Alexandria meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Alexandria Council accepts $500,000 refugee services grant; zoning, townhouse and board decisions follow

The Alexandria City Council authorized acceptance of a $500,000 Virginia Department of Social Services Refugee Social Services grant award for the Department of Community and Human Services, one of a series of funding and land-use decisions recorded across four city bodies over the past two weeks. Council also acted on several other grant items, adopted a night illumination ordinance and approved a set of zoning permits, while the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Architectural Review handled residential and design requests.

Money and grants

At its Oct. 13 legislative meeting, Council authorized acceptance of the $500,000 VDSS Refugee Social Services grant award for DCHS. It also adopted a resolution supporting a $500,000 Catalyst Grant application for food waste prevention (Res. No. 3406) and authorized a $400,000 DCJS grant application for gun violence awareness and prevention. Both of those items concern applications, not awarded funds. Council separately authorized an At-Risk After School Meal Program grant renewal application for FY 2027. The consent agenda included board resignations, appointments and meeting minutes.

Land use and zoning

At an Oct. 17 public hearing, Council approved special use permits for 108 and 110 North Quaker Lane, for a two-unit dwelling at 501 East Howell Avenue, and for athletic facilities and pole lighting at 1000 Saint Stephens Road. Council approved Master Plan and Zoning Text Amendments concerning substandard lots, approved the vacation of public right-of-way at Ramsey Street and East Alexandria Avenue, and approved five townhouses at 724, 726 and 728 North Patrick Street with an added transformer condition. Council also affirmed an appeal to keep the existing addresses at 3600 and 3600 ½ Russell Road.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, Council tabled indefinitely the appointment of a viewer for 406 E. Alexandria Avenue and 408 E. Alexandria Avenue.

Night illumination ordinance

Council approved an ordinance amending commercial and residential property night illumination code on first reading on Oct. 13, then adopted Ordinance No. 5652 amending night illumination codes at the Oct. 17 hearing.

Boards and commissions

The Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 19 approved a special exception for 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard (4-0) and a special exception for 520 East Mount Ida Avenue (4-0). It granted a deferral request on a variance application concerning 9 Potomac Court (4-0) and approved its Sept. 14, 2026, minutes (4-0).

The Board of Architectural Review on Oct. 21 approved updates to six chapters of the Design Guidelines for the Parker-Gray and Old and Historic Alexandria Districts (5-0): Exterior Lighting, Porches + Porticos, Security Features, Planters, Infrastructure in the Public Right-of-Way, and Small Cell Facilities + Antennas. The Board approved signage and alterations at 726 King Street (BAR2026-00380) (5-0) and partial demolition, encapsulation and alterations at 724, 726 and 728 North Patrick Street (BAR2026-00354 and BAR2026-00355) (5-0). It deferred guideline updates for Utility Meters + EV Chargers, Mechanical Equipment/HVAC, Accessory Structures, Building Accessories, and Decks/Balconies, and approved its Oct. 7, 2026, minutes (5-0).

Council's Oct. 13 minutes also record numerous contested appointments to local boards and commissions.

Coming up

Oct. 27 — City Council Legislative Meeting. Council is scheduled to consider the appointment of an Interim Independent Policing Auditor, acceptance of a state grant for Freedom House Interior Rehabilitation & Accessibility Improvements, and a grant submission for site remediation at Potomac Yard Landbay G - Block G. Updates are scheduled on the Community Lodgings Inc. (CLI) Elbert Avenue Housing Project and the Duke Street Land Use Plan.

Nov. 4 — Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing. A request for alterations at 700 Chetworth Place (BAR2026-00421), submitted by Joe Van Cleve of Ridgeline Contractors LLC.

Nov. 5 — Planning Commission Public Hearing. Items include SUP #2026-00039, a request to convert 60,099 sq ft of office space to residential and increase height to 220 feet at 765 John Carlyle Street and 1900 Eisenhower Avenue; Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00004 on state-mandated affordable housing requirements for tax-exempt religious or non-profit organizations; Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00006 on residential off-street parking requirements; DSP #2026-00015, a site plan for athletic field and bleacher improvements at 201 Cambridge Road; and subdivision requests for 424 North Columbus Street, 5535 Dawes Avenue and 1803 Orchard Street.

Nov. 9 — Board of Zoning Appeals Public Hearing. BZA2026-00017, variances to build a garage in required side yards at 208 Virginia Avenue, and BZA2026-00018, a variance to build a 6.00 foot fence in the required front yard at 3337 King Street.

Alexandria council accepts $500,000 refugee services grant, backs two more grant applications

Alexandria's City Council on Oct. 13 authorized acceptance of a $500,000 Virginia Department of Social Services Refugee Social Services grant award for DCHS, and backed two further grant applications — one for $500,000 and one for $400,000 — according to the meeting minutes. The council also adopted a resolution establishing a Friendship City relationship with Osijek, Croatia (Res. No. 3407) and tabled indefinitely the appointment of a viewer for 406 E. Alexandria Avenue and 408 E. Alexandria Avenue.

City Council, Oct. 13

On the money items, the council:

• Authorized acceptance of the $500,000 VDSS Refugee Social Services grant award for DCHS.
• Adopted a resolution supporting a $500,000 Catalyst Grant application for food waste prevention (Res. No. 3406).
• Authorized a $400,000 DCJS grant application for gun violence awareness and prevention.
• Authorized an At-Risk After School Meal Program grant renewal application for FY 2027. The minutes as summarized do not state a dollar amount for this item.

The council approved an ordinance amending the commercial and residential property night illumination code on first reading. It also approved a consent agenda that included board resignations, appointments and meeting minutes, and made a number of appointments to local boards and commissions that the summary describes as contested. The summary does not list the individual appointments or any vote tallies for the council items.

Planning Commission, Oct. 6

The Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted 7-0 on each of the following:

• Approved Subdivision #2026-00009 for 108 and 110 North Quaker Lane.
• Recommended approval of Special Use Permit #2026-00035 for 108 and 110 North Quaker Lane.
• Recommended approval of Vacation #2026-00001 for Ramsey Street and East Alexandria Avenue.
• Recommended approval of Special Use Permit #2026-00034 for 501 East Howell Avenue.
• Recommended approval of Development Special Use Permit #2026-10008 for 1000 Saint Stephens Road.
• Initiated and recommended approval of Master Plan Amendment #2026-00002.
• Initiated and recommended approval of Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00003.
• Deferred consideration of the Sept. 1, 2026 meeting minutes.

The master plan and zoning text amendments concern substandard lots, according to the summary. Commission recommendations on special use permits and vacations go to the City Council, which is scheduled to take up several of the same properties.

Board of Architectural Review, Oct. 7

The Board of Architectural Review acted on six items:

• Approved alterations at 601 Wythe Street (4-3).
• Approved partial demolition/encapsulation at 807 South Royal Street (7-0).
• Accepted withdrawal of the application for 621 King Street (7-0).
• Approved new construction at 415 North Alfred Street (6-1).
• Approved alterations and demolition at 1-2 King St, 0-1A Prince St, 3 Duke St (6-1).
• Elected Ms. Robinson to the BAR Design Guidelines Committee (7-0).

The board also received an information session on proposed zoning text amendments.

Minutes not yet published

Two meetings are summarized from agendas only, so outcomes are not established here.

• **Oct. 8, City Council:** a closed executive session was scheduled, including interviews with executive search firms to help hire an interim Independent Policing Auditor (Item 27-1409).
• **Oct. 17, City Council public hearing:** scheduled items included the master plan and zoning text amendments on substandard residential lots, a Development Special Use Permit for 5 townhouses at 724, 726 and 728 North Patrick Street, a Special Use Permit for athletic facilities and pole lighting at 1000 Saint Stephens Road, the Ramsey Street and East Alexandria Avenue right-of-way vacation, and the night illumination ordinance amendment.

Coming up

Oct. 19 — Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing. The board is scheduled to consider a variance request for a deck and open space reduction at 9 Potomac Court, re-approval of a Special Exception for a second-story rear addition at 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard, and a Special Exception request for a second-story addition at 520 East Mount Ida Avenue. The board is also scheduled to consider the minutes of its Sept. 14, 2026 public hearing.

Alexandria Planning Commission approves land-use slate; Council accepts appointee resignation

Alexandria's Planning Commission approved a series of land-use requests and recommended zoning changes at its Oct. 6 public hearing, one of several decisions made by city bodies in the past two weeks. The City Council also accepted a city appointee's resignation on Oct. 2, and the Board of Architectural Review acted on several property applications on Oct. 7.

Planning Commission: subdivisions, permits, zoning amendments

At its Oct. 6 public hearing, the Planning Commission approved Subdivision #2026-00009 for 108 and 110 North Quaker Lane on a 7-0 vote and recommended approval of Special Use Permit #2026-00035 for the same addresses, also 7-0.

The commission recommended approval, each on 7-0 votes, of:

• Vacation #2026-00001 for Ramsey Street and East Alexandria Avenue
• Special Use Permit #2026-00034 for 501 East Howell Avenue
• Development Special Use Permit #2026-10008 for 1000 Saint Stephens Road

The commission also initiated and recommended approval of Master Plan Amendment #2026-00002 and Zoning Text Amendment #2026-00003, both 7-0, concerning substandard lots. It deferred consideration of the Sept. 1, 2026 meeting minutes on a 7-0 vote.

Council accepts resignation, approves severance

At its Oct. 2 legislative meeting, the City Council voted to accept the resignation of city appointee Ameratu Kamara, effective Oct. 3, 2026, and authorized a severance package. The approved package consisted of five months of severance pay and a payout of unused annual leave. The record provided does not include a dollar amount for the package.

Architectural Review Board

At its Oct. 7 public hearing, the Board of Architectural Review approved:

• Alterations at 601 Wythe Street (4-3)
• Partial demolition/encapsulation at 807 South Royal Street (7-0)
• New construction at 415 North Alfred Street (6-1)
• Alterations and demolition at 1-2 King St, 0-1A Prince St, 3 Duke St (6-1)

The board accepted the withdrawal of an application for 621 King Street (7-0) and elected Ms. Robinson to the BAR Design Guidelines Committee (7-0). It also received an information session on proposed zoning text amendments.

Policing auditor search: agenda only

The City Council's Oct. 8 legislative meeting was scheduled to include a closed executive session with interviews of executive search firms to help hire an interim Independent Policing Auditor (Item 27-1409). Minutes for that meeting have not been published, so no decisions from it are confirmed in the record provided.

Coming up

City Council, Oct. 13: first reading of an ordinance to amend night illumination rules for commercial and residential properties; a grant application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for gun violence prevention; a resolution to establish a Friendship City relationship with Osijek, Croatia; a grant application for the World Wildlife Fund National Household Wasted Food Prevention Project; appointment of a Viewer for 406 and 408 E. Alexandria Avenue; and a large number of appointments to city commissions and boards.

Board of Zoning Appeals, Oct. 19: a variance request for a deck and open space reduction at 9 Potomac Court; re-approval of a special exception for a second-story rear addition at 2807 Old Dominion Boulevard; a special exception request for a second-story addition at 520 East Mount Ida Avenue; and consideration of minutes from the Sept. 14, 2026 public hearing.

Planning Commission recommends denial of asphalt plant extension; subdivisions approved

The Alexandria Planning Commission voted unanimously on June 22 to recommend denial of a five-year extension for an asphalt plant and to recommend approval of a commercial-to-residential conversion, among several land-use decisions now heading to the City Council for final action.

Planning Commission — June 22 (Decided)

The commission took the following votes, all 6-0:

• **Recommended denial** of a five-year extension for an asphalt plant under Special Use Permit #2026-00018.
• **Recommended approval** of a commercial-to-residential conversion under Special Use Permit #2026-00019.
• **Approved** a subdivision at 114 E. Raymond Ave.
• **Approved** a subdivision at 311 Clifford Ave.
• **Deferred** a street vacation request at Ramsey St & E. Alexandria Ave at the applicant's request.
• **Approved** minutes of the June 2, 2026 meeting.

These are recommendations; the City Council holds final authority on special use permits and subdivisions.

City Council Legislative Meeting — June 23 (Agenda Only)

Minutes have not yet been published for this meeting, so outcomes are not confirmed. Items listed on the agenda included:

• A resolution on 2026 Personal Property Tax Relief Rates.
• Contingency funds for an Animal Control Officer salary adjustment.
• Lease extensions for artists at the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
• Refunding bonds for National Industries for the Blind.
• Revenue bonds for The View at Goodwin Living, LLC.
• Rezoning of 1019 Cameron Street and 4154 Duke Street.
• An amendment to the City Master Plan Housing chapter.

City Council Public Hearing — July 1 (Agenda Only)

Minutes have not yet been published. Agenda items included:

• Rezoning of 1019 Cameron Street from CL to CD.
• Rezoning of 4154 Duke Street.
• Adoption of the Housing 2040 Master Plan amendment.
• An amendment to the Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan.
• Revenue bond issuance for the Elbert Avenue Project.
• A Special Use Permit for residential conversion at Princess Street.
• A Special Use Permit extension for an asphalt plant on Courtney Avenue.

The asphalt plant item on Courtney Avenue appears related to the Planning Commission's June 22 recommendation on SUP #2026-00018, though the agenda does not specify whether the Council will act on it at this hearing.

Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing — July 2 (Agenda Only)

Minutes have not yet been published. The board was scheduled to review:

• Alterations and an addition at 119 Wolfe Street.
• Signage and alterations at 400 King Street, Suite 2.
• Alterations at 312 North Fairfax Street.
• Partial demolition and encapsulation at 119 Wolfe Street.
• Multiple administrative requests for window, roof, and siding replacements.

Coming Up

No public meetings are listed on the calendar for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official meeting calendar for any scheduling updates or newly posted special sessions.

Planning Commission Urges Denial of Asphalt Plant Extension

The Alexandria Planning Commission voted unanimously on June 22 to recommend that the City Council deny a five-year extension of a special use permit for an asphalt plant. The recommendation now moves to the full Council, which scheduled a public hearing on the matter for July 1.

Planning Commission Actions

At its June 22 public hearing, the Planning Commission took the following recorded votes, all by 6-0 margins:

• **Asphalt plant extension (SUP #2026-00018):** Recommended denial of the five-year extension.
• **Commercial-to-residential conversion (SUP #2026-00019):** Recommended approval.
• **Subdivisions:** Approved new lots at 114 E. Raymond Ave and 311 Clifford Ave.
• **Street vacation request:** Deferred at the applicant’s request for Ramsey Street and East Alexandria Avenue.
• **Minutes:** Approved the minutes from the June 2, 2026, meeting.

The asphalt plant recommendation will be taken up by the City Council, which listed a special use permit extension for the same Courtney Avenue facility on its July 1 public hearing agenda. A final Council vote has not been scheduled.

City Council Legislative Meeting (June 23)

The City Council’s June 23 legislative meeting agenda included a resolution setting personal property tax relief rates, a contingency funding request to adjust an animal control officer’s salary, lease extensions for artists at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and bond issuances for the National Industries for the Blind and The View at Goodwin Living. Officials also reviewed rezoning ordinances for 1019 Cameron Street and 4154 Duke Street, along with a proposed amendment to the City Master Plan’s housing chapter. Minutes from that session have not been released.

City Council Public Hearing (July 1)

During its July 1 public hearing, the Council considered the rezoning of 1019 Cameron Street from CL to CD, a rezoning at 4154 Duke Street, adoption of the Housing 2040 Master Plan amendment, an amendment to the Firefighters and Police Officers Pension Plan, a revenue bond for the Elbert Avenue Project, a special use permit for a residential conversion on Princess Street, and the asphalt plant extension referred from the Planning Commission. No final actions from that hearing were available at press time.

Board of Architectural Review (July 2)

The Board of Architectural Review’s July 2 public hearing agenda featured new business requests for an addition and partial demolition at 119 Wolfe Street, signage and alterations at 400 King Street, and exterior changes at 312 North Fairfax Street. The board also reviewed multiple administrative requests for window, roof, and siding replacements across the city. Decisions from that hearing are pending release of the minutes.

Coming Up

No meetings were listed on the city’s official calendar for the next two weeks. The next round of public hearings and work sessions is expected to be posted shortly.