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Tense Meeting on “Upzoning” Residential Areas

County Board members were queried about a planned study of zoning during a Jan 2 housing forum. At issue is the desire by some to “upzone” single-family neighborhoods to accommodate more properties. The goal is to keep costs of Arlington housing from growing unaffordable for middle-income residents.

A bill introduced for the 2020 General Assembly session would eliminate single-family zoning across all of Virginia.
Va House Bill 152 Would Ban Single-Family Residential Zoning

“None of us are interested in destroying all our single-family neighborhoods,” said new County Board Chairman Libby Garvey.

More at Sun Gazette

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County Expands Areas for Elder Care Facilities

To to promote housing options for seniors and persons with disabilities., the County Board voted to amend the Zoning Ordinance. The change allows new assisted living and similar facilities in areas where multifamily development is already allowed. The change also lowers parking requirements at these facilities.

The amendment expands permissible areas to 18 zoning districts located near and along Arlington’s major planning corridors. Designated areas in Lyon Village are primarily along Lee Hwy and Wilson Blvd (shaded areas on map). Some of these areas currently include single-family houses.

LV Portion of Fuzzy Map Published by County (labels added by Tom)

News Release: Arlington to Allow Elder Care Facilities In More Areas

Staff Presentation to Board

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“Housing Arlington” Initiative Launched

County Board seeks ways to solve Arlington’s affordable housing shortage by leveraging existing county housing programs, zoning changes, and private-public partnerships.

Six initiatives fall within the overall Housing Arlington program:
1 Land Use Tools
 ● Accessory Dwelling Regulations Update
 ● Elder Care Zoning Study
 ● Bonus Density
 ● Plan Lee Highway
 ● Housing Conservation District
 ● Missing Middle Housing Study
2 Financial Tools
3 Institutional Partnerships
4 County Employee Housing
5 Condominium Initiative
6 Affordable Housing Master Plan Review

No mention of transit
Did failure to address Columbia Pike transit hamper development in the parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties most available for affordable housing?

Housing Arlington

Housing Arlington: Program News

Missing Middle Housing Study Framework