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July 4, 2008

Lake Anne: Reality and Alternatives

To the editor:

Reston's historic center, Lake Anne Village, will clearly benefit by revitalization. The question is how intense—or dense—should Lake Anne be as a consequence of being revitalized?

Reston founder Robert Simon at one point indicated that he planned Lake Anne so that it would remain a modest village not challenging the density of the Town Center he envisioned. The original Master Plan, however, called for seven apartment towers spread along Lake Anne's north and south shores where townhouse clusters now stand. The Master Plan did not call for the intense development now proposed, all bunched up in the area between Washington Plaza and Baron Cameron Avenue. The original layout was not realized because the community rose against it, blocking such development.

Thus, there is a very different reality today from what may have been envisioned 45 years ago. But this reality is the base we must now use.

And, the community has spoken in various forums and several alternatives have emerged. To date, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and the county seem to be ignoring these thoughtful, less intensive building alternatives.

Two of them—the recommendations of the economic analysis by county consultants nearly three years ago and an alternative drawn up by Washington Plaza and other Lake Anne residents with help from a senior community planner—are summarized at www.observernews.com alongside the latest Fairfax County consultant's "draft Comprehensive Plan." Not included are the outcomes of the community charette sponsored by the county in late 2006.

The consensus of the charette called for less than 700 new residential units; 70,000 square feet of office space; 24,000 square feet of additional retail space and 5,000 square feet of new community space. All alternatives to the county's draft comprehensive plan call for substantial new construction, but half or less of the massive density. They also allow for about 30 percent open space while the county contemplates a legal minimum of 15 percent.

John Lovaas

Reston