Lakewinds II Cluster Association

Reston Association Design Review Board (DRB) Review Process (5/05/04)

One of the residents has raised some issues with the Design Review Process, so I spoke at some length with Bea McIntyre of the Reston Association regarding the review process.  I will try to reflect as objectively as possible what I was told.

A homeowner initiates the review process by submitting an application to DRB.  The homeowner must first obtain the signatures of 2 neighbors and one board member.  The neighbors are usually the adjoining neighbors since they would be the most directly affected by any such construction.  However, it can be another neighbor. 

Requiring the signatures ensures that the signing neighbors and at least one member of the cluster board are aware of the application being filed.  Simply signing the application does NOT register the signer as an “Affected Party”.  When the application is signed, the signer MAY check the box indicating intent to file as an “Affected Party”.

The board member signs to acknowledge that the board has been made aware of the application.  It does NOT signify approval of any kind.  The cluster board does not have that authority.  The Reston Association Design Review Board does.

If the signing board member does not find that the changes on the application are in violation of the cluster guidelines, he or she will likely NOT check the “Affected Party” box, and will NOT register with the Reston Association as such for the cluster.

If, on the other hand, the signing board member finds that the changes on the application may be in violation of the cluster guidelines, the board member WILL check the “Affected Party” box so that the board will have the opportunity to participate in the Reston Association DRB deliberations on the application.  It is a judgment call. 

The process is designed to facilitate completion of action on an application.  It is deliberately set up such that an applicant does NOT have to obtain the signatures of all units in the cluster.  Otherwise, for example, for anyone in the Lakewinds II Cluster to initiate exterior changes they would have to obtain the signatures of 47 homeowners, a next to impossible task.

The filters that work here are the judgment of at least 2 of the neighbors of the applicant, and a sitting board member.  None of those signatures are approval of the action.  All of those are opportunities for interaction with the DRB as an “Affected Party”.

There is a high probability that an application for construction may go through the process and receive approval, and that one or more of the 47 owners in the cluster may not like it.  The system is designed such that a single homeowner in a cluster does not hold veto power over the other residents.

If you want more possibility for interaction in such matters, the opportunity is available to get on the Cluster Board and participate.