guy l.

rando 1512 Inlet Court

& associates inc. Reston, VA 20190
T 703 • 437 • 3456
RandoForLakeAnne@aol.com F 703 • 437 • 3456

October 4, 2010

Robert Goudie
1892 Crescent Park Drive
Reston, VA 20190

Dear Mr. Goudie:

Thank you for your letter of August 23, 2010 concerning the Town Center Dog Park and
Savannah Military Green Squares proposed by your committee at North Town Center. I
have a dog. There is already more existing green space for dogs in all of Town Center
than what you propose at NTC. There are over 50 miles of trails and miles and miles of
curbs provided for the leash-and-curb-your-dog law.

If you put the word “signature” before the green park on Reston Parkway in front of the
Hyatt Hotel, you can call it Reston’s Signature Dog Patch. I don’t think anybody other
than your committee wants to use the expression “Town Center is for the Dogs.”

For Town Center we should think beyond a Dog Park or Savannah Greens and envision
a world-class Central Park like Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Golden Gate Park in San
Francisco, Central Park in New York, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Villa Borghese
Gardens in Rome, and Parc de la Villette in Paris, etc.

It is obvious you misunderstood the Rando Plan B Diagram.

Plan B shows a park with water elements located in the center of high-density, mixed use
development situated around the edge of the park. Refer to similar world parks above.

The Rando Plan shows mixed-use density for the total parcel to be sited around the edge
of the park with retail along a narrowed Fountain Drive to increase the synergy between
the proposed retail at Spectrum and along Fountain Drive. At an FAR of 2.0, the same
amount of density will be located around the edge of the park as proposed in the Noritake
plan. It is a practical matter to build a world-class central park in Town Center. With
only two property owners, Fairfax County and Inova, negotiations to pull together a
parcel for redevelopment would be simplified.

A Civic Center and county office functions including the police belong at the
transportation hub at the intersection of bus and Metro station with the use of air-rights.
People who need it most can conveniently get to these facilities with minimal use of the
automobile. There are about 30 plus acres within the quarter mile distance from the
Reston Avenue Station/Bus Terminal for air-rights development.
A “signature destination” needs cultural amenities beyond residential and commercial
properties. An amusement park (Tivoli), suggested by a Reston resident at a community
task force session, is one amenity that could be created in the south section of the Reston
Town Center Metro Station area. A center for performing and visual arts is also a
necessity to provide a rich cultural mosaic for Reston.

For further discussion of a desirable residential to commercial ratio for Town Center, I
refer you to the paper submitted by Terry Maynard of the 2020 Committee.
http://reston2020.blogspot.com/2010/09/reston-tc-committee-report-developers.html

The Planning Principles submitted by the Vision Committee includes a description of

open space. It is included with this letter. A map for location of high-density
development in the Dulles Corridor, Town Center, and the Village Centers is also
included with this letter.

I want to add that an amount of 25% open space was added to the Lake Anne
Comprehensive Plan Amendment approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Any amount of open space less than 25% is unsuitable for the world-class community of
Reston. The urban center of Reston needs to provide a quality living environment for its
residents and visitors.

Sincerely,

Guy L. Rando
Urban Designer/Landscape Architect/Sculptor
1512 Inlet Court
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 437-3456
RandoForLakeAnne@aol.com

August 23, 2010 letter from Robert Goudie:

Guy (and Sandi please post Guy’s rendering on the TC web page as community input),

As always, thank you for the hard work, thought, and diligent follow up. Very interesting stuff
(though of course we know this plan would create pressure on the ability to house County
office/functions and the police, let alone new schools, fire departments, and other things others
have advocated). I also think many would argue getting more residential in TCN is a higher
priority than a lake, and this would exponentially increase the costs of building that residential and
supporting retail (indeed, if you even had enough space for it plus the civic functions with so
much land being eliminated). I also take issue with your dismissal of the central green as having
little or no community utility. I think a very fair argument can be made that a central green would
get greater per capita use than a lake and is more egalitarian (given the higher barriers to
entry/use of water space). Note also we already have a couple of very nice lakes in the
community but not very much central green space. Finally, this kind of alternative puts enormous
pressure on the dog issue. Some dogs swim, but all dogs need space to do what all living things
must do that eat. For those of us who live in TC and deal with the body politic on a regular basis I
can tell you that dogs are increasingly becoming issue one in many people’s minds. Lakes don’t
solve that issue; indeed, in this case, it would create much more pressure by eliminating green
space. Finally, if water property is something many think is a worthwhile driver, there are four
storm water ponds in Metro South. Those create a more readily available starting point for
creating a larger water park (though I am not advocating that, merely noting the alternative). So
when you say your idea is superior in all respects to the Committee recommendation for TCN it is
not intuitively obvious to me that a majority will share your view.

But those are all things folks ought to have an ability to think about and assess. Interestingly,
note that Pete and I (reflecting the Committee’s will) suggested at the TF draft presentation that
the map not be part of the Comp Plan so that there remains room for other and even better ideas
down the line that the community, County, and developers should have flexibility to adopt. That
said, some on the Task Force suggested we make the map part of the Comp Plan. And of
course the PRC is master planned, and open space theoretically I think must/should be reflected
on the infrastructure map that is part of the RMP. All part of tomorrow’s discussion. Indeed, if
you or anyone wants to weigh in on this it should be done in open meeting consistent with FOIA.
Thanks.

Regards,

Robert Goudie

1892 Crescent Park Drive

Reston, VA 20190

tel: (703) 689-0496

fax: (703) 689-4993

e-mail: regoudie@verizon.net
 Vision and Planning Principles for the Reston Master Plan Special Study
(Final Draft - August 11, 2010)
Vision

The foundation for the original development of Reston includes seven goals set forth by
the community’s founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr. These goals have shaped Reston’s
development over the last five decades and will continue to mold the community’s future.

Reston is a community where, at each stage of life, individuals and families can live,
work and play in an attractive setting. The primary planning goal is to preserve the
essential and unique characteristics of Reston, building upon experience gained over the
years. The vision reflects characteristics that have made Reston a pre-eminent
community that offers a high quality-of-life, an attractive environment, a healthy balance
of work and personal life opportunities, and an advantageous business environment.
The characteristics of the vision include:
1 Being a welcoming community with a diverse population, including people of all
ages, ethnicities, abilities, family stages and income levels.
2 Having a safe, sustainable and well-designed community with a town center,
village centers, neighborhoods, businesses, and natural areas, as well as three rail
transit stations surrounded by high-quality, mixed-use development which should be
integrated with the entire Reston community.
3 Being a community that provides extensive open space and natural areas and is
recognized for preserving and protecting the environmentally sensitive resources of the
area and for incorporating the highest standards of green technology into the planning
and design of neighborhoods, buildings, and amenities.
4 Having proximity to all types of public, professional and commercial services and
diverse employment opportunities, as well as multiple cultural, religious and recreational
resources.
5 Having transportation patterns that facilitate interconnectivity throughout the
community based on non-motorized and public transportation.
6 Having an expanded public realm of streets, open spaces including natural
areas, and buildings that serve as a framework for the community, linking schools, public
facilities, village centers, and the Town Center, as well as cultural and recreational
facilities.
7 Fostering an economic environment that encourages the success of small,
medium and large business organizations and encourages them to participate in and
support the activities of the community.

Planning Principles
Planning for future residential and commercial development and redevelopment will
consider Reston as a comprehensive unit. Projects will be evaluated based upon their
ability to apply the planning principles, as well as the specific impacts of individual
projects on the surrounding neighborhoods. The following principles provide guidance
for development of Reston in the 21st century.

1. Strive for excellence in planning, urban design, and architecture

Endeavor to ensure that development and redevelopment will be of the highest
caliber in terms of planning, design, compatibility, and livability. Design
redevelopment areas as integral parts of the larger community rather than as stand-
alone projects. Integrate public art into new development and redevelopment
projects. Provide an appropriate balance of jobs and housing.
2. Plan for environmental sustainability and green technology
Protect the integrity of natural resources by making conservation and restoration
essential and unique features of community building. Require high standards for
green neighborhoods and building practices for all public and private development,
incorporating green technology into their design. Preserve environmentally sensitive
areas as a central planning principle. Enhance and preserve public and private open
space areas including woodlands, meadows, lakes, ponds, streams, wildlife habitat,
drainage and catchment areas, and other environmentally sensitive areas. Provide
corridors for movement and habitats of wildlife in natural open space areas. Apply
planning and design practices that provide for the best storm water management
practices, eliminate invasive plants, preserve mature trees, reduce imperviousness,
provide significant tree canopy, and encourage energy conservation.

3. Balance land use with infrastructure

Phase and fund the expansion and modification of all modes of transportation and
other infrastructure such as the proposed street right-of-way, schools and public
facilities concurrently with development. Convenient interconnectivity must be
assured within the transit corridor as well as between it and the rest of Reston and
across major roads, including the Dulles Toll Road. Public and non-motorized
transportation should be encouraged.
4. Concentrate development near transit
Locate the highest densities for residential and commercial development in the
three rail transit station areas. The densities should step down from the three transit
station areas to the village centers. Incorporate transit oriented development
strategies to reduce dependence on the automobile. Support the opportunity for
future air rights development to provide additional crossings of the Dulles Toll Road,
to enhance access to the rail stations, and to link north and south Reston.

5. Maintain the Reston Town Center as an active central place

Continue to develop the Town Center as an integrated and vibrant urban center for
Reston and the region. Provide mixed-use development.
6. Transform the rail-transit corridor
Transform the rail-transit corridor from the existing industrial and office area into a
linear neighborhood within Reston. Link the three transit station areas by rail, the
Dulles Toll Road, Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road, a grid of streets,
circulator buses, shuttle buses, sidewalks, and bikeways and trails. Each of the
transit station areas should have a distinct role. The linear transit corridor should
include plazas and mixed-use centers at each rail station. There should be a mix of
retail, advanced education, government services, diverse housing opportunities,
employment options, and cultural and recreation attractions. Incorporate active and
passive open space into the corridor.
7. Create, Augment and Enhance the Village Centers
The village centers will serve as important building blocks of the Reston community,
and they should be a focus of each neighborhood. They should include a mix of
retail, housing, community buildings, central gathering places, and provide a limited
amount of employment. Redevelopment and new development should be
 pedestrian-oriented and provide adequate transition to the surrounding
neighborhoods. Pedestrian and bicycle trails and convenient public transportation
options, such as regular shuttle buses, should link the village centers to each other,
to the Town Center, and to the transit stations.

8. Maintain the character of the existing residential neighborhoods

Maintain the existing residential neighborhoods, which include a variety of housing
types and serve all income levels. Provide adequate transitions between new
development and adjacent existing neighborhoods to maintain the essential
character of the neighborhoods. Provide traffic calming measures, residential
parking permit programs and street lighting to preserve the traditional character and
safety of residential neighborhoods.

9. Provide diverse housing opportunities

Continue to accommodate people of all ages, ethnicities, physical abilities, and
economic circumstances, as well as families of all sizes and stages.

10. Connect the Reston community

Enhance the intra-community accessibility by providing and augmenting a wide
range of high quality transportation options and facilities including roads, bridges,
sidewalks, bikeways, trails, and transit services that link activity centers, open
spaces, parks, schools and recreational facilities. Provide frequent and visible
transportation connections to the new rail stations and strengthen the local
feeder/circulator bus system including linear Town Center service. Use
transportation management strategies to reduce the reliance on the automobile.

11. Provide high quality, active public open space

Expand and enhance the quality of publicly accessible and active open space
through development and redevelopment. Active public open space in the transit
corridor should include public plazas, outdoor recreational facilities, bikeways and
trails. Active public open space does not include paved areas for vehicles or private
spaces closed to the public. The Town Center, transit station areas and village
centers should include a variety of active public spaces such as plazas for
entertainment and spaces for small playgrounds. All such areas should be designed
and managed to attract residents, office workers and visitors by offering a variety of
activities in an attractive setting. Recreation areas outside the transit corridor, such
as ball fields and golf courses, should be preserved and enhanced.
12. Emphasize transit oriented development
Enhance the character of the streets, open spaces and buildings - the public realm -
by providing buildings with active fronts on streets and avoiding the use of parking
structures and surface parking lots in the front of buildings facing streets. The public
realm should be designed to encourage pedestrian travel and safety. Incorporate
and adhere to the Transit Oriented Development principles adopted by Fairfax
County.

13. Address economic needs

 Provide sufficient incentives to encourage property owners to pursue appropriate
redevelopment opportunities, including making proffers that benefit the community
in order to create the transit and pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use environment
desired for Town Center, the rail station areas, and the village centers. Timely
completion of infrastructure by State and County authorities and private developers
with development is critical to promoting development and to protecting residents
from adverse impacts from development.
14. Encourage public participation
The cumulative impact of development and staging redevelopment should be
assessed and evaluated by the community and Fairfax County. Meaningful
community review of new projects will be a hallmark of the public participation.