Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper June 18, 2015 Page 14 Once a Titan ... A Party Divided Parents and students from the Class of 2015 Democratic unity in Alexandria remember successes and struggles. uncertain as Euille weighs options. By Vernon Miles Silberberg immediately received By Vernon Miles Gazette Packet the vocal support of opponent Gazette Packet Kerry Donley, who said the party ne week after the Demo- needed to remain united for uch of the cratic primary, questions November’s election. However, an Robinson fam- O linger about whether or endorsement from Euille was not M ily pointed out not incumbent William Euille will as forthcoming, and the incum- every girl en- challenge Democratic candidate bent mayor announced that he tering the floor of the Patriot Allison Silberberg as a write-in. would take the weekend to delib- Center, trying to determine at While on the surface local Demo- erate on whether or not to orches- a distance which was McKayla crats have rallied behind trate a write-in campaign. Robinson. It wasn’t an easy Silberberg’s nomination as Demo- The Alexandria Democratic task, and each one of the par- cratic candidate for mayor, Euille’s Committee (ADC) released a state- ents filling the 10,000 seat reluctance to yield the position ment of unity on June 16, includ- sports center at George Mason casts doubts. ing comments from both University was attempting to On June 9, Silberberg won the Silberberg and Euille. Silberberg accomplish. More than 700 stu- three-way Democratic primary by thanked her opponents and em- dents were gathered at the Pa- 312 votes over Euille. Following phasized the need to set aside dif triot Center on June 15 for the the release of the election results, See Party, Page 11 2015 T.C. Williams High School graduation. “Is that her?” They would ask, and LaKeyda Robinson Patrick Henry School shook her head. Even at this Packet Krafft/Gazette by Louise Photos distance, a mother could pick her daughter out of a crowd. Plan Advances “She’s in the back,” said LaKeyda Robinson as her School Board addresses daughter walked in. At that point, the families shook their community criticisms. banners. The main one, spread By Vernon Miles Board will address concerns from across four seats, congratulated Gazette Packet the community during the plan- McKayla Robinson on getting ning phase, particularly regarding into Virginia Commonwealth divided School Board the entrances and exits to the University in Richmond. moved forward with school, the size of the recreation LaKeyda Robinson said her A plans to rebuild the center, and the height of the school daughter was going to study Patrick Henry Elementary School. buildings. physical therapy. While at TC, Students line up in the loading dock at the George In a 6-3 vote, the School Board One of the largest concerns in addition to her classes, Mason Patriot Center before the commencement cer- approved construction of a new voiced from the neighborhoods is MeKayla Robinson played vol- emony on Monday morning, June 15. Patrick Henry School and will be- the roadway connecting the site to leyball, softball, and briefly bas- gin the planning phase for the new the nearby two-lane, residential ketball. does.” building. Patrick Henry Elemen- North Latham Street. “She played sports for all four years, and she While not every family had a banner, the par- tary currently houses nearly 600 “All points of ingress and egress absolutely thrived,” said LaKeyda Robinson. “She’s ents and families filling the stands of the Patriot students in grades preK-5, but will must remain on Taney Avenue,” so active, and she just thrives in everything she Center were no less enthusiastic to see their chil- expand to 800 students as a preK- said Liz Parker, one of the school’s dren graduate. 8 school. The design phase is set neighbors. “Access to Latham must A few rows below the Robinsons, Jane and Ri- to last 18 months, with construc- be limited to emergencies.” chard Tynan were trying to spot their son Davin. tion beginning in Spring 2017. The access to Latham became Davin Tynan has been through Alexandria schools Chris Lewis, the School Board the focal point of the public criti for 13 years and is planning on attending Coastal vice-chair, said that the School See School Board, Page 4 Carolina University to study business. Jane Tynan Alexandria, VA 22314 VA Alexandria, said TC’s College Summit, a national program that St., King 1604 To: ted helps encourage students to attend college and Reques Service Address find one that fits them, was particularly helpful material. during her son’s decision making process. Time-sensitive Postmaster: Sports played a large part in many of the TC Attention SGA President Zauhirah Tipu gives a students’ lives. Pamela Underhill remembered one Permit #482 Permit farewell embrace to retiring principal volleyball game with her daughter, Madeline Fos VA Alexandria, PAID Suzanne Maxey. See Graduation, Page 3 Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ June 18-24, 2015 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ June 18-24, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Subdivision on Vassar Road divides The Lot That Wasn’t There neighborhood and City Council. By Vernon Miles requirement: that the subdivi- violated the law that’s before Gazette Packet sion be in keeping with the you. Even though [the ordi- character of the neighborhood. nance] may not be as clear teve Hales currently owns the According to City Planner as you would like it to be, that dwellings at 809 and 811 on Nathan Randall, the character is the relevant law that is in S Vassar Road, but Hales would requirement means that new front of you, that is the rel- rather own 809, 811, and a sub- lots must be substantially con- evant law that must drive divided lot 626. In theory, lot 626 is com- sistent with other nearby lots. your decision .... This is the prised of the empty space between the Lots can either be compared to relevant law that will decide houses on lots 809 and 811. The plan was original specifications for the the case, even if you change passed by the Planning Commission in a 5- neighborhood or, as in this case, the law tomorrow ... If you 1 vote. to nearby lots of similar shape Contributed Photo sustain the appeal and deny After the commission recommended ap- and size. New lots are required the subdivision, I would urge proval of the subdivision, the neighbors to be at least 50 percent the size you to state on the record appealed the decision to the City Council. of other lots selected for com- specifically the reasons why.” At its June 13 public hearing, while the City parison. The newly created lot Banks also noted, half-jok- Council did not directly overturn the Plan- 626 would meet this require- ingly, that a clear statement ning Commission’s recommendation, the ment, but only barely. At 9452 from each of the City Coun- subdivision request was sent back to the feet, the lot square footage was cil members on the legal Planning Commission with instructions to near the bottom of the compari- Proposed subdivided lot outlined in red, with lots grounds the subdivision was reconsider with a different set of compara- sons, and in terms of width it used by staff for comparison outlined in green. denied on would make his job tive models. came in last at 67 feet. as city attorney much easier. During the discussion at its May 5 meet- During the Planning Commission meet- within the legal parameters of the city or- However, Silberberg suggested that if the ing, the first time the subdivision was ing, Stewart Dunn, who abstained, ex- dinances. City Council found that the comparative brought before the Planning Commission, pressed concerns about lot size and width. “Did the Planning Commission go against area used by the Planning Commission, spe- the commission sided with planning and During the City Council meeting, Vice the ordinance as written?” said Councilman cifically the cul-de-sac at the end of Vassar zoning staff in recommending approval Mayor Allison Silberberg echoed these con- Tim Lovain. “It’s a tough call to say that’s Road, was invalid, the item would be sent over the objections of neighbors. The staff cerns. Specifically referencing the property’s true. I think they struggled mightily and back to the Planning Commission for review. compared the proposed property on lot 626 width, Silberberg supported sustaining the took a great deal of time, and it’s hard for In a 4-3 vote, the City Council remanded to other “pie-shaped” lots in the Clover neighbors’ appeal. me to say they did it wrong. The problem is the appeal back to the Planning Commis- neighborhood. Neighbors argued that 3/4 During the public comment, nearby resi- with the underlying law. This is a pretty sig- sion with instructions to find a different of the properties lot 626 were being com- dents expressed a mix of opposition and nificant thing to say that they got it wrong, selection of lots for comparison. The item pared to were located on a cul-de-sac and support to the subdivision request. that’s a tough thing to say, and I don’t think will be presented to the Planning Commis- were categorically separate from a house “I’ve dealt with the city, they’re tough, and I’m quite there.” sion again in the fall, a little over one year located on a curve in the road.