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Office of the City Clerk
May 18, 2009



Public Hearing Meeting
Saturday, May 16, 2009 - - 9:30 a.m.

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OPENING

1. Calling the Roll.

Mayor Euille called the meeting to order and the Deputy City Clerk called the roll. All members of Council were present, with the exception of Councilmember Tim Lovain, who was absent.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Public Discussion Period.

(a) Trey Hanbury, 1504 Cameron Street, representing the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association and the Farmers Market, presented the City with a check for the Alexandria Living Landscape Fund. Mr. Hanbury thanked everyone who helped make the market successful and invited everyone to stop by the market when it begins on June 3.

(b) Gary Carr, 216 Aspen Street, spoke about improving the conditions of the running tracks at Francis Hammond and George Washington Middle Schools. Mr. Carr noted that there is a disparity between resources being provided for public school students versus private school students and that the running tracks are a community resource as well as a school resource. Mr. Carr noted that childhood obesity is a local and national epidemic.

(c) Phil Cefaratti, 3812 North Griffith Place, stated that the City elections should remain in May, in order to focus on local issues. Mr. Cefaratti stated that voters still make a choice for or against candidates on Election Day, regardless of voter turnout. Mr. Cefaratti pointed out that a reduction in the cost per vote cast is not a true reflection of quality of the Election.

(d) Annabelle Fisher, 5001 Seminary Road, thanked Council for presenting the Landlord-Tenant Relations Board with a proclamation recognizing the rental community in the City. Ms. Fisher also stated that the City elections should remain in May and that Council needed competent, reasonable and knowledgeable people running for Council.

(e) David Fromm, 2307 East Randolph Avenue, spoke about two upcoming Planning and Zoning issues. Mr. Fromm reported that the west side of Route 1 is mostly light industrial and he requested that the City conduct an inventory and needs assessment of its light industrial uses and services in order to properly plan for it in a comprehensive manner. Mr. Fromm also addressed the proposed land swap at Landbay L and distributed graphics showing possible solutions to the issues that needed to be addressed. Mr. Fromm requested that Council add a study of the combined area of Landbay L, the George Washington Middle School and Braddock Fields be added to the Planning and Zoning work plan.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-4)

Planning Commission

3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0013
1623 FERN STREET
RESTAURANT
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a restaurant and for a parking reduction; zoned CSL/Commercial Service Low. Applicant: Culinary Concepts Corporation by Lawrence Ponzi

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

4. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0084
ENCROACHMENT #2008-0005
532 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET
OFFICE BUILDING ADDITION
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a development site plan for an addition to an office building, a parking reduction and a request to for an encroachment into the public right of way; zoned OC/Office Commercial. Applicant: North Parkway, LLC by Duncan Blair, attorney
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: SUP Recommend Approval 7-0
ENC Recommend Approval 7-0

END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the action consent calendar, with the exception of docket item #4, which was considered under a separate motion. The approval was as follows:

3. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

4. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation. (separate motion)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

5. Public Hearing and Consideration of the Planning Commission Action to Establish a Braddock Open Space Fund Account and a Braddock Community Amenities Fund Account and a Formula as Described in the Staff Report For Developer Contributions as Part of the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan Implementation Strategy. (#21, 5/12/09)

City Council closed the public hearing and deferred the consideration of the docket item until the June 9 legislative meeting to respond to the concerns from Council.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6. Deferral from June 24, 2008, Consideration of the Questions To Be Submitted For an Advisory Referendum to the Voters of the City Regarding the Process to Elect the City Council and School Board and Whether the Questions Should Be Included on the Ballot at a May General Election or at a November General Election. The public hearing on this item has been closed. (#31, 6/24/08, #29, 5/13/08, #3, 6/14/08)

City Council passed the ordinance on first reading and scheduled it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

6.1 Consideration of a City Bridge Loan to Enable the Redevelopment of Glebe Park to Proceed. (Deferred from May 12, 2009.) (#22, 5/12/09)

City Council approved a bridge loan to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), in the amount of $1,440,000 from currently available affordable housing funds, to be repaid as described in docket memorandum.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

7. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0011
106-108 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET
THE BURGER JOINT
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a restaurant; zoned CG/Commercial General. Applicant: The Burger Joint by M. Catharine Puskar, attorney

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval w/amendments 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation with the addition of a condition stating that the applicant will contribute $250 for the planting of trees in the area.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

8. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2009-0023
50 SOUTH PICKETT STREET
CAFE AURORA
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to allow alcohol service at an existing restaurant; zoned CG/Commercial General. Applicant: Dahab Beyne

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

9. SMALL BUSINESS ZONING CHECKLISTS
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to adopt administrative special use permit checklists. Staff: Department of Planning and Zoning

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Adoption w/amendments 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation and requested that a fall work session be scheduled to address and prioritize additional changes and modifications to the Code to simplify the permit process for small businesses.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Board of Architectural Review

10. Public Hearing and Consideration of an Appeal of the Board of Architectural Review's decision approving, as amended, demolition/encapsulation and an addition and alterations at 113 Princess Street, zoned RM Residential, BAR Cases 2008-0158 and 2008-0159. Applicant: Karl and Lydia Svoboda. Appellant: Mr. and Mrs. Allan Gruer on behalf of petitioners.

City Council upheld the decision of the Board of Architectural Review to approve, as amended, demolition/encapsulation and an addition and alterations at 113 Princess Street.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

11. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Permit the City to Apply An Administrative Fee in the Amount of 20 Percent of the Original Amount Due to Cover the Costs of Collection For Unpaid Parking Tickets. (#11, 5/12/09)

City Council passed an ordinance to permit the City to apply an administrative fee in the amount of 20 percent of the original amount due to cover the costs of collection for unpaid parking tickets. (ORD. NO. 4590)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

12. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Allow City Council to Set By Resolution Permit fees for Vending Machines Which Vend Potentially Hazardous Foods and Fees for the Review of Plans and Specifications of Food Establishments. (#12, 5/12/09)

City Council passed an ordinance to allow City Council to set by resolution permit fees for vending machines which vend potentially hazardous foods and fees for the review of plans and specifications of food establishments. (ORD. NO. 4591)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Decrease the Portion of the Real Estate Tax Allocated to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Initiatives Account from $0.01 per $100 of Assessed Value to $0.007 per $100 of Assessed Value. (#13, 5/12/09)

City Council passed an ordinance to decrease the portion of the real estate tax allocated to the Alexandria Affordable Housing Initiatives Account from $0.01 per $100 of assessed value to $0.007 per $100 of assessed value. (ORD. NO. 4592)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Increase the Parking Meter Rate in Parking Meter Zone 3 From $1.00 Per Hour to $1.25 per Hour For On Street Parking, Payable in Such Increments as Provided at the Applicable Meter or Pay Station. (#14, 5/12/09)

City Council passed an ordinance to increase the parking meter rate in parking meter zone 3 from $1.00 per hour to $1.25 per hour for on street parking, payable in such increments as provided at the applicable meter or pay station. (ORD. NO. 4593)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

15. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Impose a Maximum Service Period of 10 Consecutive Years for Any Member of a Board, Committee or Commission, Unless the Term of Service is Otherwise Governed by State Law, City Code or By Another Document That Creates the Committee, Board or Commission. (#15, 5/12/09)

This item was deferred.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

16. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Increase the City's Tobacco Tax Rate From $0.70 to $0.80 Per Pack. (#16, 5/12/09)

City Council approved an ordinance to increase the City's tobacco tax rate from $0.70 to $0.80 per pack. (ORD. NO. 4594)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Planning Commission (continued)

17. ENCROACHMENT #2009-0001
3500 GODDARD WAY
RETAINING WALL
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an encroachment into the public right-of-way for a retaining wall; zoned RB/Residential. Applicant: Duke Crossing, Inc.

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Deferred 7-0

END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council noted the deferral.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

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The meeting adjourned at 1:13 p.m.

Note: The action docket is a summary of Council's meeting deliberations prepared largely for staff follow-up. Formal minutes of the meeting, when approved by Council become the official record of the meeting and of Council decisions made at the meeting.


This docket is subject to change.

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Full-text copies of ordinances, resolutions, and agenda items are available in the Office of the City Clerk and Clerk of the Council. Meeting materials are also available on-line at alexandriava.gov/council
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