Hat tip to blog reader The Nothing for this link yesterday:
From NBC 4:
"Arlington County leaders on Saturday approved a plan that would allow homeowners to rent out rooms in their homes.Some more information here.
But many homeowners don't like the idea, saying it could cause neighborhood overcrowding. The planning commission also opposed the plan.
But supporters said the plan could create more affordable housing in the county".
12 comments:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Communications/PressReleases/64952.aspx
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today approved changes in the Zoning Ordinance that will allow accessory dwellings in single-family homes and non-relatives to live in family/caregiver suites in single-family homes.
The Board also enacted strict requirements for accessory dwellings, including a cap that will restrict the number of new accessory dwellings to no more than 28 a year. In addition, the Board directed staff to prepare, before the end of the year, a proposed Zoning Ordinance change that would provide for civil penalties for zoning violations, including overcrowding.
The changes came after months of public discussion and review by civic associations and County advisory boards. Board members said the moves will accomplish several goals:
* Help elders age in place;
* Increase the stock of affordable housing, with little government investment; and
* Provide an income stream for homeowners to reduce housing costs.
“The Board has engaged in a lengthy, constructive conversation with the community about accessory dwellings,” said Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada. “Today’s action by the Board both reflects our desire to find creative ways to help elders age in place and to increase the stock of affordable housing, and our rock-solid commitment to preserving and protecting the character of Arlington’s single-family neighborhoods.”
Board permits family/caregiver suites
Effective immediately, up to two persons unrelated to the homeowner may live in a family/caregiver suite in a single-family home to provide care or assistance to a child, elder or person with disability living in the main building. Previously, only persons related to the homeowner were allowed to occupy a family/caregiver suite.
Accessory Dwellings could house up to two persons
The Board authorized creation of a secondary living unit within a single-family home under a strict set of guidelines. Up to two persons, who may be unrelated to the homeowners, could be housed in the accessory dwelling. The homeowner must live in the main or accessory dwelling and must have lived there one year before approval of an accessory dwelling.
The amendment will be effective starting January 1, 2009. It includes a number of restrictions meant to ensure that the character of Arlington’s neighborhoods will not be harmed. Only one accessory dwelling would be allowed per lot, and only as a part of the main dwelling, not as a separate building. The size of the accessory dwelling is limited to no more than 750 square feet. No more than two persons may live in the unit.
The Board noted that a cautious approach to the change will allow the County to assess the impact of the units on neighborhoods, and their ability to meet the stated goals.
For further information, visit the County's Web site.
Background:
The issue of accessory dwellings was studied by the Accessory Dwelling Subcommittee of the County’s Housing Commission for three years. Subcommittee members met with stakeholders, consulted with a national expert and researched the ordinances and experiences of other jurisdictions.
In January, 2008, the Housing Commission sent a report to the County Board, recommending that the Board amend the Zoning Ordinance to permit accessory dwellings. Since then, 58 meetings have been held, or are scheduled to be held, on the proposal. They include:
* 28 Civic Association meetings
* 4 Civic Federation meetings
* 18 County Board Advisory Group meetings
* Community Forums
* 4 Others, e.g. the Committee of 100
* 2 County Board meetings
At a public hearing on May 20, 2008, the Board authorized advertisement of a public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance amendments to the existing family suite provision and to add accessory dwellings under certain conditions.
the flare up over this should be worth watching :)
Oh Walter Tejada is involved. That explains everything.
He's just trying to cram more legal and illegal hispanic immigrants into Arlington so he'll always be elected.
Stealth4, don't you think that's just the slightest bit racist/biased on the basis of ethnicity?
And since Tejada can't make this decision alone, doesn't your comment seem contrary to evidence?
I personally would like to see this proposal very tightly restricted and enforced, as it could very easily change the character of neighborhoods. But I do know at least two sets of people who, by the way, aren't Latino, who definitely want to take advantage of the new law precisely so they can stay in their homes when they retire.
As an Arlington SFH owner, I'm against the proposal. I think Stealth is on to something with his comment.
That being said, I take Ace's point too. The proposal could easily be made acceptable to most Arlington homeowners if it were modified so that renters of these units must be engaged in home care for the primary homeowner.
Tom, I see where you're coming from. My two sets of friends are concerned about their lowered income in retirement, and want to have a tenant to help with expenses, rather than having a caretaker move in. They are long time Arlington residents and professionals whose incomes have not kept pace with the increase in housing prices and real estate taxes. So they would not want it restricted to caretakers.
But I am a bit torn on this. While I would hate to see people driven from their long term homes because retirement incomes are lower, I also would hate to see single family neighborhoods transition into neighborhoods that become overcrowded, with more difficult parking, and with the downsides of rental occupants. I don't mean to diss people who rent at all.
Ace,
I know more about walter tejada than you do. No its not based on his name, but reading about is actions in Arlingon the past two years.
Funny you assumed I made my comment just because I saw someones last name. Turns out you are the one makeing the superficial conclusion.
Stealth, if you will re-read my post, you will see that I drew absolutely no conclusion, but instead raised a question that was quite reasonable, based on the wording of your post. You also didn't address the issue of how he could possibly control this decision, which is not his alone to make.
You have no idea who I am or who or what I know about anyone on the Arlington County Board.
Your defensiveness certainly raises more questions than it answers.
This Arlington law change is no big deal. The net effect: How is this different from having roommates? Seriously?
But I think there's a social good.
The idea of helping elderly "age is place" -- is very important reason for doing this. Yeah, some neighbors may not like it but, honestly, tough.
kob- the potential net effect worrying some of my homeowner friends in Arlington is the proliferation of shabby side-dwellings... and, ultimately, some parts of Arlington resembling the favelas in Brazil. okay, that part i stretched but you get the picture.
Ace,
I think we can lay things out with a simple question.
Do you honestly think that Walter Tejada's political agenda is not, at least partially, motivated by race?
My answer: I think his opinions and actions are definitely driven by race, which IMO is a bad way to make decsions.
Whether or not his opinions affect law in Arlington is a separate question, not worth getting into here.
How would you answer that question?
I think this is a good move by Arlington. We live with my 78 year MIL and my dream house would be a nice home with a MIL suite or even a little ADU like this ordinance allows. Growing up in Atlanta, my neighbors built a great little efficiency apt. on their house for the owner's ailing mother. It is a great way to keep up with elderly relatives and leaving them some opportunity for independence. People diss this idea but my sister lives in a carriage house apt. over a garage. It's affordable and secure for her. This of course is in another state which allows this. The reason it’s hard to find affordable places to live is because places like this are generally not found in our area.
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