Infill Task Force

What's New?

City Council approved minor amendments to the Infill Regulations on February 20, 2010.  Changes to the regulations are in the general areas of:

• Front setback
• Detached garage height
• Attached garage location
• Editorial changes

Click here to read the Staff Report, including amendments.

Upcoming Infill Task Force Meetings:

No upcoming meetings at this time.

City Council Approves Comprehensive Infill Regulations

On Tuesday, June 24, the City Council approved the recommendations of the Infill Task Force, with a few minor amendments.  The recommendations are comprehensive, and include amendments to the zoning ordinance for the following:

• Height
• Front setbacks
• Garages
• Floor Area Ratio
• Tree Coverage
• Teardowns on Substandard Lots

The amendments are generally applicable to one- and two-family dwellings in the R-20, R-12, R-8, R-5, R-2-5, RA and RB zones, outside the historic districts.  To view the new ordinance language on the above, please see the following link to the Council docket item:
http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/fy08/062408rm/di46.pdf

The regulations are effective as of Wednesday, June 25, 2008.  As such, all new applications submitted from that day forward will be subject to the new regulations.  Any complete applications for building permit or grading plan submitted prior to that day will be processed under the prior rules.

In addition, the City Council directed staff to prepare a scope, timeline and budget proposal for a Citywide Pattern Book to bring back for their consideration in Fall 2008.

If you have any questions or comments, or have a specific project that you would like clarification on the applicability of the new regulations, please contact Peter Leiberg or Valerie Peterson at 703-838-4666.  Planning Commission recommended approval of Infill Task Force recommendations at its June 4 hearing.  The recommendations will go to City Council Hearing on June 14 at 9:30 am.

Background on the Infill study:

In April 2007, City Council approved a Resolution to establish an Infill Task Force, whose mission is to:

• Study the impact of large new housing construction and major residential additions in existing, established single-family neighborhoods.

• Analyze existing City regulations that pertain to limiting infill impacts and make recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council for any regulatory changes.

• Keep the public informed about the study, briefing the community at large on the progress of the infill study, and briefing the Planning Commission and City Council on their analysis and recommendations.

Schedule & Meeting Agendas 

Infill Task Force Members:

• Stewart Dunn, Chair, Planning Commission
• Stephen Koenig, Architect
• Lee Weber, Builder/Developer
• Gaver Nichols, Architect
• Lisa Vierse May, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors
• Maria Wasowski, Resident, Mt. Jefferson/Del Ray
• David Brown, Resident, North Ridge
• Mary M. Konsoulis, Resident, Rosemont
• Ken Billingsley, Resident, Strawberry Hill

Meeting Materials:

• December 9, 2009
  Agenda 
  Handout - Memo to Task Force 
  Handout - Draft Amended Text 
  Handout - Additional Revisions to Draft Amended Text (Revised 12/9/09) 
  Meeting Summary
  Consolidated Draft Amended Text (Revised 12/11/09)
  
• November 4, 2009
  Agenda
  Presentation 
  
  
• June 3,2008, Planning Commission Hearing
  Infill Task Force Recommendations
  
  
• Thursday, May 1, 2008, Infill Community Meeting
  Presentation
  
  
• April 17, 2008 
  Agenda
  Draft Proposed Zoning Ordinance Changes (proposed new language underlined in red, and existing language in plain text)
  Height Definitions
  Subdivision
  Substandard Lots
  FAR and Related Changes
  Average Front Setback and Threshold Height
  Supplemental Regulations
  Overlay Districts and Pattern Book (Policy Recommendations)
  
  
• April 8, 2008  Joint Worksession with Planning Commission and City Council
  › Presentation
  › Summary Table of Preliminary Recommendations from Infill Task Force 
  
  
• March 18, 2008
  › Agenda
  › Meeting Summary
  › Detailed Discussion of Potential Regulations
  › Proposed Regulations and Staff Recommendations
   
• February 21, 2008
  › Agenda
  › Meeting Summary
  › Presentation
  › Presentation on Annapolis, MD Conservation District
  › Overview of Existing and Proposed Regulations
  
  
• January 30, 2008
  › Agenda
  › Presentation
  › Meeting Summary
  
  
• January 17, 2008
  › Agenda
  › Presentation
  › Meeting Summary
  › Preliminary Concepts for Consideration FAR and Bulk 
  
  
• December 6, 2007
  › Agenda
  › Presentation
  › Preliminary Concepts for Consideration
  › Meeting Summary
   
• November 15, 2007
  › Agenda
  › Presentation
  › Meeting Summary
   
• October 25, 2007
  › Agenda
  › Meeting Summary
  › Summary of Infill Measures in Other Jurisdictions
   
• October 16, 2007
  › Agenda
  › Meeting Summary
  › Presentation
   
• August 28, 2007
  › Meeting Summary
  › Presentation to Infill Task Force

Background Information:

• Interim Ordinance #4457
• Emergency Legislation Enacted Addressing Residential Infill Concerns
• Staff Report on Infill Interim Regulations June 6, 2006
• Presentation to Planning Commission March 9, 2006
• Report to Planning Commission March 9, 2006