Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2023-CW-1CP (For-Sale Workforce Dwelling Unit Policy and Program) Planning Commission Action and Recommendation
The Planning Commission public hearing for Comprehensive Plan amendment 2023-CW-1CP (For-Sale Workforce Dwelling Unit Policy & Program) was held, and a decision was made on June 12, 2024. The Planning Commission’s recommendation and meeting action for this amendment can be viewed at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/pcaction-home.
The Board of Supervisors public hearing for this Plan amendment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Board of Supervisors public hearing information can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/2024-board-meetings.
2023-CW-1CP: For-Sale Workforce Dwelling Unit Policy and Program Policy Background: Fairfax County’s Guidelines for the Provision of Workforce Housing (WDU Policy), a component of the Comprehensive Plan’s Policy Plan, recommends development proposals with a residential component provide a percentage of the units committed for households at affordable rates. The county administers programs to encourage the provision of both for-sale and rental WDUs in line with the policy. The for-sale WDU policy applies to proposed developments within the county’s designated mixed-use centers, including the Tysons Urban Center, suburban centers, transit station areas (TSAs), and community business centers (CBCs). The countywide policy is designed to encourage affordable homeownership opportunities to households with a range of incomes from up to 80% to a maximum of 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment: On December 5, 2023, the Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized consideration of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the WDU for-sale policy based on recommendations of the WDU For-Sale Policy Task Force (Task Force). The proposed amendment, based on the task force recommendations, includes the following general policy changes:
- Shift the affordability level of the program from up to 80% to 120% AMI, to up to 70% to 100% AMI.
- Expand guidance on proportionality of bedroom counts between the WDU and market rate units with flexibility for family-sized units (units with three bedrooms or more); and,
- Extend the geographic applicability to certain properties outside of development centers that are planned and zoned for 8 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) or more.
Editorial and other related changes are proposed to better align elements of the rental and for-sale WDU policies, to better accommodate larger household sizes and families, and to bring the WDU recommendations in certain Area Plans in the Comprehensive Plan closer to the countywide policy in the Policy Plan of the Comprehensive Plan. The latter revisions would remove Plan recommendations in the Area Plans that are duplicative of or inconsistent with the countywide policy and replace them with a reference to the countywide policy, as necessary. In addition, revisions and actions related to guidance on monetary contributions is proposed.
The Staff Report for this amendment has been posted on the Department of Planning and Development web site at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/staff-reports.
For information concerning the Plan Amendment process or the Comprehensive Plan, contact the Planner of the Day for the Planning Division at the Department of Planning and Development, at 703-324-1380, TTY 711 (Virginia Relay), Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or visit the 7th floor, Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. More frequent updates on planning activities can be received by liking and following the Fairfax County Land Use Planning & Zoning Facebook page.
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