Board of Supervisors defers decision on zMOD
After listening to testimony from 71 people on March 9, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors deferred a vote on zMOD for two weeks. The board will discuss the zoning modernization project at its March 23 meeting.
Most of the people who spoke raised objections to proposed provisions that would eliminate the special permit requirement for accessory living units (ALUs) inside a single-family home and for home-based businesses.
Without a need for a special permit, those projects would no longer require a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing with input from nearby residents and could instead be approved through an administrative permit.
The Planning Commission last week recommended that BZA hearings remain a requirement for ALUs and home-based businesses except for those that provide instructional services.
Related story: Planning Commission retains public hearing requirement for accessory living units
Many people who spoke at the BoS hearing said easing the requirements for ALUs and home-based businesses would destroy the character of single-family neighborhoods and cause problems with parking and traffic. They also cited lax code enforcement.
The relatively few people who spoke in favor of encouraging more ALUs and home-based businesses focused on the need for affordable housing.
Provisions to restrict flags and flagpoles also drew intense opposition, particularly from veterans who objected to proposals to limit their ability to fly large American flags.
The Planning Commission last week rejected any changes to the current provisions on flags.
Related story: Residents offer diverse views on flag restrictions
“Our decision to defer the vote on zMod is to make sure we get it right,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay. “We received a lot of testimony today and a Planning Commission action just last week which needs to be reviewed by board members. Modernizing the ordinance is way overdue to make our ordinance simpler, easier to understand, and in better alignment with our surrounding jurisdictions.”
They are putting off the vote because they hope the opposition will wane. It is obvious that the Board supports this proposal. The fact that most of their residents opposed this plan to ruin our neighborhoods is just an inconvenience to them unless we continue to voice strong opposition. I am sure developers are for the bill and have supported it with their campaign contributions.
Spot on, couldn't agree more.