Waterfront Plan
Issues
2012-01-12 SHA to City Council re Waterfront Plan (docx)
2011-05-12 SHA letter delay Waterfront Plan (doc)
Nan's Notes
2012-01-19 Over SHA and citizen objections, Alexandria’s City Council approved (5-2) changes to the Waterfront Plan that allows more height and density for three properties—two landowners—in the Waterfront area than is currently allowed in the W-1 zone and included eminent domain as a way to accomplish the plan’s goals. Some citizens are discussing legal action to block the plan.
2012-01-12 SHA passed a motion asking the Mayor and City Council to vote “no” on the Waterfront Plan and direct staff to provide a plan within the existing W-1 zoning that included the parcel in north Old Town available since the GenOn Power Plant was closed.
2011-10-30 Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP) presented its vision for an alternative waterfront plan that is available online at http://alternativealexandriawaterfrontplan.com . Basic differences between the plans: the City plan would raise densities on 8 blocks and remove the 55’ limit while theCAAWP plan would not change the current W-1 zoning with a 55’ limit and would plan for the City to purchase property for open/park space adjacent to the water.
2011-10-12 The City’s Waterfront Plan Work Group continues to draft its plan for the Waterfront that would increase zoning and density. A citizen group called Waterfront4All is lobbying on behalf of this plan.
2011-09-14 The City’s Waterfront Plan Work Group held a public session where citizens expressed their likes and dislikes.
2011-09-30 The City’s Waterfront Work Group (CWWG) continues to support raising density for a few properties without adding any additional open space than is currently required. (Note: The piers are owned by the National Park Service but they are counted as new open space. Each is about an acre.) Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP) are opposed to some of this plan preferring the existing zoning. They are also researching and designing a plan that would attract residents and tourists rather than just putting hotels on the water. The CWWG has scheduled a public hearing at the Cameron Station community room, on Cameron Station Bouleveard, on Wednesday, October12, at 5:30 pm. The CAAWP will present its alternate plan at the Athenaeum, 201 Prince Street, on Sunday, October 30, from 5-8 pm.
2011-08-10 City Staff’s plan for the Alexandria Waterfront was not well received by citizen groups, who organized against it—Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP)—because it would allow hotels, restaurants, and large buildings to be built that would block river access and views in Old Town. City Council responded by establishing a Work Group under the direction of Councilman Paul Smedberg and a well-paid mediator to develop another plan. Meanwhile, CAAWP is researching successful waterfront plans in US cities and offering suggestions to the new Work Group.
The focus of the staff’s plan first plan was economics without regard to the existing conditions or the future impact of proposed developments. In a veiled way, it called for the elimination of the W-1 zoning that restricts heights of structures on the Waterfront. Under this new vague CCD zoning, two historical buildings could have been demolished and one property could have been built so high that it would have blocked the view of the Potomac River now enjoyed on Duke Street. The flood wall proposed in that plan was inexpensive and designed for a 10 year event—verses a 20, 50 or 100 year flood wall—meaning every 10 years, on average, Old Town would flood. Without an adequate flood plan, insurance rates would remain stiff in the flood plain. CAAWP is working on a more viable plan influenced by the expertise of urban planners, like those who did Baltimore Harbor. CAAWP notes that FEMA recommends structures in a flood plain be built at least 100 feet from the river. For more information and to join the citizen effort, visit www.alternativealexandriawaterfrontplan.com.
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