City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 18, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Discussion and Potential Initiation of a Text Amendment for the Consolidation of the Old and Historic Alexandria District (OHAD) and Parker-Gray District (P-G) Boards of Architectural Review.
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ISSUE: City Council consideration of the potential initiation of a text amendment for the consolidation of the Old and Historic District and the Parker-Gray District Boards of Architectural Review.
RECOMMENDATION: If City Council wishes to consider consolidation of the Old and Historic District and Parker-Gray District Boards of Architectural Review, Council can adopt a motion to initiate a Text Amendment to the Alexandria Zoning Ordinance.
BACKGROUND: At its April 10, 2018 Legislative Meeting, the City Council discussed a memorandum (Attachment 1) from Vice Mayor Wilson and Councilmember Smedberg regarding the potential consolidation of the City’s two boards of architectural review. The City Council directed staff to docket an item for the Council’s next legislative meeting to discuss the potential initiation of a text amendment.
Section 11-802 of the Zoning Ordinance allows the Council to initiate a zoning text amendment on its own motion. Initiation of a text amendment would be the beginning of a public process that involves all interested and affected stakeholders. It would include public outreach and consideration of public input, review and analysis by staff, the preparation and circulation of a staff recommendation, and then consideration of that recommendation by the Planning Commission and then City Council after public hearings.
Initiation of a text amendment would be direction from City Council to staff to study the proposal, engage in a thorough public dialogue, and bring back a recommendation for potential action. Initiation of a text amendment is accomplished through an affirmative vote of Council on a motion to do so.
At the April 24, 2018 City Council meeting, Planning & Zoning staff will give a brief presentation on the subject of BAR consolidation (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION: Should City Council choose to initiate a text amendment to consolidate the Boards of Architectural Review, staff would begin outreach and community engagement. Staff recommends that the outreach including presentations and discussion with both Boards of Architectural Review, all civic associations located within the two historic districts including the Old Town Civic Association, West Old Town Civic Association, North Old Town Independent Citizens’ Association and the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations. Additionally, staff recommends outreach and engagement with interested preservation commissions and groups including the Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF), the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission (HARC), the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission (AHRPC) and any other groups who express interest in this issue.
Staff would begin outreach in June 2018 and would continue community engagement through the summer and early fall. At this time same staff would research practices in other localities around the country as well as best practices related to this matter. In the fall, staff would draft the text amendment, based on the input received and the research conducted, with public hearings by both Planning Commission and City Council anticipated by the end of 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT: If Council votes to initiate a Text Amendment, staff can accommodate this request in its work program.
ATTACHMENTS:
1 - Memorandum from Vice Mayor Wilson and Councilman Smedberg regarding the Board of Architectural Review Consolidation from April 10, 2018
2 - Staff Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Karl Moritz, Planning Director
Al Cox, Historic Preservation Manager