Council approves La Pluma’s request for 12 more outdoor seats and later Sunday hours after contentious neighbor dispute
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Summary
After a contested hearing that included a neighbor’s allegations and dozens of supportive community testimonies, council approved the special‑use permit amendment for La Pluma (1000 Cameron St.) to add 12 outdoor seats and extend Sunday hours to 10 p.m., with conditions and monitoring.
Alexandria City Council approved a minor SUP amendment for La Pluma, a new cafe in Old Town, allowing 12 additional outdoor dining seats (bringing the total to 40) and extending Sunday hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Staff said violations discovered during an administrative review were resolved before docketing, but the application required a council hearing because of zoning‑ordinance triggers. Lanny Blaser, the case planner, said staff recommended approval and proposed a six‑month supplemental review in addition to the standard one‑year review to monitor compliance.
Public testimony was sharply divided: dozens of employees, patrons and neighborhood supporters described the business as a calm community hub and urged approval; one adjacent resident alleged chronic violations and said private litigation over an easement is pending. The owners, Ileana Melendez Lopez and her husband, acknowledged they had two minor infractions (a missing sign and a map on the website) and said many of the allegations in submitted photos were taken during trash pickup or were unrelated.
Council discussion focused on complaint‑driven enforcement, the burdens placed on small businesses by multiple complaints, and the need to balance neighborhood livability with small‑business vitality. Several council members praised the owners’ responsiveness and voted to approve the SUP.