Alexandria City Council Public Hearing - July 1, 2026
Alexandria City Council Public Hearing - July 1, 2026
The Alexandria City Council met on July 1, 2026, at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. The meeting included an executive session from 6:00 PM to 7:13 PM, followed by proclamations, a public discussion period, a consent docket, two special use permit hearings, and a health department update. The meeting adjourned at 10:38 PM after a second closed session.
Consent Calendar
- Items 7-14, 16-20 were approved in a roll-call vote. These included: rezoning ordinances for 1019 Cameron Street and 4154 Duke Street, adoption of the Housing 2040 Master Plan amendment, amendments to the Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan, a resolution supporting a same-day on-demand paratransit pilot (with a $50,000 grant application and a $2.00 supplemental fare), authorization of revenue bonds for the CLI New Elbert Avenue Project, a contract increase of $269,754.16 for the State of Good Repair Program, a license agreement for outdoor dining at 912 King Street, and license agreements with Teleport Communications America, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cox Virginia Telecom, and Zayo Group. Also approved were extensions of leases at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (artists through March 31, 2027; galleries and founding members through September 30, 2027).
- Item 15 (Release of $200,000 in contingent reserves for a Jail Operational Efficiency Study) was pulled for a separate vote and approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Brickley (September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance) spoke in support of signage and recognition of the 9/11 Trail in Alexandria, noting recent state funding of $1 million for the trail and a new visitor center at the Pentagon Memorial. He requested Council consideration.
- Rushton Turner (resident, 200 block Fairfax Street) expressed concern about cumulative parking loss due to multiple city decisions (King Street shutdown, City Hall renovation, new bus stops, loading zones), making it difficult for residents, especially with a newborn. She asked for reevaluation.
- Nancy McCormick (817 Little Street) opposed the approved Braddock Road bike lanes, arguing that bicycle traffic is minimal (1–3 bicyclers per week) and that the project harms residents by eliminating parking, creating safety issues for school buses, and lacking data support. She accused Council of negligence and urged reversal.
- Asphalt Plant (SUP #2026-00018) Public Hearing: 17 speakers testified.
- In favor of denial: Sasha Impestado (Cameron Station homeowner) cited non-compliance with sunset provision and urged enforcement; Martin Minnes (Cameron Station) emphasized commitment and leadership; Sunny Pietrafesa (Cameron Station Civic Association President) argued Virginia Paving did not market the property or submit an exit plan; Louisa Ward (civil engineer, former Transportation Commission) stated the use does not conform to the master plan under Section 11-504 of the zoning ordinance; William Blumberg (resident) called the proposed $2.5 million improvements minimal relative to profits; Scott Corzine (300 Queen Street) urged upholding sunset to protect SUP integrity; Linda Bolton (Virginia Paving employee for 41 years) spoke in favor of extension, citing employee livelihoods and community involvement; Christina Williams Matthews (Environmental Manager at Virginia Paving) emphasized the plant's energy efficiency (top 25% nationwide) and community service; Richard Greenberg (Green Hill) stated that offers to purchase the site went unanswered and that Virginia Paving's presence blocks redevelopment; Pamela Opiella (neighbor) noted the plant's incompatibility with Eisenhower West Small Area Plan and proximity to Samuel Tucker Elementary School; Hernando Garzon (economist) urged cost-benefit analysis favoring closure; Michael Hogan (military retiree) said the company did not follow through on relocation promises; Mark Sullivan (Cameron Station) said he purchased his home based on assurances the plant would close by end of 2026; Del Pepper (former Councilwoman, 58-year West End resident) stated the 2019 Council intended no further extensions; Mindy Lyle (Eisenhower West plan chair) asked for no more than a one-year extension and immediate rezoning.
- In favor of extension: Elliot Waters (West End resident) described Virginia Paving as a
Meeting Transcript
One A one and A six to discuss the performance of the city council appointees and discuss what the certain investment of public funds were competition or bargaining is involved. Okay, there has been a motion. Is there a second? There's been a motion by Councilman Aguirre and a second by Vice Mayor Bagley to convene and close executive session. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right, the eyes have it. We are now in executive session and we'll reconvene at seven. I mean, that's the one. Oh yeah, everyone's actually dressing like it's better. Yeah. So I think it's a I just haven't put mine on it. I gotta figure out what's in here. Yeah. Yeah. I got uh uh alert uh our charge. Uh oh no, the the sheets are back in number the installs. No, uh national hot call. But they said it has yeah, we have a board on park free, but yeah, people probably were parking to the free parking lot and it's where it's walking over there. Break my car now. Yeah, don't know that some function I stand as they focus this band. I say I stay focused on the hand I like. Sure. I just dropped air. I guess they didn't. Yes. Oh, I just like moving especially off. Oh, these dressed out on Friday, and it was thinking that it's not like farming. And then I'm like, I'll have a meeting tonight, and he's like, What? Oh, that's a good thing. He's not burning it in that's just accidentally. Right, exactly. Yeah, where he's like, I bet you're going to jump for the second time today. And I don't know, I'll go out to dinner tonight. I'll tell you, I just love you. Please do everything I've played for these. I'm a little bit worried about that when uh years older than I am. Yeah, I mean, he's threatening to retire as a school teacher. He's old as we um in three years, but he's like, you know I'm gonna go through something. Like, yeah, you're gonna need the same Pokemon driver, you know, a wreck center. So schedule. Yeah, exactly. Um but yeah, he's like, I can't not do the he's not like the show to retire with his dad and be like, I already walk it up, I'm just gonna sit in the easy pool there and for me. Like there's only supposed to leave to watch the stuff like I know. Well, he used to lack this. He would be like my dad pretty much every morning takes about until noon to like and then he's like, where did the day go? My parents have got there quite uh my parents definitely are they go to meet for the whole summer because they have a cottage on back my hand island, which is kind of near bad, maybe. I don't think that's they uh but you go up there in like mid-July and they're like we're just getting the crash together for a month. Like nothing to do with it.
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