No Increased "Industrialization" of Alexandria's South Pickett Street

Petition Requesting That
Alexandria’s Planning Commission and City Council
NOT APPROVE
A-1 Auto Repair’s Request for a Special Use Permit at 612 South Pickett Street

The efforts of many people have led to an increased focus on improving the appearance and amenities as well as stimulating the redevelopment of South Picket Street. Mill Creek’s investment of more than $100M in Moderna Tempo has been a huge catalyst to improvements in the area. The risk they took and the financial investment they made deserve to be actively supported by our City encouraging additional improvements and redevelopment in the area.

The cleaning up of the former “junk yard” at 550 South Pickett is encouraging. The fact that Burger Delite’s lease was not renewed suggests grander plans for that corner. JBG’s very significant investment in a high quality, multi-use development is well underway at Cameron Park (South Pickett at Cameron Station Boulevard).

Local residents were very active in ensuring this specific area was incorporated in the extensive work currently being done to update the West Eisenhower Small Area Plan. As the area evolves, with significant capital investment, the industrial uses become not only less desirable but ever less appropriate. The new concept plan for West Eisenhower takes account of that. With the plan scheduled to come before the Planning Commission and City Council in November, it would be inappropriate to consider any intensification of any industrial use in the area prior to that (and hopefully after).

We, residents of and investors in this area, look to our City government to support and advance improvements to this long-struggling area that finally appears to be on the verge of major upgrading. Allowing A-1 Auto Repair to further “industrialize” its operations is counter to that objective. Accordingly we urge the Planning Commission and City Council to deny A-1’s application for a Special Use Permit which would otherwise allow them to undertake general (“heavier”) auto repairs beyond the “light auto” repairs they are currently permitted to do.