James Roberts
Planning and Zoning Department
City of Alexandria

Dear Mr. Roberts:

Cambridge Healthcare has circulated a proposal seeking a special zoning change and a variety of special permits for land that is currently zoned single-family residential, immediately adjacent to the existing Woodbine facility on King Street. Cambridge Healthcare is seeking this drastic change so that it might construct a high-density multi-story building on the property -- which is not at all in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood or the Small Area Plan.

We, the undersigned neighborswould like to register our opposition and urge that the proposal for a zoning change, etc. be denied.Over the past several years, there have been repeated attempts to change our residential neighborhood by expanding Woodbine and/or changing the zoning of the property.Each time, these attempts have been wisely rejected by City of Alexandria Department ofPlanning and Zoning.

Traffic along King Street is already very heavy and entry and exit to the current Woodbine facility already creates a dangerous situation, since the entry to Melrose Street is directly across from it. Any expansion of parking for Woodbine or any new facility would only exacerbate this situation.

The neighborhood is made up of single family homes, both historic homes as well as many others that were constructed more than 50 years ago. Woodbine is the only commercial property for 1 mile in either direction on King Street, adjacent to Ivy Hill Cemetery, a historic nonprofit community cemetery. City of Alexandria experts have examined this issue in the past, and the current zoning for the property, which is single family residential, remains the appropriate one.

We all strive to be good neighbors to Woodbine and appreciate its service to senior citizens, but we cannot support construction that would significantly alter our neighborhood and thus urge the Planning and Zoning Commission to reject the proposal and keep the current zoning requirements intact.

SIGNED