The Reston Association Board of Directors discussed the proposed redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course at a meeting in June.

The board devoted 90 minutes of the meeting to the proposal as developers pursue a new zoning path to build up to 308 stacked townhomes on land the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan designates as open space.

The board's decision on whether to escalate its opposition had not been made public yet, with official minutes still pending.

The discussion, led by RA Land Use Planner Natalie Serio and Acting CEO Peter Lusk, came as the board weighed three staff-recommended options: maintain the association's existing opposition under Land Use Resolution 6, monitor the situation and decide later or take an active advocacy position with a spending cap. An RA member survey launched June 15 drew 255 responses in just two days, with 86% supporting the association spending time and resources to fight the development, according to the agenda packet.

The development team, War Horse and NVR Inc. (represented by law firm Cooley), has filed three rezoning applications seeking to build 288 to 308 stacked townhomes along South Lakes Drive, Colts Neck Road and Sunrise Valley Drive. The project would bring an estimated 746 new residents to the area, according to RA staff's presentation. About 1,080 RA member households, spanning 11 cluster associations and multiple single-family streets, sit adjacent to the golf course.

The applications mark a shift in approach. Last year, the same developers sought a Site-Specific Plan Amendment for 700 to 850 townhomes. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declined to add it to the SSPA Work Program, citing a lack of community support.

This time, the developers argue a 1966 rezoning approval known as B-555 entitles them to use the Planned Residential Community process instead. Two of the three applications (RZ-2026-HM-00008 and RZ-2026-HM-00007) seek to amend 1971 zoning approvals that designate the golf course as privately owned open space.

The Comprehensive Plan is explicit on the matter. Page 120 states that Reston's "two existing 18-hole golf courses are to remain as open space golf courses as originally planned for Reston." County zoning ordinance Section 8122.2 requires any PRC development plan to conform with the Comprehensive Plan.

What's Proposed

Beyond the townhomes, the redevelopment plan includes a shortened golf course, a lighted multi-tier driving range, indoor simulators, night-golf options and lighted putting and short-game venues. RA staff flagged lighting concerns for surrounding neighborhoods. The proposed relocation of the "Back 9 Grille" restaurant would place it feet from Golf Course Square Association properties, separated only by a six-foot chain-link fence, according to the development plans.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the rezoning cases in September. A Board of Supervisors hearing is expected two to three weeks after the Planning Commission date, according to RA staff's presentation.

Board President Travis Johnson presided over the June meeting. The next regular RA Board meeting is Thursday, July 23. Residents can attend via Zoom (Meeting ID: 865 6504 5034) or submit comments through the Reston Association website.