Arlington Missing Middle Housing Q&A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Multiple dwellings within a single building, to be clear. Not separate buildings

Ha, good thing I have a small lot and can connect a closed breezeway! What’s the point of limiting ADU occupancy to 3 people now???

[Anonymous]

One last chance too voice your opinion about Missing Middle to Arlington County Board:

https://wjla.com/news/local/missing-middle-housing-arlington-county-residents-with-public-comment-chance-two-weeks-before-missing-middle-housing-vote-land-use-rule-change-affordable-planning-commission-katie-cristol-racial-segregation

Monday's Planning Commission meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Arlington County Board room.

[Anonymous]

Increased supply induces increased demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

Nothing is missing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

Nothing is missing.

New 2500 sq ft duplexes are not really being built.

Although obviously those will be over 7 figures in desirable neighborhoods which is why they have unsuccessfully tried to rebrand the movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

I think some of it is about access to the “good” schools in North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

I think some of it is about access to the “good” schools in North Arlington.

I don’t understand the argument about good schools, these schools are good because parents are involved. If parents were similarly involved in lower performing schools then those schools will improve as well.

My grandmother only studied till middle school, was a person of truly modest means but each one of her 4 kids went to college with graduate degrees no less, this happened because she saw education as a way out and enforced strict discipline. These values are not related to wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

I think some of it is about access to the “good” schools in North Arlington.

I don’t understand the argument about good schools, these schools are good because parents are involved. If parents were similarly involved in lower performing schools then those schools will improve as well.

My grandmother only studied till middle school, was a person of truly modest means but each one of her 4 kids went to college with graduate degrees no less, this happened because she saw education as a way out and enforced strict discipline. These values are not related to wealth.

Well you don’t have to worry about your “good” schools because your new neighbors in a 1.4M dollar duplex are going to be involved as well.

I’m not going to address the rest of what you said.

[Anonymous]

I watched the speakers at the meeting last night and there were good points made by both sides of the debate. My personal opinion is that additional time is needed to understand the impact of these proposed changes to the infrastructure of the county. It seems that this proposal has been rushed through with very little exploration of how to execute MMH effectively. This CB does not have a great track record of careful consideration and it appears that they are on the verge of one more impulsive decision that has the potential to negatively impact the Arlington in terms of livability. (Which is why people want to live here in the first place.)

There seems to be little real planning around tree cover, parking, sewage, utilities, safety, traffic congestion, and school overcrowding which are real and legitimate concerns. The CB should at the very least pump the breaks and make sure they do their due diligence for the residents of the county before changing zoning. It appears they want to change the zoning first and then figure out how to execute while using the tax payers money to do so. However, there was mention by at least one speaker that this effort could be subsidized by the Federal government. If that is the case, that would explain the rush to pass these zoning changes but the CB should be up front about their motivations if that is indeed true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched the speakers at the meeting last night and there were good points made by both sides of the debate. My personal opinion is that additional time is needed to understand the impact of these proposed changes to the infrastructure of the county. It seems that this proposal has been rushed through with very little exploration of how to execute MMH effectively. This CB does not have a great track record of careful consideration and it appears that they are on the verge of one more impulsive decision that has the potential to negatively impact the Arlington in terms of livability. (Which is why people want to live here in the first place.)

There seems to be little real planning around tree cover, parking, sewage, utilities, safety, traffic congestion, and school overcrowding which are real and legitimate concerns. The CB should at the very least pump the breaks and make sure they do their due diligence for the residents of the county before changing zoning. It appears they want to change the zoning first and then figure out how to execute while using the tax payers money to do so. However, there was mention by at least one speaker that this effort could be subsidized by the Federal government. If that is the case, that would explain the rush to pass these zoning changes but the CB should be up front about their motivations if that is indeed true.

I mean the planning has dragged on for years.

The county is assuming the impact will be 150 additional people a year and 9-13 new students. As 2/5 of the board is already checked out, guess it will be the next board problem deal with any issues if they are wrong.

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Increased supply induces increased demand.

There are already a lot of new apartments and condos that have gone up in Arlington what is exactly missing?

I think some of it is about access to the “good” schools in North Arlington.

Completely correct. What is being characterized as "Affordable Missing Middle Housing" has already been rebranded as "Attainable Expanded Housing Options." This type of housing existing in many parts of Arlington but only a little of it is north of Langston Blvd in the "good" elementary school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the speakers at the meeting last night and there were good points made by both sides of the debate. My personal opinion is that additional time is needed to understand the impact of these proposed changes to the infrastructure of the county. It seems that this proposal has been rushed through with very little exploration of how to execute MMH effectively. This CB does not have a great track record of careful consideration and it appears that they are on the verge of one more impulsive decision that has the potential to negatively impact the Arlington in terms of livability. (Which is why people want to live here in the first place.)

There seems to be little real planning around tree cover, parking, sewage, utilities, safety, traffic congestion, and school overcrowding which are real and legitimate concerns. The CB should at the very least pump the breaks and make sure they do their due diligence for the residents of the county before changing zoning. It appears they want to change the zoning first and then figure out how to execute while using the tax payers money to do so. However, there was mention by at least one speaker that this effort could be subsidized by the Federal government. If that is the case, that would explain the rush to pass these zoning changes but the CB should be up front about their motivations if that is indeed true.

I mean the planning has dragged on for years.

The county is assuming the impact will be 150 additional people a year and 9-13 new students. As 2/5 of the board is already checked out, guess it will be the next board problem deal with any issues if they are wrong.

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

+1. I mean they’ve done a lot more “analysis” than they did for high density housing and affordable housing, which in my view is actually a bigger deal…they aren’t going to do more analysis if they have more time. If they wanted to, they would have already. I have no idea what the point of dragging this out has been when the outcome was predetermined. Just rip off the band-aid so we can all move on already…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched the speakers at the meeting last night and there were good points made by both sides of the debate. My personal opinion is that additional time is needed to understand the impact of these proposed changes to the infrastructure of the county. It seems that this proposal has been rushed through with very little exploration of how to execute MMH effectively. This CB does not have a great track record of careful consideration and it appears that they are on the verge of one more impulsive decision that has the potential to negatively impact the Arlington in terms of livability. (Which is why people want to live here in the first place.)

There seems to be little real planning around tree cover, parking, sewage, utilities, safety, traffic congestion, and school overcrowding which are real and legitimate concerns. The CB should at the very least pump the breaks and make sure they do their due diligence for the residents of the county before changing zoning. It appears they want to change the zoning first and then figure out how to execute while using the tax payers money to do so. However, there was mention by at least one speaker that this effort could be subsidized by the Federal government. If that is the case, that would explain the rush to pass these zoning changes but the CB should be up front about their motivations if that is indeed true.

While they are asking these questions, the board should also ask builders if they will build missing middle housing. I know a number of Arlington builders and no one has ever asked them if they will build missing middle housing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the speakers at the meeting last night and there were good points made by both sides of the debate. My personal opinion is that additional time is needed to understand the impact of these proposed changes to the infrastructure of the county. It seems that this proposal has been rushed through with very little exploration of how to execute MMH effectively. This CB does not have a great track record of careful consideration and it appears that they are on the verge of one more impulsive decision that has the potential to negatively impact the Arlington in terms of livability. (Which is why people want to live here in the first place.)

There seems to be little real planning around tree cover, parking, sewage, utilities, safety, traffic congestion, and school overcrowding which are real and legitimate concerns. The CB should at the very least pump the breaks and make sure they do their due diligence for the residents of the county before changing zoning. It appears they want to change the zoning first and then figure out how to execute while using the tax payers money to do so. However, there was mention by at least one speaker that this effort could be subsidized by the Federal government. If that is the case, that would explain the rush to pass these zoning changes but the CB should be up front about their motivations if that is indeed true.

I mean the planning has dragged on for years.

The county is assuming the impact will be 150 additional people a year and 9-13 new students. As 2/5 of the board is already checked out, guess it will be the next board problem deal with any issues if they are wrong.

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

+1. I mean they’ve done a lot more “analysis” than they did for high density housing and affordable housing, which in my view is actually a bigger deal…they aren’t going to do more analysis if they have more time. If they wanted to, they would have already. I have no idea what the point of dragging this out has been when the outcome was predetermined. Just rip off the band-aid so we can all move on already…

Agree.