Foxchase, DSUP #2004-0025 & SUP #2004-0097

[Elizabeth Wright]

Cathy,
 
Quick questions about your application tomorrow night regarding Foxchase:
 
The walk way through the shopping center, where Curves is now located.  The current plans appear to be "open," no covered or enclosed walkway.  Is this accurate?  The current set up works well and Dr. Gibberman is concerned if the walkway is "opened," his chair lift to bring handicapped patients to the second floor is not designed to work outdoors.  Dr. Gibberman installed the chair lift with his own funds & he's not too happy w/ an open design.  If the design is currently planned for open, can a skylight roof be enclosed?  If not, how will the building design meet ADA rqmts?  Dr. Gibberman's office is also concerned w/ vandalism to the chair lift if this area is "opened up."
 
Awnings.  If awnings are to be used to help create a Main St type of appeal, who is responsible for cleaning/waxing/maintaining the awnings?  I understand this work needs to be done minimally at least three times a year to maintain appearance.  Is each shop responsible for their own awnings?  Also, birds like to next under awnings.  Has this been taken into consideration?  Currently, 4600 (Duke Condos) has a most annoying bird tape of a screeching chicken hawk call to deter birds/pigeons nesting on their property.
 
Lighting.  Will lighting designs be such that will assist in safe lighting at night but will not contribute to sky light pollution?
 
Pedestrian safety at N Jordan/Duke.  I'm disappointed that pedestrian use has not been addressed at the side entrance, east side, off of N Jordan St.  Request that brick appeal crosswalk be considered at this intersection.  (Colored/imprinted asphalt, to give appearance of brick.  Use of brick not necessary.)  The reality is pedestrians cross at the blinking light on N Jordan.  People do not necessarily walk down to the actual corner of Duke to cross N Jordan.  (The shortest distance between two points.)  This concern has been raised at community mtgs with both the Holmes Run Park Committee and Wakefield Tarleton.  I'm not a traffic engineer but I'm sure there are safety feature designs that would encourage safer street crossings at this location.
 
Concern has been expressed by the Bike Walk Alexandria Committee* over the intermittent access road on the north side of Duke St.  In some areas (closer to Fuddruckers) the access road has been eliminated, then it begins again.  At the Foxchase apt side, emptying into N Jordan St, has T&ES made any recommendations regarding design, signage, to clarify traffic pattern flow, safety, et al at the westbound Duke/access road at N Jordan?
 
* Former "Bike Committee"
 
I support the loss of the curb cut just due west of Wachovia bank.  The less entrances/exits on Duke w/in a short distance appears to be a safety/traffic flow improvement.
 
The entrance into Holmes Run Park also looks nice & I'll ask that community groups be involved in the final design/landscape planning.
 
This list looks longer than I first anticipated, but I had some questions and also wanted to let you know some of my concerns.
 
Kind regards,
 
Elizabeth Wright


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