OCTOBER 12, 2004

COMMUNITY MEETING TO PRESENT AND DISCUSS PRINCIPLES

Comments/ Questions on the Principles for Joint Development for Wiehle Avenue.

Participants indicated by a show of hands that about half were residents who lived near the proposed station area. The remaining half of participants represented developers and tenants or owners of commercial property near the area.

1. Maintain Reston Identity.

· What or who can define what Reston Identity is?

o Green spaces, water

o Steering Committee based it on their own personal experiences as long time Reston residents and on Bob Simon’s principles.

· What if the plans of the steering committee and Charrette do not get built and only the rail gets built? What if the good ideas are not funded?

o The reason for this committee to be so involved is to make sure that the plans do happen. Fairfax County will realize increased value in the property and may return some of that value to the Reston area. It will be difficult; but is an objective they are striving for and the reason for the timetable. If the joint development doesn’t happen, the result is not palatable for the Reston community.

· 9 acres that the County owns – will it be sold to developers or leased?

o There is no decision at this time – that will depend on what is offered and negotiated.

· Time frame for the opening of Reston Town Center station and Wiehle Rd station?

o Don’t know – the next stations are very close together and will be part of the next or second phase; however, the preliminary development and preparatory work will be done in this first phase.

· Noise abatement along the rail? And additional lanes along Dulles Toll Rd.

o There is no space for additional lanes; part of part of the reason for the plan for rail

o Noise abatement will be part of the ES plan and will follow federal guidelines.

2. Meet or Exceed Transit Project Components.

· What guarantee do we have that rail to Dulles will occur?

o Dulles Corridor Rail committee is working on full funding for 2^nd phase continues so there will be no interruptions in process.

o Airport authority owns right away and not to make available until there is a firm commitment to fund entire project.

o Ffx. Cty. commitment, eastern tax district, state commitment brings pressure on project for full right of way.

· What will Wiehle Ave require and what will it get? Increased traffic?

· Can parking be available at Village Center?

· Will all 17 acres be used for parking?

· Shared parking – how will that be used – will other parking be used with access/shuttles to the station?

o Environmental impact projects, with mixed use it will be more ped. Friendly.

o Number of large parking facilities in Reston not fully used & could be available to the station through shuttles.

· Did BOS approve having 2500 space parking lot removed? No - BOS prefers joint development. Residential and retail services & commenter services have parking needs at different times of day or night.

· Artist renderings can be accessed through web site links – also some site plans for participants to look at.

· What about the feeder roads, Lawyer Rd. etc.

o This is a temporary terminus with final terminal at the airport stop. We hope to encourage parking and access for the rail system. Neighborhoods will be protected. What would happen if we didn’t address the traffic needs? Hope it will change the way the Dulles Toll rd. is used today.

o Mixed use development encourages more ped. Traffic and trips in both directions, rather than the congestion from one way transportation.

· What is the restriction for the height of the parking garage

o Two levels are underground and the air rights for development above the garage is a consideration for future development. It is restricted to 2500 spaces.

· Where will the maintenance yard be build for the temporary terminus?

o No plans for maintenance here now – there will be improvements to the West Falls Church yard for rail construction and the maintenance yard will be permanently at the airport.

3. Result in Positive Economic Impact.

· Why do we need another village center when there are a lot of vacancies at some of the existing Village Centers?

o Provide right mix of retail to make mixed use work – for those who use the rail, and those who live in the area.

o Revitalization of Lake Anne may answer some of the question raised.

o No retail for all the office workers in the Reston such as available for those who work in Tyson’s.

4. Create Diverse, Mixed-Use TOD.
• Comprehensive Plan requirements – how will they be met?
• Limited to joint development area in the Dulles corridor – not out into the communities.
• What other metro stops have new restaurants built in it?
• Steering Committee looked at a number of examples of mixed use around Metros that include retail, service, etc. See web link for examples.

• What is the zoned FAR for the H & I quadrants in the development?

G5	Office @ .5 FAR or 30 du/ac	Residential Mix @ 1.0 FAR, w/ 35-50% Res.	Residential Mix @1.5 FAR, w/ 40-75% Res.
H2	Office @ .5 FAR or 30 du/ac	Non-residential Mix @ .70 FAR, or Residential Mix @ .75 FAR w/ 35-50% Res.	Residential Mix @1.25 FAR w/ 40-65% Res. for 10 acres closest to station
I1	Office @ .35 FAR or 30 du/ac	Residential Mix @ .75 FAR, w/ 35-50 % Res.	--

5. Retain and Expand Pedestrian and Non-Motorized Traffic.
• Will there be pedestrian access to the station? Yes
• Plan is for a grade separation behind Wiehle Ave and Sunset Hills to minimize impact of walkers and bikers crossing and making the light long.

6. Include Affordable Housing.
• Can affordable housing be limited to the working poor?
• Who will pay for affordable housing?
• It is part of our challenge to find a way to develop affordable housing for our parents, children, etc. who can’t live afford to move here now.
• We are developing on County land and we can develop partnerships.
• Encourage developers to help us achieve these objectives. Attractiveness of the site may entice developers’ interest to assist.
• Low income house credits, state and federal housing programs, etc. Savvy developers know how to find and access these funds. Sometimes by partnering with non-profits.

7. Explore and Consider Options for Air Rights Development.
• Air rights – with fumes, etc who wants to live or work above a bus station?
• East Falls Church includes air rights – has anyone looked at it?
• Yes, but over the Toll Road will have many more restrictions because of proximity to airport and since airport has right of way.
• Short term, not likely to see air right development over Dulles Access rd.; may be phased in for long term. A VA Tech student report has put together a proposal for that type of development. Arl. Gov. not involved yet.
• Considering office uses for air right construction and in other cities. Developers may choose not to select air rights for construction – steering committee encourages some input from developers.

8. Address Traffic Patterns to Minimize Impact on Surrounding Routes.
• What is the traffic impact on surrounding communities?
• We are aware that the communities across from the commercial areas will be affected and we will have to deal with them
• Ramps off Dulles Toll rd. part of the environmental services – options to get busses in and out of area faster: ramp giving busses access and develop a connecting road to Sunset Rd. and exit to the west so passengers don’t have to exit on the site. Restricted parking in residential areas. (want to be sure that the residents safety and concerns are taken into consideration).
• Bike bridge across Sunset Hills? - VDOT – not feasible.
• Additional traffic – how to handle?
• Alternative plans to control traffic, will other feeder roads in the area be expanded (Lawyers, South Lakes, Sunset Valley) ?
• No expansion of roads is directly tied to this project – rather intersection improvements.
• Reston transportation advisory committee has been monitoring the impact of traffic as a result of this project. There will be an increase in traffic.
• Nature of this area will change over time and we should study other station neighborhoods.
• Additional transit studies should be undertaken as the specific proposals of the new design are developed.

9. Proceed Ahead of Public Plan Dates.

· Metro is facing financial difficulties – what happens if Metro goes under?

o If Metro needs are not met, this rail extension will not go forward.

· What if the Covenant changes are not achieved to allow residential?

RCIG Covenant change is essential to allow residential which is the only way that the increased density around the rail station can be met. If covenant change is not effected in conjunction with the project timelines then the development will have to be phased in as that change is accomplished.