By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org

Three Alexandrians have filed an appeal of Planning Director Faroll Hamer’s ruling that a super majority was not needed for City Council to adopt a waterfront Small Area Plan. Based on Hamer’s decision, Council held a public hearing on Jan. 21, and voted, 5-2, to adopt a Small Area Plan for the waterfront.

A group of citizens filed a protest, which would have forced City Council to approve any Small Area Plan by a super majority vote, two days before the hearing. Hamer did not rule on the validity of that protest until just before the public hearing.  The three women first attempted to file an appeal during the public hearing but were told that the office was closed and the appeal could not be accepted. They then filed a suit in Alexandria Circuit Court last week. On Friday, they filed their appeal with the Planning Department and it was accepted. The appeal will be scheduled to be heard by the BZA.

Andrew McDonald, co-founder of Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan, applauded the three women for their tenacity.