The City of Alexandria is prioritizing long-range planning activities for fiscal year 2020, which begins July 1, 2019. Activities will address Amazon HQ2 and the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, equity and housing affordability, mobility initiatives, and continuation of planning efforts along transit corridors and in the city’s Growth Crescent. The item is one of the most important planning issues addressed by the city each year, as it determines how resources will be deployed to address long-term planning needs.
The Planning Commission considered a draft interdepartmental long-range planning work program at its January 3, 2019 public hearing. Council, in turn, weighed in at a retreat on January 26, 2018. A Gantt chart prepared by city staff summarizes the major projects and plans as well as studies and policy initiatives proposed to be addressed over the next 18-30 months.
Major activities include:
Amazon HQ2/Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
- Oakville Triangle Update – spring 2019
- North Potomac Yard CDD upate – spring/summer 2019
- Update to Mount Vernon Avenue plans (Arlandria and Del Ray) – fall 2019
Equity/Housing Affordability
- Resolution 830 modernization (in-kind replacement of redeveloped public housing units) – June 2019
- Housing Contributions Review Work Group – spring 2019
- Inclusionary zoning and accessory dwelling unit analysis – calendar year 2019
- Update to Mount Vernon Avenue plans (Arlandria and Del Ray) – fall 2019
- Housing affordability analysis
- Business district health
- Pedestrian safety
- Implementation
Mobility Initiatives
- Transit vision study – completing July 2019
- Alexandria mobility plan – calendar years 2019 and 2020
- Smart mobility initiative – 2019 and beyond
Continuation of Transit Corridor/Growth Crescent Planning
- Duke Street Transitway environmental planning/design – 2020
- Duke Street area plan update – 2020
New Additions to Work Program
- Duke Street Transitway environmental planning/design – fiscal year 2020+
- Duke Street area plan update – fiscal year 2020+
- Small cell facilities study – fiscal year 2019+
- Waterfront history implementation plan – fiscal year 2020+
- Dog park master plan update – fiscal year 2020+
- Stream valley and trail plan – fiscal years 2020-21
Projects Completing in FY 2019
- Lake Cook stormwater pond retrofit – December 2018
- Pocket park plan – February 2019
- Landmark Mall replanning – April 2019
- Oakville Triangle plan update – May 2019
- Resolution 830 modernization – June 2019
- Environmental action plan – June 2019
- Green building policy update – June 2019
- Transit vision study – July 2019
Further discussion will be held with the Federation of Civic Association and the development community (NAIOP). The program will be refined through continued staff coordination and community outreach in March and April. A final work plan will seek a Planning Commission recommendation and City Council approval in May.
A recent article in the Alexandria Gazette-Packet provides additional detail on Planning Commission’s deliberations on the program.
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