Although the word "compromise" was used often by both sides Monday night during the City Council's public hearing on proposed development plans for Jones Point Park, in the final analysis there was none.
Roger Blakeley, deputy director for Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs Department, reviewed the various "schemes" that have been proposed throughout the deliberations of the Jones Point Park Work Group as well as the most recent addition dubbed the Yates Gardens/Old Town Civic Association plan. The schemes included parking configurations to support future park uses.
It was the loss of 240 parking spaces originally planned for under the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge that reopened the debate on the park's development plan. They fell victim to federal government security concerns following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Prior to opening the public hearing, Councilwoman Joyce Woodson asked if parking might be restored under the bridge and if that question had been explored with various federal and state agencies. "I don't want to vote on something and then find out that they really didn't mean no parking under the bridge," Woodson said.
"We have asked a variety of people to clarify that decision but no one will actually put it in writing," said Richard Baier, director of Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services.
"Do you anticipate they will ever put it in writing?" Woodson asked.
"No," Baier answered. "In a meeting with Maryland, VDOT, and the federal government they stated there would be no parking under the bridge and they wouldn't entertain any further questions on the issue," he said.
This brought forth a question from Vice Mayor Redella "Del" Pepper has to how the event area planned for south of the new bridge would be used if no vehicles were to be allowed. Blakeley explained there would be one controlled entrance for emergency and service vehicles. "There will only be walking paths for those attending any activities south of the bridge," he said.
Mayor William Euille asked about the possibility of parking under the bridge for those special events. This has been considered in deliberations since the no-parking ruling following 9/11.
"This might be possible for special occasions with proper security procedures," Blakeley said.
"What kind of security procedures? Opening trunks? Having dogs? Each car takes minutes to check. That's absurd," Woodson said.
IN BOTH the pre 9/11 development plans and under Scheme A athletic fields were confined to an area north of the new twin spans close to the river and immediately adjacent to the wetlands. There were no athletic fields south of the bridge.
The primary reason for this design was concern for historic preservation. On questions from Councilman Paul Smedberg pertaining to the historic preservation area, Jean Federico, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria and one of three JPP Work Group chairs, indicated one small field south of the bridge could be possible.
"Two fields in this area (south of the bridge) is too much. There will be 14 historic markers in the area. They were planned with passive recreation in mind. This should be a great opportunity to appreciate the beginning of our history," Federico said. "We hope we will be able to preserve these historic aspects," Blakeley added.
"We have a lot of history in Alexandria we are trying to preserve. We are also trying to do a lot of things with this park," said Councilman Andrew Macdonald.
"What we should be striving for here is a multi-purpose park. A place everyone can enjoy. It should be for all activities," Euille said.
Two speakers not heard from before in the debate concerning the park's development spoke out Monday night. They were Engin Artemel, speaking for St. Mary's School and Andy Rider, known as the "Mayor of Jones Point Park."
"St. Mary's has strong feelings on the use of South Royal Street for park parking. That area is used heavily by St. Mary's School for parents to line up their vehicles to pick up their children," Artemel said.
"This is a finely tuned system and a life line for the school. We are very grateful tonight that all the proposed alternatives puts all the parking in the park," he said.
Rider, a fisherman at Jones Point Park on a daily basis, urged against using the land north of the bridge for two large athletic fields. "We have all types of birds now nesting in that area. Any development there will increase the flooding in the wetlands and drive away the birds," he said.
OTHER COMMENTS included:
"These fields would be available for passive recreation most of the time when not in use." — Cindy Anderson
"We gave a lot of thought to all the schemes. The new bridge has doubled in size from the existing bridge and all the expansion has been to the south. We are opposed to any plan for fields south of the bridge." — Kathleen Pepper, chair, Alexandria Archeological Commission
"The Yates Gardens/Old town Civic Association compromise for one youth size field south of the bridge is the most realistic. Scheme A will impact our neighborhood the most." — Teresa Miller, member, JPP Work Group and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force.
"I have spent my whole life involved with athletics. But, putting two large athletic fields in this park does not serve the community as a whole. The mitigation money should be used to buy land for athletic fields elsewhere." — Townsend Van Fleet
"This whole discussion should be held in abeyance until an air quality study can be done." — Jon Wilbor. This was suggested due to vehicle fumes from traffic crossing the bridge.
"The City's Open Space Summit was held two years ago. That study showed a need for passive recreation by an overwhelming number of those surveyed. The Old Town Civic Association/Yates Gardens plan is more in tune with that Summit." — Poul Hertel
"I'm a 50-year resident of Alexandria and I haven't owned a car for more than 20 years. People should walk and ride bikes more. We should have parking for bikes under the bridge." — Alice Myers
"We don't perceive that park as a neighborhood park. It's a City park and we need regulation size athletic fields. We will remember and vote for those that support two fields." — James Gibson, Youth Sports Representative, JPP Work Group
"I have a major concern for kids in public housing that have no fields on which to play. That's why I support Scheme A." — A. Melvin Miller, chair, Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
"We really don't know what facilities we already have." — Yvonne Weight, member, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force
"Any uses of the park must keep those uses and parking in balance." — Michael Hobbs, president, Old Town Civic Association
"I'm here as chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission and we are upset that we don't support adult athletics." — Judy Guse-Noritake
"The demands for youth sports is increasing." — Michael Neilson, Youth Sports Volunteer
"There are some very serious problems with the way this process was done. It was not coordinated." — Julie Crenshaw, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project Stakeholder member JPP Work Group
"All interest groups are going to have to give a little. The Yates Gardens/Old Town Civic Association plan offers the most uses and minimizes damage to the park." — Richard Miller.
AT THE CONCLUSION of the public hearing, Euille called on Audrey Calhoun, superintendent, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service, to explain the next steps after the council vote.
"We never make a major decision without public input. Our assessment will go out after Labor Day. We will then hold public hearings after completion of an environmental study of your recommended plan," Calhoun said.
"We will make our decision before the end of the year. We can go with one, two or no fields depending on the results of the environmental impact study," she said.