Alexandria City Council tackled several land use issues during its public hearing last weekend, a hearing that was long and often contentious. A common occurrance over the last couple of years it seems has been Council overturning the Planning Commission on decisions. It happened again Saturday when Council voted to allow a Subway sandwich shop to open on King Street.
“This applicant has done everything that city staff have asked of him,” said Councilman Rob Krupicka. “I understand that we are in the middle of the King Street retail study and I understand that this is not necessarily the type of restaurant that we wish to encourage on King Street. However, I think it is unfair to penalize this applicant who has been working very diligently to fulfill all of the conditions placed upon him.”
Everyone on Council agreed with Krupicka.
“I don’t want anyone to see this as a precedent but this is the right thing to do in this case,” said Vice Mayor Redella S. “Del” Pepper.
The vote to overturn the Planning Commission’s decision not to allow the special use permit was 6-0.
Fireflies on Mt. Vernon Avenue and Le Gaulois on King Street will both be allowed to increase their outdoor seating. “We want to encourage these restaurants to expand their businesses,” Pepper said. “This is good for Alexandria.”
SOMETHING NOT necessarily so good for Alexandria is permitting three parking lots to remain in North Old Town. The lots are operated by Max Management and are located on Madison and North Columbus streets. Neighbors argued against allowing the parking lots to remain.
“I am very sympathetic with your concerns,” said Councilman Paul Smedberg. “I lived in that neighborhood for several years and you have these parking lots right in the middle of a residential area. However, parking is an issue.”
That is the reason that staff recommended the parking lots remain. “We have imposed several conditions,” said Barbara Ross, the deputy director of the department of Planning and Zoning. “However, with the buildings on Washington Street, there is a real need for these lots.”
The vote to keep the lots was unanimous.
The most contentious issue was the discussion of the Second Presbyterian site on Janneys Lane. Four neighbors appealed the Planning Commission’s decision to allow a developer to build eight homes on the 6.07 acre site.
The appeal was based on the neighbors’ contention that the site plan failed to comply with the site plan requirements for traffic, storm water management-drainage, tree preservation, compatibility and also “that the proposal fails to comply with the open space portion of the master plan.”
Judy Durand presented the neighbors’ appeal and engaged in a heated debate with Councilwoman Joyce Woodson. Durand referred several times to an “engineering report.” Woodson asked her several times 'what report?' “The appeal is the report,” Durand finally said.
CITY STAFF DID not have a copy of any independent engineering report nor did City Council. “I asked for a copy of the report in May but didn’t receive it until now,” said Richard S. Baier, the director of the department of Planning and Zoning.
The report was a memorandum from Gregory Budnik with GJB Engineering, Inc. Budnik reviewed the staff analysis and wrote a report to Durand. The report, generally, did not find fault with the staff analysis. Rather, Budnik suggested additional SUP conditions which might be considered.
“I believe that it may be appropriate to consider a “cap” on the total amount of impervious area per lot via a covenant or restriction in the deed of subdivision as an SUP condition so that downstream owners can rest assured that the statement that storm water run-off is generally decreased from this site can continue to be a reality after bond release and that the city or downstream property owners can enforce the requirements of maintaining a specific amount of impervious area on the over-all project/subdivision…” the memorandum said.
Many neighbors had fought to keep the entire six acres open space. Developers have agreed to provide two acres of open space for park land. Judy Noritake, chair of the Open Space Steering Committee, addressed the issue of the open space plan in an earlier interview.
“I believe that we have to make compromises,” she said. “The city is getting two acres of open space here and that is a good thing.”
Julie Crenshaw, a city activist, spoke in support of the appeal and threw a document at a table at which staff were seated.
“Members of Council are expected to behave in an appropriate manner with citizens but citizens are also expected to behave in an appropriate manner with Council members,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “We are not going to tolerate anyone being disrespectful to staff. Everyone has a right to express his or her opinion but that can be done in an appropriate manner."
The mayor went on to say, “During our strategic planning process, we discussed a code of conduct. I believe it should be adopted and posted in Council chambers and anyone who doesn’t adhere to that code of conduct will be asked to leave,” he said.
In the end, the matter was deferred until the June 22 meeting so that staff can review the Budnik analysis. Councilman Andrew Macdonald, who has been a supporter of the appeal, was not at last Wednesday’s meeting nor at last Saturday’s public hearing. He was fly fishing.