City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 20, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Updated Housing Contribution Procedures.
BODY
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ISSUE: Proposed draft language regarding procedures for exceptions to mandatory housing contribution requirements and process to update status of City submarkets (Attachment 1).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve the proposed draft language describing the criteria and process for requesting, evaluating and considering developer requests for exceptions to reduce the mandatory provision of affordable housing when additional density beyond what is envisioned in a Small Area Plan is sought; and
2. Direct staff to provide annual reviews of the status of City submarkets, including updates to their characterization as Core or Emerging, as appropriate.
BACKGROUND: After a public hearing on December 12, 2020, Council approved revisions to the City's housing contributions policies and procedures including, among other things, a requirement to make the provision of affordable housing mandatory when a project seeks additional density beyond what is contemplated in a small area plan. Depending on the submarket in which the development is located, and its characterization as Core or Emerging based on a review of market differentials including rents commanded, the policy recommends that either 10% (Core) or 8% (Emerging) of the additional density sought beyond the level described in the Small Area Plan be provided as affordable housing.
A process to enable potential modifications - to lower the developer's affordable housing requirement to a floor of 5% - was proposed by the Work Group in its Report. However, central to City Council's discussion and consideration of the proposed policy revisions, was its expressed desire to very narrowly circumscr...
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