zoning | ALXnow

Panel discussion tackles timeline question for Alexandria’s zoning overhaul

Published October 24, 2023 at 1:40PM

Agenda Alexandria panel discussion on Zoning for Housing (image via Agenda Alexandria/YouTube)

A panel last night on the city’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All overhaul dived into the back and forth on the issue, including questions about the timeline from proposal to final review.

The proposal includes a number of changes to the city’s housing zoning, the most high-profile being allowing two-to-four-unit dwellings in formerly single-family residential zones. Other substantial changes include making it easier to build housing in industrial zones and eliminating minimum parking requirements for dwellings with up to four units in enhanced transit zones.

News

Zoning for Housing advocates and opponents face off in panel tonight

By Vernon Miles

Published October 23, 2023 at 3:00PM

Roy Byrd, chair of the Coalition for a Livable Alexandria, speaks at a rally at City Hall on Aug. 28, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Discussion panel program Agenda: Alexandria is hosting a panel tonight to bring advocates and opponents of the city’s housing reform together for a showdown.

The chosen dueling ground will be the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) at 7 p.m., though onlookers can also view the panel online.

News

Alexandria staff break down behind-the-scenes limits of massive zoning overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published October 4, 2023 at 3:10PM

Single-family homes in Alexandria's Seminary Valley neighborhood (image via Google Maps)

Alexandria staff returned to the Planning Commission one month after Zoning for Housing/Housing for All’s debut, but city leaders remained tepid in their support for the project.

Of note during the work session, however, was a concise breakdown of how Zoning for Housing/Housing for All might affect the city’s housing stock.

News

Next Zoning for Housing discussion scheduled for next week

By Vernon Miles

Published September 18, 2023 at 9:55AM | Updated September 19, 2023 at 9:39AM

Old brick row houses in Old Town Alexandria

(Updated 9/19) The next public discussion for Alexandria’s Zoning for Housing/Housing for All is coming next week.

The second of three fall community meetings is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28, from 6-8 p.m.

News

City of Alexandria takes its zoning reform proposal to public review next week

By Vernon Miles

Published September 8, 2023 at 3:05PM

House display outside an Old Town business, staff photo by Vernon Miles

A little over a week after the City of Alexandria debuted its new Zoning for Housing/Housing for All plans, the city is inviting the public to the first community feedback session.

City staff presented the draft recommendations earlier this week at a City Council-Planning Commission work session. The big headline recommendation was ending single-family-only zoning, though beyond that city leaders were skeptical about the plan’s ability to make a substantial impact on affordable housing supply.

Opinion

Poll: What do you think of the new Zoning for Housing/Housing for All proposals?

By Vernon Miles

Published September 6, 2023 at 3:55PM

Alexandria house in the fall (staff photo by Kalina Newman)

The Zoning for Housing/Housing for All proposals were finally unveiled last night and opinions have been decidedly mixed.

The plan focuses on incremental changes in zoning policy that weren’t quite as ambitious as some hoped and others feared.

News

JUST IN: Alexandria zoning overhaul gets lukewarm reception from city leaders at public debut

By Vernon Miles

Published September 5, 2023 at 10:05PM

City Council and Planning Commission members reviewing Zoning for Housing/Housing for All proposal (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The Zoning for Housing/Housing for All project turned out to be less of a revolution in Alexandria’s zoning and — for better or worse — more of a gradual evolution.

After extensive build-up and public discussion, Director of Planning Karl Moritz debuted zoning changes to a mixed response from city leaders.

News

Despite flurry of new apartments, experts say Alexandria has a housing shortage

By Vernon Miles

Published August 30, 2023 at 11:15AM

Marion M. McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (image via City of Alexandria)

The bottom line at a panel on housing last night: housing is unaffordable in Alexandria and likely won’t get cheaper without more construction.

Last night, the City of Alexandria hosted a panel of experts to discuss the state of housing in the city — from a look back at the evolution of the city’s zoning code to projections and trends in the housing market. The panel is part of the city’s ongoing Zoning for Housing/Housing for All project, which aims to reshape zoning in the city to be more accessible, affordable and available.

News

Group opposing Alexandria zoning reform hosting rally tonight in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published August 28, 2023 at 10:00AM

Alexandria City Hall (staff photo by James Cullum)

It wouldn’t be Alexandria without a contentious fight over zoning and density.

As the city begins to roll out plans for zoning reform to create more housing and affordability ahead of City Council review this fall, a new group opposing some of the new proposals is hosting a rally in Market Square (300 King Street) tonight (Monday).

News

Alexandria poultry slaughterhouse receives warning from city for selling rabbits

By Vernon Miles

Published August 10, 2023 at 10:45AM

DC Poultry Market menu featuring rabbit (image via DC Poultry Market/Facebook)

The Alexandria Times reported that DC Poultry Market, the controversial halal meat market at 3225 Colvin Street, was cited with a warning for selling rabbits.

DC Poultry Market’s special use permit was approved back in 2019 in a 5-2 vote, but part of that permit stated that the butchery could only keep live poultry at their facility.

News

Alexandria rethinking bonus height provision to incentivise affordable housing

By James Cullum

Published June 28, 2023 at 2:40PM

What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

After considerable pushback, the city is rethinking its bonus height provision as a way to build affordable housing in Alexandria.

The city’s controversial zoning for housing plan proposes to upend a number of zoning ordinances. One of them is a bonus height amendment that would incentivize developers to add affordable housing to projects in exchange for two additional stories of construction in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.