
No Surprise in Reston Heights Development 01/04/2008 : Observer No Surprise in Reston Heights Development My commute, which takes far longer than the seven miles from my hope to the office would indicate, takes me along Sunrise Valley Drive and past the property now known as “Reston Heights,” where JBG Companies have proposed building a large retail, commercial and high-density housing development. The land surrounds the Reston International Center, which for years was the tallest buildings along the Dulles Toll Road and because of its location on one of the highest points of land was a great place to put a radio or cell phone tower. JBG’s proposal is to basically upgrade the property, taking advantage of the growth in real estate values over the past couple of decades to replace the large, and almost always empty, paved parking lots with more than one million square feet of building space. There is little surprising about JBG’s proposal. Anyone who drives through the area can see that land situated right next to the Toll Road, directly across from a planned rail station and only about a mile from Reston Town Center, must have greater value than just being a parking lot. It was inevitable that someone would come along to take advantage of this under-used property. This does, however, complicate the commute of those of us who live nearby. Unfortunately, traffic planning in Virginia usually involves only the installation of more and more traffic lights, and each new light brings with it more minutes spent in our cars. Fairfax County planners and the developer need to work hard to create the most efficient access points for Reston Heights, while keeping Sunrise Valley Drive passable for all traffic by using “right in, right out” intersections, by timing traffic lights well and by spacing lights far enough apart. The Reston Heights development is in line with what has been planned on the property for decades, but the property has substantial limitations on it because access directly to Reston Parkway may not be an option, and direct access to the Dulles Toll Road is altogether out. That will put immense pressure on Sunrise Valley Drive and its intersection with Reston Parkway and Colts Neck Road. Balancing access to Reston Heights and the affect of traffic and nearby residents will be the biggest challenge.

No Surprise in Reston Heights Development

01/04/2008 : Observer
No Surprise in Reston Heights Development

My commute, which takes far longer than the seven miles from my hope to the office would indicate, takes me along Sunrise Valley Drive and past the property now known as “Reston Heights,” where JBG Companies have proposed building a large retail, commercial and high-density housing development.

The land surrounds the Reston International Center, which for years was the tallest buildings along the Dulles Toll Road and because of its location on one of the highest points of land was a great place to put a radio or cell phone tower.

JBG’s proposal is to basically upgrade the property, taking advantage of the growth in real estate values over the past couple of decades to replace the large, and almost always empty, paved parking lots with more than one million square feet of building space.

There is little surprising about JBG’s proposal. Anyone who drives through the area can see that land situated right next to the Toll Road, directly across from a planned rail station and only about a mile from Reston Town Center, must have greater value than just being a parking lot. It was inevitable that someone would come along to take advantage of this under-used property.

This does, however, complicate the commute of those of us who live nearby. Unfortunately, traffic planning in Virginia usually involves only the installation of more and more traffic lights, and each new light brings with it more minutes spent in our cars.

Fairfax County planners and the developer need to work hard to create the most efficient access points for Reston Heights, while keeping Sunrise Valley Drive passable for all traffic by using “right in, right out” intersections, by timing traffic lights well and by spacing lights far enough apart.

The Reston Heights development is in line with what has been planned on the property for decades, but the property has substantial limitations on it because access directly to Reston Parkway may not be an option, and direct access to the Dulles Toll Road is altogether out.

That will put immense pressure on Sunrise Valley Drive and its intersection with Reston Parkway and Colts Neck Road. Balancing access to Reston Heights and the affect of traffic and nearby residents will be the biggest challenge.