Politics & Government

Donley Calls City Analysis of CAAWP Plan 'Thorough and Thoughtful'

Vice mayor shoots back at perceived political threat made by co-founder of alternative waterfront plan group.

Alexandria Vice Mayor Kerry Donley thanked city staff Tuesday for what he called a “thorough and thoughtful” analysis of the redevelopment strategy presented by Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan and shot back at the group’s co-founder for a perceived political threat.

On Monday, the city announced .

CAAWP co-founder Andrew Macdonald, a former vice mayor, responded to the results of the analysis in and The Washington Post by saying that any member of the City Council that votes for the city’s current plan for the waterfront is ignoring citizens and “deserves to be tossed from office in 2012.”

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Donley countered Tuesday that the council has been responsive to citizen concerns and has eliminated some of the “more objectionable aspects” of the city’s plan, including a 250-foot pier and controversial parking elements.

He also said council needs information on fiscal impacts, legal opinions and land use implications of different proposals so it can ultimately make a decision on the future of the waterfront.

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“It’s unfortunate now that there’s disagreement over the results of an analysis that we have to inject political threats into this whole equation,” Donley said. “We all know a fair amount about accountability. That’s why we have elections.

“Perhaps Mr. Macdonald can take a lesson from his own comments and be accountable to the citizens as to why he resigned from this council and probably cost this city upwards of $100,000 in a special election to find his replacement,” Donley added. “That’s accountability as well.”

On Nov. 9, Donley and Mayor Bill Euille urged the Waterfront Plan Work Group, which is currently analyzing the city’s plan, so Council could vote on it in early 2012.


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