Hammond Lights
Issues
2012-01-19 SHA letter to School Board re decision (pdf)
2012-01-17 ACPS withdraws SUP for lights (pdf)
2011-10-15 Jack Sullivan to City Council control P&Z [doc]
2011-10-13 SHA to BZA [doc]
2011-10-04 SHA_supplemental_to_BZA [pdf]
2011-09-14 ACPS FOIA request ready $440 [pdf]
ACPS Mdular - Laser Surveys [email]
ACPS Modula - NRB Site Visit [email]
ACPS Mdular - Precon Services- PCO 07 - CB Laser Survey [email]
ACPS Modula Building Program - Schedules [email]
ACPS Modula Building Program - Special Inspections [email]
Adams - PCO 68 - Roof Hatch [email]
Board materials for CIP add-delete and approveal [email]
CIP master data file [email]
CIP Narrative [email]
CIP Quesions and responses [email]
Draft letter re_hammond lights [email]
FCH Fild Options revised [email]
Final PPT Draft for Phone Conference [email]
Francis C. Hammond Middle School Weekly Update [email]
Fwd_zoning dtermination for SHA regarding Hammond Fileld Lisghts [email]
Fwd a quesrions of status of Hammond Field work [email]
Fwd ACPS CIP budget requests - 1st Quarter of FY 2011 [email]
Fwd Appeal to BZA of Hammond Field Case [email]
Fwd CIP packet #2 [email]
Fwd Douglas MacArthur Hammond Field Bid [email]
Fwd Hammnd lights, etc [email]
Fwd Information Communication to PTA Presidents September 23 FY 2012 budget public hearing [email]
Fwd Letter from Seminar Hill Association, Inc. [email]
Fwd Loose ends [email]
Fwd CIP Files [email]
Fwd Responses to Budget Questions - Operating and CIP [email]
Hammond Middle Scholl Follow Up [email]
Letter from Seminary Hill Associatoin Inc. re SUP for Hammond Middle School
NRB Site Visit - Meeting Agenda
Planning & Zoning letter to SHA re SUP for Hammond Middle School
RE ACPS - Outstanding HITT A_P
RE ACPS Modular - Carhles BArrett & Patrick Hengy - Test Pits
Re ACPS Modular Building Program - Special Inspections #1
Re ACPS Modular Building Program - Special Inspections
Re Adams - Final PCOs - Final contract Values #1
Re Adams - Final PCOs - Final contract Values
Re Community Information meeting #2 Draft Meeting Minutes
Re Follow up on the setback variance for Hammond
Re Hammond Lighting Times for the SUP Application - Input Needed
RE Hammond Middle School Weekly UPdate #1
RE Hammond Middle School Weekly UPdate #2
RE Hammond Middle School Weekly Update
Re Hammond PTA Meeting October 12
Re Planning & Zoning letter to SHA re SUP for Hammond Middle School
Re Polk and Henry - Laser Surveys
Re Seminary Hills Civic Association -0 note re 2_8 public hearing
Re Weekly Report March 14th-18th
2011-08-05 ACPS response to SHA request to reduce fee [doc]
2011-07-28 ACPS timing when documents re Hammond Lights [pdf]
2011-06-29 SHA FOIA request re lights at Hammond [pdf]
2011-07-22 Hammond FOIA W000804 produced-cover letter payment request [pdf]
2011-07-26 Nan email that FOIA documents received from City [docx]
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 1 [pdf] - Note this file is 46 megs
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 2 [pdf] - Note this file is 97 megs
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 3 [pdf] - Note this file is 25 megs
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 4 [pdf] - Note this file is 163 megs
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 5 [pdf] - Note this file is 11 megs
Hammond FOIA W000804 produced 6 [pdf]
Nan's Notes
2012-01-12 The Alexandria School Board met and approved funding for the upper athletic field at Hammond Middle School but not for the installation of lights. Nan wrote to the chair of the School Board to get information about their decision on January 19 but has yet to receive a response. Per a January 17, 2012 letter, the ACPS withdrew its SUP for lights on the field. The ACPS plans to begin construction on February 1 but not sure what. SHA residents are pursuing more information about this construction project, most importantly how they will manage the water!
2011-12-08 Seminary Hill Association and Varsity Park resident Don Fullerton sued the Alexandria City Public Schools in circuit court to force the City to comply with the law for lights on this field. SHA’s legal representative Frank Putzu reported on legal maneuverings in Circuit Court—the Demurrer, Motion to Quash Stay and Motion to Quash Writ—that are beyond my area of expertise. Nothing was scheduled for Motions Day as of December 14. Contact Frank—Area 9 rep—for the details.
2011-11-10 Seminary Hill Association and Varsity Park resident Don Fullerton sued the Alexandria City Public Schools in circuit court to force the City to comply with the law for lights on this field. Since the light poles proposed will not have the setback required by the site plan, the law requires that the ACPS either get a variance or make a determination that there would be no detrimental impact. The Planning Commission made no finding on the issue of detrimental impact of this project, and the City’s staff reports completely ignored the impacts on the neighborhood and the community. The three areas of detrimental impact are: illumination, stormwater runoff, and a loss of real estate values.
2011-10- 15 Jack Sullivan told City Council during an open mike session that Seminary Hill is representing the interest of every home owner in this City regarding the lights on Hammond field because the people in the Planning Office are making things up as they go along. They are putting their desires ahead of the zoning ordinances and obstructing the public.
2011-10-13 The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) heard SHA’s objections to the decision by the Planning Director to approve lights on the upper athletic field at Hammond Middle School. Frank Putzu represented SHA. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the BZA voted to partially deny the appeal and uphold the Director’s Determination and partially uphold the appeal and deny the Director’s Determination. Stay tuned.
2011-09-14 SHA negotiated successfully with the Alexandria City Public Schools to reduce the number of documents to only those about the lights on the upper field at Hammond Middle School and this reduced the fee for SHA’s Freedom of Information (FOIA) request. The final amount paid for about 1,000 documents was $440.
2011-09-14 The Alexandria City Public Schools delivered its documents on the lights at the upper athletic field at Hammond Middle School in response to SHA’s Freedom of Information (FOIA) request. The final cost was $440. The documents are posted on the SHA website.
2011-09-15 Frank Putzu reported that the FOIA documents have strengthened SHA’s appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals to overturn the Planning Director’s decision to install lights. The appeal will be heard on October 13.
2011-08-08 SHA has appealed the decision of the Planning Director to approve the SUP for lights on the upper athletic field of Hammond Middle School to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The BZA will hear it on October 13. Frank Putzu will represent SHA.
2011-08-08 SHA is still negotiating with the Alexandria City Public Schools for their documents in response to SHA’s Freedom of Information (FOIA) request. ACPS wants SHA to pay $1,965 for the documents. SHA’s Board of Directors approved the expenditure of 50 percent of this amount and voted to set up a special fund to cover the cost of acquiring these documents. If you are willing to contribute to this effort, deliver your check—payable to “Seminary Hill Association., Inc.”—to Treasurer Jack Sullivan, 4300 Ivanhoe Place, Alexandria, VA 22304.
2011-08-08 The City of Alexandria provided its FOIA documents at a cost of $80. The documents are posted on the SHA website under the topic “Hammond Lights.”
2011-07-24 More than three weeks after SHA submitted a FOIA request to the City re the lights on the upper athletic field at Hammond Middle School, no documents have been received.
2011-06-07 Planning Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the Alexandria City Public Schools’ application for an SUP to put lights on the upper field at Hammond Middle School. Next step City Council on June 25 and/or an appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
2011-06-07 SHA letter clarifying the City’s process to date re SUP for lights on the upper field at Hammond Middle School and that City staff are not impartial on this matter.
2011-06-06 The Director of Planning & Zoning denies SHA’s request to delay the hearing at the Planning Commission and adds that she “will prepare the formal zoning determination . . . requested.”
2011-06-06 SHA asks the Director of Planning & Zoning postpone the hearing at the Planning Commission because of the “complicated factual and legal issues with significant policy implications.”
2011-06-03 Superintendent of Schools Morton Sherman forwarded two City memos—both responses from James Spengler, the Director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities dated May 26 and May 27—in response to SHA’s first letter on May 18. No response from the City’s lawyer.
2011-06-03 The Director of Planning & Zoning responded to SHA’s second letter with her “initial thoughts” instead of a ruling.
2011-06-01 SHA sent a second letter to the City asking the Director of Planning & Zoning for a ruling on the process and what applies to the application.
2011-03-10 The next public meeting about the Alexandria City Public School’s proposal to upgrade a field at Hammond Middle School—artificial turf and permanent lighting on the field at Seminary Road and Pickett—has yet to be scheduled.
2011-02-08 The public meeting about the Alexandria City Public School’s proposal to upgrade a field at Hammond Middle School—artificial turf and permanent lighting on the field at Seminary Road and Pickett—was well attended by SHA citizens. City staff and contractors were unable to address concerns or answer questions from the public. They decided to defer the filing of the plan and to hold more meetings in the future.
2011-01 The City is proposing permanent lighting on the athletic fields at Hammond Middle School. A public meeting is scheduled for February 8 at 7:30 pm in the auditorium of the school as part of the Special Use Permit (SUP) process needed to install the lights.
