City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 21, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KARL MORITZ, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 5416 that vacated a portion of the public right-of-way that is part of an alley along Mount Vernon Avenue, which is bounded by 3608 Mount Vernon Avenue to the
Southeast and 3610 Mount Vernon Avenue to the northwest (VAC No. 2021-00001).
BODY
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ISSUE: The proposed ordinance repeals the vacation adopted by City Council through Ordinance No. 5416. Ordinance No. 5416 vacated a portion of public right-of-way located in an alley that is bounded by 3608 Mount Vernon Avenue to the southeast and 3610 Mount Vernon Avenue to the northwest as part of the AHDC Glebe/Mt. Vernon development project.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading on June 28, 2022, and schedule it for second reading, public hearing and final passage on July 5, 2022.
BACKGROUND: On January 22, 2022, City Council approved a number of land use applications for Alexandria Housing Development Corporation’s (“AHDC’s”) development of a multifamily affordable housing project, known as AHDC Glebe/Mt. Vernon. The approvals included a vacation, Coordinated Development District (“CDD”) conceptual design plan, CDD development special use permit, and transportation management plan special use permit. Subsequently, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 5416 related to the vacation.
More recently, AHDC changed its project so that it no longer needs the portion of the alley in order to develop. Thus, AHDC no longer desires to pursue ownership of this area of the alley. The revised land use applications are docketed for Council consideration at the July 5, 2022 public hearing.
DISCUSSION: Since AHDC no longer desires to pursue ownership of the portion of the alley public right-of-way and to make the record on this matter clear, staff recommends that City Council repeal Ordinance No. 5416. By repealing the ordinance, the portion of the alley will continue to function as a public right-of-way under City control.
While the Ordinance No. 5416 would expire by its own terms if no deed was recorded within 18 months, staff believes that repealing the ordinance is appropriate.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cover sheet
2. Ordinance
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Karl Moritz, Director, Planning and Zoning
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Christina Zechman Brown, Deputy City Attorney