ARL Boathouse meeting tonight – may affect trail route

[Arlingtonrider]

I don’t know the details, but I know there have been some concerns voiced about how possible plans for an Arlington boathouse may affect the trail. Today’s ARLNOW “Morning Notes” mention a public meeting on the boathouse at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Washington and Lee High School. I can’t go, but it might be good for some cyclists to be there.

Topic

[dbb]

I hope to attend

[Arlingtonrider]

I did a google search and found a note in the July 6, 2012 Washcycle that includes a link to the plan under consideration as well as info about the meeting.

[papalena]

details (from an email I received on a different list):

Open House (tonight) Regarding Arlington County and Vicinity Non-Motorized Boathouse Facility EIS Process

George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), a unit of the National Park Service, is seeking public input on preliminary alternatives to be considered in the Arlington County and Vicinity Non-Motorized Boathouse Facility Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The EIS will assess the impacts of the proposed siting and construction of a public facility for non-motorized boats on the Virginia shoreline of the Potomac River in the vicinity of Arlington County.

On Tuesday, July 24, 2012 from 6:30-8:30pm GWMP will host an Open House informational meeting at Washington-Lee High School. A short group presentation will begin at 7:00pm, the remainder of the time be in an “Open House” format with staff available at presentation boards. This meeting is being held so that interested people can learn more about the EIS process, have an opportunity to view preliminary alternatives and submit written comments about these alternatives. All are welcome to attend.

LOCATION: Washington-Lee High School Cafeteria, 1301 North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22201

METRO- Walking from Ballston Metro Station:
– Head east (right) on N Fairfax Dr toward N Stafford St
– Left on N Stafford St, walk 300ft
– High School on Right
– Enter through Main Entrance (Door 1)

DRIVING- High School parking deck provides ample free parking:
– Located near intersection of 14th St and N Stafford St
– Enter High School through Side Entrance (Door 5)

MORE INFORMATION: A scoping newsletter with a site map, information about the project history/EIS process, a copy of the NPS press release, are available online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/arlingtonboathouse

The public scoping period is open through August 31, 2012. During this period, the public is invited to identify how they might intend to use such a facility, concerns they may have with the preliminary alternatives, as well as offer suggestions. Written comments can be submitted electronically at the NPS’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/arlingtonboathousescoping. Other options to submit comments are detailed on the website.

[dbb]

Just got home and fed (my priorities are clear).

A lot was discussed and I will digest the 3-4 pages of notes in the next day or so. The NPS made a commitment to post the original feasibility study which may provide insight to the actual facility. In the meeting tonight they didn’t provide any clue to the size.

I plan on suggesting revisiting some of the locations that were excluded from the original feasibility study as they may be more attractive than the proposed locations.

Please note that they have renumbered the locations so that options 1, 2 and 3 are the Roosevelt Island (area) sites, 4 is the CSX site at the north end of Gravelly Point, and option 5 is Daingerfield Island.

I think there are a number of questions that must be addressed prior to a decision. Stay tuned.

[OneEighth]

Thanks for the update.

[Arlingtonrider]

I think one of the cycling concerns I read about somewhere was the potential effect on any MVT connection to Long Bridge Park, so that may be something not readily apparent to keep in mind. Thanks so much for going, dbb!

[dbb]

At an operational level, the CSX Gravelly Point alternative is in the same location as the Long Bridge park connection and the Gravelly Point improvement. That is a lot of moving parts that might end up competing with each other. If it was me, I would try to lump some aspects of the effort together.

[Author]

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