RA: Design Review Board Agenda for March 22, 2011 @7PM

Below is a link to the March 22, 2011 7PM DRB agenda.  On two items to be discussed, the HC Board has registered HC as an Affected Party.

1. Possible design changes to 11501 Maple Ridge
2. North Shore tennis court conversion to 6 mini practice courts. (Courts next to the Lake Anne canal)

DRB AGENDA

Reston Association

12001 Sunrise Valley Drive

Reston, VA 20191-3404

RA's Proposed North Shore Tennis Court Redesign

RA is proposing to convert the two North Shore tennis courts into six smaller training courts (see photo below).  The HC Board objects to the proposal for the reasons posted below.  If you are concerned about the proposal (con or pro), please plan to attend the DRB meeting at RA Headquarters on March 8th at 7pm. 

Read RA's DRB Application here.

HCA has the following concerns about the North Shore Tennis Court Redesign proposal:

1.  It will eliminate 100% of ONLY TWO existing full-size North Shore tennis courts within easy walking distance of Hickory Cluster, thus denying Hickory Cluster resident tennis players and guests future use of these courts.

2.  Small dedicated teaching courts could be better accommodated at RA tennis facilities with more courts, such as Lake Newport or Hook Road, where elimination of two full-size courts would impact a MUCH smaller percentage of total existing courts, and where there is more room to expand with new construction if necessary.

3.  It may add to existing traffic congestion at the North Shore Drive entrance to adjacent parking and create additional intersection safety issues near the Maple Ridge Road entrance to Hickory Cluster Blocks 1 and 2.

The Lake Anne Canal Swing is Back!

Hooray for RA!

JBG to Propose New Fairway Apartments Redevelopment Plan

JBG will present a their new and slightly reduced plan for redeveloping the Fairway Apartments property on North Shore Dr. to the RA Zoning and Planning Committee on Monday, February 21, 2011 – 7:30 pm

"The JBG Company, owners of Fairway Apartments located off North Shore Drive, will make a presentation of a revised redevelopment plan for this complex. It will have 810 units, no building over five stories, some underground parking. Additional details and features will be explained at the presentation." -Reston 2020

There was also a post on the Restonian

Snow Fun

HC Volleyball Court Renovation

Hello Neighbors,
When the Hickory Cluster Stream Restoration project is completed (projected to be some time in 2012), the WSSI staging area that is the existing common area volleyball court adjacent to North Shore Drive will need to be renovated as well.  The cost of the renovation will be covered by the stream mitigation banking fund responsible for the stream restoration project.

The HC Board is requesting resident ideas/input on the volleyball court restoration.  Do we...
(1) rebuild the volleyball court,
(2) re-landscape it to become part of the surrounding landscaped common area, or
(3) create another to-be-determined type of Hickory Cluster common area outdoor space?

What do YOU think Hickory Cluster should do with the volleyball court AFTER Stream Restoration work is complete?  Please share your comments here and identify your comment with your name and Block#.  If you'd rather keep your suggestion private, please send them to any of the board members at the email adresses at right.

Thank you,
Hickory Cluster Board

HC Stream Restoration Plan Presentation to the DRB on November 16th, 7-9PM

RA's Design Review Board (DRB) will hear the WSSI presentation on the HC stream restoration project and replacement bridge at the next monthly meeting, November 16th 7-9PM.

Note From SCCI:

Frank (WSSI) will give the presentation, but please encourage HCA members to sign up to speak so DRB has an opportunity to hear the thoughts from the community.

Stream Restoration Proposal
Apologies for the quality of some of the slides.

Follow up: DRB Meeting Summary by Fred S.

Tuesday evening the DRB voted to approve the preliminary design for the stream restoration, including the bridge proposal. WSSI will come back to DRB for information updates as the plans move forward, and final approval of detailed design including bridge details. No significant issues were raised and there was not much discussion by the DRB members. One new piece of information is that the adjacent Vantage Hill stream looks as if it will not go forward due to lack of cooperation from VDOT which is reluctant to accept an easement along Baron Cameron Ave. ("in case they ever need to widen the avenue").

Friday Night Panel Discussion on the Future of the Town Center: Tonight!

Tonight! (& apologies for the late notice.)
Friday night, November 5, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM is the final panel discussion on the future and vision of the Reston Town Center – Visions for the Future (2010-2030) with the coming of Metro.

The Town Center subcommittee co-chairs Robert Goudie and Pete Otteni will be presenting their PowerPoint presentation and draft report to the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force.

This panel will provide Reston citizens an opportunity for interactive an Q&A session on the subcommittee recommendations to the main Task Force.

Location: Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Village Center
Date and Time: Friday Night, November 5, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Topic and Format: Future development options of the Reston Town Center with the coming of Metro and recommendations to amend revision of Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Loren Bruce
Phone: 703-408-2931
EMail: lcbruce@verizon.net

Stream Restoration: New Bridge Design Options

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the WSSI stream restoration presentation and Hickory Cluster walk and to WSSI for their comprehensive presentation and informational walk. 

WSSI Slides from October 16th Presentation

As part of the stream restoration, WSSI will replace the failing HC bridge (at the duck pond).  HC residents have presented two options that are quite different and there was discussion at yesterday's meeting about the options.  The HC board will further discuss these two options at the monthy meeting this Wednesday (10/20/10) 7:30PM at TWC offices.  If any residents are interested in the discussion, please attend this meeting.  Two Important Notes:  1. Any bridge design that HC chooses will still have to be approved by the RA Design Review Board.  2. The existing bridge design can not be replicated as it does not meet existing FX Cty code.

Option #1: A wooden planked footbed bridge with metal railings that are the same as the new HC railings found throughout HC.  This option will make a bold statement and announce that this is not simply another Reston bridge but Hickory Cluster specifically. 

Option #2:  A wood bridge that will blend in with the wooded surroundings and have detail elements that echo existing details on other HC elements such as the Goodman designed swingsets along the path.

HC Stream Restoration Information Meeting Scheduled, Sat. Oct 16th, 10:30am @ RCC-LA

WSSI has sent out an information packet to all HC residents explaining the proposed stream restoration project and announcing the information meeting on Sat. Oct. 16 at 10:30am, in Room C of the Lake Anne Community Center. Click to view the documents one and two.

Informational Meeting and HC Stream Walk:
10:30 on Sat. Oct. 16, in Room C of the Lake Anne Community Center.
Coffee and pastries provided.

There will be a presentation by WSSI and a question and answer session, followed by a guided walk through the restoration area to discuss the details, including trees to be removed, how the stream will be modified, etc.

To: Hickory Cluster Homeowners

From: Bob Anderson, Block II

The Stream Restoration Information Meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, October 16th (Lake Anne Community Center, Room C at 10:30 AM). This is a very important meeting for all Cluster homeowners. Without getting into any detail on the project, I just want to say a few things at this time. This is a huge project and it will result in a major improvement in the natural area running along the stream between Blocks I and Blocks II. When it is completed it will do more than restore the stream to its original beauty, in my view; it will be a very substantial enhancement. In addition to providing an attractive space that we should all like to visit from time to time it will add to the value of the Hickory Cluster Property. During the time that the work is being done there will some pain from noise, the disappearance of trees, and the unsightliness of earth moving equipment, but if all goes according to plan it should be accomplished within 2 to 3 months. I almost forgot a not insignificant point is that this change for the better will be at no cost to Hickory Cluster homeowners.

Now with this major change for the better about to get underway perhaps it is time for us to take stock of our own immediate surroundings – i.e. our own privately owned homes and property. What might we each do to maintain our own homes and property better?  Hickory Cluster is a class act, its houses created by an award-winning architect – Charles Goodman. Isn’t it time for us to make a special effort to ensure the future of this very special place by looking toward our own self-interest and the common interest, too, by re-committing ourselves to keeping our homes properly maintained and the areas around them spruced up? Don’t we owe it to ourselves to make the effort?

Please come to the meeting on Saturday, if you possibly can. It’s your future.