A major critic of Alexandria’s residential zoning reforms has thrown his hat into the ring as an Independent candidate for City Council.
Roy Byrd, the co-founder of The Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, made the announcement in a press release.
“It’s time for a change,” Byrd said in the release. “There’s a growing discontent among Alexandrians with the city’s trajectory, with officials often at odds with the community, mistaking quick fixes for sound governance, and substituting genuine engagement with promotional tactics.”
Byrd has been a vocal critic of City Council’s Dec. 2023 decision on the Zoning for Housing/Housing for All package, and with a group of residents spent upward of $30,000 trying to get it reversed in court.
The zoning reform package was unanimously approved last year by City Council after an extensive public engagement process. It includes citywide changes to single-family zoning, expansion of transit-oriented development, reducing parking requirements for single-family homes and analyzing office-to-residential conversions.
Byrd also said the failed Potomac Yard arena deal would have impacted the quality of life for residents.
Byrd has lived in the city with his wife since 1998. He is a retired Marine Corps colonel, and served from 1976 to 2006, according to his LinkedIn page. He has been a defense subcontractor since his retirement, in addition to working in the community. He was a longtime board member with the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations, was on the Alexandria Police Department Community Advisory Team, and the Alexandria COVID-19 Response Group. He was also president of the Clover College Park Civic Association from 2017 to 2019.
Byrd faces six Democrats, Republican candidate Celianna Gunderson and Independent candidate Mason Butler on election day on Nov. 5.
“My commitment is to be a Councilmember who listens and serves, prioritizing your concerns, your voice, and your future,” Byrd said.”I am eager to enter the race.”
