Notes: Neighboring Arlington embroiled in single-family zoning fight Alexandria has avoided… so far

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

☔ Today’s weather: Rain throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 38.
⛅ Tomorrow: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 50 and low of 36. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 5:22 pm.

🚨 You need to know

The big topic of conversation today has been just north of Alexandria, where neighboring Arlington is divided by arguments over a “Missing Middle” housing plan.

Arlington County has proposed zoning changes that would allow the construction of multifamily buildings with up to six or eight dwellings on lots currently zoned for single-family housing — along with duplexes and three-unit townhouses.

A meeting on Monday on the topic packed the County Board headquarters with nearly 200 people delivering hours of public testimony — so much so the County had to shorten speaking times. Those conversations continued yesterday and are scheduled to continue today.

The change is intended to help boost the housing supply in Arlington County, but it has been decried by some locals who say it will overcrowd Arlington’s suburban neighborhoods that were built with single-family housing in mind. Some of the County Board conversations around the topic have gotten heated over the last few days.

Things are getting ugly right now @ArlCountyBoard, where Chair Christian Dorsey is going back and forth with a man in the audience at our most recent missing middle public comment.

"I know tensions are high and everyone's excited but we can all be grown-ups," he says.

— Teo Armus (@teoarmus) January 25, 2023

Alexandria is no stranger to contentious zoning discussions, but so far city policy discussions have carefully navigated around the issue of single-family housing. While Alexandria has been going through its own project aimed at rewriting zoning laws and boosting affordable housing, nothing like Arlington’s “Missing Middle” housing reform has been proposed in the city.

Some advocates have spoken at city meetings in favor of eliminating single-family zoning as a classification, but Alexandria leadership has shied away from the issue in favor of more modest increases to density in single-family neighborhoods like loosening restrictions on accessory dwelling units and codifying residential dwelling in commercial spaces.

“I think everyone gets caught up in different terminology,” said Mayor Justin Wilson said at a meeting last year. “When people say they want to eliminate single-family zoning, they assume we’re coming to take your single-family homes. I live in a single-family home, I’m not planning on giving it up: I like my home. But what we are doing and will continue to do is look for tweaks for all zoning in the city to meet some of that housing demand.”

📈 Tuesday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Jan 24, 2023.

1. JUST IN: Suspect on run in shooting ‘incorrectly’ released from jail after arrest (2626 views)
2. UPDATED: Alexandria BIPOC-focused grant program delayed by lawsuit from local engineering firm (1482 views)
3. Alexandria City High School students organize walk out protesting cancelation of lunchtime activities (1611 views)
4. APD investigates shots fired in the West End (1162 views)

🗞 Other local coverage

• BREAKING NEWS: City Council Reaches Collective Bargaining Agreement With Alexandria Fire Department
  Zebra (Tuesday @ 9:56 pm)

• Last Call: Finish Strong with these Mocktails in Alexandria for Final Week of Dry January
  Zebra (Tuesday @ 8:11 pm)

• Monte Durham to Headline 2023 Alexandria Wedding Showcase
  Alexandria Living (Tuesday @ 7:37 pm)

• Local Celebree Day School Awards Ukrainian Child Full Scholarship
  Zebra (Tuesday @ 6:15 pm)

• Alexandria Shooting Suspect ‘Mistakenly Released’ In Maryland
  Patch (Tuesday @ 3:47 pm)

• Gary Oelze Looks Back at 55 Years at The Birchmere
  Alexandria Living (Tuesday @ 3:05 pm)

• Alexandria HR Lawyer Shares What You Need To Know About Employment Law
  Zebra (Tuesday @ 1:36 pm)

• Special Education Teacher Recruitment Boosted By ACPS, GW Partnership
  Patch (Tuesday @ 10:51 am)

• BIPOC Business Grant Program Paused Due to Lawsuit
  Alexandria Living (Tuesday @ 9:57 am)

• Old Town Business Association Presents Annual Warehouse Sale
  Zebra (Tuesday @ 8:51 am)

• Rose Hill Civic Association to Weigh In on Shopping Center Proposal
  Alexandria Living (Tuesday @ 7:41 am)

🐦 Tweets of note

It was a full, but productive day. Great to see so many NoVa folks getting the word out in Richmond. https://t.co/XfEK9dtwBP

— NVTC (@NoVaTransit) January 24, 2023

Walked out during pride, back in time for third period. Thank you all for showing up, and thank you to everyone who organized! (Especially @james_libresco) pic.twitter.com/14UMjBI2G1

— Yahney-Marie Sangaré (@yahneymarie) January 24, 2023

It's o-fish-ial. Lake Cook isn’t just a great fishing hole – it’s a stormwater management powerhouse. It's retrofitted to improve water quality by filtering out pollutants that would otherwise drain into local waterways. Thanks to @VirginiaDWR for restocking the trout last week! pic.twitter.com/xrSm71w4mm

— Alexandria Transportation & Environmental Services (@AlexandriaVATES) January 24, 2023

I've seen so many shows at Birchmere, a beloved staple of our Alexandria community for many years. Very sorry to hear this news, I send my best to Gary Oelze's family and friends. https://t.co/Z0Tbjg4cEV

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 24, 2023

Things are getting ugly right now @ArlCountyBoard, where Chair Christian Dorsey is going back and forth with a man in the audience at our most recent missing middle public comment.

"I know tensions are high and everyone's excited but we can all be grown-ups," he says.

— Teo Armus (@teoarmus) January 25, 2023

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

• No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.