BUILDING COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS

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​​ASF advocates for  better development policies to ensure Arlington's long-term, budget, equity and environmental sustainability

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On October 31, Arlington Released New Draft Zoning for 8-plexes, County Board will Vote on Its Version of Missing Middle Infill in early 2023!

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If you are worried about negative impacts of extreme infill,  use our sample letter and email it to countyboard@arlingtonva.us. 

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​Missing Middle Housing - THE ARLINGTON WAY HAS GONE ASTRAY

County Board Will Approve Multi-Plex Zoning Countywide, Supplanting Single-Family Residential Zoning

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• November 30 - Zoning Commission Meeting to review new ordinances;

• December 12 and 15 - Planning Commission to Review and Vote on Request to Advertise (RTA) the Missing Middle final plan'

• December 2022 or January 2032 - County Board Votes on a Request to Advertise (RTA) New Zoning Amendment;

• Possibly by March 2023 - County Board Votes to Approve new Zoning Code

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The County's May 2 Missing Middle housing framework touts new housing opportunities in the form of denser "types" of infill in single-family zoned areas.  They are proposing duplexes up to 8-plexes for all lots in R-5 to R-20 residential zones, expected o take effect in early 2023.  Many initial promises about Missing Middle -- it won't be countywide, it will deliver "family-sized units," and offer "starter homes" that help "create wealth for more diverse populations" -- did not survive the planning efforts.  Similar up-zoning near Seattle (in Ballard) produced rapid infill of large units, as in the photo above.  The county claims its MM "vision" will not negatively affect infrastructure, diversity, or green space; ASF disagrees.  Missing Middle in fact represents:

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• Loss of affordable, older housing stock (replacing $750k homes with MM units that START at $415k/for 700 ft2 units);

• Rise in land prices that will preclude true affordable housing solutions (e.g. co-ops);

• Subsidizing the wealthy (those earning 118-273% of area median income);

• Spreading tear downs to areas that have yet to experience them; likely at faster pace than projected by the county;

• Displacement of households who earn less than $108,000 per year (lowest MM income needed) and those who can't pay higher taxes;

• 49% loss of canopy during development;

• Major impacts on traffic, neighborhood parking, pollution;

• Abandonment of transit-oriented development as density moves outside corridors;

• A net loss of "family-sized housing" units (with 89% of MM being 1-2 BR units);

• Possible shift from 80% owner-occupied to approx 80% rental properties in rezoned areas, reducing opportunities for wealth creation for new owners;

• A diversion from other priorities, such as true affordable housing and addressing tree loss from current residential development.

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​Write THE COUNTY BOARD NOW (countyboard@arlingtonva.us) AND DEMAND:

• Delay the MM vote four months (to at least March 2023);

• Fully reveal population growth of new zoning;

• Publish the fiscal, environmental and displacement impacts of the proposed 8-plex plan compared to current zoning;

• Consider measures that are neither irreversible nor as inflexible as rezoning.

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Quick Links:

• ASF Quick Take on October 31 Draft Missing Middle Zoning Amendments, November 4, 2022

• Missing Middle:   Civic Dialog:  ASF Presentation to Arlington Civic Federation, October 11, 2022

• What's at Stake with Arlington's Missing Middle Debate, Washington Post September 28, 2022

• ASF Readout of Mid-September Board Engagement on Missing Middle Houisng

• ASF June - September Activities Update

• ASF Slides for Tara Leeway Civic Association, September 14, 2022​

• Updated Infographic on Missing Middle, ArlTransparency, Sept 10, 2022

• ASF Letter to Arlington County Board on MMHS Phase 2 Concerns, June 3, 2022

• ASF Analysis (4-page WordDoc) of Missing Middle Phase Two Report, May 17, 2022

Visit our Missing Middle page for more information.

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​​​​​Plan Langston Boulevard:  The county has slightly modified, with release of a new Preliminary Concept Plan in August 2022, scenarios revealed last summer for "Plan Langston Boulevard."  This lays out new land use and zoning along Langston Blvd west of Rosslyn to Arlington-East Falls Church (with some parts, i.e. Cherrydale and East Falls Church, subject to separate planning efforts.)  ASF believes the PCP inadequately accounts for adverse fiscal and environmental impacts; omits critically-needed new infrastructure, particularly schools, roads (the planning area lies outside Metro corridors), parks; and will severely erode market-rate affordable housing/diversity.

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The Upshot and How to Weigh In.  ASF believes MM and Plan Langston Boulevard up-zoning (and up-GLUPping) are irreversible densifications and a break from the county's 40-year agreement with residents to limit high-density development to Metro corridors.  We hope you will share your views with the board (countyboard@arlingtonva.us), and participate in virtual tours of the three planning areas listed on our Events page.

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