Revising the Carlyle Development Plan to put more emphasis on home ownership complimented by a luxury hotel/conference center was described as "a very exciting proposal."
That assessment came from Eileen Fogarty, director of Planning and Zoning Department, at the June meeting of the Alexandria Planning Commission. It pertained to a proposal from Carlyle Development Corporation (CDC) and LCOR Ballenger Avenue, LLC, developers of the 6.9 million square foot site bounded by Duke Street, Eisenhower Avenue, Holland Lane and Mill Road, for a Special Use Permit (SUP) to amend their original concept.
"Instead of more offices and a hotel, as in the original concept, we now have more home ownership and a hotel," Fogarty explained to the Commission in her opening remarks. "We also have a very viable conference center with that hotel. And, a better balance of business and residential uses."
She also noted, "With this application we see a high-quality hotel and an anchor for additional retail space." Although a hotel was always envisioned for this area, the original plans called for a 400 room property. The new proposal reduces that to a maximum of 315 rooms.
The developers have been trying to bring a combination of hotel and residences to the site, according to Jonathan Rak, attorney for Carlyle Corporation. Staff agreed that the proposed changes to the SUP would "bring a better hotel and increase the residential space at Carlyle."
Alan Rudd, president, Carlyle Civic Association, acknowledged that group to be "in favor of the proposed changes. These do provide a public benefit and the association fully supports the proposed changes."
Those changes call for a series of trade-offs in Blocks F, G, J, K and P to accomplish the aim of increasing "the vibrancy of Carlyle." Staff noted in their report to the Commission, Carlyle is "one of the few developments and/or zones within the city where floor area is permitted to be transferred within the development."
They further explained, "The proposed amendments are consistent with the overall intent of the Carlyle development to create a vibrant large-scale mixed-use project which will be an extension of the city and which will reflect the city's unique qualities.
"These amendments will enable the city to acquire a hotel with conference facilities, additional home-ownership residential units, and reinforce the consolidated retail area."
At present, Carlyle Towers is the only residential element on the western portion of the site. It has well over 1,000 condominium units, according to the report.
Staff emphasized, "The occupants of the proposed 78 [additional] units should, when added to hundreds of hotel guests, provide a diversity and level of activity that will make the western portion of Carlyle much more livable and active. The loss of office use ... also reduces required parking and diminishes peak traffic generation."
IN ARGUING FOR approval of the amended SUP, staff noted, "The proposed hotel is intended to be of a luxury class both to serve the demand that its developers expect to materialize with the opening of the PTO and the ongoing U.S. Federal Courthouse activities and to provide high-end services for the associated condominium residential units...The inclusion of conference facilities is also expected to generate additional business for the hotel operations."
Staff pointed out, "Several hotels have been opened in the vicinity of Carlyle during recent years. These include the Marriott Residence Inn ... with 240 rooms, the Hampton Inn ... with 80 rooms, the Hilton Hotel ... with 84 rooms, and the Embassy Suites ... with 268 rooms. This brings the existing total of ... hotel rooms in the adjoining area to 672."
When it came time to vote, only Commissioner H. Stewart Dunn, Jr., voted against the proposal to amend the SUP. His rationale was, "Our planning of the PTO was not very good. Those are the most uninspiring buildings I have ever seen." The motion to approve passed six to one.
IN OTHER ACTIONS, the Commission:
* Approved the operation of a child care center at 2 East Glebe Road. It limited the enrollment to 80 children.
* Approved a change in hours for Rosenthal/Landmark Honda, 5125 Duke St., allowing them to be open for sales only on Sunday. Residents of the area voiced objection based on parking by employees. Commissioner Donna Fossum, a resident of the area, noted, "Landmark Honda has not been the best neighbor." She then warned, "If you step over the line you're back in here for review."
* Approved a request for a development SUP to add five fueling stations and a freestanding bank building on the site of BJ's Wholesale Club, 101 S.Van Dorn St. It required an amendment to the Landmark/Van Dorn Small Area Plan. Staff recommended approval "because the applicant (BJ's Wholesale Club) has agreed to limit the rezoning to a small portion of the site and ... the rezoning will not preclude redevelopment of the large remaining portion of the site."