Reston DRB approves carport EV meter aesthetics, orders restudy and removal for dock power installation

The Reston Design Review Board on Aug. 19 approved aesthetic mitigation for three carport electric-vehicle (EV) meter installations proposed by the Inlet Cluster Association but rejected the association’s dock-power installation as submitted, ordering removal of the existing pole and meter box and requiring a more complete resubmission.

Bill Dietz, who identified himself as president of the Inlet Cluster Association, and Andre, a cluster board member, told the board the association has supported owners installing chargers in their carports since 2023 and that Dominion installed a transformer behind Carport 8 to serve several units. Dietz and Andre said individual owners had applied through the association and that some installations were delayed while waiting for Dominion’s work.

Several neighbors who filed as affected parties said the installations proceeded without adequate notice to the wider membership and raised concerns about aesthetics, structural impacts and safety. Paula read a written statement from Courtney Christiansen alleging that meters “disfigure the carport” and that penetrations into stucco and cinderblock could weaken structures and increase maintenance costs. Marika Gates, another affected resident, said the pole and box at the dock were a surprise, could harm lake views, and offered only limited benefit to a small number of pontoon owners.

Board members and staff clarified the DRB’s role: the board may review aesthetics and broaden notification when membership awareness is in question but does not adjudicate internal cluster governance. Staff noted Dominion and Fairfax installation requirements constrain meter placement, and Andre said meters must be on exterior walls at the code-mandated height.

On the carport installations, board member Michael moved to approve the carport-related portion of the application on condition that the electric meters and visible conduit be painted to match the stucco and that five evergreen understory shrubs be planted in a staggered pattern on the playground side; Samantha amended to require the shrubs be planted at 4.5 feet tall. The board set a 90-day timeline for completion of the plantings and painting. That motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

On the dock-power work, affected parties and board members raised unanswered questions about the exact amp rating, the proposed outlet placement relative to boat access, how charging would be managed or billed, and the visible impact of a standalone pole and meter box on the shared grassy area and lakeside path. The board concluded the application lacked the holistic documentation needed to approve the pole and disconnect in its current location. Michael moved to deny the dock-power portion as submitted and to require a new, more comprehensive application that reconsidered meter location; the board discussed and endorsed timelines that included removing the pole and meter box within 30 days and resubmitting a revised application within 180 days to allow coordination with Dominion and the cluster. The motion passed 5-0.

Applicants said Dominion would have to approve any relocation and that the meter box still requires Fairfax County inspection before service activation. Staff advised the board that if the pole and box remain in place during the review period, members may expect an appeal; the board’s order included a timeline for removal to limit the visual impact while the cluster restudies options.

Next steps: the Inlet Cluster Association must submit a revised application addressing meter location, a comprehensive dock-power plan (including equipment placement, charging rules, and payment arrangements), and documentation of coordination with Dominion and Fairfax County. The DRB’s approval of the carport conditions is contingent on the painting and plantings being completed within the board’s stipulated timeline.