Transportation, Land Use, Small Biz Top Alexandria Chamber Legislative Agenda

Transportation, land use, small business regulations, the City budget and tax issues are the top legislative priorities for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the group revealed Tuesday.

At the top of the list: Continued redevelopment of the Potomac Yard area and bringing Metro service to Potomac Yard, to “rebalance Alexandria’s tax base,” the group said Tuesday. A city-led study group with input from metro, National Park and others is pushing the project along.

“Redevelopment of Potomac Yard will create a vibrant mixed use community of residences, hotels and office, retail and open space -- all with significant economic benefit to the City,” the Chamber notes. “It will enable the City to compete for existing and future federal and other large commercial users.”

(The City’s next meeting of the Potomac Yard Metrorail Implementation Group is Thursday, Oct. 23, 6-7:30 p.m. in the Sister Cities Room 1101 at City Hall.)

In addition to continued support for a Metro stop at Potomac Yard, the Chamber is also underscoring its support for a high-capacity transit corridor for the City’s West End, where they note more than half the City’s population lives. (Watch a video overview of the West End Transitway project here.)

The Chamber also is encouraging development efforts of the waterfront and Landmark Mall and the surrounding area, as well as the area surrounding the Braddock Road Metro. The Chamber noted that it supports efforts to attract retailers, restaurants and grocery stores to the area to “support a complete neighborhood” near that metro station.

For more detailed information about the Chamber’s legislative priorities, visit their Web site.

PHOTO: Screen shot of Chamber presentation booklet