Waterfront Small Area Plan

City Council Voted 5 - 2 to Approve the Waterfront Plan

On Saturday January 21, The Alexandria City Council voted 5-2 to approve the Waterfront Small Area Plan. The Plan provides a framework for revitalizing Alexandria’s waterfront through several means, including:   incorporating Alexandria’s history as a foundation for planning and design, expanding and enhancing public open spaces, improving public access and connectivity, promoting the waterfront as an arts and cultural destination, ensuring compatible development.

Missed the meeting?  

• Click here to watch it online. 
• Click here to view the presentation by Staff.

Read the City's Press Release for more information on Council's vote (the Action Docket is also posted on Council's Docket page).

January 21 City Council  Public Hearing Staff Report and the following attachments:

The public hearing staff report has been posted on the Council Docket for January 21.

Additional Note:

• City Council received a binder for the public hearing which contained The January 21, 2012 Public Hearing Staff Report, The December 20, 2011 WPWG Recommended Plan Changes, The January 10, 2012 Joint Worksession Recommended Changes, The Proposed Text Amendment, and Waterfront Small Area Plan. All items are among those noted above.

More Information

• Waterfront Plan Work Group Final Report and Appendices with findings and recommendations
• January 10  - City Council Work Session to discuss the report
  • Presentation by Staff

The current version of the Draft Waterfront Small Area Plan was released in July 2011, and incorporates all of the changes made by the Planning Commission on May 3, 2011. Also included below is an extended summary document, which provides a broad overview of the July 2011 Draft Plan. The "Information Archive" contains additional materials from each of the most recent public hearings for both Planning Commission and City Council, including presentations, memoranda, and graphic depictions. Information on the Waterfront Plan Work Group (WPWG), which is continuing its study and discussion on the Plan, is available on the Work Group web page. Please stay informed by signing up for eNews.

• Waterfront Plan Executive Summary
  This document is the Executive Summary, lifted from the July 2011 Waterfront Plan.
• Waterfront Plan Extended Summary Document
  This document is a more detailed summary of the Updated Draft Waterfront Plan, which was released in June 2011.
• Updated Draft Waterfront Plan
  This document reflects updates to the first draft, released February 28, pursuant to approval of the Planning Commision. All discussions taking place on the plan as of September 2011, including those of the Waterfront Plan Work Group, are in reference to this document.
• Waterfront Plan Work Group (WPWG)
  The WPWG is an 8 member citizen advisory group, formed to identify consesus areas and to identify, categorize, and narrow differences on the concerns raised by residents over the plan.
• Information Archive 
  Record of public meetings and other events related to planning activities, and any related documentation, presenations, and videos associated with the events.
• Stay Informed: Subscribe to eNews
  Receive updates, meeting notices, and more information by subscribing to the City's free eNews service.

For more information about the Waterfront Small Area Plan, contact Nancy J. Williams, Principal Planner, Planning & Zoning - 301 King Street, Room 2100, Alexandria, VA 22314 - 703.746.3851 or 703.746.4666

Analysis of Report by the Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP)

• Waterfront Plan Issues Matrix - comparing draft plan with CAAWP Report (January 10, 2011)
• Memorandum from Acting City Manager requesting Staff analysis of CAAWP Report (November 1, 2011)
• Alexandria City Staff Analysis of CAAWP Report (November 21, 2011)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the benefits to increased density proposed in the Alexandria Waterfront Plan?
• How was the public involved in developing the Alexandria Waterfront Plan?
• How does the Waterfront Plan reflect what Alexandrians asked for?
• What has been the response to the Plan from Alexandria's appointed boards and commissions?
• How does the Plan address museums and other cultural institutions?
• How does the Waterfront Plan address flooding?
• How does the Plan for Alexandria's waterfront compare to National Harbor?
• How does the Waterfront Plan preserve historic buildings?
• The Plan increases public space along the Waterfront…by how much?
• How much new development would the Plan allow?
• What types of development (housing, retail, hotels) are proposed?
• How quickly can parking problems be addressed?
• Why does the Plan suggest hotels as a redevelopment option?
• The Waterfront Plan shows piers that extend further into the Potomac than existing piers. What is the process for these to be approved?

Planning Area & Goals

• Waterfront plan area - The Waterfront Plan will cover the area from Jones Point Park (where the National Park Service has completed its planning) in the south to Daingerfield Island in the north; approximately, by Union Street (south of Queen Street) and Fairfax Street (north of Queen Street) to the west, and then Bashford Lane out to the George Washington Memorial Parkway north to Daingerfield Island.
• Waterfront Plan Goals

Public Process

The passionate, broad, and high level of interest in this project throughout the Alexandria community has underscored the need for a public process that is as inclusive as possible. Throughout the process, City staff has engaged stakeholders through:

• Informational meetings to identify existing conditions, study other nationally and internationally successful waterfronts, and identify potential opportunities and constraints;
• Interactive meetings to enable interested parties and groups to share their ideas for the Waterfront Plan;
• A series of community workshops to establish values, principles and options for the Waterfront plan; and
• Walking and boat tours of Alexandria Waterfront and waterfronts in other cities.

The City thanks all interested parties for their past and continued participation to the planning process.

News & Media

• July 19, 2011 - Update on City's Efforts to Acquire Public Rights of Way on and Connected to The Strand
  Alexandria City Attorney James L. Banks, Jr. provides an update to the media on the City's efforts to acquire public rights of way on and connected to the Strand, adjacent to the Old Dominion Boat Club.

Click to enlarge this profile view comparison of Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor under the Draft Plan