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War Horse Cities is seeking Fairfax County approval for a redevelopment plan that would renovate and reconfigure Reston National Golf Course while allowing NVR Homes to build 306 stacked townhomes along the property’s western edge.
The proposal would dedicate 14 acres of the 168-acre property at 11875 Sunrise Valley Drive to housing. War Horse Cities, which has owned the site since 2019, would retain a publicly accessible 18-hole course on the remaining land.
Construction cannot begin without county approval. As of July 30, the county land-use database listed the Planned Residential Community plan as waiting for resubmission, and no construction start date had been set. The Fairfax County Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 23, 2026.
The housing proposal has drawn opposition from the Reston Association board, which voted against residential development on the property. The board cited potential effects involving traffic, noise, lighting, ecology, stormwater, native plants and wildlife.
A Reston Association staff memo said 1,080 member households are adjacent to the golf course, although neither the course nor the proposed homes would be governed by the association. Staff warned that “residents in these homes would experience a significantly different way of life with new factors including traffic, noise, and light.”
The development plan identifies areas for tree preservation and calls for new trees and shrubs, but it does not specify that the proposed species would be native to Fairfax County.
Details about the project’s affordable housing remain unresolved. The filed plan lists 18 affordable dwelling units, while a Reston National spokesperson said the development would contain 34 affordable homes. A clarification had been requested but was not available when the discrepancy was reported.
The golf course redesign would most substantially alter holes 1, 8 and 9 and would effectively switch the front and back nine, according to designer Todd Quitno. The project team says it intends to preserve 18 holes, keep the course above par 70 and retain as much of its yardage as possible.
“The goal of all of this from the golf course itself is to keep 18 holes, to keep par above 70,” Quitno said.
Planned infrastructure work includes new irrigation, greens, fences and maintenance facilities. The proposal also calls for a short course and practice area for junior golfers, a two-story driving range, a putting green with lighted targets, expanded food and beverage service at the clubhouse, and a Back 9 Grill near holes 12 and 13.
Project representatives say aging irrigation, compacted soil and drainage problems require a comprehensive renovation rather than a series of smaller repairs. “We need to really invest back into the golf course,” said Matt Lindley, a KemperSports vice president of operations.
Some community members have accused the owner of allowing the course to decline so redevelopment would become more acceptable. KemperSports disputes that characterization, saying maintenance and renovation spending has increased dramatically since it began managing golf operations in July 2020. Neither claim has been independently verified.
War Horse Cities says the renovation would cost millions of dollars and that proceeds connected to the housing would help pay for the work without sharply increasing player fees or making the course fully private. The company previously proposed replacing the entire course with housing and 81 acres of publicly usable recreational open space, but the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors declined multiple times to consider that approach.
The project team hopes golf construction could be limited to one playing season, with some holes remaining available during the work. War Horse Cities founder Scott Plank has said the golf and housing construction could proceed simultaneously to reduce disruption.
“We think the best way for the least impact is do it all the same time,” Plank said.
That schedule remains tentative while the county reviews the land-use application.