RestonWeb

[Bob Bruhns]

I received the message below by e-mail from Herndon Councilman Jasbinder Singh. I believe it merits consideration.

In addition to the e-mail message below, here is a link to Councilman Singh's informational pdf that is posted on Herndon Patch:
Councilman Singh's information pdf

There is one small error in the above pdf; the 25% unoccupancy rate is mistakenly expressed as 0.25. It is really 25%, which is realistic, and the other numbers in his spreadsheet match that percentage.

From Councilman Singh:
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Dear residents:

During the Oct 25t, 2011 public hearing, many residents just wanted the Town Council to approve the master plan, as presented. Quite a few said that the high density of the development does not matter; financial feasibility shouldn't even be considered; and 15 story buildings along Herndon Parkway will be good for Herndon. Still others implored us to not worry about traffic impacts and the lack of playgrounds. If all these and other normally important things do not matter, then one might ask, "Why are we going through the planning process?" Perhaps they did not have all the facts, or they do not understand the broad aspects of the plan.

The Plan did not provide easy-to-grasp basic information. Therefore, for the benefit of common residents, I have prepared the attached Fact Sheet. It may guide discussions amongst residents and help to communicate your concerns to the Council. Please take a quick look at the information, write down your questions, come to the TC public hearings on Nov. 8 and Nov. 22, 2011, and let the Council know what matters to you. You may also attend the TC work-session on Nov. 15th when an updated version of the plan will be presented. Alternatively, you may contact me directly to ask questions or to express your opinions.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Jasbinder Singh
Councilmember

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HERNDON'S OCT 25TH METRO AREA MASTER PLAN - BASIC FACTS
By Councilmember Jasbinder Singh

Lots of people are excited about Metro coming to Herndon. The town staff submitted a master plan for the development of the Metro area on Oct 25, 2011.

A few days after the plan was discussed on Oct 25th, the consultant was asked to redo the traffic and associated analyses. The staff is expected to present the revised plan to the TC during the work session on the 15th. Regardless of the changes that might be made to the Oct. 25th plan, the Facts discussed in this sheet would still provide a baseline for discussing any new plan.

But, is this the right plan for Herndon? Consider the following:

1. ADDITIONAL POPULATION & EMPLOYMENT

The planned development, in a relatively small 110 acre area, will double the daytime employment in Herndon and will increase the population by 40%. Compare:

Population
Current: 24,000
Increase Due To The Plan: 9,400
% Increase: 40

Employment
Current: 27,000
Increase Due To The Plan: 27,000
% Increase: 100

2. TRAFFIC UNDER HERNDON MASTER PLAN WILL BE A NIGHTMARE

Peak Hour Traffic = at least 8,000 vehicles/hr.
Max. Capacity of Herndon Parkway (with intersections) = 3000 vehicles/hr.

This data suggests that traffic jams will last for hours, people will find it difficult to catch trains from the Reston side and emergency vehicles or buses will not be able to get through, and some of the regular Pkwy traffic will be diverted through the center of the town during the peak hours. Traffic will back up at all nearby intersections for hours. Parking on neighborhood streets may also be affected significantly.

3. DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT

Up to 15 story buildings will line up along Herndon Parkway - 1/4 mile on each side of the promenade/walkway on the Herndon side. The Plan provides for green spaces, but not for parks or playgrounds. Children from this area will have to use Herndon fields.

4. COMPARISON WITH THE RESTON TOWN CENTER (RTC):

The proposed development in Herndon will be 1.5 times as dense as RTC, and less pedestrian friendly.

RTC has 2.1 million sq. ft of office space; the Herndon Metro Area will have 6.2 million sq. ft. In Herndon, only one main road (Herndon Pkwy) will provide access to the area. RTC is served by 4 major roads, and its parking is strategically located on the periphery.

5. FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENT

Using the consultant's data provided with the Plan, I have already demonstrated that much lower densities than proposed are economically feasible in the Metro area. Therefore, if we want to, we can certainly have lower densities in the area.

6. THE TIMING OF PLAN APPROVAL

Many residents are clamoring for approval now. Yet, Metro will not come to Herndon at least until 2017. There is no particular reason to hurry up and approve a plan now. It may be more prudent to take a few more months to make as sound decisions as we possibly can.
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[CaptHacker]

If you put up an empty building, jobs just crop up....I love it. More crack-pipe economic schemes from stupid developers, hoping that they'll find town rep's that are just dumb enough to believe them.

"People are excited" .... yeah, right. I know my tail's wagging. Every morning now when I wake up, I wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed with a huge grin on my face and loudly exclaim "Great!!! Wonderful!! The developers are coming to town and they're going to turn this place into a high density, traffic snarled, congested mess.....boy oh boy!! Am I ever excited!!!"

On the serious side though, I just have to wonder just exactly how long it will take local politicians and residents to figure out what Terrabrook (former Reston developers) figured out 10 years ago: The development party is over!!! Terrabrook left because what was happening to them became all too self evident: Buildings were being put up, and no one was filling them...they were losing their shirts.

Look at the stupid, empty building on the corner of Sunrise Valley Drive and Hunter Mill road. It's been sitting there empty for ten years now!!! That entire office park is probably no better than 50% full (if even that), and as you drive down Sunrise Valley Drive, it becomes all too clear the real booming business in Northern Virginia is not high tech, it's the manufacturing of "For Lease" and "Space Available" signs.

Taxpayers need to realize just exactly what costs will be thrust upon them because the counties oh-so special interest, the developers, simply need more money. Who has to pay for the roads? Who has to pay for all the sewer and water system modifications? Who has to pay for fire department expansion? Who has to pay for this....who has to pay for that....has anyone anywhere given any thought to where the money comes from???

Oh...and any developers reading....please don't get out your crack pipes, start toking away, and then come up with yet another brilliant economic theories like "Magical jobs will magically appear because we put up some magical buildlings. If we build it they will magically come."

...those of us with brains have heard it all before, and we know its a load of BS.
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George W. Bush....he didn't raise your taxes, he lowered your income!!