Archive Materials from the Waterfront Planning Process (April 2009-present)
Virginia Supreme Court Rejects Waterfront Opponents' Appeal
The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a major legal challenge by three plaintiffs to the City's approved Waterfront Small Area Plan is moot. The challenge stems from an attempt by the group to appeal the Waterfront Text Amendment to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)—an attempt that was rejected by Planning and Zoning Director Faroll Hamer. The plaintiffs appealed to the Alexandria Circuit Court. The Circuit Court dismissed the case on the City's motion, and the group then appealed the matter to the Virginia Supreme Court.
January 21, 2012 City Council Public Hearing
City Council adopted the draft waterfront small area plan dated July 2011, incorporating the recommendations from the Planning Commission and the Waterfront Work Group and City staff has outlined in the memo (Staff Report) dated January 17, 2012 , as an amendment to the City's Master Plan and a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Section 5.500 of the W-1 Waterfront Mixed Use zone , request the City Attorney to prepare the necessary ordinance and direct staff to proceed with implementation planning as directed in the report, with the following amendments: 1. on page 122, add a new sentence at the end of Parking recommendation 4:34 (d), which states: Testing and monitoring the effect of waterfront development on residential parking areas, with the understanding that additional protective measures should be taken to protect those residential areas. Add a new sentence to read: New residential parking controls, such as restricting parking to permit holders after 6:00 p.m., should be considered an implementation priority. 2. Add language to both the permitted and the special use lists in the W-1 zone: Uses that foster art, history and cultural awareness through increased understanding and training, such as museums, schools and cultural institutions. Any use over 5,000 square feet requires a special use permit. 3. add the word "preferably" in Recommendation 3.69 regarding eminent domain. 4. that it limit to two hotels in the whole waterfront plan, with a total limit of 300 rooms with 150 rooms per hotel in the entire W-1 zone. 5. to add specificity to the language so each parcel has the height limits clearly stated in the master plan.
- Video
- Presentation by Staff
- City Council Docket Link
- Public Hearing Staff Report and the following attachments:
- Waterfront Small Area Plan and Text Amendment
- Waterfront Small Area Plan - Highlights of the Planning Process
- May 14, 2011 City Council Questions and Staff Responses
- January 6, 2012 Joint Worksession Staff Memo
- Complete List of the Work Group's Recommendations
- Comparison Matrix - Draft Plan and CAAWP Report
- Proposed Changes to the Draft Waterfront Plan to Update References to the GenOn Potomac River Generating Station
Updated Draft Waterfront Plan
This document reflects updates to the first draft, released February 28, pursuant to approval of the Planning Commission. All discussions taking place on the plan as of September 2011, including those of the Waterfront Plan Work Group, were in reference to this document.
- Cover Page through Chapter 1: A Waterfront Introduction
- Chapter 2: Goals and Waterfront Wide Elements
- Chapter 3: Character and Theme Areas
- Chapter 4: Transportation, Circulation, and Parking
- Chapter 5: Implementation
- Appendix 1: Community Participation
- Appendix 2: Regulatory and Permitting Considerations and Settlement Agreements
- Appendix 3: Hotel Technical Memorandum
- Appendix 4: Marina Market Assessment Data
- Appendix 5: Alexandria Waterfront Public Art Proposal
- Appendix 6: Alexandria Waterfront History Plan
January 10, 2012 City Council Worksession
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Materials - Memo and WPWG Report
- Presentation by staff
Waterfront Plan Work Group (WPWG)
The WPWG was an 8 member citizen advisory group, formed to identify consensus areas and to identify, categorize, and narrow differences on the concerns raised by residents over the plan.
- Waterfront Plan Work Group Final Report and Appendices with findings and recommendations
Fall/Winter 2012 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, 2012)
- Memorandum from Acting City Manager requesting Staff analysis of CAAWP Report (November 1, 2011)
- Alexandria City Staff Analysis of CAAWP Report (November 21, 2011)
June 11, 2011 City Council Worksession
On Saturday, June 11, 2011 the City Council held a public worksession on the draft Waterfront Small Area Plan. In response to staff's presentation, the City Council shared comments and questions.
- Memorandum detailing the bifurcated zoning approach discussed during the worksession
- Memorandum detailing costs and revenues, as requested by City Council during the worksession
- Presentation to City Council
- Graphic depicting National Harbor and Draft Waterfront Plan build-out scenario comparison.
- Ten Changes to February 2011 Draft Plan (as recommended by Planning Commission)
- Responses to City Council Questions from the May 14, 2011 Public Hearing
May 14, 2011 City Council Hearing
On Saturday, May 14, 2011 the City Council held a public hearing on the draft Waterfront Small Area Plan. Following a staff presentation and public testimony, the City Council shared comments and questions and requested staff to respond in a Work Session. The comments and questions have been documented in a May 23, 2011 Memorandum from Faroll Hamer, Director, Planning and Zoning Department. The City Council Work Session on the Waterfront Small Area Plan is confirmed for Saturday, June 11, 2011, 9:30 am in the City Council Chambers, City Hall. Staff will return at that time with responses to the comments and questions.
- Presentation to City Council
- May 23, 2011 Memorandum - City Council Waterfront Questions
May 3, 2011 Planning Commission Hearing
On May 3, 2011, the Planning Commission voted 6-1 to pass the Waterfront Plan and associated Text Amendment. There were minor changes requested in the action to reflect the desire for boutique hotels and the final vision for the area in and around the foot of King Street, among other changes as reflected in the May 3rd memorandum.
- Presentation to Planning Commission
- Link to Planning Commission Action Docket.
- Link to City Council Calendar.
May 3, 2011 Planning Commission Memorandum
The May 3rd memorandum to the Planning Commission outlined responses and changes recommended to the Plan following questions, testimony and letters generated for the April 5th waterfront public hearing.
The changes recommended by the staff were based on comments, presentations and testimony at the April 5 hearing. In addition, new information concerning the Old Dominion Boat Club discussions is included, but as these discussions had not been completed there is no specific staff recommendation for their implementation, other than that the Planning Commission acknowledged the discussions and the possibility of an agreement with the ODBC in the future. For these reasons, the Planning Commission decided not to take additional testimony at the May 3 public hearing.
(It has come to our attention that some may have difficulty viewing the development table in the memorandum. This table was first posted in the April 5 Staff Report, and can also be downloaded as a single page. Staff apologizes for any inconvenience in your review of the materials.)
Planning Commission Public Hearing, May 3, 2011
Planning Commission Public Hearing, April 5, 2011
City Council Worksession, February 8, 2011
Old and Historic District - Board of Architectural Review , February 1, 2011
Planning Commission Worksession, February 1, 2011
Old Town Civic Association, January 12, 2011
Waterfront Community Open House and Meeting, Monday December 13, 2010
- Agenda
- FAQs
- Presentation - Video
- Exhibit Materials
Art on The Waterfront - Update Meeting and Presentation, Monday, June 21, 2010
History Night - Update Meeting and Presentation, Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Waterfront Concept Plan Community Meeting Presentation, Monday, May 3, 2010
Potomac Waterfront Flood Mitigation Study, Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Art Night, Monday, March 8, 2010
Marina Night, Thursday, January 28, 2010
- Agenda and Handouts
- Waterfront Committee Presentation
- Waterfront Committee Marina Vision Statement
- Moffatt and Nichol Presentation
- Topical Night Marina - RPCA Presentation
- Group Sessions
History Night, Thursday, January 14, 2010
- Agenda and Handouts
- Presentation
- Group Sessions
City Council Worksession, October 27, 2009
Old and Historic District - Board of Architectural Review, October 21, 2009
Planning Commission Worksession, October 6, 2009
Community Meeting at the Torpedo Factory, September 29, 2009
The meeting at the Torpedo Factory included a brief presentation of proposed guiding concepts for the waterfront plan and key ideas for subareas developed from the initial community meetings and tours. Following the presentation, attendees visited displays of each of the principal waterfront subareas and placed "like" (green) and "dislike" (red) stickers on images representing ideas for these subareas. Representatives of Robinson Terminal and the Food Court staffed displays showing ideas for the future of these facilities, and active discussion continued around the boards until 9:00 p.m.
- Presentation
- Audio Recording
- Board 1 - Jones Point and Windmill Hill Park
- Board 2 - The Strand (Robinson South to King Street)
- Board 3 - City Marina plaza (King Street to Robinson North)
- Board 4 - Oronoco Bay
- Board 5 - Mirant and Daingerfield
Field Trip to New York City, August 5, 2009
The Alexandria Planning Commission made a one-day bus trip on August 5, 2009 to New York City. The trip included visits to Battery Park City, the High Line and to Bryant Park, considered among the most successful public spaces in the country. Battery Park City is a series of exceptionally well-designed public spaces linked along a waterfront, and it offers lessons in incorporating public art, ferry and terminal operations, utilization of open space, and connectivity along the waterfront.
- NYC Photos
- Information Handouts
- Videos
- Site Visit. This video begins in Battery Park City, proceeds to South Street Seaport and the High Line, and ends at Bryant Park.
- Discussion. This video was taken on the bus returning to Alexandria, and includes comments by many of the participants.
- Participant Feedback . Written comments received from tour participants.
Community Planning Charrette - Saturday, June 27, 2009
Almost 100 members of the community participated in the City's Waterfront Planning Charrrette on Saturday, June 27. The morning session consisted of a series of presentations outlining existing conditions, such as environmental constraints, historic resources, shoreline conditions, flooding issues, economics and demographics. The afternoon session provided an opportunity for the community to break into small groups and collaborate on developing a vision for the waterfront by exploring the various themes identified in the morning session.
- Agenda
- Presentation Part 1 (Context, History and Land Use)
- Presentation Part 2 (Transportation, Environment, Marine Planning and Engineering)
- Meeting Video
- Presentation Boards:
- Breakout group reports (audio)
- Link to Charrette Flyer
Walking Tour - June 24, 2009
Waterfront Boat Tour - May 30, 2009
- Boat Tour Notes
- Meeting Narrative
- Meeting Video
- Waterfront Heritage Handout (produced by the Office of Historic Alexandria)
Public Forum #2 - April 30, 2009
- Agenda
- Meeting Video
- Presentations
Public Forum #1 - April 23, 2009
- Agenda
- Meeting Video
- Presentations and Written Submittals - Additional information will be posted as it becomes available
- Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association (ACVA)
- Alexandria Economic Development Authority
- Andrew Palmieri
- Archaeological Commission
- Art League graphic
- Art League remarks
- Arts Commission
- Chamber of Commerce
- Joint Statement by Historic Preservation Groups
- Michael Geissinger
- Motorcoach Task Force
- Old Town Business and Professional Association
- Old Town Civic Association Planning Standards
- Old Town Civic Association Questionnaire Comments
- Old Town Civic Association Slides
- Old Town North Community Partnership
- Parks and Recreation Commission
- Potomac Riverboat Company
- Sherry Wilson Brown
- Torpedo Factory
- Waterfront Committee
- Polling Results