City Planning Staff Recommends Approval of Robinson Terminal North Site Redevelopment Plan

IMAGE: Rendering of East Building from planning documents

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The City of Alexandria Planning Commission will hold a special public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers, 301 King St., to consider the redevelopment of the Robinson Terminal North site.

The applicant, CityInterests, LLC and Rooney Properties, requests approval of a development special use permit to construct two buildings on a 3.32-acre development site, bisected by N. Union Street.

• Read the 146-page Staff Report here.

The applicant proposes a 132-room hotel with an associated restaurant and 25 residential units for the building on the west side of N. Union Street. The east building is anticipated to contain 41 residential units, and approximately 16,500 sf of commercial space. This building also has a pavilion structure, proposed to contain a commercial/retail use on the ground floor and two residential units on the second level. The pavilion is located on a separate tract, but physically connected to the east building and accessed through the building.

In total, the project will have 66 residential units and approximately 25,000 square feet of leasable commercial space, in addition to the anticipated hotel.

Alexandria Planning staff are recommending approval of the request for a development special use permit with site plan and modifications, and associated special use permits to construct 66 multi-family units, a 132 room hotel and approximately 25,000 square feet of commercial use, subject to compliance with the staff recommendations. The proposal provides a number of public benefits that address impacts of the development, including improved access to the Potomac River with:

• Dedication of approximately .95 acres of open space, creating a key public connection between Founders Park and Oronoco Bay Park, at an improved value of approximately $3 million
• The dedication of an 18,000 square foot rehabilitated pier, including a new floating dock and gangway, to accommodate active uses, such as a seasonal outdoor retail opportunity, space for programmed events and passive seating areas, along with docking opportunities for day boaters, potential water taxis and river cruise ships, at a total investment of approximately $2.9 million
• Compliance with the Public Art Policy through a contribution of $78,317
• Compliance with the Affordable Housing Policy through a contribution of $585,617
• Compliance with the City’s Green Building Policy;
• On-site design features highlighting the history of West’s Point through signage, historical markers and other interpretative elements, to be developed in coordination with City staff
• An annual contribution of $175,000 in perpetuity dedicated to the long-term operation and maintenance of the Waterfront Plan area, including the pier and floating dock
• Enhanced streetscapes on N. Union and Oronoco streets, including undergrounding utilities, new sidewalks, street lights, street trees, conversion of Oronoco Street to a street end garden between N. Union Street and the Potomac River; and,
• A $60,000 contribution towards installation or maintenance for Capital Bikeshare.

Parking for the proposed uses is located within one level of below-grade parking, beneath each of the two buildings. Open space is provided through residential balconies, ground-level publicly accessible plaza areas at each building, and a broad public promenade wrapping three sides of the east building. The hotel in the west building also includes a publicly accessible roof terrace, and the east building has an interior residential courtyard that is open to the sky. The applicant plans a substantial renovation to the existing pier and will construct a floating dock to increase public access to the Potomac River.

• See more details in the 146-page Staff Report here.