Caddyshackpocalypse Now: A United Front, and Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Hey, development golf fans! Let's hit the links, and see what's been doin' with everyone's favorite Tournament of Pain in South Reston. This week, the Reston Citizens Association joined the growing chorus of organizations opposed to the potential redevelopment of Reston National Golf Course, writing in a resolution with more whereases than a Ron Paul delegate trying to get recognized in Tampa that "use of the [land] for any purpose other than open space dedicated to parks, recreation, and/or nature is an existential threat to Reston's longstanding vision."

Well, great. What could potentially be more important in the long run is that it sounds like RCA, the Reston Association, and the Association of Reston Clusters and Homeowners (ARCH) may present a unified front against any redevelopment proposal -- which would be a first. RCA President Colin Mills writes in a fancy "web log" post:

In recent weeks, RCA has reached out to RA and the Association of Reston Clusters and Homeowners to discuss the possibility of joint efforts. Our collaboration was inspired by other matters, but once the seriousness and urgency of the golf course issue became clear, we realized that we should join forces on this as well, to protect the integrity of Reston's Master Plan and our vision for the community.

Our joint effort is still in the planning stages, but rest assured you'll be hearing about it very soon. We'll definitely have a presence at the BZA hearing in October, and we'll be keeping the public informed on this issue as well. We will also reach out to Rescue Reston, to discuss how we can aid their efforts.

I'm very inspired by this; it's the first time I can remember that our three organizations are joining forces for a common goal. As I said in my post on working together, we speak much more effectively for Reston when we can speak with one voice. And I think Restonians will be happy to know that we're putting aside turf battles to stand up for our citizens on this important issue.

Our collaboration will send a clear message: We're here, we're watching, and we're united for the best interests of Reston.

One good thing about a existential threat: It tends to get people to do the right thing, at least once all other options are exhausted.

Mills also addressed comments by Supervisor Cathy Hudgins that there's nothing to worry about, as all this is routine.

Perhaps she's right. Perhaps the Board of Zoning Appeals will uphold the decision that the golf course must be open space unless a plan amendment is filed. Perhaps the golf course owners will accept this and stand down. And perhaps we'll all be able to relax and go home.

Maybe. But this doesn't exactly feel routine to us in the community. There seem to be a lot of land-use lawyers involved for a routine inquiry. If the Board of Zoning Appeals upholds the open space designation, the golf course owners might be planning a legal challenge. (Or at least threatening one as an intimidation maneuver.) If that's the case, we in the community will need to be ready for that challenge.

Either way, we'd be better off to get geared up for a fight and discover it's a false alarm, rather than assuming that there's no cause for alarm until it's too late to act.

Meanwhile, our BFFs at Rescue Reston are preparing signs like this:

Visit their fancy "web site" for more details.

Now, the part with the jokes:


Spaulding, get your foot off the boat!

Update: And now for something completely different, a fancy YouTubes video of John Lovaas interviewing Rescue Reston's John Pinkman, in which we learn Reston National is the closest public golf course to the White House. Huh.