Coalition Demands Consultation on Reston Zoning Change
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Coalition Demands Consultation on Reston Zoning Change

Urges Supervisor Hudgins to provide additional data and dialogue.

Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR), a voluntary group of residents from the Reston Citizens Association, Reclaim Reston, and Reston 20/20 urges Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) to withdraw her request to place proposed Zoning Amendment on County Calendars. Amendment would enable zoning density up to 15 persons per acre. Numerous County actions agreed upon in small group meetings with Reston residents remain outstanding during the summer of 2018, County officials and representatives from the Reston Association and CPR met in four working groups to examine significant issues arising from the Revised Reston Master Plan and the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment. County officials and the community representatives agreed that additional data and dialogue was needed. Although CPR provided all requested information, the County has not completed its submissions, leaving some 23 open issues. Disregarding her commitment to continue to work collaboratively before moving forward with a zoning change, Supervisor Hudgins announced she has requested County staff to present the proposed PRC Zoning Ordinance amendment to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 4, 2018 for authorization to advertise public hearings. In its letter to Hudgins, CPR said, “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our County employees and understand how heavy workloads and competing responsibilities can sometimes delay progress in specific areas. However, this cannot justify failing to conduct the needed research and consultations to which you and the County have committed. In light of this, it is premature and inappropriate to move forward as you have requested.”

Representative of CPR, Bruce Ramo, added, “Moving forward with advertising of the Zoning Ordinance Amendment before the completion of the exchange of information and opinions will undermine the opportunity for effective discourse on possible alternative approaches. To suggest that meaningful dialogue can continue despite having set in motion the official process for approval of the zoning amendment is disingenuous.”

Members of the community can learn more about planning and zoning issues impacting Reston and surrounding communities by going to CPR’s website https://plannedreston.wordpress.com/.