Reston Citizen

Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin has dismissed the idea of incorporating Reston. The ResTOWN project has been making gains in getting various legal hurdles met. To the dismay of town supporters, Fairfax County recently rejected sending a proposal to the Virginia Assembly to lift the ban on town incorporation in “urban” counties.

The DC Examiner reports Anthony Griffin said:

“Why should the unincorporated sections of other districts, many of which predate Reston by scores of years, not be able to become towns?” Griffin asked in the memo, rhetorically. “If Reston, then why not incorporate McLean, Centreville, Burke, Springfield, Annandale, Mount Vernon, Franconia and Merrifield, to name a few.

A vocal group of citizens felt proposals for such projects as a town center project at the Wiehle Avenue Park & Ride lot, and a density increase of 3000 people ignored the will of Restonians. Supporters of incorporation argue that if Reston where a town they’d have more power in such legislation. Opponents of the idea cite higher taxes, no increased governmental power, and a duplication of services.

Currently the Reston Community Center provides recreation services, the Reston Association provides park creation and maintenance, and also enforces zoning codes. The Reston Association is forbidden to transfer it’s land, so unless a private institution was granted the town charter, a the so called “Town of Reston” would not control park maintenance and zoning.

Local blog BeyondDC even highlights more issues with such a proposal:

Mr. Griffin is absolutely correct. NIMBY-based [Not In My Back Yard] local government is bad for the region. It exacerbates sprawl, congestion, the affordable housing problem… It makes just about all the regional problems we’ve got that much worse. Good on you, Fairfax County, for doing the right thing and making a stand likely to be unpopular with the voters.

The Reston Planning and Zoning Committee canceled their meeting on Lerner’s plan to improve the Spectrum Center with a town center like project. Fairfax County failed to finish a report in time for the meeting, and the folks over at P&Z felt it would be useless to go over the same information.

Lerner, one of the largest developers in the DC area, has proposed building 1350 residential units and 676,000 square feet of office space. The Spectrum Center is home to BestBuy, Barnes & Noble, and several standalone retail buildings. The proposal would also unite the center, which is currently split by Bowman Towne Drive. The Harris Teeter would be unaffected because it is not part of Lerner’s holdings.

The Planning and Zoning Committee felt it was at a stage to vote on the project, but because of a lack of information they have delayed a possible vote to a Janurary 7th meeting. The committee also has several board positions that will be opening, so if you want a say in what goes where, you should consider applying. Forms can be found at RA’s website, or at their Isaac Newton Square location.

Fairfax County sure has some sore losers. Just a week ago Garry Baise, who lost his bid for Gerry Connolly’s chairman seat, sued the federal government because of the aerial rail line through Tysons. Now Christine Arakelian, who also lost the 2007 election, has filed a complaint against Hunter Mill school board member Stu Gibson. The complaint alleges Gibson publicized private information about her child.

The Virginia Department of Education has made a ruling siding with Christine Arakelian, but it is non binding, and Arakelian has asked that he resign but has not decided if she will further pursue the matter. Fairfax County Public Schools has 30 days to appeal the ruling, but it is not known weather they would do so.

At stake is a claim that Gibson twice disclosed information about her child, who is enrolled in the public school system. One of the times he allegedly disclosed this information with an interview in the Fairfax Times. Gibson claims Arakelian disclosed the information to him when asking how the school system could best attend to the needs of her child who is what she calls “Learning disabled in some areas, and gifted and talented in others.” Gibson says he never requested information on Arakelian’s child from county records.

Gibson defeated Arakelian by about 60 points. Arakelian did best in precincts that felt they would be negatively affected by school redistricting that would redirect their children to South Lakes.

Fairfax County ultimately wants to be the best county for it’s residents so it’s not surprising that the County worked out a compromise between the four options it previously presented for school redistricting. Fairfax County Public Schools didn’t want overcrowding, but in redistricting they also tried to move as little people as possible.

Last the South Lakes PTSA presented, a 5th option, which disrupts the least amount of students and meets all of FCPS’ requirements for redistricting. It unites Navy, reduces commute time for the Fox Mill students, and removes the Madison Island. It also lowers the free lunch subsidy for South Lakes, which is used to measure a school’s poverty level. While option number 5 isn’t a final recommendation it probably illustrates what the school board will be likely to approve.

More than 2000 people attended last night’s boundary meeting, again exceeding estimates. The county asked that some people only submit written comments because there weren’t enough small group leaders. Some parents have changed strategy from complaining about their kids going to South Lakes, to complaints that “Low income students will be affected.”
Ultimately it seems as though the county already had decided about the boundary changes, it just ran the meetings to offer a Democratic forum for constituents. The new changes will only affect students rising into the 9th grade.

In this weekly column on the state of Reston’s local economy we explore what’s happening in the business scene.

Comcast has named Reston as a possible location for new 100 megabit per second cable, which would be more than 12 times faster than their current speed. This new system would compete with Verizion’s FIOS service. Comcast is also investigating new technologies that would bridge the divide between real television and the Internet.

Sprint Nextel rejected a $5 billion investment deal. Sprint won’t comment on any specifics, but the Wall Street Journal has reported that South Korea based SK Telecom and Providence Equity Partners would invest the money in exchange to put one of their men in charge as CEO. In early October Sprint’s CEO Gary Forsee resigned.

The chairman of Sallie Mae will be taking on a new roll of executive chairman. Lord Sanders has been leading his company through a difficult time with a rival investor group trying to take over Sallie Mae. This move helps SLM to better fend off moves the investment group.

In more Sprint news, the CEO says he sees “Steady growth in 2008.” Sprint has been loosing customers in droves due to increased competition from AT&T and the low voice quality of it’s services. To bring in new customers, and prevent old ones from leaving Sprint Nextel plans on improving marketing and customer loyalty program.

The executive of Tysons Corner Center is moving to the Reston Town Center. Kathy Hannon has cited “Quality of life” as reason for leaving Tysons. She is concerned the wave of construction that Tysons Corner is expected, in particular the 3.5 million square feet expansion at Tysons Corner Center.

Santa Clause will be coming to town two weeks early to pick up gifts for needy children. The Fairfax County Police Motorcycle Squad will be escorting Santa with a stop at the Reston police station.

On December 12th the motorcade will make it’s stops at county government buildings to pick up donated gifts and other items. Santa and his assistants will deliver the toys to the children at Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center and the INOVA Fairfax Hospital Child Life Center. This year a small amount of donated items will also be sent to the children of Fairfax County police currently serving tours in Iraq.

Anyone can donate unwrapped toys, games, books, stuffed animals or other gifts at the police stations around the county, or the government center. Santa’s motorcade will stop at the Reston district station from 1:00pm to 1:15pm, but anything you may want to donate should be dropped off before December 12th.

Marjor Crimes

None reported

Larcenies

Baron Cameron Avenue 11800
Gasoline stolen from service station

Cameron Crescent Drive 1500
Money stolen from vehicle

Soapstone Drive 2300
Candy stolen from business

Tori Glen Court 11600
Credit card stolen from vehicle

Winged Foot Court 2000
License plate stolen from vehicle

Woodland Crossing Drive 2300
Electrical wire stolen from residence

Vehicle Thefts

Lakespray Way 11100
1998 Volkswagen Golf reported stolen

Sunrise Valley Drive 12500
2006 Nissan Maxima reported stolen

Fairfax County police will be increasing patrols for drunk drivers during the holiday season. The Fairfax County Police Department launched it’s “Safe December” program with the purpose of educating drivers about the dangers of driving under the influence.

A special team has been formed of officers patrolling specific areas for drunk driving. DUI checkpoints will also be set up every weekend, with possibly more than one per weekend. In years past the Reston Town Center has been an area with increased patrols during the Christmas season.

In 2006 24 people where killed by drunk drivers, and 705 injured in Fairfax County. By planning ahead before you drink you could safe someones life.

Image by ElvertBarnes

Map provided by the Reston Citizens Association illustrating the wide support for the “Town of Reston,” by mapping the location of petition signers.

The Reston Citizens Association (who where behind the ResTown petition) is working to make sure legislation in the Virginia Assembly gets approved that grants permission for Reston to become a town. Currently a town can not incorporate if it lies within a county under the urban-executive form of government.

One of the important steps toward Reston becoming a town is having organizations like the Reston Community Center, Reston Association, and the Reston Town Center Association sign on. If any one of these organizations refused to join it would severely limit the “Town of Reston” from providing services. If they did provide the services they’d have to double charge constituents for services that were already offered, which would certainly be unpopular.

The association is asking people to send letters to local newspapers, state representatives, and people in various community organizations. On December 3rd RCC and RA will be meeting to determine if they would potentially dissolve themselves to become part of a future town.

If you’d like to publish an opinion on Reston as a town then contact us.