Subject:
Title
Housing Diversity: Accessory Living Units (ALUs)
Body
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
On January 29, 2024, the Town Council adopted Housing Diversity as one of four priorities for the calendar year of 2024.
On May 6, 2024, staff provided a presentation on some of the types of housing diversity that exist. The Town Council then began a conversation on how it might define its goals with respect to housing diversity and continued that conversation on May 13, 2024.
These conversations have been in the context of work sessions, meaning that the Town Council has not yet provided direction to staff on which of the approaches, if any, that staff should pursue. However, the Town Council has begun to define some of its areas of interest.
OVERVIEW:
The Mayor asked that a work session be held on the specific housing topic of accessory units for people to reside, which are, in Fairfax County, referred to as "accessory living units." (In Fairfax County, ADUs mean Affordable Dwelling Units and ALUs mean Accessible Living Units.). This report will refer to them as ALUs, because it is consistent with Fairfax County's approach and because that is the term the Town of Vienna used in a survey in 2021 (discussed below).
Comparison Jurisdictions
This topic is being discussed throughout the country, in smaller and larger jurisdictions. Many approaches are being explored and implemented.
Staff has had very little time to assemble information, and almost no time to provide analysis. To facilitate the discussion, staff has provided documents that show the approaches of some nearby Northern Virginia jurisdictions. There are many other jurisdictions that could also be included. Staff is happy to produce additional material, with analysis, for future discussions.
Fairfax County allows ALUs in very specific circumstances and with clear rules. Fairfax County considers an ALU to be the following: "An accessory living unit is a secondary dwelling unit established in conjunction with ...
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