Planning Commission | ALXnow

Published March 2, 2023 at 3:45PM

The proposed Inova Alexandria Hospital campus on the former Landmark Mall site (via City of Alexandria)

The 1.1 million-square-foot Inova at Landmark project is headed to the Alexandria Planning Commission on Tuesday, signaling the beginning of an official public approval process. If all goes according to schedule, construction of the four-building medical campus could wrap in the second quarter of 2028, according to site development partner Foulger-Pratt.

The hospital building is designed to face Interstate 395, and is proposed to have a two-story glass atrium at its entrance, above which would be a six-story Z-shaped inpatient tower. Inova anticipates that the building will be 184 feet tall (nearly 17 stories) to hide hospital mechanical equipment, although the hospital system is asking for a maximum height allowance of 250 feet, or 23 stories.

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Arlandria bar Hops ‘N Shine headed back to city review after being cited for multiple permit violations

By Vernon Miles

Published February 9, 2023 at 10:50AM

Hops n Shine (photo via Hops N Shine/Facebook)

After a series of neighborhood complaints, the popular Arlandria neighborhood bar Hops ‘N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) is being brought back to the Planning Commission for a review of its special use permit.

The docket says Hops ‘N Shine says a special use permit, originally approved in 2020 for more outdoor entertainment and indoor seating, is under review after “violations of Special Use Permit conditions.”

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Planning Commission says DHL temporary trailer on Duke Street has overstayed its welcome

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2023 at 3:50PM

DHL Express trailer on Duke Street (image via City of Alexandria)

International shipping company DHL Express drew some flack from Alexandria’s Planning Commission after the company let slip in a recent meeting that they had no plans to find a permanent home for their “temporary” trailer business on Duke Street.

The company was granted approval for a temporary trailer set up in the parking lot of Shoppes of Foxchase (4513 Duke Street) during the pandemic. DHL was up for a two-year extension of their permit to operate in the parking lot but was applying for an additional three-year extension beyond that.

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Alexandria found success in King Street pedestrian zones, but the 200 block could be trickier

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2023 at 1:40PM

200 block of King Street (image via Google Maps)

While the city has had some success with pedestrian zones on King Street, city staff say less retail and sloping conditions could make it harder to add a similar zone along the 200 block.

Many residents have welcomed the pedestrian zones that the city added to the 100 and unit blocks of King Street, according to a survey. Motivated by this early support, Chris Ziemann, transportation division chief, said the city is focusing on improving the now-permanent pedestrian zones at the 100 block of King Street and the unit block — the block closest to the waterfront.

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Birchmere brushes up against city zoning ordinance in switch to electric signage

By Vernon Miles

Published January 4, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated January 4, 2023 at 10:12AM

New sign at The Birchmere (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 10:10 a.m.) Like Bob Dylan, The Birchmere has switched to electric — at least for its signage. Also like Dylan, it’s a change that’s causing some trouble for the music venue.

It started last summer when famed music venue The Birchmere Music Hall (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue) was finding it difficult to hire someone to change out the letters on the venue’s old sign.

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What are some of the big City of Alexandria priorities in 2023?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 3, 2023 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City Hall was lit up for the weekend of Juneteenth 2021. (photo via Carol Jean Stalun Photography for Visit Alexandria)

Alexandria has kicked off the new year with a glimpse at some of this year’s biggest priorities.

A memo from Director of Planning Karl Moritz, published ahead of Planning Commission meeting this Thursday, lays out some of the work priorities for the city over the upcoming year.

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Housing redevelopment in Arlandria would triple the number of affordable residences

By Vernon Miles

Published December 16, 2022 at 9:50AM

3908 Elbert Avenue development (image via City of Alexandria)

A planned redevelopment of an affordable housing building in Arlandria could triple the number of units on the site.

Community Lodgings Inc. is headed to the Planning Commission on Feb. 7 to pitch redevelopment plans for 3908 Elbert Avenue, currently the 29-unit Carpenters Lodgings building.

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Potential impact on Alexandria shuttle programs creates setback for transportation funding overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published December 9, 2022 at 10:20AM

A plan to overhaul the way Alexandria handles transportation funding from developers was sent back for further review by the Planning Commission.

Members of the Planning Commission said earlier this week that there are too many lingering questions about the impacts on local residents of the proposed changes, though the changes are headed in the right direction.

News

Planning Commission backs Landmark redevelopment plans

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2022 at 3:00PM

Thrive (image via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria’s Planning Commission’s recommendation of approval for the long-awaited “West End” development was offset slightly by concerns that the city isn’t doing enough to pressure developers into adopting more environmentally conscious design.

The Planning Commission voted 5-1 in support of development plans for a large chunk of what was once Landmark Mall. The recommendation heading to the City Council supports four sprawling blocks of development with a mixture of multifamily residential, ground-floor commercial, and medical office spaces.

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Planning Commission Chair: City needs to consider better pay for employee retention

By Vernon Miles

Published December 6, 2022 at 11:10AM | Updated December 6, 2022 at 11:51AM

Alexandria City Hall lit up (staff photo by James Cullum)

If Alexandria wants to hold onto its most skilled staff members, the Alexandria Planning Commission chair said the city government will need to pony up and pay more competitive wages.

A letter (item 10) drafted by Planning Commission Chair Nathan Macek offered some guidance for the upcoming budget and some nudges toward more transportation funding and employee compensation.

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After 35 years of administrative chaos, Alexandria zoning change could make developers pay for transit

By Vernon Miles

Published November 29, 2022 at 11:30AM | Updated November 29, 2022 at 12:21PM

A bus outside the King Street-Old Town Metro station (staff photo by James Cullum)

An upcoming zoning change could both cut through some development red tape and make funding for transportation projects more accessible after years of noncompliance from developers.

The city is looking at reshaping Transportation Management Plans (TMP), one of the core pieces of any new development that’s remained basically unchanged since 1987. The goal of a TMP is to ensure new development promotes public transportation, walking, biking or rideshares rather than driving to work alone.