MINUTES


NOTICe Community Meeting


Thursday, September 22, 7 p.m.
Old Colony Best Western Conference Center

The September 22 NOTICe Community meeting began with sign-in and social and refreshment time at 7:00 p.m. Attendees who were on the membership list or joined at sign-in were advised to check the Constitutional amendments they were to vote on during the business meeting.

The business meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by President Sally Ann Greer.

Having certified that the meeting had a quorum, the membership unanimously approved the Amended Constitution. Treasurer and re-drafting chair Tom Soapes noted that the amendments were largely grammatical and format-oriented, not changing the substance of the Constitution.

Ms. Greer then announced that as on August 30 the City of Alexandria had announced an agreement with GenOn to close the power plant at the northern edge of town, with a target date of October 2012, NOTICe had invited Gregory C. Staple, CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation, to present that organization’s concept plan for the 24-acre site’s redevelopment.


Mr. Staple spoke and showed a power-point presentation that illustrated details of the concept plant, which includes 96 townhomes, 467 multi-family units, a 125 room boutique hotel along with 89,000 sq. ft. of office space and 114,500 of retail and restaurants. The proposal also includes reference to producing electricity using natural gas. Mr. Staple emphasized that this was just a concept plan. The land, held in an 89-year lease by GenOn (as well as several acres more occupied by a transformer station), is owned by PEPCO.

Mr. Koa Dinh Tran from the City’s Department of Transportation and Environment, and Mr. Karl Moritz of the City’s Planning Department pointed out that this plan has not in any way been approved or made in conjunction with City Staff. They emphasized that the date of the closing is not yet certain, that the site needs environmental cleanup, and that a long planning process would take place once GenOn and Pepco decide what to do with the site. The most likely scenario is that a developer would propose a plan and that plan would have to meet all City requirements, with input from local residents.

NOTICe members and other Alexandria residents in attendance had an opportunity to ask questions of Mr. Staple and the City officials. Mayor Euille, who was present at the beginning of the meeting, was not there during the presentation or question period.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Christa Watters, Secretary

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