A GAZEBO Now?
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Monday a plan to build a 123-foot tall building on Hunter Mill Road near the Dulles Toll Road.
The building includes an architectural feature, which had been called a "lantern roof" during Planning Commission deliberations. Neighbors on the opposite side of Hunter Mill Road had been opposed to the proposal, citing the visual intrusion of a lighted area on the top floors of the building.
The roof, which is not permitted to be lighted, is now being called a "gazebo-like" roof feature.
The buildings will not increase the overall density on the property. They had to come before the Board of Supervisors to obtain approval for the additional height, since the zoning would only allow buildings of up to 75 feet.
The plan may also make the Rail to Dulles project a bit cheaper. The developer, Walker FLP, is proposing to give land to the rail project to be used for a stormwater management facility for the rail line. Without the land, Dulles rail would need to purchase the land from Walker.
GRCC HIRES Temp CEO
Chuck Mills of Salera Capital Management was hired last week as an “acting” president and CEO of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.
The executive search committee made the announcement July 28, but will continue to look for a permanent replacement of Tracey White, who held the position for the past 10 years.
Mills became active in the chamber in 1999 when his firm, a financing and business company, participated in the Incubator program. After completing the program, his firm began managing it for a year. Mills continued his involvement in the chamber as a member of the Incubator Advisory Board.
"We are indeed fortunate to have been able to retain Salera Capital
Management to manage the chamber,” said Marion Myers, chair of the chamber and president of Myers Public Relations, in a statement. “Chuck brings a wealth of expertise to this position and will ensure a smooth transition during our search process.”
Before his work with Salera, Mills, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot for nine years, including a tour of duty in Operation Desert Shield. For his years of service, Mills was selected as a "Marine One" helicopter pilot for presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton.
SLOW DOWN … Please
Police from the Reston District are hoping drivers in Reston will slow down. Throughout this month, additional officers will conduct a speed reduction campaign, called “Give Us a Brake.” The program targets speeders in trouble spots throughout Reston. The goal is to promote compliance with speed limits and prevent speed-related crashes, according to a statement. Major streets, as well as certain residential areas, will be monitored. Speeders will be ticketed. Targeted areas include: Springvale Road, Lawyers Road, South Lakes Drive, Frying Pan Road, Colts Neck Road and Sunrise Valley Drive.
DEAR SUPERVISOR Hudgins
The Reston Citizens Association, the group leading the effort to make Reston a town, sent a letter to Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill), asking that she help in its effort to increase community awareness about a pending change to Reston’s zoning ordinance. The change will affect the existing density cap that could soon bring new residential development in Reston to a stop. RCA asked that Hudgins be involved in the forum it plans to hold, requesting “definitive information” and “at a minimum, a description of the planning and zoning issues that the county staff is planning to address.”
RESIDENT SINGS at Church
Reston resident Jasmine Muhammad will present a sampling of her repertoire on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. at Heritage Fellowship Church. Her recital will include classical, spiritual and inspirational renderings.
Muhammad, who grew up in Reston, attending both Terraset Elementary and Langston Hughes Middles School, attended high school at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., where she studied voice.
Muhammad is a member of the Ellington Show Choir, which conducted a tour of China in 2005, a former member of the WPAS Children of the Gospel Mass Choir, Heritage Fellowship UCC's Images of God and New Found Praise. Muhammad plans to pursue both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in vocal performance at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. This will be her last performance before leaving to Chicago.
HELP WITH Communicating
Reston Association's Communications Advisory Committee is seeking new members to assist with promoting the association's Strategic Plan, reviewing general communications policies and encouraging the involvement of the members in association programs and services. A committee member must be a member of the association and have related work skills, experience, or interest in journalism, public relations, marketing or related field. The committee meets once per month at the Reston Association main office at 1930 Isaac Newton Square. Contact RA's volunteer coordinator, Ha Brock, at 703-435-7986 or send an e-mail to habrock@reston.org for more information.
VOLUNTEER FOR ‘Works Sunday’
Works Sunday, an annual event sponsored by 15 faith communities in Reston and Herndon, will take place Aug. 20. Volunteers are needed for the event, which features 15 separate service projects and five donation opportunities.
This year’s event features two new projects: preparing and serving a hot meal at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter and cleaning kitchens at the Herndon Harbor House.
Perennial projects include a food collection drive at three local supermarkets for the Reston Interfaith food pantry, stuffing backpacks for needy schoolchildren, doing maintenance at several local Gabriel Homes group residences, making bag lunches for homeless people, holding worship services and luncheons at the Hunters Woods and Lake Anne Fellowship Houses, and providing musical programs at Sunrise/Reston and Cameron Glen Nursing Home.
In addition, Works Sunday is collecting used videos suitable for children and teen-agers who are patients at Reston Hospital, school supplies for children at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, underwear and children’s clothes for Laurel Learning Center, gift certificates for the Fairfax County Abused Women’s Shelter, and a list of items for the Rucker Shelter. For more details, anyone interested can visit the Web site, www.workssunday.org, or call Marilyn Silvey at 703-860-5141.