Town Continues Public Meetings on Parking Garage

The Town of Vienna on the proposed Church Street parking garage Thursday, reassuring the public the proposal has not yet been approved and their input does matter.

"This is only the beginning of this process," Mayor Jane Seeman said in the second of two public meetings Thursday. "There will be a lot of time for more public input, so please send us your concerns and suggestions."

On Wednesday, town officials met with Church Street merchants on the project's proposed site at 120 Church St. NW. While the merchants expressed the same concerns about parking on the historic street as the town, they also showed concern about how the estimated 18-month construction phase would affect their businesses. 

In March, Town Council accepted a proposal for , the first pitch to come in under the town's  The proposal is not yet approved.

If approved, the town anticipates breaking ground in February 2014 with an 18-month construction phase. The garage will have 120 public parking spaces, 52 spaces on the ground, and the curb in front of the mixed-use building will make room for five spaces.

The project from Arrington Properties LLC would cost between $5.8 million and $6.6 million, the plan said. The private building would be developed and funded by Arrington. Land for the parking structure would be sold to Vienna for $1 and construction, estimated to cost between $2.8 million and $3.3 million, would be financed by the town through meals and lodging taxes. Three of the four levels would be open to the public.

"I think the council pretty much feels like this [proposal] is furthering our commitment and drive to see Church Street develop even more," Seeman said. "... We want to be in the driver's seat. We want to control how this area develops."

In Thursday's public meetings, town officials clarified public parking portion of the garage may or may not be paid parking. 

"The main thing we want to do is cover operating costs, and a way to do that is paid parking," said Kirstyn Barr, the town's public information officer. "... We're not trying to generate revenue, by any means."

A total of about 40 residents attended the two public meetings, with most showing support for a parking garage while pressing the town to get the details right — echoing the merchants' concerns for how the construction would be conducted. 

"I want this to happen because it is so difficult to find parking on Church Street, but I do worry about the construction. I think it's something I'll just have to endure," said Michele Zenkowich, a Park Street resident, after the meeting. "If it is paid parking, I probably won't use it as much, but I do think the project should move forward even if it will be paid parking. I think it'll get more people shopping at those businesses because right now I think people don't want to come to Vienna because they can't park."

Though no set plans have been developed for the construction phase, the architect of the project assured residents the town is focused on created a streamlined, efficient process to minimize the negative effects construction tends to have on the businesses around the site.

"We will certainly have signage to let people know those businesses are still open," Paul Layer said. "We will also try to do some work offsite, use precast materials, that sort of thing, to help keep the site as clean as possible."

Layer said once the parking garage is erected, it will be used as a staging area for the construction of the mixed-use building for "natural cover" and to "keep everything contained on this site." 

Town Manager Mercury Payton also said other pieces of town property will be explored as possible staging areas for the project.

Other concerns addressed at the meetings:

• Will traffic worsen? Councilwoman Laurie DiRocco, who served on the Planning Commission when a 2008 traffic study of Church Street was conducted, said their study yielded several recommendation, one of which was a parking garage. "It will help alleviate the problems Church Street has with people driving up and down the street looking for a parking space," she said.
• Will business owners, particularly the three on the lane between Maple Avenue and Church Street, receive remuneration for the inevitable lost business during construction? They are already brainstorming ways to advertise that the businesses are still open, through radio announcements or advertising in newspapers along with the signage. "We have a Small Business Liaison Committee, too, so we will be consulting with them about ideas to help support those businesses," DiRocco said.
• With the first floor of the parking garage given to Arrington Properties, would the town be responsible for maintaining it? Those details are still to be worked out as the proposal moves forward.
• What will people see from Maple Avenue? While the parking garage will not be visible from Church Street because the mixed-use building will block it, sightlines have not yet been determined from Maple Avenue. 
• Can the parking garage increase the number of spaces by going underground? It is more expensive to build down, and the project would have to allow the build to go down deep enough to offset the cost. Also, a study has not yet been conducted to find out what sorts of elements they will find underneath the garage. "I am almost certain we will hit water," Layer said. "Then we'd have to buy a de-watering device, which would be another expense."
• What about providing loading zones for delivery trucks now that the lot most used for delivery trucks is disappearing with this project? "That's a message we heard loud and clear last night in our meeting with the merchants," Layer said. "We'll be thinking about how to accommodate that, which we didn't know to consider before."

Vienna Town Council will host a public hearing Monday that would address a change to the height limit requirements for municipal parking garages from 35 feet to 50 feet. 

The Department of Planning and Zoning pushed forward two ordinance drafts for Council to consider, both of which would increase the height limit for municipal garages to 50 feet. The more detailed ordinance draft also specifies 1) garages may not exceed a maximum of four levels and 2) total height with functional or decorative elements should not be more than 115 percent of the 50-foot limit, nor "exceed 10 percent of the area of the parking structure footprint."

Planning and Zoning Director Greg Hembree has recommended the Council adopt the simpler version of the ordinance change.

The hearing is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers at Town Hall.

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