the approval directly contradicts the Design Review Boards requests in November,” says A.J. Bass, a Birchfield Woods resident. “The revised plan actually increased the number of trees being removed from a proposed 120 to over 140, and reduced the number of trees the church would replant from a proposed 80 down to only 60.  The church also did not submit a traffic study as requested by the DRB.  Several of the DRB members scoffed at the Affected Parties’ comments regarding the wildlife or number of trees that would be taken down and not replaced.  This clearly goes against the their initial decision.”

“It’s disappointing as a resident of Reston to see the Association at odds with itself in action and word,” Bass said.

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.

Last year, the church approached Reston Association about purchasing three parcels of land on which to build a new church. The land — at 2639, 2641 and 2643 Fox Mill Rd. — is undeveloped , wooded common area owned by RA since the late 1960s and mid 1970s.

The 2014  Reston Association Board of Directors Election season was set to kick off Monday evening with a candidates forum, but that event has been postponed due to the snow.

The forum will now take place Saturday, March 15 at 10 a.m. at Reston Association, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.

The forum is a good chance for RA members to see where the candidates stand on various community issues.

Nine candidates have filed to run for four open seats this year. Voting opens March 3. RA members should receive an election guide in the mail this week.

Winners will be announced April 8.

Reston Now will have individual candidate profiles beginning this week.

Reston Association board election season kicks off Monday with a candidates forum at RA Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr., at 7 p.m.

RA members are invited to hear what the candidates have to say on various issues during the question-and-answer session.

Eight candidates have filed to run for three of the four open seats on the Reston Association Board of Directors this year. Read more about the candidates here.

The candidate for the fourth seat – the Apartment Owners Representative position – is Ellen A. Graves, who is running unopposed.

Voting in the election begins at 5 p.m. on March 3. Results will be announced at the Annual Members’ Meeting on April 8.

Reston Now will have more detailed candidate profiles beginning next week.

As winter continues its grip on Northern Virginia, snow was on the mind of Reston Association’s Board of Directors on Thursday. Specifically, how to remove it after a big storm.

RA CEO Cate Fulkerson said she has heard from many citizens since more than a foot fell here two weeks ago. While RA is responsible for plowing its 55 miles of paths and RA-owned property, many citizens want to know if there is something the association can do to ensure that walkways and sidewalks are clear, especially near schools.

Many sidewalks were still snow covered days after the storm, causing students to walk or wait for the bus in the street.

“There has been lots of concern and I have gotten lots lots of calls about lack of accessibility,” said Fulkerson. “We take seriously clearing pathways and moving people moving from one part of community to another. We decided it was important to look at what we can do as a community.”

Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova said at this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting that the county will also look at its snow removal policies. Currently, Fairfax has no ordinance that says residents must remove snow from sidewalks near their property.”

RA will undertake three things in the snow removal area:

* Discuss with the county whether RA could use its equipment to plow sidewalks and walkways crucial to connectivity in Reston, particularly near Metro’s Wiehle-Reston East station. This would not be all the “miles and miles of” sidewalks in Reston, says RA Parks and Recreation Director Larry Butler, but rather a series of walkways on streets such as Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue.

RA would not charge the county for the service and it would involve minimal labor, said Butler.

However, there would be legal implications in these good intentions, said RA attorney David Chadwick.

“Virginia is a very strong private property state,” he said. “You cannot do something on someone else’s property without permission. Going on someone’s property can create a legal liability, and that automatically puts you at risk.”

* Try and mobilize citizens to pitch in and shovel the routes near their homes. RA will engage the Pedestrian and Bicycling Advisory Committee (PBAC), the Communications  Advisory Committee and the Neighborhoods Advisory Committee in this effort.

After the record snowfall of February 2010, RA encouraged members to volunteer to shovel, and many of them did, helping clear routes in and around Reston schools.

One caveat: Most homes are not on main streets in Reston, pointed out South Lakes director Richard Chew. No homes are located on Ridge Heights Road, for instance, where sidewalks lead to three schools. Even if you mobilized people to shovel in their own clusters, would that help the school routes?

* Send a letter written by the PBAC to the Northern Regional Park Authority to encourage better plowing and de-icing of the W & OD Trail, which runs through Reston.

“For Reston residents, the W&OD is more than just a recreational facility — it is the backbone of the network of roads and paths that connects Reston to other destinations in the region and makes cycling a viable means of transportation,” the letter states.

Photo: Snow-covered sidewalk on Ridge Heights Road near Terraset Elementary School.

Reston Association has hired David Harris as its new Chief Financial Officer. He replaces David Hopkins, who resigned last fall.

Harris will lead the department of Finance and Information Technology directing the association’s financial interests, while helping to prepare for future development with an eye toward maintaining the sustainability and viability of Reston, RA said.

Harris was most recently the Vice President, Finance & Operations for Affinity Center International, LLC, where he was responsible for the accounting and operations infrastructures and company policies and procedures.

“We’re thrilled to welcome David to the team,” said RA CEO Cate Fulkerson, “His strong experience and ability to work as part of the RA team was evident to all who were part of his interview process. He understands the needs of RA and we look forward to having him at the helm of the Finance & IT Department.”

Harris has a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from West Virginia University. He lives with his wife and two children in Chantilly.

Last week’s snow is slowly melting in Reston, but not fast enough for sidewalks to be fully clear as students walk to school.

FCPS was in session Monday (and in session with a two-hour delay Tuesday), and dozens of students could be seen making the walk to school such as South Lakes High School, Terraset Elementary and Langston Hughes Middle School, through the snow on unshoveled sidewalks as well as in the street.

All three of those schools are located along Ridge Heights Road, where there are high snowbanks and cars parked along the road, making for a narrow passage. Sidewalks are shoveled in stops and starts. For instance, they are cleared right in front of Hughes and South Lakes, likely shoveled by the school staff, but more than a foot of snow blocks the path in the immediate areas leading to the schools.

The problem seems to be the same at most Reston schools. One Lake Anne Elementary parent calls the situation in front of that school “a nightmare.”

“Our principal was out today, you can tell he was very concerned,” said Shaughessy Pierce, the mother of a second grader. “It is genuinely not safe. There are kids walking from the neighborhoods and the Kiss-and-Ride space is not big enough, so people often park their cars and walk kids in. And it seems none of the Fairway [Apartments] sidewalks were plowed. It is a mess.”

The walking routes are a bit of a hot potato around here. In Reston, Reston Association is responsible for clearing paths. Homeowners Associations are responsible for clearing snow from their neighborhood sidewalks. Most neighborhood associations also pay private contractors to

The problem is, main roads in Reston are neither RA nor homeowners association property. Technically, they are Virginia Department of Transportation streets. And VDOT sticks to clearing roads for vehicles, not sidewalks for walkers.

Says RA:

Reston Association attempts to remove snow from pathways and sidewalks owned by RA within a reasonable time after a snowfall.  Please note that sidewalks and pathways not on RA property, including many found along Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) roads and rights-of-way, are not the responsibility of RA to maintain. Public streets and public rights-of-way are VDOT’s responsibility, but it is RA’s understanding that neither VDOT nor Fairfax County remove snow from public sidewalks.

Please contact VDOT directly for information related to their standards of maintenance and snow removal or to report roads that have been missed (Highway Helpline at 1-800-367-7623).

Private streets not on RA property, such as those located within condominium associations, cluster associations and/or apartment complexes, are generally the responsibility of the applicable owner, condominium association or cluster association. Residents of those facilities should contact their association or property management company.

RA encourages all owners who may have public sidewalks adjacent to their properties to clear these for the safe passage of pedestrians, including school children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Meanwhile, FCPS is asking that homeowners pitch in to make the walk to school safer.

“While not legally obligated, residents and businesses are asked to help keep walkways safe for the community – we need your help!,” FCPS said on its Facebook page. “When possible, please clear snow off the sidewalks in front of or next to your property so that pedestrians may walk more safely.”

Does this concern you? Take our poll and offer a solution in the comments.

Reston Association says it is not interested in selling association-owned land to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- Day Saints.

The church, which has a large facility in North Reston, approached Reston Association last fall about purchasing three parcels of land on which to build a new church. The land — at 2639, 2641 and 2643 Fox Mill Rd. — is undeveloped , wooded common area owned by RA since the late 1960s and mid 1970s.

RA CEO Cate Fulkerson says the association is occasionally approached by parties inquiring about purchasing land. Since the board must approve such a transfer, the matter must be put before the board. The broker representing the church was on the board planning agenda twice but failed to show.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints requested the opportunity to present a proposal to purchase three parcels of land on Fox Mill Road to build a new church,” Fulkerson said. “As it is a request which requires board action, staff placed the item for discussion on the agenda for the board planning committee on two different occasions.  As the requesting party has yet to be in attendance the item has been removed from the board agenda indefinitely.

“Staff’s opinion, however, is to not sell the parcels in question.”

The board recently OKed a land swap with Republic Land Development, which needs a one-acre plot of undeveloped RA common area for a 120-space parking garage at Lake Anne Plaza.

That transaction was met with disapproval by many RA members, who said RA should not be selling green space. Republic has offered tree care, minimal land disruption as part of that deal.

When Reston gets a big snowfall, everyone wants to know one thing: When is my street going to get plowed?

Wednesday and Thursday’s storm dropped more than a foot here, and now the community is trying to get back to normal. But some members are confused as to who is responsible for clearing the roads and parking spots.

News to know: Reston Association is not responsible. RA’s territory is RA property, such as the parking lots of Walker Nature Education Center and the pools. The association also plows the 55 miles of bike paths in Reston.

Most Reston neighborhoods are part of cluster or homeowners’ associations. If this is you, you likely pay quarterly or monthly dues in addition to your annual Reston Association assessment. Part of those dues go for snow removal with a private contractor. If you are concerned that the street has not been plowed, contact your cluster president. You should receive regular communication from the cluster via e-mail or flyer.

Not sure which cluster you belong to or who is on the board? Start with RA’s neighborhood list.

If you are not in a cluster, then your street is likely plowed by Virginia Department of Transportation crews. VDOT is also responsible for main roads and secondary roads such as Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston Parkway and Fox Mill Road.

Visit VDOTPlows.org to see a real-time map of when your street will see a plow.

The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- Day Saints has approached Reston Association about purchasing three parcels of land on which to build a new church.

The land — at 2639, 2641 and 2643 Fox Mill Rd. — is undeveloped , wooded common area owned by RA since the late 1960s and mid 1970s.

The RA deed states that the Board of Directors can  “ … dedicate, convey, abandon, encumber, partition, or mortgage Common Area, subject to the prior approval of the Board of Directors and more than a two-thirds vote, pursuant to the provisions of Deed Section III.4, of Category A and B Members in a referendum in which at least thirty percent of such Members participate.”

RA President Ken Knueven and CEO Cate Fulkerson were  approached by a real estate broker representing the church several months ago.

“The Church has a current location at the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and Lake Newport Road, But has outgrown the size of this building and needs an additional location,” the letter reads. “After combing through all the areas available …  I have come across three lots on the north side of Fox Mill Road which according to Fairfax County Tax Records are owned by Reston Association. There is one other parcel immediately to the north west, 2637 Fox Mill Road, Reston, Lot 11B, Sec 4A, that would also be desirable, but apparently has been sold.”

The three lots, which are different sizes, add up to 143,608 square feet or about 3.3 acres. They are valued in the $400,000-$500,00 range, according to Fairfax County land records.

RA agreed to give the broker, Doug Hervey of Keller Williams Realty, time to offer more details at a board planning meeting. He has canceled twice, however.