Proposed Taco Bell's Drive-Through, Late Hours Upsets Alexandria Residents

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- "Would you want to hear anyone ordering burritos at 2 a.m. in your backyard?" That was just one of the comments from at least 20 residents who lined up to voice their opposition Thursday night to a Taco Bell that is likely going to open on Duke Street in front of their neighborhood in the City's West End.

Members of the Strawberry Hill neighborhood wore stickers identifying themselves Thursday night, spoke passionately about their concerns and inundated the panel with letters. Their main concern: Traffic from the drive-through making matters worse on N. Gordon Street.

But it was to no avail; all six members of the City Planning Commission voted for the Taco Bell project. Next stop: Alexandria City Council.

Several Planning Commission members did voice their concerns and Planning Commission Member Melissa McMahon noted that she had a problem with "how dysfunctional N. Gordon Street is today and how more dysfunctional it well become."

Several people mentioned that the parking problem on N. Gordon Street is due to residents of The Fields of Alexandria parking their cars there; an employee at the apartment complex said Friday that residents are allowed to park two cars at The Fields for free. It's unclear if there are any parking regulations along N. Gordon.

The biggest concerns are about traffic that would be generated from customers utilizing Taco Bell's drive-through. In addition to residents who already use the roadway there, there are also several other businesses (including emergency vehicles going to the dialysis center), as well as school buses, bicyclists and pedestrians, the speakers pointed out.

Some of the other objections included:

• reduces the quality of life in the area
• pollution from idling cars
• potential for crime
• anti-walkability
• noise from loudspeakers
• negatively impact property values by 10 to 20 percent
• lighting
• pedestrian safety
• reversing walkability, bikeability

Another speaker noted that the intersection made Washington Examiner's "worst intersections" list in 2013, racking up 16 crashes the previous year.

Neighbors also objected to the late hours proposed. The owner of Tempo restaurant told Planning Commission members that her business adheres to hours that were set forth by the city "and we've been just fine for 26 years."

M. Catharine Puskar, representing Taco Bell, defended her client at Thursday night's meeting, noting that several restaurants including a Popeye's on Mount Vernon Avenue, are close to City residents. Puskar said that Taco Bell would be open to a six-month review once it's up and running. She noted that it has less seating than other restaurants in the area, and will have a retaining wall and trees to further shield noise and will be adding crosswalks.

Other concessions made include limiting deliveries to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (instead of 10 p.m.), adding additional trash cans, reducing the hours of outdoor dining from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m. and reducing drive-through hours from 24 hours to 6 a.m.-2 a.m. weekdays, 6 a.m.-3 a.m. weekends.

The next stop for the restaurant proposal: Alexandria City Council on Jan. 28.

PHOTO: Tempo restaurant owner speaks before Planning Commission Thursday night (screen shot from City video of meeting)

Rendering of Taco Bell (courtesy of City of Alexandria):