Planning Commission endorses new private elementary school on North Washington Street | ALXnow

A private elementary college has gotten the Setting up Commission’s endorsement on its plans to transfer into 424 North Washington Road in spite of worries at a community listening to that the busy avenue site visitors could make it hazardous for pupils.

The Potomac Crescent Waldorf College is planning to move into the former daycare facility at the corner of Oronoco Road and North Washington Street this September right after having moved all over throughout a pair spots in Previous Town. Paul Nary, Director of Administration, Marketing and advertising and Communications at the college, mentioned the university has a recent enrollment of 55 learners but hopes to expand to 155 over the following couple of several years.

The recommendation for approval was unanimous on the Planning Fee, although quite a few speakers in the general public remark part of the conference voiced issues about the faculty possessing select up and drop off on Washington Street.

In accordance to the employees report, select-up and fall-off would run for a 10-minute time period with automobiles making use of 5 areas on North Washington Street. School staff members would fulfill their youngsters at the vehicles for the duration of the drop-off period and accompany them to the faculty and wander them back to their vehicles in the afternoon.

Close by people, having said that, explained they had been anxious

“I can inform you as someone who walks his canine on that stretch of road 4 instances a working day: this program is going to be a catastrophe,” mentioned George Greatest. “During the several hours that they propose fall off and choose up, the north aspect of Oronoco is packed. People lanes are filled. So to make use of the parking area, you are likely to have vehicles stopped in the middle lane, that’s going to make danger. Even if you don’t have cars stopped there, you have men and women pulling out of pick-up and fall-off zone into large velocity or weighty traffic.”

Paul Dueffert stated he frequently drives on Washington Street and said the school’s proximity to the occupied street puts kids at possibility.

“[Washington Street] compared with any other avenue in Alexandria,” Dueffert mentioned. “When I’m a commuter driving on it, I never glimpse for kids. I don’t appear for four-year-olds. I never appear for fourth graders. Is there any other K-5 elementary college that has choose up and fall off on a thoroughfare like Washington Avenue? This website traffic system is an invitation for U-turns. It is an invitation for little ones coming across the avenue. It’s frightening. I’m not saying that as a neighbor, this isn’t NIMBY. I’m a commuter but I do not want to hit a kid. This demands study. This is a huge offer. This is Alexandria expressing it is all right to put a entire elementary school on Washington Avenue and I’m anxious for myself as a driver.”

Planning Commission associates, having said that, famous that motorists need to often be on the lookout for pedestrians no issue what street they’re on.

“I have no qualms with the considerations that Washington Road is as well large and often driven on much too rapidly,” mentioned Preparing Commissioner Melissa McMahon. “What I wrestle with as a arranging commissioner is I feel in generating the community I want to be residing in, and I don’t want a neighborhood exactly where men and women really do not push down Washington Avenue looking for young children. I want everyone to be seeking for kids on just about every road.”

McMahon also famous that there are at least five educational facilities in Alexandria possibly ideal on Washington Road or significantly less than a block absent, and stated the elementary university use isn’t basically various in this regard to the pre-school that preceded it.

Just after Setting up Commission approval, the university heads to the Town Council on Saturday, April 23, for closing critique.