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Health & Fitness

The Alexandrian: Alexandria Planning Commission Votes to Deny Right of Citizens to Protest

The Democrats on the Alexandria City Council are probably going to get the waterfront plan they desire. How they're going about it though is troubling.

First, let me say this, the City of Alexandria adopted a Waterfront plan last year and with last year's City Council election, no matter what the citizens try and do, the Democrats in town are probably going to get the waterfront plan they desire.

How they're going about it though is troubling.

During last years City Council election, at the various debates, many of the candidates running (including some of those who won) promised more openness and transparency when it comes to the City of Alexandria government and its processes.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Recently though, the City Council took action behind closed doors in executive session to come up with a way around allowing citizens to protest zoning actions taken by the City Council. As President Reagan said 'there you go again.'

During the debates, Mayor Euille said: “We’re the most transparent city government in the world." If that's true, why the need for making decisions behind closed doors?

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This decision involves changing the number of votes needed for a zoning change for a 'text' amendment rather than a 'map' amendment. What the change means is that a super majority vote is no longer needed. You see, a 'map' amendment deals with area and a 'text' amendment deals with use of the zoned property.

According to sources, the City Council then requested City Manager Rashad Young to craft a letter to make it appear like the action was taken on behalf of the citizens of Alexandria.

The rights of landowners as stated in the City of Alexandria's Zoning code go to the very heart of what the City was pushing earlier this year which more engagement with the City especially when it comes to the planning and zoning process. Alexandria has a long tradition of allowing landowners the opportunity to protest if they believe that a proposed zoning change would be damaging to their interests.

The Planning Commission on Tuesday night though voted to deny landowners that right. Considering that a decision on legal matters as it pertains to the Waterfront is due soon, there really is no reason to rush this process is there?

So then, why is the City Council doing this end around on the whole Waterfront process by trying to ram this down the throats of the citizens of Alexandria? It couldn't be that the City Council believes, through the City Manager's letter, that the City will lose the argument in court and wants at all costs to get the Waterfront plan going now could it? In essence, they want to change the law before a decision against them is handed down.

This tack that Mayor Euille and the City Council have taken is very reminiscent of the Portland, Oregon 'Light Rail Mafia' that went against the wishes of their citizens when they implemented light rail around the City of Portland.

The Alexandria City Council is holding a public hearing on the Waterfront rezoning on Saturday, March 16, 2013. This may be your last chance to speak out against this.

Exit question: Since they Mayor and members of the City Council decided to act on this behind closed doors, should we start calling them the 'Waterfront Mafia'?

Read more of The Alexandrian at this link.

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