1. Guidelines for Development
in Reston Transit Station
Areas
Review of Draft
NVBIA/NAIOP
September 2018

3. Reston Guidelines – Background
• Urban Design Guidelines in Fairfax County date to 1990s
 Commercial Revitalization Districts/Areas
 Tysons
 Citizens and developers typically find them useful during county review
process
• Guidelines for Development help to:
 Implement and explain Comp Plan goals
 Illustrates the urban design vision of the Plan
• Encourage flexibility and ingenuity to achieve design goals
 Consistent w/ Strategic Plan for Economic Development
 Not one size fits all – flexibility in how/when to use a strategy

4. Reston Guidelines - Purpose
• The Guidelines ARE intended to:
 Enhance the goals of the Comprehensive
Plan and encourage flexibility, creativity,
and ingenuity while supporting
implementation of Plan policies.
 Aid developers, staff, and the community
during the development process for
Reston TSA applications.
 Guide the development of public projects
in the Reston TSAs including streetscape
and parks.
 Offer predictability and a common
starting point for applicants and the
community.
• The Guidelines are NOT intended to:
 Act as prescriptive or inflexible standards
or ordinances.
 Replace established Comprehensive Plan
policies or existing HOA covenants,
processes or guidelines.
 Apply to areas outside of the Reston
TSAs.
 Apply to individual homeowner design
decisions such as private yard design or
renovation projects

5. Reston Guidelines: Overview
• Urban Design Advisory Group
 Representatives of the development community and Reston residents
 Wide range of professional backgrounds including architects, engineers, planners
• Why a separate document?
 Reflect the unique character of Reston TSAs vs. county wide
 More flexible than Comp Plan or Zoning Ordinance
 Provide design details not appropriate for existing county documents
 Illustrate complex ideas, provide suggestions to implement existing Plan policies
 Easier to update best practices
• Format:
 Six chapters with appendix
 Divided into intent statements and possible design strategies to achieve them

6. Create comfortable places where people want to be
Support increased pedestrian traffic near Metrorail stations Retain Reston’s character
Encourage high quality architecture
Continue the emphasis on details and urban design

7. Reston Guidelines – Overview
• Chapter 1 – Introduction
 Introduces the urban design vision for the
TSAs, provides an overview of the development
review process, explains the organization of the
document.
• Chapter 2 – Development Framework and
Vision
 Highlights the importance of beginning a
redevelopment project with an overall
framework which aligns with the Comp Plan
vision.
• Chapter 3 – TSA Character
 Provides a quick, “at a glance” summary of the
Comprehensive Plan guidance for each district
and sub-district.

8. Chapter 4 – Site Design
• Addresses creation of successful, walkable/bikeable urban environment
• Major elements covered include:
 Pedestrian/Bicycle circulation and access
 Urban parks
 Parking (including garages, screening, on-street, and bicycles)
 Public Art
 Signage
 Loading and utilities

9. Chapter 5 – Building Design
• Provides guidance for new buildings within the TSAs
• Promotes compatibility w/ existing urban character
• Emphasizes placemaking, harmony in architectural design, integration w/ nature
• Major elements include:
 Appearance and compatibility
 Mass and scale
 Articulation, fenestration, detailing
 Active ground floors
 Sustainability

10. Chapter 6 - Streetscape
• Focuses on the design character of the streetscape (back of curb to face of
building) and the importance of roadway design including:
 Landscape amenity panels, sidewalks, and building zones
 Multi-modal street sections
 Street crossing design
 Reston specific streetscape treatments
 Street furniture, lighting, and suggested plant materials

11. Reston Guidelines – Schedule
Community
Organizations
September 2018
Community Open
House
September 24th
6-8pm
Community
Organizations
October 2018
Presentation of
Draft to Board of
Supervisors
Late 2018/ Early 2019
Board
Endorsement
Community
Use

13. Thank you!
For additional information: www.fcrevite.org/programs/Reston_Guidelines.html
Please provide your feedback!
Lauren Murphy, Reston Revitalization Program Manager
Office of Community Revitalization
lauren.murphy@fairfaxcounty.gov
Attend our Open House on September 24th at the Rose Gallery!