OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alexandria Planning Commission Public Hearing - April 7, 2026

Public Meetings — Tuesday, April 7, 2026
BodyAlexandria, Virginia
SessionPublic Meetings
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:04:56
Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good evening.

0:06

Welcome to the April 7th, 2026 Planning Commission public hearing at the Redella S.

0:10

Dell Resource Community Center.

0:12

I am Melissa McMahon, Chair of the Alexandria Planning Commission.

0:16

Before we begin, I have just a few announcements about participating in tonight's meeting.

0:21

If you wish to speak on a docket item and have not already signed up to do so, please fill out the speaker form online by following the sign up to speak hyperlink on the cover page of this evening's public hearing docket or in person by filling out a hard copy speaker form, which can be found on the tables located immediately outside the chambers and providing it to Ms.

0:39

Jacobs, who has her hand raised.

0:42

Please note comments from the public are limited to three minutes per speaker, with the exception of applicants and their representation.

0:49

To make your public comment through the Zoom application, please click on the raise hand button located on the Zoom taskbar once you hear your name called to let staff know you need to be unmuted.

1:00

If you are dialing into tonight's meeting via phone, please press star nine to execute the raise hand function once you hear your name called upon to make your statement, followed by star six to toggle the unmute function.

1:12

For those here in person, please come up to the podium located at the front of chambers when you hear your name called and identify yourself by first and last name.

1:21

The city encourages and welcomes public comments from all residents on Planning Commission matters.

1:27

In keeping with that principle and with the principle of inclusiveness, this is a reminder of the shared expectation that the content and tenor of public comments always be civil and respectful.

1:37

Thank you for honoring those principles.

1:40

A reminder to all, including commissioners, staff, and speakers in the chambers to please speak clearly into the microphone and turn the microphone on when you need to speak.

1:49

Um to ensure all can hear you clearly.

1:53

Um I also would like to welcome Susan Harris to her first hearing on the planning commission tonight.

2:00

Are there any changes to the docket tonight, Ms.

2:02

Jacobs?

2:03

There are no changes to the docket.

2:06

All right.

2:07

And that brings us to our consent calendar.

2:12

Are there any items to pull from the consent calendar tonight?

2:18

Yes, Commissioner Dubay.

2:19

I'd like to pull um item three just for a brief uh clarification from staff.

2:25

Okay.

2:25

We're pulling item three.

2:27

Are there any other items to pull from the consent calendar?

2:31

Madam Chair, my mistake.

2:33

It's actually item five.

2:37

Yes.

2:38

Okay.

2:39

That's like we can discuss the street new too.

2:41

Umrection for the record.

2:44

We are um we have a request to pull item five from the consent calendar for discussion.

2:50

Hearing no other items, I'll take a motion to approve the consent calendar items two, three, and four.

3:00

Madam Chair, I move approval of consent items two, three, and four.

3:06

I will second that.

3:08

All right.

3:08

I have a motion by Vice Chair Candig and a second by Commissioner Manor to approve consent calendar items two, three, and four.

3:15

All those in favor, please say aye.

3:18

Aye.

3:18

Opposed.

3:19

Motion carries.

3:23

Um let's take a look at item five.

3:27

Docket item number five, vacation 2023 0004.

3:32

Vacation 2025 0009.

3:37

Kent Place and Russell Road.

3:39

Public hearing and consideration of a request to vacate a portion of the public right-of-way located on the southern end of Kent Place and adjacent to the properties at 2800 and 2702 Russell Road.

3:50

Property is zoned R8 residential.

3:52

The applicant is 2800 Russell Road LLC by Amanda Rudolph, agent, and Shirley and Delicato, trustee by David Shamowitz attorney.

4:09

Please proceed, Brian.

4:21

Yep.

4:21

It was on for a second.

4:22

Oh.

4:24

Ah, hello, thank you.

4:25

Uh good evening.

4:26

I'm Brian Dolphemeyer with Planning and Zoning, and we have a joint application for the vacation of an unused right-of-way that is located between 2702 and 2800 Russell Road.

4:40

In their presentation today, we will show the vacation area on a map, provide a summary of both the request and staff recommendation, explain the background of the right-of-way, describe the requested vacation, provide staff analysis, and then make a final recommendation.

5:00

This site is located in the Northridge Rosemont Small Area plan off of Russell Road.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████52%
Procedural███████████13%
Capital Improvement Planning███████8%
Public Engagement██████7%
Affordable Housing██████7%
Transportation Safety███3%
Public Safety███3%
Legal Interpretation██2%
Parks and Recreation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Alexandria Planning Commission Public Hearing - April 7, 2026

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on April 7, 2026, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. The meeting covered a consent calendar, several development special use permits, a capital improvement program review, and a zoning text amendment. All actions were taken after public testimony and deliberation, with votes recorded.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 2: Adopted a resolution setting the FY2027 Planning Commission meeting schedule unanimously.
  • Item 3: Approved Street Name Case #2025-00007 for a new public street in the Eisenhower West area unanimously.
  • Item 4: Recommended approval of Development Special Use Permit #2026-10002 (Elbert Avenue Residences) for a multiunit residential building with a Floor Area Ratio increase, unanimously.
  • Item 5 (pulled from consent): See Discussion Items.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 5 – Right-of-Way Vacation: No public speakers; commissioners questioned staff about interdepartmental review and future trail use.
  • Item 6 – CIP: No public speakers; commissioners discussed project timelines, funding, and the affordable housing pipeline.
  • Item 7 – Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2: The applicant's attorney, Mary Catherine Gibbs, spoke in support of the plan and requested a credit for road construction costs. No other public testimony.
  • Item 8 – 300 North Lee Street Townhomes: Community member Scott Corzine spoke in strong support, praising the developer's responsiveness and the project's compatibility with the neighborhood.
  • Item 9 – Zoning Text Amendment: No public speakers.

Discussion Items

  • Item 5 – Vacation of Kent Place and Russell Road Right-of-Way: Staff presented a proposal to vacate 7,620 square feet of unimproved right-of-way. A public access easement of 20 feet would be preserved for a future pedestrian trail. Commissioners clarified that Parks and Recreation had reviewed the site and found no master plan conflict. The motion to recommend approval based on consistency with the master plan passed 7-0.
  • Item 6 – FY2027-2036 Capital Improvement Program: Staff presented the 10-year, $2.01 billion capital improvement plan and $238.7 million capital budget. Commissioners discussed funding for Fire Station 208 relocation, the West End Recreation Center, waterfront flood mitigation, and the affordable housing pipeline. The commission voted unanimously to find the CIP consistent with the city’s master plan.
  • Item 7 – Development Special Use Permit #2025-10033 (Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2): The applicant sought to redevelop 5 acres into 117 homes (37 townhouses, 80 back-to-back dwellings) with $1 million contributions to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Eisenhower West Implementation Fund. The applicant requested a 50% credit on road construction costs (≈$310,000), similar to Phase 1. After debate, the commission voted 4-3 to amend the motion and remove the credit, then voted 6-1 to recommend approval as submitted by staff.
  • Item 8 – Development Special Use Permit #2025-10032 (300 North Lee Street Townhomes): The applicant proposed 32 townhouses, including two committed affordable for-sale units, with cluster development and density bonus requests. Commissioners praised the design, community engagement, and BAR collaboration. The motion to recommend approval passed 7-0.
  • Item 9 – Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00001 (Commercial Uses Update): Staff proposed amendments to permit live entertainment, outdoor fitness studios, temporary trailers for schools, and daycare by right with use limitations. Commissioners discussed enforcement mechanisms and requested a change to require training of all employees (not just new employees). The commission voted unanimously to initiate the text amendment and then to recommend approval as amended.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 2 – FY2027 Meeting Schedule: Adopted unanimously.
  • Item 3 – Street Names: Approved unanimously.
  • Item 4 – Elbert Avenue Residences: Recommended approval unanimously.
  • Item 5 – Vacation: Recommended approval 7-0.
  • Item 6 – CIP: Found consistent with master plan 7-0.
  • Item 7 – Eisenhower Pointe Phase 2: The motion to amend (remove road construction credit) carried 4-3 (Vice Chair Koenig, Commissioners Harris, Lennihan, Dube in favor; Commissioners Manor, Ramirez, Manor dissenting? Actually transcript shows 4-3 to amend, then 6-1 to approve). Final recommendation of approval (as submitted by staff) passed 6-1.
  • Item 8 – 300 North Lee Street: Recommended approval 7-0.
  • Item 9 – Zoning Text Amendment: Initiated 7-0, then recommended approval as amended 7-0.
  • Minutes: Approved minutes from March 3, 2026, unanimously.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:05 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the April 7th, 2026 Planning Commission public hearing at the Redella S. Dell Resource Community Center. I am Melissa McMahon, Chair of the Alexandria Planning Commission. Before we begin, I have just a few announcements about participating in tonight's meeting. If you wish to speak on a docket item and have not already signed up to do so, please fill out the speaker form online by following the sign up to speak hyperlink on the cover page of this evening's public hearing docket or in person by filling out a hard copy speaker form, which can be found on the tables located immediately outside the chambers and providing it to Ms. Jacobs, who has her hand raised. Please note comments from the public are limited to three minutes per speaker, with the exception of applicants and their representation. To make your public comment through the Zoom application, please click on the raise hand button located on the Zoom taskbar once you hear your name called to let staff know you need to be unmuted. If you are dialing into tonight's meeting via phone, please press star nine to execute the raise hand function once you hear your name called upon to make your statement, followed by star six to toggle the unmute function. For those here in person, please come up to the podium located at the front of chambers when you hear your name called and identify yourself by first and last name. The city encourages and welcomes public comments from all residents on Planning Commission matters. In keeping with that principle and with the principle of inclusiveness, this is a reminder of the shared expectation that the content and tenor of public comments always be civil and respectful. Thank you for honoring those principles. A reminder to all, including commissioners, staff, and speakers in the chambers to please speak clearly into the microphone and turn the microphone on when you need to speak. Um to ensure all can hear you clearly. Um I also would like to welcome Susan Harris to her first hearing on the planning commission tonight. Are there any changes to the docket tonight, Ms. Jacobs? There are no changes to the docket. All right. And that brings us to our consent calendar. Are there any items to pull from the consent calendar tonight? Yes, Commissioner Dubay. I'd like to pull um item three just for a brief uh clarification from staff. Okay. We're pulling item three. Are there any other items to pull from the consent calendar? Madam Chair, my mistake. It's actually item five. Yes. Okay. That's like we can discuss the street new too. Umrection for the record. We are um we have a request to pull item five from the consent calendar for discussion. Hearing no other items, I'll take a motion to approve the consent calendar items two, three, and four. Madam Chair, I move approval of consent items two, three, and four. I will second that. All right. I have a motion by Vice Chair Candig and a second by Commissioner Manor to approve consent calendar items two, three, and four. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Um let's take a look at item five. Docket item number five, vacation 2023 0004. Vacation 2025 0009. Kent Place and Russell Road. Public hearing and consideration of a request to vacate a portion of the public right-of-way located on the southern end of Kent Place and adjacent to the properties at 2800 and 2702 Russell Road. Property is zoned R8 residential.

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