About four weeks remain before the Alexandria City Council votes on sweeping changes to zoning laws that are designed to increase the amount of housing in Alexandria.
The issue at hand could bring sweeping changes to Alexandria, including making it easier for developers to build more housing, including affordable housing. Residents in favor of the plan see this as meeting current trendlines, with young residents being less likely to own a car, and being less interested in single-family homes with lawns that require maintenance.
Residents opposed, including the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, say the city is moving too fast and needs to reconsider some of the changes, concerns about infrastructure, parking and more. Thousands of comments from residents have been published by city officials here.
The programs, called 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."
RELATED STORIES:
- 2023 Development: Map and Guide to Who's Building What and Where
- Housing Alexandria Breaks Ground on Alexandria's Biggest Affordable Housing Development
- Recent articles on affordable housing
The recommendations given in September from Alexandria's Dept. of Planning & Zoning (which is separate from the commission) include a number of controversial moves, including significantly reducing residential parking requirements and allowing two- to four-unit dwellings in current single-family residential zones.
An option that has gained much attention but was ultimately not recommended by Planning & Zoning: the Building Height Amendment, which would have allowed developers to build taller buildings in exchange for an increase in affordable housing units.
A city questionnaire earlier this year revealed that there is strong support for converting underused office buildings to residences in Alexandria, and converting underused industrial areas to residential.
Residents have already (mostly) taken sides in the debate, but there are more opportunities to comment at various meetings, starting Wednesday night at the Planning Commission Public Hearing. (The meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at Alexandria City Hall.) Additional opportunities:
- November 14: City Council Public Hearing on Zoning for Housing, City Hall (opportunity to comment)
- November 18: City Council Public Hearing on Zoning for Housing continued, City Hall (opportunity to comment)
