First block of major Isaac Newtown Square redevelopment in Reston approved

The first of 10 blocks slated to redevelop Isaac Newton Square in Reston is officially moving forward.

At a meeting on Oct. 19, the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted in favor of the project, which includes a seven-story apartment building with 345 units on the northern end of the property at 11410 Isaac Newton Square North.

Commissioners lauded developer APA Properties for their efforts in creating a placemaking neighborhood.

“It’s a really nice application. It looks great architecturally,” Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said.

Hunter Mill District Commissioner John Carter praised the developer and architects for the overall design of the project and the inclusion of significant open space, calling the neighborhood a “great step forward for us and Fairfax County.”

“This is a highly customized project,” Carter said. “We don’t see that often.”

Overall, the development plan calls for 2.8 million square feet of new construction, including 2,100 residential units, around 300 hotel rooms, 260,000 square feet of office space and nearly 69,000 square feet of retail space.

The development is bounded to the south by the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, to the west by Hidden Creek Country Club, and to the east by Wiehle Avenue.

Andrew Painter, the developer’s land use attorney, said the approval of the first block of development is “an important step in realizing the vision of a redeveloped Isaac Newtown Square.”

The development is surrounded by a frame of willow oak trees and was first approved in 2019 as a new mixed-use residential neighborhood.

A hiccup on the inclusion of additional low impact development measures (LIDs) — a term for practices like rain gardens that reduce runoff and manage stormwater — was ironed out after the meeting. When site planning begins, the developer has agreed to see if there are more ways to incorporate LIDs in the project.