Arlington Missing Middle Housing Q&A

[Anonymous]

^ republican party not T party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they do that, then it looks like they are exempting the best off areas and foisting up zoning on everyone else

Why not let civic associations vote on whether they want to upzone their neighborhood? or put it on the ballot for all of Arlington to vote on at the very least?

I imagine the people living in the neighborhoods that will be most affected are more than 50% opposed - and if that's the case maybe the board isn't making a compelling case for why this benefits their constituents. And if that's the case it seems odd to me that you're going to go against the wishes of current Arlingtonians to benefit potential future Arlingtonians who don't live here now.

Because Arlington is so blue they could never lose an election. This is going to be the most progressive housing policy in the entire country when it passes. It will give ACDC and its County Board national attention/accolades when it passes. It has probably already been promised to Amazon and all the big companies that are relocating here. And all of the Board members have been very open every election about their housing priorities. Sorry, even 22207 isn’t getting a pass this time.

I'm looking at the zoning changes in Portland and Minneapolis - two cities that no longer have single family zoning. Minneapolis allows duplexes and triplexes but that's it. And Portland allows 3 and 4-plexes but reduced the size allowed so that a 3-4plex can only be 3,500sf. You can build up to a 6,000sf 6-plex if part of it is low-income housing. It certainly does seem like Arlington is considering the most progressive housing policy in the country.

It’s def the most progressive. This is the test case for other parts of the country.

[Anonymous]

As my toddler would say: but I don't wanna be a test case!

[Anonymous]

You guys have never seen neighborhoods that have nice SFHs and small garden apartments? Or homes that have been converted into condos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys have never seen neighborhoods that have nice SFHs and small garden apartments? Or homes that have been converted into condos?

Like cute 1930s brick garden style apartments? Yes.

2022 builder grade 8-plex? not yet

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know which neighborhoods have restrictive covenants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they do that, then it looks like they are exempting the best off areas and foisting up zoning on everyone else

Why not let civic associations vote on whether they want to upzone their neighborhood? or put it on the ballot for all of Arlington to vote on at the very least?

I imagine the people living in the neighborhoods that will be most affected are more than 50% opposed - and if that's the case maybe the board isn't making a compelling case for why this benefits their constituents. And if that's the case it seems odd to me that you're going to go against the wishes of current Arlingtonians to benefit potential future Arlingtonians who don't live here now.

I think a lot of people supporting MM are already in Arlington—they just aren’t home owners yet. They are renters who want to buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know which neighborhoods have restrictive covenants?

No and it doesn’t matter. A restrictive covenants doesn’t trump a zoning ordinance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know which neighborhoods have restrictive covenants?

No and it doesn’t matter. A restrictive covenants doesn’t trump a zoning ordinance.

That’s what I would have thought. But I was curious and googled it, and some links say that if the covenant is more restrictive than the zoning law, then the zoning law trumps. Any land use lawyers out there?

[Anonymous]

Whoops, sorry. I meant “then the more restrictive COVENANT trumps”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know which neighborhoods have restrictive covenants?

I'd be shocked if neighborhood covenants actually trumped county zoning. When I searched for information around neighborhood covenants in Arlington most of the results were about explicitly racist covenants from the 1940s. I imagine even if covenants were to trump zoning in theory, you'd have a hard time enforcing even a non-racist part of a racist covenant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know which neighborhoods have restrictive covenants?

No and it doesn’t matter. A restrictive covenants doesn’t trump a zoning ordinance.

That’s what I would have thought. But I was curious and googled it, and some links say that if the covenant is more restrictive than the zoning law, then the zoning law trumps. Any land use lawyers out there?

That's only if the ordinance doesnt specifically override covenants. In this case, the county would be negligent not to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys have never seen neighborhoods that have nice SFHs and small garden apartments? Or homes that have been converted into condos?

The county is considering 4 story tall buildings in the middle of 2 story houses, plus waiving set back requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys have never seen neighborhoods that have nice SFHs and small garden apartments? Or homes that have been converted into condos?

The county is considering 4 story tall buildings in the middle of 2 story houses, plus waiving set back requirements.

That does sound hideous

White people trying to over correct

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys have never seen neighborhoods that have nice SFHs and small garden apartments? Or homes that have been converted into condos?

The county is considering 4 story tall buildings in the middle of 2 story houses, plus waiving set back requirements.

wait wait wait, where have you seen this?

https://www.arlingtonva.us/files/sharedassets/public/housing/documents/missing-middle/mmhs-phase-2-public-presentation_05.02.pdf

Page 12 says they'd be applying single-detached standards to missing middle housing. Same footprint, placement, and height standards. I've never heard anyone say 4-story buildings would be allowed.