This post by RCA
President Colin Mills was originally published in Reston Patch.
President Colin Mills was originally published in Reston Patch.
The Reston Master Plan Task Force met again last night to
discuss the the Comprehensive plan prepared by County staff. As you know, RCA had many
serious concerns about the last draft, and we’re still working with the
staff and the Task Force to address the issues we raised.
discuss the the Comprehensive plan prepared by County staff. As you know, RCA had many
serious concerns about the last draft, and we’re still working with the
staff and the Task Force to address the issues we raised.
We still have a ways to go on that, but within the next
couple of months, we will finalize the Comp Plan language, and it will go to
the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors for approval. It’s been a long time (a really long time) coming, but it will be done sooner rather than
later. And once the Comp Plan is approved,
we can all relax, or at least move on to something else, right?
couple of months, we will finalize the Comp Plan language, and it will go to
the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors for approval. It’s been a long time (a really long time) coming, but it will be done sooner rather than
later. And once the Comp Plan is approved,
we can all relax, or at least move on to something else, right?
Wrong. Believe it or
not, what we do after the plan is
approved matters at least as much as what we put in the plan. Even if we produce the very best possible
Comprehensive Plan, it will be meaningless unless we have a way to implement
it. We need an entity that’s responsible
for turning our visions into reality.
not, what we do after the plan is
approved matters at least as much as what we put in the plan. Even if we produce the very best possible
Comprehensive Plan, it will be meaningless unless we have a way to implement
it. We need an entity that’s responsible
for turning our visions into reality.
What do I mean by implementation? For one thing, the “place-making” around the
stations that everyone on the Task Force wants requires a comprehensive and
coordinated effort with a common set of standards. It would require cooperation between
different landowners across parcels, and someone will need to make that happen.
stations that everyone on the Task Force wants requires a comprehensive and
coordinated effort with a common set of standards. It would require cooperation between
different landowners across parcels, and someone will need to make that happen.
Perhaps more important, though, is the question of
financing. The Task Force has generated
a pretty long list of amenities and infrastructure that we want and need n the
station areas. That includes things like
transportation (Toll Road crossings, the grid of streets, sidewalks and bike
paths), recreation (parks, fields, possibly a rec center and a performing arts
center), schools, and more. If we wait
for the County to build all those things, we’ll be waiting a long time. It’s likely that some combination of
developer proffers and other funding sources will be needed to build our
infrastructure.
financing. The Task Force has generated
a pretty long list of amenities and infrastructure that we want and need n the
station areas. That includes things like
transportation (Toll Road crossings, the grid of streets, sidewalks and bike
paths), recreation (parks, fields, possibly a rec center and a performing arts
center), schools, and more. If we wait
for the County to build all those things, we’ll be waiting a long time. It’s likely that some combination of
developer proffers and other funding sources will be needed to build our
infrastructure.
But a lot of these big-ticket items are too big to put on
the shoulders of a single entity. The
Soapstone crossing, for instance, probably couldn’t be paid for by one
developer’s proffer. We’ll need to join
forces. But we need someone to
coordinate that; piecemeal infrastructure can cause serious problems. (For an example, look at the missing
links in Loudoun County’s roads, thanks to development drying up during the
recession.) We need someone to
prioritize our wish list, so that when money does come in, it’s spent properly. We need someone to ensure that infrastructure
keeps pace with development, so we don’t end up with more growth than we can
support. If new taxes or revenue sources
are on the table, we need someone to figure out the appropriate rates and determine
who will pay.
the shoulders of a single entity. The
Soapstone crossing, for instance, probably couldn’t be paid for by one
developer’s proffer. We’ll need to join
forces. But we need someone to
coordinate that; piecemeal infrastructure can cause serious problems. (For an example, look at the missing
links in Loudoun County’s roads, thanks to development drying up during the
recession.) We need someone to
prioritize our wish list, so that when money does come in, it’s spent properly. We need someone to ensure that infrastructure
keeps pace with development, so we don’t end up with more growth than we can
support. If new taxes or revenue sources
are on the table, we need someone to figure out the appropriate rates and determine
who will pay.
Fortunately, we have an example we can follow. The Tysons Task Force’s implementation
plan called for a separate authority to serve as “Keeper of the Vision.” They proposed tasking that authority with
exactly the sorts of issues I’ve described: managing cooperation between
landowners and parcels, setting common standards and design objectives to help
with “place-making,” and figuring out how to fund the collective needs that
arise from development. We could do a
lot worse than to follow in Tysons’ footsteps on this one.
plan called for a separate authority to serve as “Keeper of the Vision.” They proposed tasking that authority with
exactly the sorts of issues I’ve described: managing cooperation between
landowners and parcels, setting common standards and design objectives to help
with “place-making,” and figuring out how to fund the collective needs that
arise from development. We could do a
lot worse than to follow in Tysons’ footsteps on this one.
Unfortunately, we already know what happens when no one is
responsible for implementing a plan, thanks to the Reston Metrorail Access
Group. RMAG met for two years and
developed a series of transportation priorities to ensure that people were able
to get to, from, and around the Wiehle Metro station. Their report was issued in 2008;
unfortunately, there was no group created to ensure that the recommendations
were implemented. The result? The Wiehle station is set to open in a few
short months, and as RCA
has documented, almost none of the work RMAG called for has been done. And Reston is going to pay for it in bigger
traffic jams and difficult access to the station.
responsible for implementing a plan, thanks to the Reston Metrorail Access
Group. RMAG met for two years and
developed a series of transportation priorities to ensure that people were able
to get to, from, and around the Wiehle Metro station. Their report was issued in 2008;
unfortunately, there was no group created to ensure that the recommendations
were implemented. The result? The Wiehle station is set to open in a few
short months, and as RCA
has documented, almost none of the work RMAG called for has been done. And Reston is going to pay for it in bigger
traffic jams and difficult access to the station.
We have a chance to get it right this time. Unlike the period following the RMAG study,
the state is actually providing transportation funds (as demonstrated by all
the repaving going on in and around Reston these days). And development is going to pick up again,
which means proffer money will be available.
That makes it all the more important to ensure that we’re spending our
money wisely and well, so that the station areas wind up being an asset to our
community, rather than a hindrance that clogs our roads and strains our
infrastructure.
the state is actually providing transportation funds (as demonstrated by all
the repaving going on in and around Reston these days). And development is going to pick up again,
which means proffer money will be available.
That makes it all the more important to ensure that we’re spending our
money wisely and well, so that the station areas wind up being an asset to our
community, rather than a hindrance that clogs our roads and strains our
infrastructure.
Who serves on this implementation authority is just as
important as what the group’s charge is. It’s important that the authority have a
strong citizen presence. We will be
living the reality of the development along the corridor, and we have a crucial
stake in the success of the station areas, just as much as any developer. The citizen representatives will help the
authority stay close to the ground, to make sure that the group’s work benefits
the average Restonian. They will also
ensure that the authority maintains credibility and confidence with the public;
we want to know that someone’s looking out for our interests as Reston grows
and changes.
important as what the group’s charge is. It’s important that the authority have a
strong citizen presence. We will be
living the reality of the development along the corridor, and we have a crucial
stake in the success of the station areas, just as much as any developer. The citizen representatives will help the
authority stay close to the ground, to make sure that the group’s work benefits
the average Restonian. They will also
ensure that the authority maintains credibility and confidence with the public;
we want to know that someone’s looking out for our interests as Reston grows
and changes.
The new Comprehensive Plan, once it’s finalized, will be a
major achievement for the County and for Reston. But it’s vital that we don’t leave the job
half-finished; along with the Plan language, we need a concrete plan for
implementing our vision. An authority
along the lines of the one proposed in Tysons will help guide us as we work to
make our vision a reality. When Reston
was founded, Bob Simon made sure his vision was carried out (with the help of
the committed citizens of the pioneer generation). While no one can truly replace Bob, this
implementation group can follow in his footsteps and keep the vision of Reston
moving forward into the 21st century.
major achievement for the County and for Reston. But it’s vital that we don’t leave the job
half-finished; along with the Plan language, we need a concrete plan for
implementing our vision. An authority
along the lines of the one proposed in Tysons will help guide us as we work to
make our vision a reality. When Reston
was founded, Bob Simon made sure his vision was carried out (with the help of
the committed citizens of the pioneer generation). While no one can truly replace Bob, this
implementation group can follow in his footsteps and keep the vision of Reston
moving forward into the 21st century.