In 1999, the engineering firm Baron, Heinburg, and Brocato, along with Moore Planning Group, developed the Alexandria Urban Master Plan (AUMP), which was subsequently adopted by the Alexandria City Council. During the last ten years, very little of the plan has actually been implemented, and some of its recommendations are no longer feasible. However, AUMP contains numerous recommendations that can be implemented, and SPARC will rely on AUMP to inform the decision-making process for the Downtown portion of CRA-1.
Mayor Jacques M. Roy’s Executive Order 2007-02:
In 2007, shortly after taking office, Mayor Roy changed the City of Alexandria’s annexation and planning policies to ensure for smarter and more efficient growth. This Executive Order spells out the City’s policies for annexations and new developments. Excerpt:
Annexation
The Planning Director will consider certain questions, in the follow order, before annexation is recommended, and seek to avoid creation of “islands” or piecemeal annexation except when economic opprtunities to aid in-need communities demand the action and following policy findings of same by the administration. The DOP will therefore generally adhere to and consider whether a project is appropriate because it affirmatively enchances or does not overload capacity for: (i) public safety (safe expansion of fire, police, and utilities to the area); (ii) planning (does the proposal conform to trends of planning already in existence, particularly “master planning” and “future proofing”); and (iii) aesthetics (consideration of how the annexation will impact the “look and feel” of the area).
New Developments
The Planning Director will consider (i) planning (i.e., “master planning”); (ii) whether the development preserves and capitalizes on natural and cultural resurces, fairly and inclusively distributes the costs and benefits of the development to equitably “grow” the City; and (iii) the extent to which the development choices smartly expand new opportunities for transportation, communication and technology, employment, environmental protection, and housing.
The Planning Director will pay particular attention and maintain careful scrutiny regarding preservation of “greenspace” and “walkability.” The DOP will promote “mixed-use” develpment when proper and relax unneeded adherence t mechanical zoning in “trial” areas, routinely. New developments and expansions shall not add additional burdens to infrastructure without a remediation plan, full address by the developer, or acceptable, public mitigation of the burdens.
Abstract and Executive Summary for CRA-1
