Board hires on-call engineer to review traffic study for Reston Town Center North

The Reston Association board on July 24 approved engaging an on-call engineering consultant to perform a cursory review of the traffic study submitted with the Reston Town Center North rezoning application and to attend the Land Use Advisory Committee meeting where the developer will present in the fall. Peter Lusk, representing the Land Use Advisory Committee, told the board that the committee reviewed a staff briefing packet and requested an engineer’s review to help the committee ask focused, technical questions of the development team. Lusk said an on-call engineer estimated a review would run between $2,500 and $5,000 for the limited scope the committee requested; a full rewrite of a traffic plan would be substantially more expensive. The board approved engaging an on-call engineer for an amount not to exceed $5,000 and the substitute motion included a request that the consultant attend the Land Use Advisory Committee meeting to help interpret developer responses in real time. Board members said the additional technical perspective will help the Land Use Committee and the board form better, evidence-based written recommendations for supervisors and the planning commission. Why it matters: The RTCN rezoning affects traffic patterns and open space in Reston. The consultant review will help the association develop technical questions and to identify whether the county review and the developer’s plan require additional scrutiny or recommended conditions. Next steps: Staff will retain an on-call engineer for up to $5,000, ask the consultant to review the developer’s traffic materials and attend the Land Use Advisory Committee meeting in the fall; the committee will draft recommendations for the board to consider and potential comment to county planning staff and elected officials.