Reston Association suspends LUAC rule, cancels developer presentation on Reston National Golf Course

The Reston Association Board of Directors voted to suspend Land Use Resolution 1 and instructed the Land Use Advisory Committee to cancel a March 11, 2025 presentation by developers proposing residential changes at Reston National Golf Course.

The action followed nearly an hour of member comments and board discussion about the association's existing golf-course policy and whether RA should provide a forum for the developer's presentation. Director Flashman moved the suspension and cancellation and Director Perry seconded; the motion passed by a recorded margin of 5 in favor, 1 opposed and 2 abstentions.

The board's action came after multiple residents and community leaders urged the association not to host the developer. Connie Hartke, president of Rescue Reston, told the board: "I am requesting that the RA board order the cancellation of agenda item f of the March 11 land use advisory committee meeting." Several speakers pointed to Reston Association's own land-use policy and to Fairfax County's comprehensive plan when arguing the presentation would lend legitimacy to proposals they said are inconsistent with long-standing community planning.

Bob Petrine, a member of Reston Association who addressed legal and planning history, said the site has been designated for open-space and golf-course use since the original 1971 PRC development plan and argued recent proposals conflict with PRC zoning. "The land was designated as open space and for golf course use in the original 1971 PRC development plan for Reston and all subsequent updates," Petrine said.

Other members emphasized environmental and property-value concerns. Sarah Selvaraj D'Souza, who gave her address as 2118 Greenwatch Way, said the proposal could affect nearby homeowners and urged the board to hire outside land-use counsel if legal advice is needed: "Please pay for an outside land use attorney as we have done in the past to make unbiased and informed decisions," she told directors.

Among board members, the discussion split on process and precedent. Director Flashman said the motion was not a comment on the substance of any developer plan but on whether RA should offer the developer a platform. Director Perry said, "this presentation should have been a no thank you," arguing the county process is the appropriate public forum. Director Johnson asked repeatedly for an affirmative reason to host the meeting and said he had not heard one.

Director Santos declined to vote and said the episode raised a broader governance question about whether the Land Use Advisory Committee is functioning as intended. Counsel advised the board that suspending Resolution 1 was necessary to cancel the scheduled LUAC presentation because the developer's request had been set on the committee agenda under the current rules.

The motion that passed directed staff and the Land Use Advisory Committee to remove the March 11 presentation from LUAC's calendar and suspended Resolution 1 for that purpose. The board adjourned after the vote; speakers reminded members that any county-level site-specific plan amendment process would include separate public hearings scheduled by Fairfax County this spring.

Votes at a glance: the final motion to "suspend Land Use Resolution 1 and to instruct the Land Use Advisory Committee to cancel the 03/11/2025 presentation on the Reston National Golf Course" was moved by Director Flashman, seconded by Director Perry, and passed with a tally of yes: 5, no: 1, abstain: 2.

What happens next: The county's site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) process and any public hearings organized by Fairfax County remain independent of RA's internal procedures; several residents said they expect and will participate in county-led meetings this spring.