City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 16, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Acceptance of Conveyance of Two Properties from the Alexandria City Public Schools for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of acceptance of the conveyance of two properties from the Alexandria City Public Schools for Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1) Authorize the City Manager to execute deeds and other documents necessary to complete the conveyance of the properties to the City, the consolidation of the properties, and the subdivision of the public right of way; and
2) Receive the report from the Planning Commission in regard to the purchase being consistent with the City’s Master Plan per Section 9.06 of the City Code.
BACKGROUND: Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) purchased two residential parcels located at 1201 and 1203 Janney’s Lane as part of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project. One parcel included a single-family home while the second parcel was not developed. Both parcels abut the west side of the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School site, located at 1101 Janney’s Lane, which is owned by the City.
The additional 24,661 square feet of lot area from the properties provided ACPS with needed flexibility in designing and constructing an appropriate educational facility with corresponding site requirements to accommodate capacity and structural issues. City Council approved the project on September 12, 2020 (Rezoning #2020-00002 and Development Special Use Permit #2020-00010).
DISCUSSION: ACPS now wishes to transfer the ownership of these parcels to the City at no cost, so that they may be consolidated into a single parcel under City ownership. The City owns the Douglas MacArthur School site and most other school sites in the City. This parcel consolidation step is necessary to allow ACPS to complete the Site Plan approval process for the Douglas MacArthur Elementary School modernization project. The ACPS Board approved the conveyance of the properties to the City on June 3, 2021.
Section 9.06 of the City’s Charter requires that the Planning Commission approve any acquisition or sale of public land. The Planning Commission is charged with ensuring that any such acquisition, sale or change is consistent with the City’s Master Plan. The Planning Commission approved the acquisition of the two parcels on June 25, 2019.
The City Council must formally accept conveyances of real property. Because Planning Commission found the conveyance to be consistent with the City’s Master Plan, a simple majority vote is needed in order to accept the conveyance.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENT: Conveyance Request
STAFF:
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Karl Moritz, Director, Planning & Zoning
Abigail Harwell, Planner, Planning & Zoning