Commercial development is moving forward at Cameron Station, the Pentagon Federal Credit Union will remain in Alexandria and City Council handled text amendments regarding political signs, the Chesapeake Bay Act, Board of Architectural Review and Planning processes and more at the May 15 public hearing.
Food Matters is a proposed new restaurant that will be located on the bottom floor of one of the condominium buildings at the corner of Brenman Park Drive and Summerville in Cameron Station.
“This is exactly the kind of commercial development we envisioned at Cameron Station,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “And I am certain that these owners will be the kind of neighbors that the people of Cameron Station want.”
The restaurant will be owned by Gerry and Victoria Hebert, who also reside in the building where the restaurant will be located. “We are very grateful to the staff for guiding us through this process and to our neighbors for supporting us,” Victoria Hebert said.
“Many residents of Cameron Station have told us that they want a restaurant and have asked us how soon we can open. We realize that there may be issues and we live and work in the building. We want our neighbors to know that we are available and can only resolve issues if we know about them.”
One of those residents with concerns is Laverne Carter. She, too, lives in the building where the restaurant will be located. “I did not get a notice concerning this special use permit and certainly don’t want the noise of a restaurant in my building,” she said. “Summerville is one of the prettiest blocks in Cameron Station and I don’t think we want to change that by allowing outdoor restaurant seating,” she said.
The main issues were parking and hours of operation. “We have suggested to those who are concerned that visitor parking spaces will be used by restaurant customers that they deal with this through the homeowner’s association,” said Barbara Ross, the deputy director of the city’s department of planning and zoning. “They can and should put up signs stating that the parking is for Cameron Station visitors not for those who are visiting retail establishments.
“Also, the hours of operation are controlled by our department and the condominium association. The condo bylaws take precedence and they currently state that the restaurant can be open only until 10 p.m. and that deliveries are only allowed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. There is consideration to change these bylaws and our recommendation to allow the business to remain open until 1 a.m. and to allow deliveries beginning at 6 a.m. are to allow flexibility should the bylaws be amended,” she said.
Council approved the special use permit unanimously, noting that the owners must comply with all of the condo bylaws.
SINCE 2001, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership has been working with the Pentagon Federal Credit Union to find a new site for its headquarters. “This business has been a citizen of Alexandria for the past 21 years and really wanted to remain,” said Howard Middleton, representing the Credit Union. “We appreciate the work that staff has done to make this possible.”
The Credit Union’s headquarters is currently located on N. Fairfax Street. The proposed new location is in the Alexandria Tech Center, just west of Telegraph on Eisenhower Ave. The application includes an increase in the number of parking spaces for the building.
“This is part of a development that was approved originally in 1983,” said Eileen Fogarty, the director of Planning for the city. “We struggled with it for some time because of the request to increase the number of parking spaces. In the end, we are recommending approval because of all of the other improvements we have obtained.”
Those improvements include a sidewalk along Eisenhower, landscaping, the use of green construction methods in building the facility and a redesign of the original concept for the building.
“I am concerned about the increased number of parking spaces and don’t understand how there can be less traffic when we are agreeing to more parking spaces,” said Councilwoman Joyce Woodson. “Also, I don’t think any of us here likes being held hostage by a business telling us they will leave the city if they don’t get a certain item approved. Nonetheless, I am going to support this project.”
Fogarty explained further about the increased number of parking spaces. “The Credit Union has 325 employees and they have agreed to subsidize a van service, shuttles to two Metro stops and make a flex car available,” she said. “We are very pleased and believe that this will help change the Tech Center from a suburban office development to an appropriate urban center with good access to public transportation.”
The building is one of nine buildings that are planned for the site. “I think it’s important to point out that this increase in parking spaces is solely for this building and not for the overall development,” Fogarty said. “The next tenant who comes in for the last building will have to live with the remaining number of spaces in the development.”
Councilman Andrew Macdonald echoed Woodson’s concerns. “More parking spaces means more cars,” he said. “I must express my concern about this but will support the application,” he said.
The project was approved unanimously.
AFTER A YEAR OF discussion, which included seven meetings and three public hearings, the city has amended the text amendment regarding political signs.
“Last year when we were here before the old Council, we were told that there was a great deal of concern about this issue,” said Katy Canady. “Now here we are and it’s just me. All of our concerns about this text amendment were dealt with at the Planning Commission so I heartily endorse this amendment and urge you to approve it.”
[See related story, page 6].
Councilman Rob Krupicka said, “As someone who knocked on doors a great deal last year, I heard some of those concerns expressed, particularly as they relate to political signs causing problems for motorists,” he said. “I just wonder how we are going to deal with enforcing the rule that says they can’t be located within 15 feet of the edge of the median.”
“Enforcement is a problem,” Ross said. “We don’t really enforce this rule for a couple of reasons. First, we don’t have the staff resources and if we can’t look at every median in the city and enforce the rule uniformly for every candidate, it is better to do nothing,” she said.
Ignacio Pessoa, the city attorney, pointed out that there has been a change to the manner in which fines are levied. “A candidate who violates any of the rules can forfeit his bond because of any violation,” he said. “Not just if he doesn’t remove the signs in the designated time.”
Vice Mayor Redella S. “Del” Pepper spoke in support of political signs. “I am glad we are not really limiting signs,” she said. “Signs help newcomers, particularly and that is important.”
The text amendment was approved unanimously.
There are some changes to enforcement procedures in cases of special use permits. “We think that this clarifies some issues but allows us the flexibility we need to ensure compliance,” said Ross.
The amount of the maximum allowable fine was changed from $3,000 to $5,000 and the text amendment was approved.