Waterfront Small Area Plan

On January 21, 2012, the Alexandria City Council voted 5-2 to approve the Waterfront Small Area Plan. and Waterfront zoning changes. The Plan provides a framework for revitalizing Alexandria's waterfront through several means, including: incorporating Alexandria's history as a foundation for planning and design, expanding and enhancing public open spaces, improving public access and connectivity, promoting the waterfront as an arts and cultural destination, ensuring compatible development.

On February 25, 2012, City Council voted to approve the ordinance (No. 4749) to incorporate the Waterfront Small Area Plan into the City's Master Plan. A second ordinance required to implement the proposed waterfront zoning code changes has not yet been approved due to pending litigation. All outstanding litigation on the Waterfront Plan is expected to be resolved by the end of the year. During that time the Plan implementation activities as they relate to the public improvements will continue.

Approved Watefront Small Area Plan (Full PDF)

• Cover Page through Chapter 1: A Waterfront Introduction (Including the Executive Summary)
• Chapter 2: Goals and Waterfront Wide Elements
• Chapter 3: Character and Theme Areas
• Chapter 4: Transportation, Circulation and Parking
• Chapter 5: Implementation
• Appendix 1: Community Participation
• Appendix 2: Regulatory and Permitting Considerations and Settlement Agreements
• Appendix 3: Hotel Technical Memorandum
• Appendix 4: Marine Market Assessment Data
• Appendix 5: Alexandria Waterfront Public Art Proposal
• Appendix 6: Alexandria Waterfront History Plan
• Waterfront Plan Executive Summary
  This document is the Executive Summary, lifted from the July 2011 Waterfront Plan.
• Waterfront Plan Extended Summary Document
  This document is a more detailed summary of the Updated Draft Waterfront Plan, which was released in June 2011.

Waterfront Text Amendment

• Staff report and presentation to Council for the W-1 zone text amendment

The Plan's vision for public access and other amenities is currently undergoing implementation work by an indepartmental team of City staff. First steps include solicitation for design work related to parks and public space as well as a system for flood mitigation in the Waterfront core, from Thompsons Alley to Duke Street. The City is also in the beginning phases of a study of circulation and transportation along Union Street, as recommended in the Plan. In addition, the Arts and History communities are working together on compilation of a synthesized plan, reconciling the Alexandria Waterfront Public Art Proposal and the Alexandria Waterfront History Plan in order to form holistic guidance for implementation of these important elements. More information on these and other implementation activities will be made available in the coming weeks and months.

Recent Activity

• On March 16, the Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to adopt a text amendment that reaffirms the City’s commitment to implementing the zoning of the Waterfront Small Area Plan. The Council also voted 6-1 to approve a separate text amendment that clarifies a portion of the zoning code regarding the applicability of protest petitions.
• Staff report and presentation to Council for the W-1 zone text amendment
• March 16, 2013 City Council Meeting Video

            The following is additional information related to the W-1 zone text amendment:

• Acting upon guidance from the City Council, City Manager Rashad M. Young requested that the Planning Commission initiate and consider a text amendment to the W-1 zone to implement the Waterfront Plan. The City Manager discusses the reasons for this action in a letter to the community. On March 5, 2013 the Planning Commission recommended approval of the W-1 zone text amendment to amend the W1 zone. Staff reports and presentations discussing the zoning text amendments are available on the Planning Commission's March 5, 2013 docket.
• Press Conference - Waterfront Plan Zoning Process Update: On February 15, 2013, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, and City Manager Rashad M. Young, held a press conference to announce an update to the Waterfront Small Area Plan zoning process.
• May 16-21, 2012 Correspondence Regarding Appeal of BZA Text Amendment Decision 

Waterfront Commission

The purpose of the Alexandria Waterfront Commission is to advise the City Council and staff on issues related to Alexandria's historic Potomac River waterfront, and advise on implementation of the Waterfront Small Area Plan. The Commission is composed of 21 members representing a particular neighborhood, community organization, or City committee. The Commission was established by City Council on April 14, 2012, and replaces the Waterfront Committee, which was founded in 1989. The Commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 am at City Hall Room 2000, 301 King Street, unless otherwise indicated on the agenda. The public is welcome. For additional information, call 703.746.5500.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the benefits to increased density proposed in the Alexandria Waterfront Plan?
• How was the public involved in developing the Alexandria Waterfront Plan?
• How does the Waterfront Plan reflect what Alexandrians asked for?
• What has been the response to the Plan from Alexandria's appointed boards and commissions?
• How does the Plan address museums and other cultural institutions?
• How does the Waterfront Plan address flooding?
• How does the Plan for Alexandria's waterfront compare to National Harbor?
• How does the Waterfront Plan preserve historic buildings?
• The Plan increases public space along the Waterfront…by how much?
• How much new development would the Plan allow?
• What types of development (housing, retail, hotels) are proposed?
• How quickly can parking problems be addressed?
• Why does the Plan suggest hotels as a redevelopment option?
• The Waterfront Plan shows piers that extend further into the Potomac than existing piers. What is the process for these to be approved?

Planning Area & Goals

• Waterfront plan area - The Waterfront Plan will cover the area from Jones Point Park (where the National Park Service has completed its planning) in the south to Daingerfield Island in the north; approximately, by Union Street (south of Queen Street) and Fairfax Street (north of Queen Street) to the west, and then Bashford Lane out to the George Washington Memorial Parkway north to Daingerfield Island.
• Waterfront Plan Goals

Public Process

The passionate, broad, and high level of interest in this project throughout the Alexandria community has underscored the need for a public process that is as inclusive as possible. Throughout the process, City staff has engaged stakeholders through:

• Informational meetings to identify existing conditions, study other nationally and internationally successful waterfronts, and identify potential opportunities and constraints;
• Interactive meetings to enable interested parties and groups to share their ideas for the Waterfront Plan;
• A series of community workshops to establish values, principles and options for the Waterfront plan; and
• Walking and boat tours of Alexandria Waterfront and waterfronts in other cities.

The City thanks all interested parties for their past and continued participation to the planning process.

Click to enlarge this profile view comparison of Old Town Alexandria and National Harbor under the Draft Plan

News & Media

• July 19, 2011 - Update on City's Efforts to Acquire Public Rights of Way on and Connected to The Strand
  Alexandria City Attorney James L. Banks, Jr. provides an update to the media on the City's efforts to acquire public rights of way on and connected to the Strand, adjacent to the Old Dominion Boat Club.

More Information

• Information Archive 
  Record of public meetings and other events related to planning activities, and any related documentation, presenations, and videos associated with the events.
• Stay Informed: Subscribe to eNews
  Receive updates, meeting notices, and more information by subscribing to the City's free eNews service.

For more information about the Waterfront Small Area Plan, contact Nancy J. Williams, Principal Planner, Planning & Zoning - 301 King Street, Room 2100, Alexandria, VA 22314 - 703.746.3851 or 703.746.4666