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Motion to develop educational materials for TSA apartment owners fails; board split after debate
Summary
A motion to direct staff to develop materials explaining how 3,000 nonmember TSA units affect assessments was proposed but failed to obtain a majority vote; proponents cited an estimated $120 per-unit annual assessment impact and the comprehensive-plan language calling for new TSA dwelling units to join RA or Reston Town Center Association.
A motion to direct staff to prepare educational materials for existing Reston Association apartment owners about the fiscal impact of roughly 3,000 dwelling units in the Transit Station Area (TSA) that are not members of the association was introduced on June 26 and failed to pass.
Director John Farrell moved that staff prepare materials to show apartment owners how the presence of nonmember TSA units affects their annual assessment liability; he cited a back-of-the-envelope estimate that the effect could be about $120 per unit per year and said the comprehensive plan has language (since about 2013) stating new dwelling units in the TSA should join Reston Association or the Reston Town Center Association. Farrell said he had discussed the issue with an apartment-division executive for a developer who was unaware of the situation.
Supporters framed the proposal as an educational first step to build alliances with apartment-property owners and, ultimately, to persuade Fairfax County to apply comprehensive-plan language consistently as rezonings and site-specific plan amendments proceed. Opponents requested more clarity about next steps after materials were distributed and asked that the board see draft materials before staff distributed them. The motion was seconded and then failed when it did not reach the required majority of directors present (a majority of the six present would have been four votes in favor). The transcript reflects confusion and an inconsistent roll call during the vote, but the meeting’s parliamentarian confirmed the motion failed for lack of a majority.
Staff noted that some outreach to on-site property managers has occurred and that RA has been encouraging apartment residents to sign up for member benefits, but the proposed educational outreach was targeted at higher-level owners and development executives who may not know the assessment implications.
