City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Oral Update Regarding the Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy Study.
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ISSUE: Update regarding the ongoing Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Policy Study, one of the Housing Affordability/Zoning for Housing Initiatives undertaken pursuant to the FY 2020 and FY 2021 Interdepartmental Workplans.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council receive this update and the proposed schedule for further stakeholder engagement, as well as the timeline for bringing final recommendations back to City Council for consideration.
BACKGROUND: Staff from the Office of Housing (Housing) and the Department of Planning and Zoning (PZ) have been collaborating to progress several Housing Affordability/Zoning for Housing Initiatives pursuant to the FY 2020 and FY 2021 Workplans approved by City Council. The initiatives potentially add to Alexandria's non-financial tools to increase overall housing production and expand housing affordability options.
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are complete living units (bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen) added, internally or externally, including separately, to primary residences. ADUs were among the tools proposed in the City's 2013 Housing Master Plan for future study and potential implementation: in the last decade, many of Alexandria's neighboring jurisdictions have adopted policies to promote ADUs with varying outcomes in terms of resulting unit production. The City has specifically enabled ADUs in some Small Area Plans, including Potomac Yard, Beauregard and Eisenhower West.
Following their selection through a competitive solicitation in Fall 2019, the City has been working with the Urban Institute (UI), a well-respected national policy and research group to study regulations, models ...
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