Alexandria Presbyterian Church Expansion Plan Draws Backlash

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Residents living around Alexandria Presbyterian Church's Braddock Road location are fighting the church's massive expansion plans. On Saturday, Jan. 25, Alexandria City Council will consider the residents' appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the development site plan.

A few residents told Patch they were shocked when the church informed them in late 2018 of plans to expand the church from 3,400 square feet to 22,794 square feet. Alexandria Presbyterian Church currently runs two locations: one at 1302 West Braddock Road and a temporary one at the Del Ray Baptist Church, 2405 Russell Road. The expansion plan would allow the church to establish its first permanent location and exist in one place: the Braddock Road church.

The expanded church would stand at 34 feet tall and provide seating for 490 church members. The current church, house on the property, playground and parking lot will be demolished.

The Planning Commission voted to approve the development site plan on Nov. 7, 2019, and city staff recommended City Council affirm the Planning Commission's approval. The expansion is considered a by-right development, or a project allowed under the zoning ordinance. Residents say that fact makes them feel powerless in getting their concerns addressed.

"The issue here is that the Alexandria zoning ordinance does not protect the rights of individual homeowners," said Richard Weiblinger, one of the appellants. "The whole purpose of the zoning ordinance is to protect the character of the city. This clearly does not fit within the character of a residential neighborhood."

"There is nothing we can do and that's frustrating," Debra Rog, a 30-year resident of Scroggins Road, told Patch. "We started really early [in the approval process] giving our views, and that's the frustrating part."

At least 25 households joined the appeal against the expansion plan. These residents have three main concerns with the church's expansion plan: the size of the building, location of the expanded church near Scroggins Road and Braddock Road, and addition of more traffic onto Scroggins Road. The church parking lot would have exits on Braddock and Scroggins Road, the latter of which residents say has cut-through traffic between Braddock Road and King Street.

Phil Saims, who lives on Braddock Road, told Patch his greatest concern is safety due to drivers speeding, and that the church will add to the volume of traffic. He says the road feels unsafe crossing the street to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and that his own vehicle parked on Braddock Road was sideswiped this past Sunday.

In light of residents' concerns about cut-through traffic and traffic volume, city staff analysis suggests the use of the property will be the greatest outside the weekday peak travel periods—for Sunday church services.

The residents' appeal also mentions concerns with the building setbacks, height, scale, density and on-street parking, but city staff analysis maintains the plan complies with the zoning ordinance.

Cara Weiblinger, one of the appellants, believes that the church should be willing to address the concerns of residents living near the church's property. "This has nothing to do with the mission of the church. What this has to do with is being good neighbors," she said.

Patch reached out to Alexandria Presbyterian Church for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.