March 26, 2025

Neighbors,

It’s not often that you get to meet a world-renowned scientist and conservationist.

This past Sunday, however, I had the honor and privilege to meet Dr. Jane Goodall, following her inspirational talk at the Lyric in Baltimore.

Along with others in the auditorium, I listened to her stories about the people and moments that encouraged her to stay curious and follow her dream to conserve the natural world.

She shared her discovery that putting local communities at the heart of conservation improves the lives of people, animals and the environment. Her approach called “Tacare” (which stands for "take care”) calls for engaging, listening and empowering local communities.Tacare is a great model for environmental initiatives big and small, including some of ours in Fairfax County such as the Invasive Area Management Program and Operation Stream Shield.

In 2023 I initiated the Tysons Forest Community Task Force consistent with these principles, and after Dr. Goodall wrote a letter supporting the preservation of this important urban forest. Thank you again to Jack Russell and all members of that Task Force for making it such a success, and for diligently pursuing the Task Force recommendations and making the Tysons Forest a true model to be emulated.

Dr. Goodall is an inspiration, and she’s demonstrated what’s possible when we engage the community to be stewards for our environment. 



Regards,

Walter

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In This Edition

• Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) Meetings
• NOVA’s Job Training for Unemployed Federal Workers
• Patrick Henry Library Closing Celebration

Site-Specific Plan Amendment

Community Meetings

Three community meetings will be held to present the Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) nominations submitted for the Hunter Mill District:



• April 1
• April 7
• April 8

My office has received a number of queries concerning the proposed SSPA for the proposed redevelopment of the Reston National Golf Course – that meeting along with two other SSPA submissions will be held on April 7.

The Site-Specific Plan Amendment Process— or SSPA for short — gives property owners a way to propose land use changes to the Comprehensive Plan for a specific site or collection of parcels.

Why it Matters: These meetings are an opportunity to learn about what’s proposed, ask questions, make comments on these proposed changes and better understand the SSPA process.

Proposals: In total, 11 SSPA nominations were submitted for the Hunter Mill District — nearly all for sites in Reston. Each community meeting will feature different proposals. Here’s a summary:

April 1 Meeting

• 1851 Alexander Bell Drive (Staff Summary) This site is currently developed with two, four-story office buildings that are largely vacant. The nomination proposes to allow an option for residential use of up to 20 dwelling units per acre, or 1.5 floor-area ratio (FAR), consisting of 86 townhouses and 46 stacked townhouses.
• 10690 Parkridge Boulevard (Staff Summary) This nomination is for three parcels that are part of the Parkridge Center, and the site contains a nearly vacant office building, surface parking and a portion of a stormwater management pond. The proposal calls for developing the property with residential uses, including options such as repurposing the existing office building into an apartment or senior housing, developing a new apartment building, developing townhomes, or a combination of these uses.
• 10800 Parkridge Boulevard (Staff Summary) It is developed with a two-story office building that's occupied by the Social Security Administration, plus a surface parking lot. The nomination proposes the addition of a residential neighborhood featuring townhomes and/or stacked townhomes.
• 10701 Parkridge Boulevard (Staff Summary): This site that’s part of the Parkridge Center is currently developed with a three story office building. The nomination proposes adding an option for residential uses up to a maximum 1.35 FAR, consisting of townhouses (113 units) or a mix of townhouses and multi-family units (47 townhomes and 250 apartments.)

April 7 Meeting

• Reston National Golf Course: This nomination proposes an option for residential use on 86 acres while the remaining 80 acres are proposed for publicly accessible recreational and open space. Simultaneously, the golf course owners are submitting a by-right zoning plan to build 288 stacked townhouses and make renovations to the course, including a full rerouting of nine holes; a new lighted, multi-story driving range and clubhouse; incorporating lighted/gamified training facilities; adding new food and beverage options (within both the clubhouse and a new “Back 9 Grill”); and constructing other infrastructure improvements.
• Wiehle TOD North District: This nomination proposes consolidating the Comprehensive Plan’s existing Wiehle North Transit Station Mixed-Use and Residential Mixed-Use subdistricts into a new single subdistrict. The proposal calls for a mix of residential (50%) and non-residential (50%) uses up to 2.5 – 5.0 FAR.
• 11600 Sunrise Valley Drive: This almost 10-acre site is developed with a suburban office building, and the property is located within the Association Drive Residential Mixed-Use Sub-District. Currently, the Comprehensive Plan recommends a mix of 75% residential uses and 25% non-residential uses. The nomination proposes to change the mix for this property to 100% residential uses.

April 8 Meeting

• 1841 Explorer Street: This site is currently developed with a two-story childcare center, and the nomination proposes to increase the residential density currently permitted on this property from 125 to 350 residential units, as well as change the units from for-sale to rental instead.
• 11600 American Dream Way: This property is the site for the former Fannie Mae office building that’s been vacant for more than five years. The nomination calls for allowing residential development on the property.
• Hunter Mill Road: This nomination proposes residential use at a maximum density of 1.5 dwelling units per acre on an approximately 67-acre site located at Hunter Mill and Sunset Hills Roads. The nominator envisions up to 100 homes on the site, including open space and an internal street network.
• Colvin Woods: This property is currently developed with Haven Reston, an affordable apartment complex with 259 units. The nomination proposes to allow up to 85 new residential units on the northern portion of the property, consisting of townhouses or stacked townhouses.

I have heard from and spoken to many Hunter Mill residents who are bearing the brunt of the DOGE assault on our local economy. To assist displaced federal workers and contractors, the Northern Virginia Community College is offering free certification courses, skills training and online workshops on resume-writing and job search techniques. Called NOVAnext, the program is available to eligible federal employees and contractors laid off on or after January 24. The college is the first in the region to offer new dedicated training funds for unemployed federal workers, committing $1 million to the effort.

I will keep doing whatever I can to help, and this newsletter will continue to provide information like this that might be helpful to those directly affected. 

Join me this Saturday, March 29 to celebrate the Patrick Henry Library before it closes its doors for good later this summer. After 54 years, the library will close to make way for the construction of the new Vienna-Carter Library in the same location. Patrick Henry isn’t expected to close until mid to late-May, but librarians will begin slowly packing up materials starting in April. Following its closure, you’ll be able to visit a temporary library location at the Cedar Park Shopping Center mid-to-late June until the new Vienna-Carter library opens. 

What's News in Vienna

Town Resolution to Stop Tree Cutting on the W&OD Trail

The Vienna Town Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday, asking Dominion to stop clear-cutting trees along the W&OD Trail. Almost identical to the resolution I introduced at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, the town added some additional requests, asking Dominion to:

• Submit a site plan for the entirety of the project to include the full scope of work, limits of clearing and grading, tree inventory, etc.
• As part of its formal policy, commit to replant to the new planting standards.
• Submit a list of trees it intends to plant in the Town of Vienna for review by the Town against the Town’s approved tree list.

Watch the council’s adoption of its resolution or read it here. This situation continues to generate public outcry and receive public attention as it should, including recent stories from WJLA and the Washington Post.

Nominate a Vienna Volunteer

If you know an outstanding volunteer or organization who has served the Vienna community, nominate them to be recognized at the Mayor’s Volunteer Reception on Tuesday, April 22. Fill out the nomination form and then submit it by email. The deadline is Tuesday, April 1.

📽️Watch “Here” starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright at the March 26 Senior Movie Day.

🧀 Attend a free wine and cheese reception on March 26 (this evening!) at Reston Museum and hear from one of the museum’s founders.

🌸Join the Sunrise Cherry Blossom Photography Workshops on March 28-30 at Meadowlark Gardens.

🍷 Enjoy the “Ladies’ Line Up" of six wines chosen by the women who work at the Winery at Bull Run. Sip these tastings any day through March 31.

🌸 Tysons Corner Center’s March 30 Blossom Bash on The Plaza features food, drinks, live music, giveaways, dance performances, and more.

🌳Take part in the Green Reston Scavenger Hunt from April 1-15.

🤣 Laugh out loud with this cavalcade of local comedians in the Rt. 123 Comedy on April 5 at Capital One Hall.

🎸 Listen to The Band, a Bob Dylan tribute group, and the Capital Wind Symphony Chamber perform “Mr. Tambourine Man” on April 11 at Capital One Hall.

🎭 Enjoy the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” starting April 18, performed by the Reston Players.