Reston Association is taking action that could lead members in specific Lake Anne residential clusters to be able to install individual HVAC systems without violation. 

Reston Association is holding a referendum regarding RELAC, the Reston Lake Anne Air Conditioning system. Announced as “the world’s first ‘community air-conditioning system” by The Evening Star Washington D.C. on Friday, June 18, 1965, the system provides chilled water for air conditioning services to clusters and condominiums near Lake Anne. RELAC is not owned or operated by Reston Association. 

The impetus for the referendum is that in December 2023, RELAC notified units it had been providing with cooling services it would discontinue those services as of 2024. 

Following its two advertised public hearings on the matter, one on Feb. 5 and another on Feb. 12, Reston Association is mailing ballots to members voting in the referendum on February 13. March 8 is the deadline for ballot returns. On March 13, the Board of Directors will hold a special meeting to announce the referendum results.

Reston Association posted an online update on Jan. 22 that clarified Section VI.2(b)(15) of the Reston Deed. It says that a lot within a residential cluster that RELAC can service cannot install its own HVAC system. That is unless Section VI.2(b)(15) of the Reston Deed is amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the Category A members of all residential clusters on the service. Reston Association will permit affected properties to install individual HVAC units if the vote passes.

Reston Association noted that a new entity may be able to provide central cooling services; however, until a referendum passes, it will enforce the current covenant that no individual air conditioning units of any type shall be permitted. 

Members in good standing with Reston Association subject to Deed Section VI.2(b)(15) are eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum. 

Reston RELAC reported on its website that on Dec. 11, 2023, the Directors of Reston RELAC LLC, RELAC, and Simon McKeown as Steering Committee Chair signed a Memorandum of Understanding, "a crucial step toward addressing operational and managerial concerns related to RELAC."

The website https://relacwatercooling.com/ posted on Jan. 17, 2024, that "RELAC cooling is doable, subject to community support." An in-person meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., and a hybrid meeting is on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at RCC Lake Anne Rose Gallery, 1608A Washington Plaza, N. in Reston.

What Is RELAC?

RELAC provides chilled water for air conditioning services to clusters and condominiums near Lake Anne. It is piped under the streets, parks, and plazas of the 227 townhouses, 12 shops, and a 15-story apartment building, using 10,000 feet of buried pipes, according to The Evening Star, Washington D.C., June 18, 1965. The article states, “ In each home, a coil atop the gas furnace uses the chilled water to cool and dehumidify air in the house under control of thermostat… Heat picked up by the water in cooling household air is removed by the water pumped from nearby Lake Anne. The heated water is pumped back into the 30 acre man-made lake.”

Have There Been Other RELAC Referendums?

In late 2013, Reston residents unhappy with RELAC service and RA restrictions formed Free From 15 to seek a 2015 referendum vote to revoke the RA covenant and allow current RELAC customers to choose, purchase, and install any air-conditioning system, subject to RA Design Review Board approval. RA members defeated the 2015 referendum and a similar 2005 referendum. [Source http://hickoryclusterassociation.blogspot.com/p/relac.html]