Whereas there is an affordable housing crisis in Arlington that is closely related to the increased development occurring in the County,

Whereas every property in Arlington has a by-right development potential,

Whereas the site plan process offers increased building density to developers above and beyond their existing property rights in exchange for community benefits,

Whereas Virginia law permits Arlington County to offer density beyond the by-right amount, to developers in exchange for community benefits, including affordable housing,

Whereas the Federation supports Arlington's goal of devoting 10% of the floor area of site plan buildings to on-site affordable housing,

Whereas Arlington County adopted a policy to achieve that goal,

Whereas the Arlington County Circuit Court recently ruled that this policy was unlawful in a suit filed by a developer,

Whereas the County has declined to appeal the decision,

Whereas the Board has adopted a resolution regarding housing and land use policies on February 15,

Whereas section 2(a) of the resolution explains, among other things, "that it is not desired or expected that every development project should be at the maximum density" and directs the County Manager to propose such a clarification to the General Land Use Plan, and

Whereas section 2(b) of the resolution directs the County Manager to propose amendments to the Zoning Ordinance clarifying how increased density may be considered in exchange for affordable housing in accordance with state law,

Be it therefore resolved,

That the Civic Federation supports the County Board's February 15 resolution, particularly section 2(a), as an appropriate next step in the policy-making process, given the County's decision not to appeal the Court's ruling,

That the Civic Federation requests substantial formal participation in the public process described in section 2(c) of the resolution, and

That the Federation expects that process will provide, among other things, clarification on the implications of the Court's decision.

Attachment: County Board Resolution on Affordable Housing

This page was last revised on: March 2, 2005.