Pam Lupien’s Email to Supervisor Cathy Hudgins

The following letter to Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been distributed, as well as the response from Hudgins below:

Supervisor Hudgins,

 

I writing to you regarding the proposed redevelopment of Brown’s Chapel Park.  I am astounded by the plan that is being bantered about and the lack of public engagement in the process on the part of the Reston Association (RA) and the Reston Community Center(RCC).

 

It is reprehensible to me on so many fronts that I am finding it difficult to know where to start.  Below I have highlighted my most significant concerns:

 

Loss of Prime Property

RA/RCC has proposed deeding over 22 acres of prime Reston real estate, Brown’s Chapel Park, to Fairfax County in order to build a glorified health club with a 500+ car parking garage.  By completing this transaction, RA/RCC circumvents Restons’ own Design Review Board,  the group that was established to monitor and tame development.  The hard cost to Reston residents for RA/RCC’s action is  somewhere in the range of $40,000,000, the value of the asset.  The soft cost is the loss of open space that is used by residents and the community regularly.

 

While it is reprehensible that our elected leadership in Reston would consider such an action, it is equally offensive that RA/RCC has found fellow “bedmates” in our elected FFC officials.  I do recognize that the stupidity and poor leadership on the part of our RA/RCC officials has created an opportunity for Fairfax County representatives.   However, this does not implore FFC officials to respond opportunistically at the exclusion of sound judgement.  Do you really want to be looked upon as theives and poor stewards of our natural resources?  At a minimum, I suspect this will not bode well for re-election goals.

 

More Financial Implications  

Aside from a giving away an asset of $40,000,000 that rightfully belongs to the residents of Reston, RA/RCC has proposed a $65,000,000 bond to pay for the construction of this ill conceived structure, placing the residents of small district 5 on the hook for the interest on the debt.  Further, they propose that small district 5 will pay in perpetuity the operating shortfalls (the facility is projected to run at a operating shortfall of at least $1,000,000 per year). 

 

How can anyone who is acting in a fiscally responsible manner propose such a plan?  How can the officials of RA, RCC and FFC even lightly consider such an action?  Even in good economic times, this is financially irresponsible – - in the current economic circumstances it is fiscally absurd!  As a resident of the state of Virginia and FC, I am well aware of the actions that are being contemplated to bring expenditures in line with revenue – - at the state and the county level, basic services are in question.  So why are we even talking about another health club complex in Fairfax County?  And why would we unfairly tax a subset of FFC residents to pay for such a fiasco?

 

Several of these facilities already exist across the county.  In addition, there are many privately owned and operating facilities available to all county residents.  Interestingly, most of these facilities are underutilized.  So why is anyone considering adding another?

 

The Process

Upon observing surveyors working at Brown’s Chapel, many local residents called RA/RCC to inquire about why the area was being surveyed.  We were told that the property was being resurveyed but that there were no formal plans for redevelopment.  Subsequently, a neighbor in the area obtained a “bootleg” copy of full plans for the redevelopment of Brown’s Chapel Park.  At this point it became clear that we were blatantly lied to by RA and RCC representatives and that this project was being conducted in an evasive manner at best.

 

After further investigation, we learned that in 2008, RCC approached RA to form a joint venture to build a huge, subsidized health club for use by all Fairfax County residents, but to be built at Brown’s Chapel Park in Reston.  Following this action, the firm of Brailsford & Dunleavy was hired to complete a feasibility study.  Approximately $91,000 of Reston residents’ money has now been spent to fund this work without an underlying legitimate needs assessment.  The needs assessment that was conducted was done very quietly; collecting the feedback and desires of a small sample predisposed to covered tennis and additional aquatic facilities.  The broader Reston community was purposely excluded from the process thereby skewing the results in favor of adding covered tennis and aquatic facilities to be made available at below market rates.   

 

Our requests to have a legitimate needs assessment conducted, to include the broader Reston community has been rejected by RA and RCC.  It astounds me that RA and RCC refuse to have a real discussion about alternative uses for Brown’s Chapel Park which might be more in line with what it was always intended to be — recreational open space.

 

Ms. Hudgins, I have been told that you have always been a proponent of open and fair public discussion.  So what has happened in this case?  This process has been an insult the intelligence of the community that you and our Reston representatives are supposed to serve.  The intended outcome is an outrage!  At this juncture, our elected representatives have an opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and bring the community together behind an intelligent and forward-looking plan for this open space.  At the moment, it appears that you and others are squandering that opportunity.

 

As long as we are unable to trust our elected officials to engage the public and demonstrate sound judgement with our resources, we will continue to speak up.  We will take necessary actions to educate and inform all residents so that a responsible conclusion is reached relative to Brown’s Chapel.

 

 

Pam Lupien

 

And the response:

Thank you for sharing your concerns and opinion on the indoor recreation facility proposed jointly by Reston Community Center and Reston Association.  I have heard from many residents and appreciate the level of participation and discussion that is occurring.   
 
You may or may now know that this project was initiated by and is now under consideration by the elected representatives of the Reston Association and the Reston Community Center Governing Board.  The County was not and is not involved.  There is no County funding proposed and no County land is included in the plans.  Some constituents have requested that I act to stop this proposal.  Although I understand that some people believe that is my role, I believe that would be inappropriate.  I am not here to squash community debate.  Just as some would have me stop it, others would have me approve it.  Neither of those actions would be in the spirit of community participation for which Reston is known. The decision to build or not build this facility belongs to all the residents of Reston.   Like any other homeowners association and community run center, Fairfax County’s role is to work with, but not run the affairs of these organizations. Should this process move into any public process, I will exercise my role as Hunter Mill District Supervisor.  
 
I encourage you to participate in the upcoming community meetings and to contact Reston Association and Reston Community Center with your feedback.  The next joint public meetings are schedule for Monday, June 1 – 6:30 p.m., and Monday, June 15 – 7:00 p.m.  – both meetings will be held at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods.

And, I encourage you to get in contact with your representatives on the RCC and RA boards.

 

Sincerely,

 

Catherine M. Hudgins