Tag: Alexandria Zoning

Team Spotlight: City of Alexandria, Land Use & Zoning Team

Posted on by The Land Lawyers

In this month’s Employee Spotlight we would like to highlight and congratulate the City of Alexandria Land Use & Zoning team.

The dynamic team, Cathy Puskar, Bob Brant, and Caroline Herre, received unanimous approval for the redevelopment of the existing Potomac Yard Regal Cinema site into the Virginia Tech/North Potomac Yard Innovation District. They each took on key roles in the project and ensured that every step represented the client’s best interests through the approval process.

Congratulations Cathy, Bob, and Caroline!

Cathy Puskar
Having joined Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh in November 1998, Cathy Puskar’s practice focuses on land use and zoning matters in the City of Alexandria and Arlington County. With an in-depth knowledge of the law, process, politics, and people required to achieve her clients’ goals, Cathy has successfully represented a number of clients in obtaining the necessary entitlements for a variety of projects including major residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. Cathy represents major landowners with development approvals in significant planning areas within the City of Alexandria, including North Potomac Yard, Potomac Yard/Potomac Greens, Beauregard, and Eisenhower East. In addition, Cathy has the distinction of having represented clients in the approval process for the majority of the Arlington County Columbia Pike Commercial Revitalization and Neighborhoods Form Based Code Projects that have been developed to date.

Bob Brant
A long-time resident of Northern Virginia, Bob joined the firm in 2015 and works in the firm’s Land Use & Zoning practice group. His practice focuses on securing zoning and land use entitlements including rezonings, special permits, and special exceptions.

Caroline Herre
Caroline joined the Firm as a Land Use Planner in 2017 after completing her graduate degree in Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia.

 

Alexandria City Council Approves Redevelopment of the WMATA Bus Barn

Posted on by Brigitte Flores

On February 23, 2019, Alexandria City Council approved an application submitted by Trammell Crow Residential to allow the long-anticipated redevelopment of the WMATA Bus Barn located at 600 N. Royal Street.

Land Use attorneys Cathy Puskar and Bob Brant guided the Development Special Use Permit application through the development review process, coordinating with the development team, negotiating with City staff, and conducting significant community outreach.  The approval will allow the development of a 287 unit multifamily building located in the heart of Old Town North.  Cathy and Bob worked closely with the project design team and staff to ensure that the building is in alignment with the recently adopted Old Town North Small Area Plan (SAP) and the Old Town North Urban Design Standards and Guidelines, ultimately receiving the endorsement of the City’s Urban Design Advisory Committee.  The development will replace the aging industrial Bus Barn and surface parking lot with a vibrant residential building that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and consistent with the vision of the SAP.

The project will provide a number of benefits to the City, including the provision of twelve on-site affordable dwelling units, monetary contributions to the City’s Housing Trust Fund and Old Town North Streetscape and Open Space Fund, streetscape improvements and the implementation of “Green Streets” as recommended by the SAP, and the addition of at-grade open space.  This approval represents the culmination of nearly five years of community-driven planning for the Bus Barn, and is yet another step towards the transformation of Old Town North.

 

Cathy Puskar Wins Approval for City of Alexandria Senior Living Facility

Posted on by Amy Friedlander
Site Drawing
Source: Urban, Ltd.

On February 21, 2015, after more than two years of development review and a six-hour public hearing including 53 speakers representing both sides of the issue, the Alexandria City Council approved a rezoning and development special use permit for the 66-unit Alexandria Memory Care Center by a required 6–1 supermajority vote. The Center, adjacent to the Woodbine Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility on King Street, will serve as a senior living facility specifically designed to provide care for 66 residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

WCL&W shareholder Cathy Puskar represented the applicant, 2811 King Street, Inc., and led the development team through the long and controversial review process. Cathy and the development team worked with City staff and the community to address issues associated with the applications including building mass and scale, architecture, site design, tree preservation, affordability, and other technical items.

The approved Center meets the high bar set by City staff and the community to ensure compatibility with the adjacent residential neighborhood while addressing the critical need for senior assisted living facilities set forth in the City’s Strategic Plan on Aging. In consideration of Alexandria’s strong commitment to its seniors and the provision of affordable housing, two beds at the Center will be provided at a 40% subsidy for the life of the facility. Cathy’s counsel and determination brought this arduous and contentious process to a successful conclusion.