Stormwater Utility Fee Hike, More Up For City Council Decisions

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Saturday, the proposed stormwater utility fee increase and other items are up for Alexandria City Council consideration.

City Council will meet virtually at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20. Residents can participate using a Zoom login, dial-in phone number or livestream viewing.

Below are summaries of the key items up for consideration. See the full docket for the Feb. 20 meeting here.

Stormwater Utility Fee

City Council will hold a public hearing, second reading and final consideration of an ordinance to double the stormwater utility fee. The current rate of $140 per billing unit would increase in two steps: to $210 in June 2021 and to $280 in November 2021.

The stormwater utility fee, adopted in 2017, provides dedicated funding for the city's stormwater management program to address impacts of stormwater pollution and flooding. The increase is proposed to accelerate storm sewer capacity projects in response to three major flash flooding events on July 8, 2019; July 23, 2020; and Sept. 2, 2020. The increase was the primary recommendation of the Interdepartmental Strike Team Flooding Management Task Force, which was established by the city manager after the flash flooding events.

Heritage at Old Town Redevelopment

City Council will consider rezoning of the Heritage at Old Town site from townhouse and high density apartment zone to residential multifamily zone and allowing construction of three mixed-income multifamily buildings totaling 750 units on three blocks. The floor area ratio, or density, is proposed to increase to 3.0, and maximum building heights for each block range from 45 feet to 80 feet. In comparison, the current 244-unit Heritage at Old Town buildings are garden-style and mid-rise apartments.

The development would preserve 140 federally-subsidized housing units and add 55 additional affordable housing units. The location in includes 416 South Alfred Street, 431 South Columbus Street, 901 Gibbon Street, 450 and 510 South Patrick Street, and 900 Wolfe Street.

The proposal has drawn opposition by a group of residents called the Citizens Association of the Southwest Quadrant. The group believes the building designs are not compatible with the Old Town neighborhood, will increase traffic congestion, and will set a precedent for developers to propose future buildings over 55 feet.

Newport Village complex redevelopment

A redevelopment of a portion of the Newport Village complex at 4898 West Braddock Road is proposed. The proposal seeks the demolition of 24 existing multifamily units in two garden-style buildings and construction of a new multifamily residential building with 383 units. This would include 12 affordable housing units.

The maximum building height is proposed to be 92 feet above average finished grade, and the floor area ratio is proposed to be 2.3. The current maximum floor area ratio is 0.75, and the maximum building height is generally 45 feet.

Rezoning is requested to change a portion of the property from multifamily to commercial residential mixed-use. Some spaces are designed to be "retail ready" should retail or commercial uses be possible in the future.

The future West End Transitway being planned by the city includes North Beauregard Street directly in front of the project site. In addition, a station is expected to be along the project site’s frontage.

Redevelopment on West Street

An applicant is proposing to build a seven-story multifamily building with 180 residential units including 14 affordable units, "retail-ready" units on the ground floor, underground parking, ground-floor commercial space and publicly accessible plaza. The core of the building has a height of 85 feet, but a proposed shade structure on the northern part of the rooftop would bring the height to 95 feet. The locations are 1352-1362 Madison Street, 711-727 N. West Street and 1319-1329 Wythe Street.

The current site has one-and two-story residences, and one lot is vacant. Houses at 711, 719 and 727 North West Street, 1354-1356 Madison Street, and 1321 and 1329 Wythe Street are classified as considered contributing resources to the National Register Historic District. The project area includes most of the remnants of the African American community known as "Black, or Colored, Rosemont" that was settled in the late 1800s. According to a staff report, most buildings associated with the historic African American community, including the Parker-Gray High School, have been demolished.

Torpedo Factory Art Center Vibrancy Plan

City Council will hold a public hearing and consider the Action Plan for Vibrancy and Sustainability at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Founded in 1974, the art center hosts the nation's largest amount of publicly accessible artist studios and is a free attraction drawing 500,000 visitors per year. As City Council designated the City of Alexandria Office of the Arts as the continuing long-term manager of the art center, the city manager was directed to develop a Torpedo Factory Art Center Vibrancy and Sustainability Plan.

The city contracted with SmithGroup and Chora to develop a draft action plan. This draft plan includes a short-term plan with three core directions: reestablishing the art center's identity for a 21st century audience, curating the building for an improved visitor experience and artist/studio program, and establish policies and procedures that identify the art center as a high-performing organization and rebuild its role as a leader. A long-term plan will also be developed to include a new architectural design for the whole building, sustainable financial plan and business model, and a strategic plan to guide the development of the art center over five to ten years and beyond.

SEE ALSO: Real Estate Tax Cut Proposed In Alexandria 2022 Budget