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Building

Zoning Studies

 

The Zoning Ordinance contains the land-use regulations for all land in the County. From time to time the Zoning Ordinance is amended to ensure that land use and development regulations meet the needs and goals of the community. Amendments begin with a zoning study, which examines various standards and regulations (ex: zoning districts, uses, setback, etc.).

Study Name Tentative Completion Date Status
Clarendon Revitalization District Maximum Height Limit Map June 2021 In Progress
Multifamily Reinvestment Study Q1 2022 In Progress
Missing Middle Housing Study Q2 2022 In Progress
Affordable Housing Building Height April 2021 Complete
Columbia Pike Form Based Code – TDR Multiplier March 2021 Complete
Outdoor Cafés in Additional Commercial/Mixed-Use Districts December 2020 Complete
Columbia Pike Form Based Code – Western Subarea Regulating Plan November 2020 Complete
Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Form Based Code – Revisions to Area Median Income (AMI) Requirements for For Sale Affordable Units October 2020 Indefinitely Deferred

Studies in Progress

  • Clarendon Revitalization District Maximum Height Limit Map

    This amendment is to revise the maximum height limit map in the Clarendon Revitalization District as specified in §9.2.5, Map 1 to reflect changes in building height and form for a proposed amendment to Site Plan #438 (Clarendon West). The proposed changes will lower the overall height of the building and provide more gradual height transitions with the surrounding neighborhood. The height transition zone on the maximum height limit map where the tapering requirement applies will be replaced with the stepped heights as proposed in the site plan amendment.

    Staff Contact
    Kevin Lam
    703-228-6982

    Schedule

    Click here to view form.
  • Multifamily Reinvestment Study (MRS)

    Building on recommendations from the HCD Policy Framework and supplemented by additional economic and form-based modeling, staff will develop zoning standards to incentivize HCD property owners to complete context-appropriate renovation, addition, infill, and redevelopment projects not currently possible in exchange for dedicated affordable housing units. Staff will explore administrative and use permit review processes to facilitate the creation of new affordable housing, tailoring the review process to account for the scale of proposed changes and potential impacts to historic buildings.

    Staff will evaluate opportunities to integrate townhouse development into HCD development projects and reassess the provisions of ZOA-2017-06 to determine whether the reclassification of townhouse development as a special exception site plan use in RA14-26, RA8-18, and RA6-15 zoning districts within HCD boundaries should be continued, repealed, or modified moving forward. Staff will also analyze the ramifications of the bonus density ZOA approved in November 2019 and any influence the new regulations would have on the viability of the HCD conceptual framework.

    Staff Contact
    Nick Rogers
    703-228-0035

    Study Resources

    Schedule
    TBD

    Click here to view form.

  • Missing Middle Housing Study

    Staff will explore how missing middle homes could help address Arlington’s limited housing supply and inadequate housing choices. Barriers to building missing middle housing impede the County’s ability to increase its overall supply of housing and provide more choices at a broader range of price points.

    In addition to establishing a shared definition for the term ‘missing middle’, the three-phase study aims to 1) determine how new housing types can help address the shortage of housing supply in Arlington​; 2) locate where new housing types could be compatible with existing neighborhoods; and 3) identify what strategies could be employed to mitigate any negative impacts.

    Staff Contact
    Kellie Brown
    703-228-3524

    Study Resources

    Schedule
    Currently, staff is presenting a draft scope of work for review and comment to several commissions and advisory boards. View schedule.

    Click here to view form.

  • Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Form Based Code - Revisions to Area Median Income (AMI) Requirements for For Sale Affordable Units

    Following on the work to incorporate cash contribution standards for nonresidential portions of N-FBC projects, staff has developed recommendations in alignment with the AHMP goals for incentivizing the production of home ownership units affordable to residents earning between 80-120% of the area median income (AMI).

    Staff recommends amending the N-FBC to incorporate equally tiered affordability levels for purchasers of affordable home ownership units at up to 80% of AMI and up to 100% of AMI. Currently, maximum income levels for qualifying home purchasers is capped at 60% AMI. This change would conform to the AHMP goals, better align with the overall cost of homeownership within the County and region, and expand the pool of eligible, qualified buyers seeking to purchase an affordable home in the County. Existing affordability requirements, which maintain the maximum income ceiling of 60% AMI, would remain unchanged for rental projects.

    More information on the project page here.

    Staff Contact
    Akeria Brown
    703-228-7958

    Schedule

Completed Studies