RAPID ZONING CODE OVERHAUL WILL ALLOW OVERDEVELOPMENT OF SHA NEIGHBORHOODS

On what the mayor calls “the most ambitious housing reform in our history,” the City is proposing to eliminate your say on land use, affording developers the right to build in your neighborhood whatever makes them the most money. The astonishing bundling of nine zoning proposals through 41 text amendments to be reviewed by the public in just six weeks represents the latest and the most significant assault on resident voices.

The intent of the city’s Zoning for Housing initiative is to dramatically increase the city’s housing stock, in part by eliminating zoning protections that safeguard your neighborhoods from being overdeveloped. The last time the city passed such a sweeping reform was 1992 after a 3-year effort. So the city is moving with astonishing speed on this.

Among other things, the City's proposal's will eliminate single-family home neighborhoods -- allowing developers to build up to a 4-unit apartment building next door to your single-family home -- add a second apartment tower on a current site, and allow high-rise apartments to be constructed outside the back fence of a line of towhomes.

To learn more, visit www.livablealexandria.com , the website of the Coalition For A Livable Alexandria (CLA), a citywide grass roots group that is advocating for a much different approach to housing that would safeguard our neighborhoods -- and the city overall -- from overdevelopment. Visit their website, order up a yard/window sign, and make a donation.

Also read "Losing Your Say in the Matter", a column that ran last week in the Alexandria Times,  https://alextimes.com/2023/10/city-hall-watch-with-bill-rossello-losing-your-say-in-the-matter/ . It lays out the facts in a 2-3 minute read. You can also learn more about the specific proposals at the City's Zoning for Housing, Housing for All webpage.

The city is moving fast, planning a vote on Tuesday, November 28th, right after the Thanksgiving holiday week. 

Please make your voice heard. You can email all city council members at https://alex311.alexandriava.gov/customer/request/CTYCNCL/details 

And please consider attending key meetings on this topic. Here are dates and locations for them:

Agenda Alexandria: "Shaping Alexandria’s Future, One Home at a Time". Tomorrow, Monday October 23rd at 7pm (The Lyceum, 201 S Washington St, Old Town)

November 1: Planning Commission Public Hearing (City Hall)

November 14: City Council Public Hearing (City Hall) 

November 18: City Council Public Hearing (City Hall) 

November 28: City Council Vote (City Hall)

ANOTHER ROAD DIET IN PLANNING STAGES: THIS TIME ON KING ST AT BRADLEE

The city is in the early plannning stages of another road diet that is likely to affect the quality of life SHA members. The plan is to fundamentally change traffic flow, add bike lanes and change sidewalks and bus stopse on King Street between Quaker Lane and Menokin. It promises to impact our access to - and egress from - Bradlee Shopping Center, which so many of us frequent.

Please join our December 14th regular SHA meeting when we discuss this project with City Transportation Director Hillary Orr. That meeting will be held live at Immanuel-Church-on-the Hill, 3606 Seminary Road at 7 pm. A Zoom link will be published ahead of the meeting for those who cannot make it in person. Mark your calendar.

NORTH EARLY AND FAIRLINGTON TOWNE RESIDENTS SUFFERING FROM WAYPOINT PARKING OVERFLOW

In a plan approved by the Planning Commission and City Council, the developer of the Waypoint affordable housing complex provided only about 1 parking space per apartment unit in an area with no Metro stop. Given that Alexandrians own motor vehicles at a rate of 1.75 per housing unit, this was short-sighted.

Reportedly, the parking lot is very difficult to navigate for pick-up trucks and has several electric vehicle spots that are going unused. Not surprisingly, this has led to Waypoint residents parking their second vehicles on the street in the surrounding neighborhoods. The current situation was predicted by SHA and our residents at city-sponsored public meetings during the project's planning stages. But like so many issues affecting SHA residents, our concerns were brushed aside. Once again, we have been proven right.

We will also discuss this issue with City Transportation Director Hillary Orr at the December 14th meeting at Immanuel-Church-on-the Hill, 3606 Seminary Road at 7 pm. A Zoom link will be published ahead of the meeting for those who cannot make it in person. Mark your calendar.

UPDATE ON LIGHTS AT HAMMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL

The city ultimately placed the light poles on the east side of the athletic field in lane 1 of the track after initially digging the holes in lane 3. Several SHA board members met with Council Member Amy Jackson at the site and the city made the change. That was the best SHA could do after the city deceived residents, communicating a change of the light pole location at the 11th hour, only on page 176 of a staff report appended to the City Council docket item. There was also a fair amount of press coverage embarrassing City Hall for their incompetence and lack of proactive communication on the last minute change.

Ironically, the lights have yet to be turned on. We are not sure why, but suspect that there may be an issue connecting the light wiring to the electric grid.

Meantime, a resident lawsuit failed in court. What residents should know is that if you wish to appeal a city department ruling on zoning to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), do so as soon as possible and definitely prior to a vote by City Council. You will get a hearing from BZA, which is an independent body whose decisions are binding and cannot be overturned by City Council. If City Hall refuses to submit the matter to the BZA, you will have a better case in court if you file a complaint.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTIONS

All Seminary Hill residents are invited to join our Annual Meeting on November 9th at Immanuel-Church-on-the Hill, 3606 Seminary Road at 7 pm. We will review the issues and developments of the past year, present a view of the year to come, present our annual Community Service Award, and hold our elections. Anyone interested in serving on the board should contact me at bill.rossello2@PROTECTED .