Coalition Update

September 6, 2024

• New Laws on Publication of Public Notices
• Chairman McKay's Views on Housing, Data Centers, and Metro
• In The News
• Fairfax County Online Research Tools
• Measuring Housing Affordability
• Mark Your Calendar

New Laws on Publication of Public Notices

BOS Chairman McKay Shares His Views on Housing, Data Centers, and Metro

In The News

• Rising Office Vacancy Rates and Other Land Use Trends Guide Future Planning
  At an the economic advisory committee meeting in July, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority gave an update on office vacancies rates to the Board of Supervisors in July. Along with the rising vacancy rates, they reported that developers propose demolishing 70 office buildings and converting eight buildings into housing or other uses.
  
  Also during the meeting, the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development said it is conducting research on land use trends related to office space that will help inform an amendment to the comprehensive plan policy plan, which defines the county’s goals, including for economic development and land use, and is in the midst of a full-scale update. The research is expected to be published in the fall and shared with the Board of Supervisors.
  
  The amendment “could include expanded criteria for repurposing projects to meet other goals, like affordable housing, workforce housing.... It could include the addition of new uses, perhaps hotels, projects that can be repurposed into housing, and also new criteria for retaining and planning for office,” said Clara Johnson, a County planner.
  
  Source: https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/07/24/fairfax-county-office-vacancy-rate-continues-to-rise-repurposing-study/

• Interest in Office Conversions Grows
  According to a new tool that scores office buildings, more than 14.8% of office buildings are candidates for multi-family residential conversion. The Conversion Feasibility Index (CFI), developed by CommercialEdge Research, evaluates the characteristics of buildings and assigns a score on their suitability for conversion. Factors scored include building age, location, total square footage, building depth, mid-block location, use type, number of stories, floor plate shape, ceiling height, green-building certifications, walkability, and transit accessibility.
  
  Source: https://www.commercialedge.com/blog/national-office-report/

• Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study
  According to an August report, the City of Alexandria and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are studying Eisenhower Avenue to evaluate needs and opportunities for improving safety, mobility, and accessibility along the corridor.
  
  VDOT and Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment selected Eisenhower Ave between Van Dorn Street and Holland Ave in the City of Alexandria to be evaluated under the VDOT Project Pipeline Program. This program will include a study of the Eisenhower Ave corridor to evaluate and improve safety, mobility, and accessibility. The expected outcomes of the study are grant applications to fund recommended improvements. (Source: https://www.alexandriava.gov/transportation-planning/eisenhower-avenue-transportation-study)
  
  Sharada Gilkey, Founder of the Rose Hill Coalition LLC, contacted Supervisor Lusk's office to ask whether Fairfax County was involved in this study since changes would affect drivers to and from South Van Dorn. Although the County was not contacted, as the study was initiated by the City of Alexandria, Supervisor Lusk responded that he would keep the community informed.
  
  "It does appear that the City of Alexandria coordinated the study with the Virginia Department of Transportation who owns and maintains the roads. It would be standard protocol for VDOT to conduct analysis of traffic impacts. My staff investigated this and found that per VDOT’s Traffic Volume Map, Eisenhower Avenue appears to only have 7,600 average daily traffic which is less than, for example, Rose Hill Drive which currently operates with 1 lane each direction. At first glance, this doesn’t appear to be a concern in impacting traffic on Fairfax County’s portion S Van Dorn Street, but I will be sure to keep an eye out if the changes do substantially impact traffic. Additionally, I asked that my staff reach out to the Project Manager for the VDOT Southside Express Lanes Study to ensure that they are aware of the Eisenhower study.
  
  >> See Lusk's full response (pdf).

• Study Maps Historical Racial Restrictions in Fairfax Property Deeds
  The project identifies and geo-locates racially restrictive covenants on properties in Northern Virginia from 1900 through the 1960s. Since the 1968 Fair Housing Act, racial and other discriminatory covenants are no longer enforceable, but such language is still part of many localities’ public land records. In 2020, the Virginia general assembly passed House Bill 788 which prohibits a new deed containing a restrictive covenant from being recorded.
  
  "New research shows that thousands of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century had language barring people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property." (https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/05/10/new-study-exposes-racial-restrictions-in-historical-fairfax-and-falls-church-property-deeds/)
  
  "Today’s economic disparities are, in may ways, the legacy of century-old policies that prevented Black and brown families from building equity that could be passed down to future generations. Exclusionary covenants that compelled people of color to seek housing elsewhere also shaped the diversity of our neighborhoods for decades." (https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/racially-restrictive-housing-neighborhood-covenants-arlington-falls-church-fairfax-virginia/)
  
  The project's interactive map shows local subdivisions with a history of discriminatory housing covenants that have deed language which exclude specific racial, ethnic, and/or religious groups. The research team is continuing to gather more data for Fairfax County which will be added.
  
  Current landowners can apply to have the restrictive covenants removed from their deed, though a historical reference will remain. To do so, fill out a covenant release form, in accordance with Virginia law, that allows property owners to “release particular unconstitutional and discriminatory covenants from their property.” (https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/racially-restrictive-housing-neighborhood-covenants-arlington-falls-church-fairfax-virginia/)
  
  "Documenting the extent of exclusion in Northern Virginia–in Arlington and Fairfax Counties as well as Falls Church and Alexandria Cities–via web maps enables us to broaden our understanding of the “choices” made regarding where people lived in the past. During this process, we confront a common assumption: that segregated neighborhoods evolved out of a series of individual decisions that led to the creation of homogeneous neighborhoods. By locating the extent to which private action limited housing options for African Americans and others, we hope to help shed light on the systemic versus individual nature of these exclusionary practices across NoVA during the periodization of 1900-1968. These maps underscore the importance of thinking about the local history of housing segregation BOTH systemically AND regionally."
  
  For more information on the study, go to https://documentingexclusion.org/

• Fairfax County Recognized for Fair Housing Reforms
  As a member of the Metropolitan Washington Regional Fair Housing Plan, Fairfax County received an Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties which recognizes excellence in local government programs. Fairfax County was specifically recognized for enacting zoning reforms to enable Accessory Living Units and creating an Affordable Housing Preservation Policy.
  (https://www.fcrha.org/post/fairfax-county-among-dmv-jurisdictions-recognized-by-virginia-association-of-counties-for-regional-f)

Fairfax County Online Research Tools

• Comprehensive Plan Amendments
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments

• Comprehensive Plan (Site-Specific) Amendment Review Process
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/sspa
  The Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process guides the review of proposed land use changes (called “nominations”) to the County’s Comprehensive Plan for individual sites (aka properties).

• Rezoning Process
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/zoning/rezoning-process

• Zoning Application Review Process
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/zoning/application-development-review-process

• Zoning Categories (residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, planned)
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/sites/planning-development/files/Assets/documents/Zoning/Applications%20Accepted/Zoning-Districts-Help.pdf

• Zoning Application Weekly Status Reports
  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/zoning/application-status
  Lists all new zoning applications received or accepted (for review) for the week immediately preceding the current week. Accepted application reports are sorted by magisterial district and include the following information: applicant, CRD status, date accepted, area, tax maps, existing zoning, location description, and application description. The public can sign up for a weekly notification (Sundays) of new applications.

1. Tier 1 are areas in development or a County priority, such as providing affordable housing or enhancing office development, and represent the highest priority for staff resources and timing.
2. Tier 2 are areas for which a development application has been submitted but are not currently in development. These will be reviewed as staff resources are available.
3. Tier 3 are applications that have been deferred. Further review begins only after completion of other studies, planning efforts, or other actions that would influence policy.

• Minor or Site-Specific plan amendments involve smaller geographies, typically a small consolidation of properties or a land unit, or a section of a roadway (for example, the Rose Hill Plaza shopping center which is in Tier 3 or deferred status);
• Area-wide Studies or Activity Center amendments involve larger geographic areas, which may include planning districts or one or more activity centers; and
• Countywide and Policy amendments address countywide policy guidance and objectives.

Measuring Housing Affordability

Mark Your Calendar*

• Data Centers Zoning Ordinance Amendment (4:30 pm)
  
• For-Sale Workforce Dwelling Unit Policy & Programs (3:30 pm)
  

• Franconia Governmental Center Redevelopment Project
  Review and vote on interim agreement for redevelopment as affordable housing
  
  

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