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Notes: City Council absence delays vote on controversial Old Town redevelopment

By ALXnow.com

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

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🚨 You need to know

A rendering for 301 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

The Alexandria Times reported that a City Council vote on a controversial development was postponed due to absences on the dais.

The redevelopment of 301 N. Fairfax Street into a four-story residential development not only garnered protest from the public, but sharply divided the Planning Commission in a 4-3 vote.

With a petition gathering 900 signatures in opposition to the development, the Alexandria Times reported that city zoning ordinance Section 11-808 requires a three-fourths vote from the Council to be approved.

City Council member Alyia Gaskins had a personal conflict, the Alexandria Times reported, and was not present at the meeting.

Chapman told the Alexandria Times he planned to vote against the project. With Gaskins absent, that would mean a rejection of the application.

The project will come back to the City Council for review on Saturday, Jan. 20.

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