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Office of the City Clerk
February 23, 2009



Public Hearing Meeting
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - - 10:30 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.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

2. Public Discussion Period.

The following people participated in the public discussion period:

(a) Annabelle Fisher, 5001 Seminary Road, spoke about streamlining the number of advisory groups and task forces that are created by Council. Ms. Fisher suggested that Council consider having community meeting in the neighborhoods and compiling the ideas of the citizens to address issues in the City.

(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 requested that all groups interested in running come together to brainstorm about ways to improve the tracks throughout the City. Mr. Carr also requested that track improvement be included in the some of the upcoming Master Plans.

(c) Mindy Lyle, 5235 Tancreti Lane, representing the Cameron Station Civic Association, stated that the current administrative Special Use Permit (SUP) process, even though streamlined, still proves to be cumbersome. Ms. Lyle noted that a couple of businesses in the Cameron Station community were having a hard time expanding their businesses because of obstacles still present in the SUP process. Ms. Lyle requested that Council revisit the administrative SUP process and make it so businesses are encouraged to operate in the City.

(d) Cathy Puskar, 215 East Oak Street, representing the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber of Commerce welcomes the opportunity to continue the discussion about further streamlining the SUP process to make it easier for businesses to succeed in Alexandria while at the same time being mindful of the needs of the community and the citizens. Ms. Puskar also encouraged everyone to continue to support Alexandria businesses and "Buy Alexandria" during the tough economic times.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-5)

Planning Commission

3. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0086
610 MONTGOMERY STREET
PIZZA PAN
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for an amendment to allow delivery at an existing restaurant; zoned CDX/Commercial Downtown (Old Town). Applicant: Richard Smith

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

4. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0020
4001 EISENHOWER AVENUE
CAMERON RUN REGIONAL PARK
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a development special use permit, with site plan, to install and operate a group picnic shelter; zoned POS/Parks and Open Space. Applicant: Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

5. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0082
1 GROVES AVENUE
HOME DAY CARE
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to operate a home child day care; zoned R2-5/Single-Family. Applicant: Heather Christiani

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Recommend Approval 7-0

END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council adopted the Action Consent Calendar as follows:

3. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

4. City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation.

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

REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER

None.

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

6. 221 WEST GLEBE ROAD
Public Hearing on a Report on the feasibility of redeveloping the old Safeway site located at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue and West Glebe Road, 221 West Glebe Road. Staff: City of Alexandria, Department of Planning and Zoning

City Council closed the public hearing on this item, received the report and requested the following: (1) that staff return to Council with a clear action plan that addresses the citizen comments and that outlines how to move forward with the concepts in Arlandria master plan; (2) schedule a community walk this spring that includes the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Code Administration, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and other appropriate bodies with interests in the area; and (3) assemble a group to monitor the implementation of the Arlandria Master Plan.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

7. MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT #2008-0008
LANDMARK/VAN DORN SMALL AREA PLAN
LANDMARK/ VAN DORN CORRIDOR PLAN
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request for a revision of, supplement to, and an amendment of the Landmark/Van Dorn Small Area Plan to include the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan.

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Resolution Adopted 7-0

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation with the following amendments: (1) accept the changes in the letter from Cathy Puskar, attorney, dated February 19, 2009 including: (a) page 56, the underlying zoning districts would apply to development proposed without a CDD Special Use Permit, except that the development should conform to the design guidelines established in Chapter 6.0 in order to ensure that development under zoning is compatible with the pattern of framework streets and the pattern of adjacent uses to be developed under the plan, and does not preclude the ultimate redevelopment of the site for mixed-use as envisioned in the plan...; (b) page 58, delete the 50,000 square feet minimum office recommendation from Table 4-4 and add that gross floor area to a neighboring property with a significant viable office component; (c) page 58, note 8. Density can be transferred among development blocks within a CDD as part of a CDD SUP; (d) page 112, the plan recommends that in all projects 25% of the site area excluding streets be provided as a ground-level open space except that such open space may be provided above the ground level or may be reduced with a contribution to an open space fund if such alternatives better meet the Plan objectives; and (e) page 153, medical offices, grocery stores, and restaurants are uses that typically require more parking than would be permitted under their general use classes. This letter was submitted to the City Clerk for the record:

(2) on page 153, rewrite the provisions related to above-ground parking to read:

I. PARKING

-Above-grade parking for retail or office use may be allowed for a block which includes retail or office uses with a combined gross floor area of approximately or more than 100,000 square feet as part of a CDD DSUP. This provision shall apply only to projects constructed during the first or catalyst phase of development as described in Chapter 9, Implementation.
-Reasonable efforts will be made to provide underground parking with a gross floor area of the project site for which parking is being provided before above-grade parking is permitted. This site area for this calculation does not include area dedicated for streets, parks, or other public areas.
-Floor area of at-or-above grade parking structures shall be counted for the purposes of calculating the total FAR of the development except that above grade collector parking structures for a block that includes retail or office uses may be excluded from the total FAR as part of the CDD DSUP.

II. RIGHT-OF-WAY (p. 33)

Add a third sentence to the next-to-last paragraph on page 33 that states the following: "The Plan also recommends that the City make its final decision at this same time on its plans for the right-of-way at the existing ramp from Duke Street to Van Dorn Street."

III. CURB CUTS (p.106)

Add the following: No permanent curb cuts or service alleys shall be permitted along "A" street frontages with the exception of parking structure entrances under the proposed New High Street Bridge or as reasonably required for access or service due to site constraints.

IV. HEIGHTS

-Add language 7.75 Building Heights allowing additional height for tops and embellishments for buildings of not less than 150 feet in height or higher.

-Assign a 250 feet height to Choi property for portion adjoining Duke Street and a letter from planning staff to qualify the measuring of the property.

Delete the language on page 204 added by the Planning Commission stating, "While the Plan recognizes that the redevelopment economics of this area are challenging, especially in the short term, there should be no expectation on the part of the private landowners or developers that public funds will be expended for private, on-site improvements."
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

8. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2006-0018
COORDINATED SIGN PROGRAM SUP #2008-0089
2001 MAIN STREET AND 2301 MAIN STREET
POTOMAC YARD - LANDBAYS I AND J
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request a development special use permit, with site plan, for a residential development, temporary sales trailer, and a temporary coordinated sign program within Potomac Yard; zoned CDD-10/Coordinated Development District. Applicant: Potomac Yard Development, LLC by Duncan Blair, attorney

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

City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation deleting the added condition (l) to assure that any future City policy on the issue of public rights of assembly in private open spaces will be applicable to the Neighborhood Open Space at Landbay I. City Council requested that staff return with a recommendation on perpetual public access easements in the near future.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: This item was heard prior to docket item no. 8.

9. CDD CONCEPT PLAN #2008-0004
CDD #10 AMENDMENTS - POTOMAC YARD
LANDBAYS E AND K
Potomac Yard is generally bordered by the Arlington County line to the north, Jefferson Davis Highway to the west, George Washington Parkway to the east and Braddock Road to the south.
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to amend the conditions of CDD #10 to permit alterations to Landbay E consistent with the Four Mile Run Master Plan and to revise the timing and construction for the pedestrian bridge in response to the Metro Feasibility Task Force studies; zoned CDD-10/Coordinated Development District. Applicant: Potomac Yard Development, LLC by M. Catharine Puskar, attorney

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

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

Board of Architectural Review

10. Public Hearing and Consideration of an Appeal of the Board of Architectural Review's decision approving, as amended, a request for approval of modifications to previously approved plans for signage for Case BAR 2008-0225 at 119 S. Washington Street, zoned CD Commercial. APPLICANT: TD Bank, N.A. APPELLANT: TD Bank, N.A.

This item has been withdrawn at the request of the appellant.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

11. Final Passage of an Ordinance to Establish a “do-not-deliver” List of Addresses at Which the Owner or Resident Has Elected Not to Receive Unsolicited Newspaper Deliveries; To Regulate the Delivery of Such Newspapers to Addresses on the List, and To Prohibit Delivery Contrary to the Regulations. (#10, 1/24/09, #23, 1/13/09, #25, 6/17/06 and #21, 6/13/06)

City Council tabled the current ordinance before Council and instructed the Acting City Attorney to create a new ordinance and present it at the first legislative meeting on March 10, 2009 and schedule it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on March 14, 2009.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

12. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to adopt Master Plan Amendment No. 2008-0007, to amend the Master Plan to change the land use designation of property at 520 South Van Dorn Street and 631, 641 South Pickett Street to CDD and amend height limits. (#9, 2/10/09)

City Council approved an ordinance to adopt Master Plan Amendment No. 2008-0007, to amend the Master Plan to change the land use designation of property at 520 South Van Dorn Street, and 631, 641 South Pickett Street to CDD and amend height limits. (ORD. NO. 4578)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

13. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Adopt Rezoning No. 2008-0002, to Rezone Property at 520 South Van Dorn Street and 631, 641 South Pickett Street from Industrial and Commercial General to CDD. (#10, 2/10/09)

City Council approved an ordinance to adopt Rezoning No. 2008-0002, to rezone property at 520 South Van Dorn Street and 631, 641 South Pickett Street from Industrial and Commercial General to CDD. (ORD. NO. 4579)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

14. Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance to Establish a New CDD #17 (Landmark Gateway). (#11, 2/10/09)

City Council approved an ordinance to adopt the zoning ordinance to establish a new CDD #17 (Landmark Gateway). (ORD. NO. 4580)
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Planning Commission (continued)

15. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #2008-0088
1101 QUEEN STREET
SMILE MARKET
Public Hearing and Consideration of a request to allow a restaurant within an existing grocery store and a request for a parking reduction; zoned CL/Commercial Low. Applicant: Asegdech Kelecha

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Deferred

END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council noted the deferral.
Council Action:_________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 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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