Alexandria on the Cusp of Eliminating All SFH Zoning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

Because it would not pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

Me either! Because it actually means allowing Four unit apartment and condo buildings that take up no more space than a SFH otherwise would have.

Well done Alexandria. Proud of us.

For what? All this does is change the demographics of the people who live there. It prioritizes childless adults and pushes people with kids out. Those with big families are the biggest losers. I guess maybe that helps reduce the size of Alexandria’s absurdly large schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

One reason is that contrary to popular belief on this board, not everyone wants to live in maximum density. Some of us truly enjoy living in quiet sfh neighborhoods. Many of us lived in more dense areas at one time and made a conscious choice to move away from it.

As a personal preference, that is evidently true. (Looking aside from your "maximum density" comment, which isn't going to happen in your lifetime. Alexandria is not Singapore.) Some people don't want to have neighbors who live in multi-unit housing. But that's not a good basis for housing policy. I'm really glad to read this morning about the unanimous vote.

Really? What is a good basis for housing policy then? Why have any zoning restrictions on housing at all? Can I run a restaurant at my house? Is a neighbors desire to not live next to a restaurant/pet store/slaughter house legitimate?

You're comparing a four-unit apartment building to a slaughterhouse?

Well it doesn’t matter because now a four-unit apartment building can in fact be built next to a slaughterhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

That's not a thing in Alexandria, but good news, there's a Democratic primary for Mayor and Council coming up in June, which in Alexandria is the de facto general election. Zoning law can be changed back again if voters can elect four council members who pledge to do so.

I have serious doubts, however, that the Alexandria electorate at large is gonna do that. Or even if four such candidates will run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

Me either! Because it actually means allowing Four unit apartment and condo buildings that take up no more space than a SFH otherwise would have.

Well done Alexandria. Proud of us.

For what? All this does is change the demographics of the people who live there. It prioritizes childless adults and pushes people with kids out. Those with big families are the biggest losers. I guess maybe that helps reduce the size of Alexandria’s absurdly large schools.

Because they might have to live next to four-unit apartment or condo buildings, and that's impossible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

Because zoning laws are one of the duties of your local elected officials. The voters elect the elected officials; the elected officials make the zoning laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

You don't live here, but you want to tell us how we should be governed. This really bothers me. You make a joke about the sewers, you are so witty. The issue with the sewers is that the wastewater infrastructure here is seriously inadequate for the population of people here now. Every time you use a sink, take a shower, take a bath, wash clothes, use your hose, flush your toilet, that infrastructure is taxed and cannot keep up. You think it's funny? The flooding problems have gotten worse, and not just when there is a 100 yr storm or whatever they're called. Some people get raw sewage backed up into their drains (for us, it has been showers, toilets and sinks). We replaced the entire line from our house to the street, and it still happens, which means the problem isn't us, it's them (the city). Our basement has flooded twice to the tune of $30,000+ each time (thank God for Chubb). And if your answer is then I should move, then why should more people move in?

The sewer system issue is just an example of the problems we have here in Alexandria and how putting your fingers in your ears so you don't have to hear about them won't make them go away; they just get worse. That is how things are managed in Alexandria. Look at the schools. They absolutely refuse, with a steel iron fist of no, to build another high school, or to address the insanity of problems ACPS has. No no no no no. The streets flood, no. The pass through traffic causing accidents and traffic jams, no. Car jackings, no. Gun crimes at like every 7-11, no. Drag racing on Duke, Seminary, Telegraph, Potomac Yards, no. Bike lanes, hell yes. More density, everywhere, pack them in, more people, more $1.5 million THs, yes. Who cares about the sewers, the electrical grid, the school capacity, the emergency services capacity, the roads, etc. Who cares. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

Do you live here? I have zero sewer issues, but there are serious issues with traffic and overcrowding in the schools. Until those two issues are addressed, I don't think we need to bring additional people in, no matter who they are. Once the issues above are addressed, I'm happy to have more people come in, regardless of who they are or what type of unit they live in.

Well, you certainly don't live in Del Ray where the sewers flood the streets anytime there is a thunderstorm. And Del Ray will be ground zero for changing 3 bed 2 bath bungalows into 16 bedroom monstrosities. Surely that will have no impact on sewer strain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

Because zoning laws are one of the duties of your local elected officials. The voters elect the elected officials; the elected officials make the zoning laws.

That's stupid. None of the current council have any urban planning professional bona fides.

[Anonymous]

1-4 unit is all treated the same by Fannie/Freddie for purposes of underwriting the property, extensions of credit, downpayment requirement, PMI, etc. It's technically not "multifamily" until its 5+ housing units.

My prediction is that the zoning change will enable construction of townhouses on SFH plots. That will be the vast majority of the permits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

Because zoning laws are one of the duties of your local elected officials. The voters elect the elected officials; the elected officials make the zoning laws.

That's stupid. None of the current council have any urban planning professional bona fides.

And the voters do? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wasn't this put to a resident referendum?

Because zoning laws are one of the duties of your local elected officials. The voters elect the elected officials; the elected officials make the zoning laws.

That's stupid. None of the current council have any urban planning professional bona fides.

It's stupid that the local elected officials have the authority to make the decisions about the local zoning laws?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1-4 unit is all treated the same by Fannie/Freddie for purposes of underwriting the property, extensions of credit, downpayment requirement, PMI, etc. It's technically not "multifamily" until its 5+ housing units.

My prediction is that the zoning change will enable construction of townhouses on SFH plots. That will be the vast majority of the permits.

Townhouses are single-family housing.

Also, generally, a row of two townhouses is referred to as a duplex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

Not to mention our elementary and middle schools are filled with lead pipes. At least that explains some of the behavior issues at ACHS.

You could say our City motto is "fail big or go home." https://patch.com/virginia/delray/high-lead-copper-levels-found-water-alexandria-schools.


You don't live here, but you want to tell us how we should be governed. This really bothers me. You make a joke about the sewers, you are so witty. The issue with the sewers is that the wastewater infrastructure here is seriously inadequate for the population of people here now. Every time you use a sink, take a shower, take a bath, wash clothes, use your hose, flush your toilet, that infrastructure is taxed and cannot keep up. You think it's funny? The flooding problems have gotten worse, and not just when there is a 100 yr storm or whatever they're called. Some people get raw sewage backed up into their drains (for us, it has been showers, toilets and sinks). We replaced the entire line from our house to the street, and it still happens, which means the problem isn't us, it's them (the city). Our basement has flooded twice to the tune of $30,000+ each time (thank God for Chubb). And if your answer is then I should move, then why should more people move in?

The sewer system issue is just an example of the problems we have here in Alexandria and how putting your fingers in your ears so you don't have to hear about them won't make them go away; they just get worse. That is how things are managed in Alexandria. Look at the schools. They absolutely refuse, with a steel iron fist of no, to build another high school, or to address the insanity of problems ACPS has. No no no no no. The streets flood, no. The pass through traffic causing accidents and traffic jams, no. Car jackings, no. Gun crimes at like every 7-11, no. Drag racing on Duke, Seminary, Telegraph, Potomac Yards, no. Bike lanes, hell yes. More density, everywhere, pack them in, more people, more $1.5 million THs, yes. Who cares about the sewers, the electrical grid, the school capacity, the emergency services capacity, the roads, etc. Who cares. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this mean granny flats allowed?

Yes. And that's reallly the true intent of most of the people backing the SFH zoning chnages. They want to built an ADU, not a fourplex.

This is such BS. It’s not about “granny flats.” (A soothing sounding term invented for ADUs. Once legalised, the development industry then seeks to change zoning so that ADUs can be built a large as many houses and owned by investors, not owner-occupants. They are proposing this in DC).

This is about allowing apartment and condo buildings as a matter of right everywhere.

I don't live in Alexandria, but I don't have a problem with that. It's ridiculous that in large parts of every locality, the only permitted housing type is a detached house, intended for a small nuclear family, with a yard. The most expensive housing type for people, the most costly housing type for localities in terms of services, the most inefficient land use in terms of housing. Yet it must be protected from pollution by multi-unit housing (and the people who live in multi-unit housing)!!!!!!! Because ... well I'm not sure why. Sewer capacity, or something.

You don't live here, but you want to tell us how we should be governed. This really bothers me. You make a joke about the sewers, you are so witty. The issue with the sewers is that the wastewater infrastructure here is seriously inadequate for the population of people here now. Every time you use a sink, take a shower, take a bath, wash clothes, use your hose, flush your toilet, that infrastructure is taxed and cannot keep up. You think it's funny? The flooding problems have gotten worse, and not just when there is a 100 yr storm or whatever they're called. Some people get raw sewage backed up into their drains (for us, it has been showers, toilets and sinks). We replaced the entire line from our house to the street, and it still happens, which means the problem isn't us, it's them (the city). Our basement has flooded twice to the tune of $30,000+ each time (thank God for Chubb). And if your answer is then I should move, then why should more people move in?

The sewer system issue is just an example of the problems we have here in Alexandria and how putting your fingers in your ears so you don't have to hear about them won't make them go away; they just get worse. That is how things are managed in Alexandria. Look at the schools. They absolutely refuse, with a steel iron fist of no, to build another high school, or to address the insanity of problems ACPS has. No no no no no. The streets flood, no. The pass through traffic causing accidents and traffic jams, no. Car jackings, no. Gun crimes at like every 7-11, no. Drag racing on Duke, Seminary, Telegraph, Potomac Yards, no. Bike lanes, hell yes. More density, everywhere, pack them in, more people, more $1.5 million THs, yes. Who cares about the sewers, the electrical grid, the school capacity, the emergency services capacity, the roads, etc. Who cares. LOL.

Not to mention our elementary and middle schools are filled with lead pipes. At least that explains some of the behavior issues at ACHS.

You could say our City motto is "fail big or go home." https://patch.com/virginia/delray/high-lead-c...-alexandria-schools.