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Resolution #2008-01:

'Accessory dwellings'
would harm neighborhoods

Whereas, the Arlington Housing Commission, an advisory commission appointed by the Arlington County Board, has prepared a report entitled "Accessory Dwelling Report" (the "Report") dated December 10, 2007, and transmitted it to the County Board; and

Whereas, the County Board has already scheduled a work session with the Housing Commission to discuss the Accessory Dwelling concept; and

Whereas, the Report recommends that the County Board amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow for "Accessory Dwellings" ("ADs"), defined in the Report as "a second dwelling with kitchen and bath on a single family lot - either inside the main house or detached;" and

Whereas, the Report recommends allowing ADs in such areas as basements, second floors, attics, garages and other accessory structures; and

Whereas, the Report recommends allowing ADs of up to 1,000 square feet of living area and 650 feet of lot footprint; and

Whereas, a 1,000 AD could allow for as many as seven persons to legally occupy the unit;

Whereas, the Report would allow ADs within the main house structure "by-right", to be administratively approved;

Whereas, the Report acknowledges various problems with enforcement of occupancy codes, citing expert estimates of as many as 1,400 illegal ADs already in existence in the County;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Arlington County Republican Committee:

That we believe the concept of ADs will have a serious negative impact on Arlington's long-established single-family neighborhoods, eliminating the protections currently afforded to single-family zoning districts; and

That we believe that actual enforcement of any purported protections and safeguards that might be part of an AD ordinance and related regulations would be problematic at best; and

That accordingly, we strongly oppose the concept of ADs and urge the Arlington County Board to reject the concept of ADs in Arlington.

# # #

Considered and adopted by the Arlington County Republican Committee
January 23, 2008, in Arlington, Virginia