City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 23, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Adoption of the Long Range Planning and Plan Implementation Work Program for FY 2014 and Beyond
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ISSUE: Adoption of the long range planning work program for FY 2014.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the proposed FY2014 planning initiatives and work program as described in this memorandum. The proposed work program is consistent with the FY2014 budget in regard to staffing and other budget resources and reflects the City Council's comments at their March 23, 2013 retreat.
BACKGROUND: There is one substantive change from the proposed work program that the Council reviewed at its recent retreat. Staff had proposed to immediately start the transportation data collection as was budgeted in 2013 for the Eisenhower West Small Area Plan even though the plan itself would not start until the conclusion of the Old Town North Plan. Staff and the Council have received input from members of the public questioning the wisdom of separating the Eisenhower transportation analysis from the balance of the planning effort by as much as a year. Staff agrees there are benefits to keeping them together. However, in this case, there is an overriding need for much upfront data collection and coordination with the Federal Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation which staff would like to complete beforehand so that transportation analyses do not slow down the planning process once it starts. The proposed timetable shows this element of the transportation analysis beginning in July 2013 and concluding in January 2014.
Proposed New Interdepartmental Planning Initiatives for FY2014:
- Begin the community visioning for the update to the Old Town North Small Area Plan, including the reuse of the Potomac River Generating Station site
- Update parking standards/policies for new development.
- Develop a set of location strategies for public facilities, including considerations for City office locations (including consolidation) and policies to guide public facility location over the long term
- Del Ray Historic Preservation Plan
- Update the 2008 Bicycle Master Plan
- Data Collection for Eisenhower West transportation analysis
Continuing Interdepartmental Planning Initiatives
- Continue the Long Range Education Facilities Plan with completion scheduled for Fall 2014
- Complete the Stormwater Management Plan
- Complete the Open Space Master Plan Update
- Complete the Public Art Master Plan
- Continue work on the Historic Preservation Management Plan
Ongoing Implementation Work
- Implementation of the Waterfront Plan, with particular emphasis on flood mitigation, park design, and parking
- Continue work on specific action items to implement the Arlandria, Beauregard, Braddock, Landmark/Van Dorn and Potomac Yard Corridor Small Area Plans
- Continue transit project implementation planning for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station and Transit Corridors A and C
- Continue implementation of the Wayfinding program and Eco-City initiatives
- Begin or continue implementation of the Housing Master Plan, the Sanitary Sewer Master Plan, and the ARHA Strategic Plan.
- Continue to conduct 2010 Census data analysis, reporting and forecasting
BUDGET IMPACT: The FY 2014 Operating Budget does not contain additional funds (beyond those already budgeted and state costs) to conduct this work program in FY 2014. Funds will be needed in FY 2015 for outside technical assistance and other support for Old Town North small area planning (approximately $500,000). In addition, the two of the proposed new projects require funding of $175,000 FY 2013 carryover funds can be used for this purpose.
DISCUSSION: As in previous years, City departments and agencies that are engaged in long range planning and plan implementation have jointly prepared a preliminary work program for the upcoming fiscal year. This preliminary work program was shared with the public and reviewed with the City Council at their March 23, 2013 retreat (and has been available online since then). With one adjustment (to the timing of the Eisenhower West areawide transportation analysis), the bar chart/timeline that is attached is the same as that reviewed by the Council at its retreat.
Although the Council is being asked to approve the FY 2014 work program only, the chart covers the mid-FY 2013 to FY 2016 time period to give a broader picture of the proposed schedule of major planning projects. In addition, the chart shows work associated with plan implementation, which continues to occur after each plan is adopted.
In typical years, staff prepares this preliminary work program for City Council discussion in the fall, prior to the completion of the City Manager's recommended budget for the following fiscal year. The Council then approves a final work program in May or June, just before the start of the next fiscal year. This year both discussions occurred in the spring because of the election cycle.
The preliminary work program coordinates the planning work programs of the Department of Planning and Zoning; the Office of Housing; the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities; the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services; the Office of Historic Alexandria; the Department of General Services. Potential work program elements are evaluated by the above departments with the City Manager's Office, the Department of Code Administration, Alexandria City Public Schools, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association.
The proposed work program reflects the City Council's Strategic Plan, the interdepartmental nature of the planning program, and the resources needed to complete each project at the recommended level of effort on each project. As is usually the case, there is greater demand for work to be undertaken and completed than there are staff and technical resources to devote to it.
The options for addressing this imbalance include:
- Prioritizing certain types of projects over others;
- Delaying some projects until others can be completed;
- Reducing the scope of work of a project; and/or
- Authorizing additional staff resources.
A specific question is why there isn't capacity to conduct two small area planning processes at the same time, namely Old Town North and Eisenhower West, which is addressed in a memorandum to the Council on May 8, 2013 (and attached).
On May 6, 2013, the City Council approved the FY 2014 General Fund Operating Budget and FY 2104 to FY 2023 Capital Improvements Program. This work program can be accomplished with the resources provided by the approved budget along with carryover funds from FY 2013.
Evaluating Potential Planning Projects for FY 2014
The basic approach to developing the proposed work program involves some constants from year to year: projects that have been started must be completed, adopted small area plans may be followed by plan implementation, and there will be projects led by one department that will require contributions by other departments.
Within that framework, there are still choices to be made, particularly during constrained budget times. Important guidance is provided by the City's Strategic Plan and the preliminary work program includes projects that pursue outcomes closely aligned with six of the seven goals:
- Goal 1: Alexandria has quality development and redevelopment, support for local businesses and a strong, diverse and growing local economy.
- Goal 2: Alexandria respects, protects and enhances the health of its citizens and the quality of its natural environment.
- Goal 3: A multimodal transportation network that supports sustainable land use and provides internal mobility and regional connectivity for Alexandrians.
- Goal 4: Alexandria is a community that supports and enhances the well-being, success and achievement of children, youth and families.
- Goal 5: Alexandria is financially sustainable, efficient, community oriented and values its employees.
- Goal 7: Alexandria is a caring and inclusive community that values its rich diversity, history and culture, and promotes affordability.
In addition to alignment with the Strategic Plan, the interdepartmental long range planning team each year identifies themes that it uses to make choices for the work program. For FY 2014, the themes include:
- Resuming progress in updating the City's small area plans
- Implementing the principles of civic engagement and the planning process framework created by the community in FY 2013
- Sustained and expeditious progress in plan implementation, which is a large and increasing element of the work program
- Continued attention to public facilities planning to meet future needs as efficiently as possible
- Pursuing transportation policies that emphasize non-auto forms of travel
- Projects that support existing neighborhoods as well as future growth in areas such as the environment, open space, and public art
Specifically in regard to the selection of the next small area plan, it has been the City's practice to prioritize plans in locations where there is strong and immediate pressure for change, often in the form of specific redevelopment proposals for key sites. This is true to a much greater degree in Old Town North than in other areas of the City where a small area plan is needed. Specific redevelopment proposals are a strong indicator that an approved small area plan will result in significant economic investment in the near future.
Descriptions of Work Program Items
The attached chart shows 22 work program items that have some work expected in FY 2014 which are described in more detail below. Several of these are new projects for the Council to consider, including the selection of the next small area plan to update.
The Next Small Area Plan
Two small area plans have emerged as frontrunner candidates for the next small area plan: Eisenhower West and Old Town North. There are reasons why both deserve attention but there is only enough capacity for one small area plan at a time.
Staff looked at a number of different options for addressing this issue, including staggering the work on the two plans so that both can be completed within a reasonable timeframe. The concept for that option was that during periods of intense community engagement on one plan, the work on the other plan would involve completing technical studies, much of which will need to be done by outside technical assistance. Staff received negative feedback on that idea because, among other problems, it would be confusing to the public to alternate work on the plans and it would stretch out the time spent on both plans.
The remaining option is to complete one plan after the other, with each plan taking about 18 months. At the March 23 City Council retreat, staff recommended that the Old Town North plan begin next and the Eisenhower West plan begin when the Old Town North plan is completed. Staff's rationale is that while both plans are important, the need to complete the Old Town North plan is more urgent because there are several important parcels in Old Town North for which redevelopment proposals are imminent (ABC-Giant block, Royal Street Bus Barn block) and this is not the case in Eisenhower West.
Although staff has identified Eisenhower West and Old Town North as the priority small area plans, other potential small area plans for future work programs include Route 1 West, the Duke Street Corridor, and Fairlington/Bradlee. These plans are briefly described in this memorandum.
Old Town North Small Area Plan, Including the Potomac River Generating Station Site
The Old Town North Small Area Plan was approved in 1992 as part of a comprehensive re-planning of the City. The approved plan identifies a number of redevelopment sites that have not yet redeveloped. However, in the past few years redevelopment pressure has increased considerably, with construction under way to complete the Printer's Row townhouses, to complete a mixed use project (including a Harris Teeter on the ground floor), and to complete the conversion of the Sheetmetal Workers Union building into luxury condominiums.
Redevelopment projects are also proposed for North Washington Street and a developer partnership is pursuing redevelopment of the ABC/Giant site. A developer has been selected for the re-use of the old Health Department building. A recent court case has cleared the way for the relocation of buses from the WMATA bus barn on Royal Street, freeing up that site for redevelopment. The Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Authority recently approved a strategic plan that recommends redevelopment of its properties into mixed income projects and some of these properties are in Old Town North.
The largest of the potential redevelopment sites is the Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS), which ceased operations in October, 2012. The 22-acre site is located between the George Washington Parkway and the Potomac River and consists of a power plant and a PEPCO substation (which occupies about 5 acres). It is expected that the substation function will need to remain on or near the site, although not necessarily occupying as much acreage. Some decommissioning work has already occurred, including the removal of the coal pile. The site is served by a rail spur that continues through Old Town North through Oronoco Bay Park to Robinson Terminal North. With the PRGS closure and the expected redevelopment of Robinson Terminal North, the current use of the rail spur will cease and its future and purpose determined.
The PRGS site represents a significant potential benefit for the City of Alexandria, both in terms of the undesirable use that is departing as well as the prospect of creating new public amenities and economic opportunities. Among the amenities long identified as desirable: an increase in waterfront open space that significantly improves the connection between Daingerfield Island and Old Town North's waterfront. From a development point of view, the site has many positive attributes, including a waterfront location, great views, access to the GW Parkway and to National Airport, but considerable care will need to be taken to address potential neighborhood impacts and to maximize the public benefits to the degree feasible.
There is considerable interest by the Old Town North community in beginning the update to the Old Town North Small Area Plan. The North Old Town Independent Citizens Civic Association (NOTICe) has formed a land use subcommittee to explore long range planning issues. Both NOTICe and the Old Town North Urban Design Advisory Committee have sent letters to the Council supporting a small area plan update to include the PRGS site.
NRG, which controls the former GenOn/Mirant site has indicated that it is looking forward to the upcoming Old Town North planning process and is ready to actively participate in this planning process. Long range planning for the site will also involve:
- The environmental remediation issues on the site, their cost, and potential impact on site layout and use.
- Open space issues and expectations, including those presented by the bike trail, the City's Open Space Master Plan, the expectations of the National Park Service for this site and for Daingerfield Island, and the potential for water-related activities.
The proposal is to have six months of community visioning and issue identification in FY 2014, followed by completion of the plan in FY 2015. The process would take 18 months and is intended to follow the steps outlined by the What's Next Alexandria process: (1) community visioning and issue identification; (2) development of options for land use, community facilities, transportation, and the environment for community review; (3) selection of recommendations based on community input; (4) final public review and approval; and (5) process evaluation.
The community visioning/issue identification phase will be documented in a report that the community will review to ensure that all issues and opportunities are fully captured before moving on to the next phase of planning. The community's vision and issues will inform the technical analyses (transportation, environmental, and market/financial) that will be conducted as planning continues in the next year (FY2015).
The Plan will be completed in June 2015.
No funding for this plan is included in the FY2014 budget, but the plan will require up to $500,000 in the FY 2015 budget to complete technical analyses (transportation, environmental, market and financial) and to support civic engagement.
Eisenhower West Small Area Plan
Eisenhower West was identified as the next small area plan in the FY 2012 and FY 2013 work programs. In the adopted FY 2012 work program, the Eisenhower West Plan was scheduled to begin after the Beauregard Small Area Plan was completed. However, the FY 2013 work program instead included work on several other projects, including Landmark Mall redevelopment, Beauregard and Waterfront Plan implementation, and a pause in small area planning to develop principles of civic engagement and review the planning process with the community.
The Eisenhower West Small Area Plan involves several elements, some of which build on completed work, including a 2009 assessment of the redevelopment potential of the four major industrial land uses: Virginia Paving, Vulcan Materials, the Covanta Waste-to-Energy plant Site not recommended for redevelopment., and the ethanol transloading facility. Additional issues include:
- Although the plan area is served by a Metrorail Station and access to the Capital Beltway, circulation and access is nevertheless constrained by topography, railroad tracks and freeways. Opportunities for improvement include the multimodal bridge recommended by the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan and a potential link between Eisenhower and Edsall west of Van Dorn Street along the City-County boundary. The plan will require significant transportation/transit analysis to resolve the connector issue to the satisfaction of VDOT and FHWA.
- The industrial land use study found limited market interest for redevelopment in this area and the Victory Center, a large, recently renovated office building, has not attracted tenants and has been unsuccessful in a number of federal office space competitions. Among the issues that may be holding back market interest: a lack of amenities for residents and office workers.
- The industrial land use study also found limited interest for redevelopment among the landowners of the major industrial properties. However, in the past year, one of the industrial landowners, Vulcan Materials, has indicated that they would like to see the planning effort move forward. Vulcan was joined by several other property owners in the area, including representatives of Victory Center and some warehouse properties, as signatories on a letter to the City urging that the planning process begin and offering to provide funds to help pay for consultant studies that will be needed.
- On the other hand, Virginia Paving has not expressed any change in their 2009 position that they would like to continue to operate at the same location. Virginia Paving operates under a special use permit with a sunset clause that allows operations to be terminated not sooner than seven years after the adoption of the SAP [small area plan.] While a number of nearby residents strongly support the termination of Virginia Paving operations because if its impact on their quality of life, during the 2009 Industrial Land Uses study, others questioned why the City would want to close a business providing jobs.
- Since the 2009 Industrial Land Uses Study, the boundaries of the 100-year flood plain have changed and now include Virginia Paving site, reducing redevelopment options. The 100-year flood plain now also includes the retail strip center along Pickett Street between Landmark Gateway and Virginia Paving.
- The Landmark Gateway mixed use project is under construction, and there are similar projects approved or proposed for sites along South Pickett between Van Dorn and Duke, including the approved Delaney on the bowling alley site and the proposed Cameron Park at 450 South Pickett. This activity suggests some local development pressure, possibly due to these sites' proximity to Cameron Station. Most of the properties in this area along South Pickett from Duke Street to the Fairfax County line were not addressed by the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan and have warehouse, industrial, and strip retail uses today.
- The plan will involve coordination with Fairfax County, which has over the years expressed an interest/willingness to coordinate planning for the area with the City. There have been a number of proposals for redevelopment in the County along the Eisenhower West boundary, including the Smoot Lumber property between Pickett and Edsall, which the County has not scheduled for consideration.
- During the period between today and the completion of the Eisenhower West Small Area Plan, it will be important to protect potential alignments of the multimodal bridge in the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan when redevelopment is proposed or City facility location decisions are made.
- City Council has received recent letters from community members and landowners supporting the earliest possible start to the plan. Over the past few years, the City Council has also received expressions of support for starting this plan from Cameron Station residents, the West End Business Association and the Eisenhower Partnership.
The preliminary work program presented to the City Council at the March retreat proposed to immediately start the transportation analysis for the Eisenhower West Small Area Plan even though the plan itself would not start until the conclusion of the Old Town North Plan. The transportation analysis, already funded in the FY 2013 budget from Transportation Improvement Program funding at $175,000, is intended to help resolve broad transportation issues that impact the Eisenhower Valley, the Duke Street Corridor, and the Landmark/Van Dorn areas. The scope includes study of issues related to the former Eisenhower Connector project and more detail study of major planned transportation improvements (such as the multi-modal bridge in the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor small area plan). Staff and the Council have received input from members of the public questioning the wisdom of separating the Eisenhower transportation analysis from the balance of the planning effort by as much as a year. Staff agrees there are benefits to keeping them together and have made that change. However, there is also a need for some upfront data collection and intergovernmental coordination which staff would like to complete beforehand so that transportation analyses do not slow down the Eisenhower West planning process once it starts. The data collection would not require public meetings.
The Eisenhower West Plan itself will require funds now estimated at $500,000 for outside technical assistance for economic/market and financial analysis and local circulation within Eisenhower West itself.
Other Potential Small Area Plans
Although not proposed for FY 2014 action, several other areas of the City are potential candidates for future small area planning work. These include:
- Route 1 West. This is the area along Route 1 across from Potomac Yard and adjacent to several established neighborhoods including Del Ray, Lynhaven, and Arlandria. The area has a mix of uses including industrial/warehouse, strip retail, auto sales, and residential. The City is currently investing in a new transitway along Route 1 and the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station is under study. Potomac Yard redevelopment is under way but there is considerable unbuilt development potential in Potomac Yard itself that may limit development interest for the west side of Route 1. Apart from the recently-approved affordable housing project on East Reed, redevelopment interest has been limited.
- Duke Street Corridor. Duke Street is a planned high capacity transit corridor (Corridor B), albeit not as high a priority for near term implementation as Corridors A (Route 1) and C (Beauregard/Van Dorn). Along Duke Street there are residential neighborhoods as well as pockets of strip commercial, some of which is on shallow lots that make redevelopment difficult. The garden apartments of Foxchase represent a large fraction of the remaining market affordable housing in the City.
- Fairlington/Bradlee. The area is located in the heart of the City. Portions of the commercial area are dominated by auto-oriented uses, large surface parking lots, and parcels that are not well connected to each other. There are other portions of the commercial area that are more pedestrian-oriented. The area is home to a variety of neighborhood-serving retail and service establishments, many of which are locally-owned. Nearby land uses include churches and TC Williams High School. A project to rebuild the Safeway has been approved and redesign of the Quaker/Braddock/King Street intersection is under consideration.
Other Proposed New Planning Projects
- Parking Standards for New Development: The parking standards in Alexandria's Zoning Ordinance are out of date. Non-auto travel has increased since current standards were set and there are indications that per household car ownership is declining. Moreover, parking is expensive to construct and unnecessary parking takes funds that could be used for amenities that serve the public. Recent small area plans have addressed the problem by establishing lower parking ratios that are maximums rather than minimums. Individual development projects that propose reasonable parking ratios (lower than those required by the zoning ordinance) require a waiver. This project would conduct the analysis to recalibrate parking standards for new development. It would involve:
- An inventory of current standards
- Research/study of standards for other similar jurisdictions (best practices)
- An assessment of the outcomes of approved parking reductions over the past several years
- An assessment of parking supply and usage in existing development projects along with an assessment of factors influencing parking demand, such as proximity to Metro/transit/carshare/bikeshare and the walkability of the neighborhood
- Recommendations for changes to zoning ordinance
- Public outreach
This project will require the use of temporary, entry-level paid staff (such as interns) to conduct the field assessments. City staff has identified $100,000 in potential FY 2013 funds likely available for this purpose.
- Public Facilities Location Strategy: One goal of the project is to maximize the efficiency and utility of City and local public agency offices and other work locations. It would look at elements such as: city functions with adjacency benefits, locations that reduce travel time and fuel costs, and more efficient models of space configurations. This would begin in FY2014. This phase of the study would be carried out using existing staff and resources.
- The other aspect of the project will produce a strategy or set of policies to guide planning for the major public facilities the City expects to need or to construct in the next 20 years (fire stations, schools, etc.) to identify the most efficient locations, facility models better suited for land cities like Alexandria, and opportunities for co-location.
- In FY 2014, areas of particularly emphasis will be City Hall (in advance of planned replacement of a 40-year-old HVAC system) and fire station locations.
- Del Ray Historic Preservation Plan: This plan which is estimated to cost $75,000 to undertake will help to preserve the mid-20th century commercial Art Deco/Streamline Moderne buildings within the Del Ray neighborhood, along Mount Vernon Avenue as well as along Leslie Avenue. Specific tasks:
- Create a new National Register Historic District to incorporate the Art Deco style warehouse buildings on Leslie Avenue.
- Review the existing boundaries for the existing Town of Potomac National Register district for the possibility of an expansion that would include the Art Deco & Streamline Moderne buildings along Mt. Vernon Avenue.
- Create a residential pattern book for new construction, additions and alterations in the Town of Potomac Historic District.
City staff has identified $75,000 in potential carryover FY 2013 funds likely available for this project.
- Bicycle Master Plan: Updates to the plan include, but are not limited to: on-street bicycle network and associated facilities, Capital Bikeshare, bicycle parking, wayfinding, and Complete Streets. The 2008 Plan had a strong focus on recreational cycling; the update will be an opportunity to focus on Capital Bikeshare and bicycle commuting. The FY 2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes $500,000 to conduct this study.
Long Range Planning Started in FY 2013
Several long range planning projects started during FY 2013 will continue through FY 2014. These include:
- Long Range Education Facilities Planning: This is a joint City/Schools planning project with a work group appointed by the City Manager and Superintendent. With both City and ACPS staff support, the work group is looking at school enrollment trends and forecasts, conditions of existing school facilities, education specifications, and options for meeting future school capacity needs. This is an approximately 18-24 month project although there will be useful work products at each stage of the project, such as the school enrollment analysis prepared for the FY 2014-2023 CIP.
- Open Space Master Plan Update: Staff is reviewing progress made toward the goals set forth in the 2003 Open Space Master Plan, including the goal of gaining 100 acres of additional public open space by 2013 (7.5 acres/1000 residents). In conjunction with providing a status update, staff may propose additional recommendations to support continued implementation of the Open Space Master Plan. This staff led effort will occur in collaboration with the Park and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Environmental Policy Commission and the Historic Alexandria Resource Commission.
- Public Art Master Plan: This Plan is expected to outline a clear vision for public art in Alexandria that aligns with other relevant City master plans, including, but not limited to Small Area Plans, Transportation Master Plan, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities Strategic Plan, Waterfront Master Plan, Historic Preservation, and the Open Space Master Plan. The plan should also identify and prioritize locations for public art, outline a process for incorporating public art into future development, provide recommendations for implementation and ways to ensure that the community has the opportunity for engagement and involvement in the public art program.
- Large Park Planning Initiative: From August 2012 through August 2013, The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities is undertaking a large park planning process to inform Park Improvement Plans for the City's large multi-use Parks. The Citywide Parks include Four Mile Run Park, Simpson Stadium Park, Chinquapin Park, Henlsey Park, Holmes Run Park, and Ben Brenman Park. The goal of this effort is to study and understand the existing conditions and future needs for each of the Parks, guided by public input. The plans will advise upon incremental capital improvement projects in the six Parks.
- Historic Preservation Management Plan: The completion of the Alexandria Historic Preservation Management Plan, approved by City Council in 2009, is a continuing priority of the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, Alexandria Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission and Alexandria Archaeological Commission, and is a clear objective in the City's Strategic Plan. To reduce potential costs, he Office of Historic Alexandria has already initiated preparation of certain components of the plan with departmental resources, and revised the task preparation schedule to fall in line with the departmental Strategic Plan ending in FY 2016.
Concurrent with the FY 2014 period of consultant services to execute the necessary surveys, OHA will consult with other city departments, including the Depts. of Planning and Zoning, Transportation and Environmental Services, Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, General Services and Code Administration to insure interdepartmental goals are coordinated and objectives with the City Strategic Plan are integrated. Staff will use existing resources to execute the following objectives associated with completing the plan:
- Develop criteria to establish levels of significance for resource database
- Rank identified resources according to significance
- Prioritize the preservation level of ranked resources
- Review current BAR and historic preservation staff processes to determine how newly identified resources can best be protected
- Integrate newly resources into City's GIS database Revise and update the City's 100-year-old buildings survey, last updated in 1993.
Plan Implementation
In total, recent small area plans include tens of millions of square feet of new development as well as hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of new public and private amenities and infrastructure. As a result, plan implementation has become a large and growing element of the planning work program. Plan implementation includes development review and zoning; infrastructure planning, design and engineering; park planning and design; support for vibrant retail; and completion of a variety of studies to identify implementation strategies on topics such as parking.
Waterfront Plan Implementation: The Waterfront Plan as approved in January 2012. Implementation activities completed since then have included: establishment of the Waterfront Commission, completion of the Union Street study and an update to the Old Town Parking study report, selection of consultants for design of flood mitigation and public spaces, an RFP for the reuse of the Beachcomber building, initial review of a proposal for a hotel, support for reuse of the food court building. In addition, an Art/History Committee has developed a joint strategy for integrating and implementing the art and history recommendations in the Waterfront Plan and is identifying priorities for input the landscape architecture work. The FY 2014-2023 CIP provides funds for continuing implementation work started in FY 2013.
Beauregard Corridor Small Area Plan implementation: The Beauregard Small Area Plan was approved in June 2012 and the rezoning approved by the Planning Commission and City Council in April 2013, guided by an advisory group established by the City Council. The major implementation element other than planning for Transit Corridor C (below) is the processing of DSUP(s) for proposed development projects and ensuring the implementation of the affordable housing initiatives in the plan.
Corridor C Transit Planning: Consistent with the City's 2008 Transportation Master Plan, this project will construct a 4-mile segment of the high-capacity transitway in dedicated lanes between the Van Dorn Metrorail station and the border with Arlington to the north. This investment will support the development proposed in the Landmark/Van Dorn and Beauregard Small Area Plans. The project includes the widening of Van Dorn Street over Duke Street to accommodate pedestrians and provide multimodal facilities. Construction of the project involves City, federal and developer funds and is anticipated to begin in FY 2016.
Transit Corridor A (Potomac Yard Transit): The FY 2014 work program will devote resources to continuing both the Environmental Impact Statement process for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station, an environmental study for the Crystal City - Potomac Yard - Braddock potential streetcar project as well as implementation of bus rapid transit (BRT).
Wayfinding: Implementation of Phase 2 of the Wayfinding program will begin in FY2013 and will provide information and directional signage for pedestrians in King Street/Old Town area. Phase 3 will begin during FY 2014 and will involve highway signs, Washington Street gateway signs, vehicular signs for primary routes, Metro station visitor kiosks, and freestanding interpretive panels.
The Arlandria Action Plan is being implemented with the support of an advisory group created by the City Council two years ago. In FY 2014, plan implementation will continue with executive committee and advisory group meetings (4-6 per year), continued emphasis on prioritizing and executing CIP projects, additional staff/advisory group research and analysis of key group interest areas, programs supporting vibrant retail and encouraging desired redevelopment. An interdepartmental work team coordinates key areas of responsibility for plan implementation and includes P&Z, T&ES, Housing, AEDP and RP&CA.
In Braddock, implementation work will continue to focus on working with the community to plan for the park on the Post Office block. Staff will continue to pursue an agreement with the U.S. Post Office. Planned development in the neighborhood is moving forward, and as it does, contributions are accruing from developers toward the Braddock open space and community amenities funds.
Housing Master Plan Implementation: Approval of this plan is anticipated for Fall 2013. Staff expects that implementation work will include policy and regulatory changes (including possible amendments to the zoning ordinance), some of which may involve items for the City's 2014 Legislative Package. Other tasks include the pursuit of additional affordable housing partners and funding sources, development of specific program options identified in the plan, and outreach/education efforts to inform stakeholders about relevant aspects of the plan.
ARHA Strategic Plan Implementation: The ARHA Board of Commissioners and has adopted a strategic plan that recommends potentially near term redevelopment of ARHA properties, including areas such as the Braddock Metro area and in Old Town North. Redevelopment initiatives will involve coordination and participation of City staff from multiple departments, including Housing, Planning and Zoning, T&ES and others.
Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Implementation: This plan was approved by the City Council in FY 2013 with the FY 2014 to FY 2023 CIP incorporating capital plans, including the Master Plan.
Census and Demographics: This program includes analysis of Census 2010 and annual American Community Survey data releases. It also includes preparation of the City's official long range forecasts of population, jobs and households, which are updated regularly to reflect approved plans and development projects as well as regional economic trends. This team has also been instrumental in analyzing school enrollment trends for the Long Range Education Facilities Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total amount of carryover funds needed to complete this work program is $175,000 ($100,000 for the parking study and $75,000 for the Del Ray Historic Preservation Plan). The funds which have been identified were originally budgeted for projected Landmark Mall site land use and financial consultant analysis. Given the proposed Phase I project put forward by the Howard Hughes Corporation, the consultant funds were not needed to be utilized. In earmarking these funds for FY 2014 use, this assumes that overall the City will be in a posture to have carryover funds from FY 2013. This will be determined later this summer when more information is known about the City's FY 2013 ending revenue and expense status.
Attachment:
1) May 8, 2013 Memorandum re: Capacity for Small Area Planning
2) Interdepartmental Work Program Bar Chart
cc: Chair and Members of the Planning Commission
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Nelsie Smith, Office of Management and Budget
Rich Baier, Transportation and Environmental Services
Jim Spengler, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Jeremy McPike, General Services
John Catlett, Department of Code Administration
Mildrilyn Davis, Office of Housing
Lance Mallamo, Office of Historic Alexandria
Val Hawkins, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership
Patricia Washington, Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association
Roy Priest, Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
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