Last night the Arlington County Civic Federation passed a resolution (below) on the Central Place Observation Deck. I co-sponsored the resolution.....

PUBLIC ACCESS TO CENTRAL PLACE OBSERVATION DECK

Whereas, on May 5, 2007, the County Board approved the site plan for Central Place on N. Moore Street in Rosslyn, including an observation deck atop the proposed office building, which would provide a panoramic view of the surrounding area, and

Whereas, Site Plan condition 83 states: "The applicant agrees that it will coordinate with the County Manager, Rosslyn Renaissance and Rosslyn BID operator, the Parks and Recreation Commission and representatives from the Rosslyn North and Radnor-Fort Myer Heights civic associations to develop a management and programming plan for the Observation Deck. The plan shall be reviewed and approved by the County Manager prior to the issuance of the final building permit, to include.. . fee structures for admission..."

Whereas, the applicant agreed to provide the observation deck "for public use and access" as a Community Benefit, valued at almost $14 million, and

Whereas, part of Site Plan conditions 72b and 83 states: "the Observation Deck will be open to Arlington residents free of charge for at least 2 days a week. . . and on the 4th of July," and that "the developer will operate the Observation Deck as a non-profit facility," and

Whereas, in consideration of the extra height and density given to the applicant by the County Board on behalf of Arlington residents, these residents have a right to increased free access to this designated public space and community benefit,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Arlington County Civic Federation inform the County Manager its support for the following:

1. Arlington residents and their families should have free admission to the Central Place Observation Deck 3 days a week --to include at least one weekend day-- which would amount to half the number of days open to the public, and

2. Active and retired members of the U. S. Armed Forces should have unlimited free admission during hours open to the public.