Future of the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard and the master plan planning process. February 3, 2012

                                                                    February 3, 2012

Dear Tom,

Thanks for the note with the draft agenda for the February 8, 2012 Advisory Group Meeting, as well as the draft minutes from the meeting in January.   I’m writing to you in your role as the Chair of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group.

As you know I had to miss the January meeting to care for a family member.  Unfortunately I will also miss the February 8, 2012 meeting due to a long-standing family commitment.  Although I will miss the discussion on Wednesday evening I am very interested in the topics related to the “future of the maintenance yard” and the “Master Plan planning process”.  I offer the following comments for you and others to consider as you discuss these subjects.

1. Thoughts on the future of the Maintenance Yard:  The Advisory Group’s 

thoughts about the future of the maintenance yard should be shaped by the results of the historic, cultural and archaeological inventory, future archaeological research, and other resource studies.  The group’s perspective on the future of this area also needs to take into consideration the relationship of this portion of the park and how it relates to: a) the storm water runoff and restoration of the areas topography; b) additional graves and structures that may be present in the area; and c) the adjacent property of the Oakland Baptist Church; d) the adjacent properties of those living in Marlboro Estates; and e) the relationship of this part of the park to other areas within the Historic Park.

It doesn’t seem to make sense to spend a great deal of time talking about the future of this area until the work of Dept. of Transportation & Environmental Services and the Office of Historic Alexandria has been completed.  A “spot-zoning” approach to developing the Master Plan for Fort Ward Park & Museum seems to be taking the group off-focus.  The purpose of the plan is to make sure areas and uses are appropriate and fit.  A piece-meal approach was used in the past to designate park uses and it didn’t work.

2. Question:  Should the Group hire a Consultant to help guide it through

a Master Plan planning Process?   I was surprised to see this question on the agenda.  Since there is no proposal with this question I would hope that this part of the agenda will be for discussion, rather than to decide on an answer to the question.   

I’m not sure we as a group are ready to make an informed decision about the best way to go through the Master Planning process.  It seems to me that we have talked about several ways to prepare a master plan including the possible UVA and VA Tech sources of assistance that I presented to the group in December.  At that same meeting you introduced the idea of a “CItizen’s Master Plan”.  Each of these ideas may be a viable alternative and they should be considered separately or in some type of combination.

Perhaps it would make sense to have a  sub-group develop a concept for each of these alternatives to bring back to the Advisory Group for a more informed decision at the March or April meeting.  Each option could be one-page and include: who; what; when; where; how-type information.  

The idea of jumping ahead to hire a consultant now will: a) prove to be more costly to the City; b) duplicate the knowledge and skills that we have within and available to the Advisory Group; c) move the planning process away from Advisory Group and the public,  and into the contractual confinement of City government.  I urge you to keep the focus that you discussed at the 2011 meetings and not be side-tracked by well-intentioned ideas from City government managers.

Finally, although this meeting notice meets the minimum requirements of Virginia law, it hardly provides the public with adequate notice to stay informed and engaged in Fort Ward Park & Museum.  If this effort is to result in a “Citizen’s Master Plan” that is broadly supported it needs to be more open and transparent.  I urge you to consider adopting a deadline of at least ten (10) work days for public notice of the meeting, including the draft agenda.

Again, I wish I could be with the group on the 8th.   Thanks.

Sincerely,

Glenn

1. Glenn Eugster

Vice Chair, Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group