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Office of the City Clerk
March 13, 1999

All Persons, Including Applicants, Wishing
to Speak Before City Council Must Fill Out A
Speaker's Form (Which May Be Found in The
Rear of the Council Chamber) and Present It
to the City Clerk.

If you have a prepared statement, please present
it to the City Clerk.


Public Hearing Meeting
Saturday, March 13, 1999 - - 9:30 a.m.


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OPENING

1. Calling the Roll.

The Meeting was called to Order by Mayor Donley, and the City Clerk called the Roll; all Members of City Council were present.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

2. Public Discussion Period. [No more than 30 Minutes] [This
period is restricted to items not
listed on the docket.]

(a) Deborah Wisnowski, 2121 Jamieson Avenue, #1510, representing the Eisenhower Civic Association, spoke against the PTO at Carlyle;

(b) Jane Starkey, 2121 Jamieson Avenue, #1903, representing the Eisenhower Civic Association, spoke against the PTO at Carlyle;

(c) Alan N. Rudd, 2121 Jamieson Avenue, #1801, representing the Eisenhower Civic Association, spoke against the PTO at Carlyle; a copy of Mr. Rudd's statement is on file in the office of the City Clerk;

(d) Jack Woodard, 2151 Jamieson Avenue, #1708, spoke against the PTO at Carlyle;

(e) James Hurysz, 127 South Fairfax Street, representing the Concerned Fairlington Residents, spoke to traffic congestion in Fairlington and its problems; and

(f) John Chapman Gager spoke.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (3-14)

Planning Commission

Without Objection, City Council withdrew docket item nos. 7, 10 and 14 from the Action Consent Calendar. The items were considered under separate motions.

3. CITY CHARTER, SECTION 9.06; CASE #99-01--BLIGHTING INFLUENCES PROGRAM 4. REZONING #99-0003--208 SOUTH ROYAL STREET
Public Hearing and Consideration of a rezoning from RM/Residential to POS/Public Open Space. Applicant: City of Alexandria, Department of Planning and Zoning.

5. MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT #97-0004--REZONING #97-0004--4500 WHEELER AVENUE
6. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0176--4500 WHEELER AVENUE

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

7. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0003--5010 DUKE STREET--CAMERON STATION, PHASE III
8. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0166--50 SOUTH PICKETT STREET #31--PICKETT SHOPPING CENTER
9. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0006--5300 ROANOKE AVENUE--WINKLER BOTANICAL PRESERVE - CAMP
10. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0168--4600 KING STREET--JEFFERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
11. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0001--815 KING STREET
12. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0005--460-A SOUTH PICKETT STREET

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

13. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0008--3901 MOUNT VERNON AVENUE
14. ENCROACHMENT #99-0001--1508 MOUNT VERNON AVENUE--MANCINI’S RESTAURANT
END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR

City Council approved the Action Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of docket item nos. 7, 10, and 14, which were considered under separate motions. The Planning Commission recommendations are as follows:

3. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.06 of the City Charter, the possible acquisition for rehabilitation/redevelopment and resale of low- and moderate-income persons or for resale "As Is" to the private market for rehabilitation/redevelopment the following property which is located in Potomac West: 30 East Reed Avenue; and approved the City Manager's recommendation and (1) approved the addition and deletion of the properties listed on pages 2 and 3 to the currently approved List of Blighting Influences in Potomac East and Potomac West; (2) approved, pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.06 of the City Charter, the possible acquisition for rehabilitation/redevelopment and resale to low- and moderate-income persons or for resale "As Is" to the private market for rehabilitation/redevelopment of the one Potomac West property to be added to the List; and (3) authorized the City Manager to enter into contracts for the purchase of properties on the Blighting Influences List if it becomes necessary to acquire such properties because of the failure of the owners to comply with the program's guidelines.

4. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.

5. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.




REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

6. Councilwoman Pepper requested staff to send some inspectors to check this site because there is a whole row of trailers in the back that look like they may be permanently there.

City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.
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Without Objection, Mayor Donley announced that item nos. 16 and 17 have been deferred. He noted that when we get to docket item no. 16, he would entertain questions from Ellen Pickering who had signed up to speak on this item.
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7. Duncan W. Blair, 112 South Alfred Street, attorney representing the applicant, requested that condition #68 be deleted since staff agrees that it is no longer necessary.

Members of Council directed questions to Mr. Blair and staff.

City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission, as amended, and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations, with the deletion of condition #68. (Separate motion)

8. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.

9. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.

10. James Hurysz, 127 South Fairfax Street, representing Concerned Fairlington Residents, spoke against this item; and

Barbara P. Beach, 416 Prince Street, attorney representing the applicant, spoke in support and answered questions directed to her by Members of Council.

City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations and deleted condition #10. (Separate motion)

11. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

12. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations and the amended conditions #3 and #8.

13. City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations.

14. Cynthia O'Brien, 239 East Monroe Avenue, representing herself and her finance', spoke against this item; and

Barbara Mancini, 1508 Mt. Vernon Avenue, applicant, spoke in support.

Mayor Donley noted that there are several questions that need to be answered, i.e., whether this would be a health code violation by moving the dumpster next to the door of the restaurant; the number of parking spaces that would be lost by moving the dumpster; and whether the dumpster could be wheeled in or out for pickup. Mr. O'Kane will also take a look at Council Member Rich's suggestion about how you could fit another parking space in if the dumpster is not there. Mr. O'Kane also will work with the applicant. The findings should be shared with Ms. O'Brien.

14. City Council deferred this item for no more than thirty days, sooner if possible, so that the above questions can be answered, and then Council can consider the options. (Separate motion)

END OF ACTION CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

15. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0090--5010 DUKE STREET--CAMERON STATION, PHASE II
City Council approved the proposed amendment to Cameron Station Phase II as shown on the revised plans dated March 3, 1999, and the revised conditions (Attachment 2 to the memorandum), subject to all applicable codes, ordinances and the staff conditions attached to the memorandum.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

16. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0011--1101 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET AND 625 FIRST STREET--PARKWAY CENTER
Without Objection, Ellen Pickering asked, since the architect is out of the country, how much time are interested parties going to get to discuss this, and does this have to go back to the Planning Commission when the changes are made, or can City Council simply take all of the changes we hope will be made and approve it without going back to Planning?

Assistant City Attorney Pessoa stated that the matter is now before City Council. It certainly can be amended before Council and Council can approve those amendments. If the Council wished to refer it back to the Planning Commission because the Council felt it was so extensive that it needed another review by the Planning Commission, that would certainly be within Council's prerogative

Mayor Donley stated that Council would want to see what they potentially come up within the next 30 days or so. He stated that, in his discussions with both the citizen associations and the attorney representing the developer, there clearly are some major differences. Mayor Donley noted that he and other Members of Council feel that this project can be improved and that is probably going to mean a reduction in density, how it's improved, how far the density is reduced, what kind of architectural treatments, etc. He indicated that he feels that Council can handle it, but if our staff and the Council feel that it needs to go back to the Planning Commission, I think we can remand it back. He stated that he is not really optimistic that anybody is going to be able to work out any substantial differences and have the necessary documentation within the next thirty days, maybe, but he doubts very seriously that thirty days will be sufficient.

Vice Mayor Euille asked if there is a plan or vision for what we and the citizens want and/or desire for the gateway into Alexandria both exiting Fairfax and entering Alexandria from the south, and entering and exiting Alexandria from the north.

Planning and Zoning Director Lynn explained the vision.

Vice Mayor Euille wants to know the plan or vision for the Washington Street corridor.

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

Mayor Donley requested staff to put together a summary in the next couple of weeks about the adopted guidelines and potentially if there are any illustrations that sort of summarize them. This would help Council when the Parkway Center Plan comes back to Council. It may be useful for both the developer and the neighborhood groups to have that kind of information as well.

Planning and Zoning Director stated that if Council wants to reduce densities on that site, the appropriate way is to amend the Master Plan which currently allows them the densities. If there is agreement that we don't want higher density development along Washington Street, the appropriate action would be to amend the Master Plan to reduce the densities to what Council believes is appropriate.

Councilwoman Pepper stated that the entire Master Plan revision process that we went through last year was terribly flawed and it should have been a larger process. The restriction of questions that were allowed during the hearings did not help us and that's why we are having a number of these questions about the Master Plan process.

Councilwoman Pepper requested that throughout the City wherever there are gateways, we ought to take another look at those to see just what we want to introduce our City. There might be nicer ways to present our City as we enter the gateways.

Council Member Walker noted that there have been several people working on signage on the Sign Committee. Due to delays because of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, it is hoped that the committee will get back into planning again to start talking about the gateway signs and other directional signs within the City.

City Council noted the deferral of this item to the April 17, 1999 Public Hearing Meeting.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

17. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0106--1101 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET AND 625 FIRST STREET--PARKWAY CENTER
City Council noted the deferral to April 17, 1999.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

Without Objection, City Council considered docket item nos. 18 and 19 together and under one motion.

18. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0038--1461 NORTH BEAUREGARD STREET, RAYBURN AVENUE, READING AVENUE--MARK CENTER PLAZA IIB/C
Council Member Walker would like to discuss, at our joint work session with Planning Commission, gated developments. She stated that she thinks that gated communities are sort of contrary to what we say we are trying to achieve which are communities which work together. She would like to discuss the concept of gated communities and whether the City will approve gated communities.

City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations, with amendments to conditions #4 and #14.

Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

19. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0002--1461 NORTH BEAUREGARD STREET, RAYBURN AVENUE, READING AVENUE--MARK CENTER PLAZA IIB/C
City Council approved the Planning Commission recommendation, as amended, and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations, with the amended condition #21, and noted the amendment in condition #14 as recommended in the March 11, 1999 memorandum from Planning and Zoning Director Lynn.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________


REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

20. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0040--1100 SAINT STEPHEN’S ROAD
City Council approved the recommendation of the Planning Commission, as amended, and approved the request, subject to compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances and staff recommendations, and deleted condition #27 recommended by the Planning Commission, and incorporated all of the language of the document agreed to by the developer, the Seminary Ridge Civic Assn., Inc., and the Seminary Hill Assn., Inc., that includes a change to #3 [of the new document] to read: "3. No construction trailer shall be allowed; the Applicant shall use the existing pool house for this purpose. Upon sale of lot 3, a construction trailer will be allowed and shall be located no closer than 100 feet from St. Stephen's Road;" and #10 [of the new document] shall read: "10. The applicant shall dedicate to the City of Alexandria a public access easement over the road and the sidewalks."
[The conditions in the document submitted today by the developer and civic associations will be numbered consecutively as 27 through 42 and be incorporated as part of the special use permit.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Traffic and Parking Board

21. Public Hearing and Consideration of Traffic Calming Measures at the Intersection of West and Oronoco Streets. (Councilman Speck)

Councilman Speck requested that Council defer this until Tuesday, March 23, to have staff complete a review. The reason for that is that there are a couple of other dimensions to this and to have it all as one package. There is the issue of the four-way stop and flashing red. There is also the matter of either additional striping that may be helpful as we have seen in other places to also psychologically slow down traffic. Also there is the possibility of reducing slightly the no parking to corner, not by number spaces, but by a small distance to give a greater sight line for the traffic that's trying to pull out to be able to pick up that traffic. This might not be necessary but staff can review it thoroughly.

City Council closed the public hearing and deferred this matter until staff can comment at the Legislative Meeting on March 23.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

Traffic and Parking Board

22. Public Hearing and Consideration of an Appeal from a Decision of the Traffic and Parking Board on January 25, 1999, rescinding the handicapped parking space located at 236 Lynhaven Drive. Applicant and Appellant: Constance Carr, by Sylvia M. Brennan, Attorney.

Councilwoman Pepper noted the letters and comments received from the Human Rights Commission, the Commission on Persons With Disabilities and the Aging Commission with respect to the policy. She indicated that the Aging Commission suggested that perhaps when clearer standards are set, assuming they would be set, that there might be a public hearing on the standards. She would like to have that factor taken into consideration.

Council Member Rich stated that for future purposes the nature of disability needs to be on the table.

Mayor Donley noted that the attorney for the applicant was requesting confidentiality and once it is given to Council it becomes public.

Council Member Walker would like to convene a group from Traffic and Parking, Human Rights, the Commission on Persons With Disabilities, Commission on Aging, and people who are involved in the ADA laws.

City Manager Lawson noted that a group has been meeting for five or six months and would welcome participation by Council Member Walker.

Mayor Donley requested the group to address the actual appeal process.

City Council upheld the January 25, 1999, Traffic and Parking Board decision and denied the appeal.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

23. Public Hearing. Second Reading and Final Passage of AN ORDINANCE to revise the City's regulations governing discharges into the sanitary sewer system and ultimately into the wastewater treatment facility operated by the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, and the treatment of such discharges before their entry into the sewer system. (#17 3/9/99) [ROLL-CALL VOTE]

City Council noted the deferral to March 23, 1999.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________


REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR (24-32)

Planning Commission (continued)

24. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0163--297 SOUTH VAN DORN STREET--VAN DORN PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER--KABOB MASALA
25. ENCROACHMENT #98-0008--2819 RUSSELL ROAD, SOUTHEAST CORNER AT BIRCH STREET
26. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0122--621 SOUTH FAYETTE STREET
27. CDD CONCEPT PLAN #98-03--2201 EISENHOWER AVENUE--MILL RACE, PHASE I
28. DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0020--2201 EISENHOWER AVENUE; MILL ROAD--MILL RACE, PHASE I




REPORTS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES (continued)

DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR (continued)

Planning Commission (continued)

29. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0118--2201 EISENHOWER AVENUE--MILL RACE, PHASE I
30 SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0135--719 NORTH SAINT ASAPH STREET
31. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #98-0145--2400-B MOUNT VERNON AVENUE--RIVERA’S CAFE
32. SPECIAL USE PERMIT #99-0007--301-A SOUTH WEST STREET
END OF DEFERRAL/WITHDRAWAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Without Objection, City Council noted the deferrals.
Council Action:_______________________________________________________________

The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

This docket is subject to change.

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