What's on the agenda: City Council holds first public hearing at Del Pepper center Saturday
Green Building Plan, Torpedo Factory management, office conversions among key items
Alexandria City Council will hold its first public hearing at the new Del Pepper Community Resource Center on Saturday, with a packed agenda headlined by the city’s new Green Building Plan, on which staff and the Planning Commission have offered different recommendations.
The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. at the center, located at 4850 Mark Center Drive. It will also be broadcast on government channel 70, streamed on the city’s website, and available via Zoom.
Green Building Plan
The centerpiece of Saturday’s docket asks the council to adopt a new framework for regulating energy efficiency in new construction.
Staff proposed requiring new multi-family residential buildings to achieve an Energy Use Intensity of 38 — a metric measuring annual energy consumption per square foot. The Planning Commission voted 7-0 on Jan. 6 to recommend a target of 30, which commissioners said would better align with the city’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030.
The commission also recommended increasing the on-site renewable energy requirement from 3 percent to 5 percent of a building’s anticipated annual energy use, and eliminating a proposed Clean Energy Fund that would have allowed developers to pay up to $150,000 rather than install solar panels.
Staff is recommending the council adopt the original proposal. A staff report notes the targets were developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and market analysis.
The plan drew a range of perspectives during the public process.
Ken Wire, an attorney representing NAIOP Northern Virginia, told the commission the uniform EUI targets could discourage high-density construction and raised concerns about whether the plan complies with Virginia’s Dillon Rule, which limits local government authority.
Mary Catherine Gibbs, representing Paradigm Development Company — which she described as the city’s second-largest taxpayer — said none of Paradigm’s existing buildings are “anywhere close to 38” and expressed concern that stricter standards could affect high-rise development.
Supporters of lower EUI targets said higher-performing buildings would protect residents from rising energy costs. Architect David Peabody estimated that a building meeting the 30 EUI standard would save a family of four about $37 per month compared to one built to minimum state code — a gap he said will grow as Dominion Energy rates continue to climb.
Buildings account for more than 52 percent of Alexandria’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments analysis. The plan would apply to new construction that requires a Development Site Plan or a Development Special Use Permit.
Torpedo Factory: City seeks outside operator
Council will take up the second reading of an ordinance that would launch a formal process to find an outside entity to lease, manage, and operate the Torpedo Factory Art Center at 105 Union Street.
The move caps a multiyear effort that began with a stakeholder task force in 2021 and included a request for information last year to gauge interest from potential operators.
If the council adopts the ordinance, proposals would be due March 30, with an award expected in the second quarter. The solicitation does not assume a specific governance model and requires a minimum 5-year lease to allow for a transition from city operations and to honor existing tenant leases, though bidders may propose longer terms.
The city has the right to reject all bids.
Tall Ship Providence
Two related items address the Tall Ship Providence, the replica historic vessel docked at Waterfront Park. Council will consider a five-year license agreement with the Tall Ship Providence Foundation and an amendment to the foundation’s existing franchise agreement.
Office-to-residential conversions
Two items address the conversion of office space to housing.
A citywide zoning text amendment would modify Article XII of the zoning ordinance to establish specific provisions for office-to-residential conversions and clarify how noncomplying structures can generally be reused. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 7-0 vote.
A separate request at 732 N. Washington St. and 710 Madison St. seeks to convert a 1960s office building in Old Town North into 20 residential units. That project requires a master plan amendment to increase the allowed height to 55 feet, a rezoning from commercial downtown to mixed-use, special use permits for residential use, a parking reduction, and an encroachment for upper-floor balconies. The commission recommended approval of all four requests 7-0.
Other development items
220-224 S. Peyton St.: Council will consider a development special use permit for a mixed-use building with eight residential units and ground-floor commercial space near the King Street Metro station. The project requires a parking reduction. Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0.
910 King St. BAR appeal: The applicant is appealing the Board of Architectural Review’s approval of alterations at 910 King St. The BAR approved a certificate of appropriateness on Dec. 3; the property owner, represented by attorney Romona Sanchez, has appealed that decision.
3120 Colvin St.: A request for extension of a previously approved development special use permit to construct an automobile repair and warehouse facility. Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0.
Informational items
Three subdivision cases approved by the Planning Commission appear on the docket for information only and would be heard by the council only on appeal: 106 E. Braddock Road (re-subdividing one lot and two part lots into two lots), 412 E. Nelson Ave. (re-subdividing one lot into two), and 413 E. Nelson Ave. (re-subdividing one lot into two). All were approved 7-0.
How to participate
The meeting will be webcast live on the city’s website and broadcast on government channel 70. Residents can participate via Zoom (Webinar ID: 938 9352 7596, Passcode: 212785) or by phone at 301-715-8592.
Those wishing to speak should register in advance and submit a speaker’s form at apps.alexandriava.gov/SpeakerSignup. Written comments can be emailed to CouncilComment@alexandriava.gov.
Translation services are available with 48 hours’ notice by contacting the City Clerk at gloria.sitton@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-4550.
The full docket and supporting documents are available at legistar.granicus.com/alexandria/meetings/2026/1/2672_A_City_Council_Public_Hearing_26-01-24_Docket.pdf.