Fairfax County Asked to Withdraw Reston Zoning Amendment

Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR) calls for suspension of Fairfax County’s schedule to amend zoning to authorize increased density in the Reston Planned Residential Community (PRC). Coalition for a Planned Reston rejects as “form over substance” the County’s belated response to community questions after moving forward with formal approval by the Board of Supervisors.

In a letter to County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Coalition for a Planned Reston acknowledged receipt of a portion of the long-delayed information promised by County staff in community meetings in June and July, 2018. However, the coalition advised Supervisor Hudgins that “the County’s belated information ‘dump’ provides little responsive information despite its volume, some of which is not relevant or is outdated or inaccurate.” The letter says that the County’s Dec. 11 submission appears to have been provided only “in a face-saving effort” in light of concerns expressed by the Board of Supervisors when the zoning amendment was discussed in their Dec. 4, 2018 meeting.

The Coalition for a Planned Reston letter states, “In short, the timing, substance and motivation for the County’s long-delayed responses to CPR and Reston Association appear to be form over substance.”

Coalition for a Planned Reston asked Supervisor Hudgins to request that the Reston PRC zoning amendment be withdrawn from the Board of Supervisors’ calendar, and “to re-engage in the process for meaningful dialogue with the community, to which you previously committed.”

Currently, the PRC zoning amendment is scheduled for a Fairfax County Zoning Commission workshop on Jan.10, but no community input will be permitted. A Planning Commission Public Hearing is on the calendar for Jan. 23, 2019 at 7 p.m. A large public turnout is planned for that Public Hearing and, if necessary, a Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on or about March 5, 2019.