Alexandria Hyundai Extended Through 2045 In Del Ray

ALEXANDRIA, VA — With mixed support from the community, Alexandria City Council approved special use permits Saturday for Alexandria Hyundai to continue using its vehicle storage lot along Mount Vernon Avenue through 2045 with expansions. The plan includes adding four Electrify America electric vehicle chargers that will be publicly accessible.

On Saturday, City Council voted 4-2 on the special use permits. With the approval, the applicant must come back in 2040 for another City Council review.

The special use permits relate to Alexandria Hyundai and Genesis of Alexandria's car dealership and vehicle storage lots in the 1600, 1700 and 1800 blocks of Mount Vernon Avenue. The request from Alexandria Hyundai came as Hyundai dealers are required to update their facilities, sales and services as the company gradually shifts from combustion engine-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. Owner Kevin Reilly, who opened Alexandria Hyundai 22 years ago, told City Council Genesis will be fully electric by 2030 and Hyundai is phasing out current vehicles for electric vehicles.

Before City Council's review, the Alexandria Planning Commission did not recommend a special use permit that extends from 2025 to 2045 with a 5-2 vote. However, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend approval of expanding Hyundai sales and service buildings and business hours.

City staff had recommended the special use permit requests be denied due to the belief that expanding the car dealership does not support the long-term goals of the city's Potomac West Small Area Plan and the Mount Vernon Avenue Area Business Plan.

A city staff report stated the Mount Vernon Avenue Area Business Plan highlights a need for more active and pedestrian uses, moving away from vehicle-focused and service uses in the area between Duncan and Monroe Avenues.

"Presently, the automobile dealership parking lot and buildings along the 545-foot stretch of Mount Vernon Avenue significantly contribute to the interruption of an active commercial corridor, discouraging pedestrians from walking the entirety of the Avenue between neighborhood business serving centers," the city staff report stated.

City staff also believe the six lots associated with the car dealerships would be ripe for redevelopment, particularly for multifamily residential uses. The 2025 expiration date for the dealership's parking lot would have coincided with the adjacent 1601 Mount Vernon Avenue automobile service station's expiration, creating potential for redevelopment of these adjacent lots.

Reilly told City Council that the car dealership was his only business and noted the extension request through 2045 related to financing. Reilly said if the special use permit would end sooner (like 2032 as City Council considered) it would be unfeasible for him to afford a loan.

The proposal from Alexandria Hyundai received mixed reactions from the Del Ray community.

Members of the Del Ray Business Association spoke in support and Reilly and Alexandria Hyundai's special use permit requests, including Gayle Reuter and Amy Sills Eggers.

Reuter noted Mount Vernon Avenue had only a handful of businesses 20 years ago when Reilly decided to bring Alexandria Hyundai to Del Ray. He also provided early support to some of Del Ray's most popular events.

"His direct neighbors love him and many of the events the community love so much — the Halloween Parade, the [Del Ray] Farmers Market, Art on the Avenue — wouldn't have happened without his early support in getting them going, and he continues to support them," said Reuter.

Reuter believes when Reilly or the car dealership would choose to leave, the blocks could be redeveloped.

Others acknowledged Reilly's contributions to Del Ray but raised concerns about an extended car dealership along Mount Vernon Avenue.

While the proposal had support from the Del Ray Citizens Association, one board member wrote to City Council in opposition. Elena Hutchison, a Del Ray Citizens Association board member, questioned whether it was right to lock a car dealership with extended parking lots for 20 more years. Hutchison wrote that another 20 years is a long time for zoning, as the emerging Potomac Yard was an open field 12 years ago.

"Neighbors already feel the lack of vibrancy in the center of Del Ray where these auto‐based uses are located, and we are seeing businesses like the Company of Books relocate from this relative dead zone to the more vibrant ends of the neighborhood," Hutchison wrote in a letter to City Council.

Before City Council's vote, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson noted Reilly's impact on Del Ray as well as a "forward-thinking" approach to electric vehicles.

"Everything is going in that direction, so I think it's actually a very positive thing that you stay there, because you will help transform Del Ray in that way as we come online with these other electric vehicles," said Jackson.

Councilmember John Taylor Chapman called for a full discussion on the vision for this section of Mount Vernon Avenue, given the mixed responses from the community on the proposal.