Letter to the Editor: I Am Disappointed, but Hope to Achieve My Vision

To the Editor:

I am disappointed that the current City Council failed to listen to
citizens, which seems to have become a pattern across the city, from
BRAC to Arlandria.

I wish at least one member of council had tried to work with both sides to come to come to a compromise. I appreciate the compromise Councilwoman Del Pepper made to reduce the number of hotel rooms recommended in the waterfront plan.

I have friends on both sides of the debate, and I pledge to work with both sides. 

But I also must say that I have a vision, and it is not of hotels and other development that will change the character of Old Town. I have worked to protect neighborhoods and this will not change what I believe fighting for. My vision includes tall ships, not cruise ships, a museum and band shell, not a hotel. It also includes arts and boat-building.

This will not stop my dilligence in pursuing these goals.

City Council did not have consensus, and they did not heed the words of many including former Mayor and State Sen. Patsy Ticer, a resident of Old Town, who pleaded with council to do take more time as the plan was not ready.

They also did not heed the words of Preservation Virginia and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Finally, they ignored the wishes of over 200 residents within 300 feet of the proposed zoning changes, who protested.

I would also like to commend Bob Montague for speaking at the Saturday public hearing, as he was instrumental in saving Founders Park from development nearly 40 years ago.

While I will do what I can to make sure that the Alexandria Waterfront lives up to its promise, and celebrates its history, I am also going to make sure I do what I can to keep on pushing for the acquisition of more open space along the waterfront, a resource shared by everyone in the city, and to create a museum that will be a legacy to Alexandria's rich history and can focus visitors toward all the wonderful historic sights the city has to offer.

I do not believe this is the right place to concentrate development, and that there is a way to invest in a shared vision if there is the will to move forward and explore all alternatives in any planning process.