Tonight (Tuesday, Nov. 14), the City Council will continue its discussion about Zoning for Housing and Housing for All — just as lawn signs are popping up across the city calling for no zoning changes.
City Council plans to vote on the proposed zoning changes on Nov. 28 after months of hearings and public comments. The Dept. of Planning and Zoning has strongly recommend that city council adopt most of the proposals to make it easier to develop more housing stock in the city.
Zoning for Housing and Housing for All have the following goals, according to the city: "The Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative has two main objectives: Zoning for Housing is to expand housing production of market-rate and affordable housing through proposed zoning reforms; Housing for All is the equity lens through which past discriminatory policies or practices that created barriers to housing are researched."
Many residents are pleased with the changes, noting that there is a strong demand for housing in Alexandria and, in addition, a significant lack of housing that would be considered affordable. Residents opposed, including the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, cite concerns about infrastructure capacity (particularly storm water), parking and more. Thousands of comments from residents have been published by city officials here.
In particular, one issue has stood out among some residents: The elimination of single-family zoning, which would allow developers to build duplexes, triplexes and quads in areas now reserved for single-family homes.
In response, the slide deck that will be included at tonight's City Council meeting includes a slide informing residents of all the things that won't be allowed in the change — including not giving development incentives to builders.
City of Alexandria
With this recommendation to eliminate single-family zoning, "An estimated 66 new residential buildings would be developed over a 10-year period containing an estimated 178 units," according to city staff.
The next two meetings are on Saturday, Nov. 18 — including a public-hearing component — and Tuesday, Nov. 28 when the city council is expected to vote on the matter.
