Rescue Reston President Connie Hartke sent the following to RA Board of Directors and CEO Mac Cummins.
The Rescue Reston Board of Directors wishes to go on record that we do not approve of attorney Mark Looney representing Reston Association in any land use matters.
Mark Looney is the nominator of record on nomination #CPN22-HM-011 for the Hidden Creek property requesting it to be changed to public park/golf course and residential uses [emphasis added]. This position is completely contrary to Reston Association’s Land Use Resolution 6 which states:
WHEREAS, since its inception in 1961, Reston has been a golf course community; and,
WHEREAS, the Hidden Creek and Reston National golf courses are an essential element of Reston because of their integration into Reston’s natural open space areas and because of the active recreational opportunities they provide.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Reston Association desires to continue to be a golf course community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Reston Association does not support any future “grid of streets” road connection between American Dream Way and Isaac Newton Square because it will adversely affect the Hidden Creek golf course.
ATTEST: This Resolution was adopted at a Regular Meeting of the Reston Association’s Board of Directors held on December 15, 2016.
While strictly speaking, there is perhaps no conflict of interest here under the State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, it is inconsistent with Reston Association’s fundamental mission and its explicitly stated goals to have an advocate who has fought against those goals. Surely there are other land use attorneys available who do not teeter on the edge of conflict of interest.