On January 21, 2012, the Alexandria City Council voted 5-2 to approve the Waterfront Small Area Plan. and Waterfront zoning changes. 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.

On February 25, 2012, City Council voted to approve the ordinance (No. 4749) to incorporate the Waterfront Small Area Plan into the City's Master Plan. A second ordinance required to implement the proposed waterfront zoning code was approved on March 16, 2013.

• Waterfront Small Area Plan as adopted 
  

Waterfront Plan Implementation

Old Dominion Boat Club Related Items

Waterfront Schematic Landscape and Flood Mitigation Design

Other Activities

Waterfront Text Amendment 

• Staff report and presentation to Council for the W-1 zone text amendment 
  On March 16, 2013 the Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to adopt a text amendment that reaffirms the City's commitment to implementing the zoning of the Waterfront Small Area Plan. The Council also voted 6-1 to approve a separate text amendment that clarifies a portion of the zoning code regarding the applicability of protest petitions.
• Staff report and presentation to Council for the W-1 zone text amendment 
• March 16, 2013 City Council Meeting Video 

The following is additional information related to the W-1 zone text amendment:

• Acting upon guidance from the City Council, City Manager Rashad M. Young requested that the Planning Commission initiate and consider a text amendment to the W-1 zone to implement the Waterfront Plan. The City Manager discusses the reasons for this action in a letter to the community. On March 5, 2013 the Planning Commission recommended approval of the W-1 zone text amendment to amend the W1 zone. Staff reports and presentations discussing the zoning text amendments are available on the Planning Commission's March 5, 2013 docket.  
• Press Conference - Waterfront Plan Zoning Process Update
  On February 15, 2013, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, and City Manager Rashad M. Young, held a press conference to announce an update to the Waterfront Small Area Plan zoning process.
• May 16-21, 2012 Correspondence Regarding Appeal of BZA Text Amendment Decision  

Art and History Implementation Committee Report

• PowerPoint
  

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.

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

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 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.

More Information

• Information Archive  
  Record of public meetings and other events related to planning activities, and any related documentation, presentations, and videos associated with the events.
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