How many is too many when it comes to those living in substance-recovery centers located among Arlington’s residential neighborhoods?
Arlington County Board members on Sept. 14 are slated to consider and, possibly, approve zoning changes that would create a “recovery residence” zoning use in residential neighborhoods and allow it, by right, for eight or fewer residents.
That would double the current allowable number.
Under past interpretation of existing Arlington zoning provisions, such facilities are limited to four or fewer unrelated persons in a single-family home, the same as for general households. Under current zoning, however, that figure rises to eight in Arlington for homes used as group residences for those with mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities or (with certification from the Virginia Department of Social Services) aged/infirm/disabled persons.
Six recovery residences operate in Arlington under the current limitations, according to county officials. Staff, which is pressing County Board members to make the zoning changes, suggests they represent a reasonable request under the federal Fair Housing Act. That law was amended in 1988 to describe those in drug/alcohol recovery as “handicapped” and entitled to certain considerations.
Zoning policies across Northern Virginia are all over the board in policies related to the issue. Prince William County, like Arlington, limits housing to four unrelated people. Fairfax County also imposes that limit, but allows up to 10 upon approval of a special-use permit, while Loudoun County allows for five or more people to live in congregate housing with a special-exception ruling from the Board of Supervisors.
Falls Church’s rules allow up to eight unrelated individuals to occupy a home on a by-right basis, while Alexandria earlier this year changed its zoning to eliminate all restrictions on the number of non-related residents occupying a dwelling.
Funding Will Support Historical Organizations: Following up on action taken during its springtime budget process, Arlington County Board members on Sept. 14 are slated to provide a collective $65,000 in funding to two organizations working on preserving the county’s history.
The county will provide $25,000 to support operations of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington and two grants to the Arlington Historical Society:
• $25,000 to support the organization’s renovation of the Arlington Historical Museum, housed in what once had been the Hume School on Arlington Ridge Road.
• $15,000 to support the organization’s Memorializing the Enslaved in Arlington project, whose partners include the Black Heritage Museum.
All grants are one-time funds; any additional funding would need to be appropriated on a year-to-year basis.
Library System to Ink Agreement with ‘Friends’ Group: They have been partners for decades, but the relationship between the Arlington County library system and Friends of the Arlington County Library is set to be memorialized on paper.
Arlington County Board members on Sept. 14 are slated to approve a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies, updating the terms by which the non-profit will provide financial support to the library system and how the library system will remit revenues that the library collects on behalf of the group.
Each year, the friends organization expends about $300,000 in support of library programming, much of it collected through well-attended book sales. Based on IRS Form 990 filings for non-profits, the organization’s net assets have tended to hover in the range of $2.5 million over the past decade. It is run on an all-volunteer basis.
County Board to Fund Food-Insecurity Grants: Arlington County Board members on Sept. 14 are slated to approve $150,000 in one-time food-security grants to a host of social-safety-net organizations.
A team of county staff, residents and food-security experts evaluated proposals from organizations in coming up with recommendations.
Under the proposal, grants ranging from $722 to $24,410 will be provided to Food for Neighbors, Friends of Urban Agriculture, Kitchen of Purpose (La Cocina VA), Meals on Wheels of Arlington, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Community Assistance Program, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Food Pantry, Provision Church (Central United Methodist Church), Randolph Elementary School Food Pantry, Real Food for Kids, St. George’s Episcopal Church, and Shirlington Employment and Education Center.
Grant funding will be disseminated in October and all funds must be spent by the end of the county government’s fiscal year on June 30, 2025.
One Home to Be Purchased for Parkland, Another for Stormwater-Management: Arlington County Board members on Sept. 14 plan to finalize a deal to spend $900,000 for land acquisition to expand Monroe Park in South Arlington.
The county government has made the deal with Elevation Homes, which earlier this year paid $650,000 to acquire the 10,888-square-foot parcel on 14th Street South from its longtime owner. The firm planned to raze the circa-1940 home and build on it.
Under the agreement set for Sept. 14 approval, Elevation will raze the parcel’s existing home and shed before turning the property over to the county government. It eventually will be incorporated into Monroe Park, with which the parcel shares a property line.
County officials say the extra space could provide opportunities to reconfigure amenities on the site. The park currently is in line for renewal of its playground.
Also on Sept. 14, County Board members are being asked to spend $1.1 million to acquire a home at 4424 19th St. North to support stormwater-management efforts in the Spout Run watershed.
The property currently has an assessed valuation of $975,400.
In addition to the purchase price, county officials anticipate spending $300,000 to demolish the existing home and any outbuildings..
Sheriff’s K9 Wins Rare Dual Certification: The U.S. Police Canine Association (USPCA) has certified an Arlington County Sheriff’s Office canine in electronics detection.
K9 Logan and Sheriff’s Cpl. Matthew Camardi recently completed the rigorous detection trials, sheriff’s office officials said.
Logan and a canine from Fairfax are the first two in Virginia to hold this certification, and Logan has become the first dog in Virginia to achieve dual certification from the USPCA in both narcotics detection and electronics detection.
“This certification is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Cpl. Camardi and K9 Logan,” said Sheriff Jose Quiroz. “Their commitment to excellence ensures that we are at the forefront of utilizing specialized canine capabilities to protect our community.”
In July, local law enforcement requested expertise from Cpl. Camardi and K9 Logan during an operation targeting a subject under investigation for indecent liberties with a minor and related use of electronic equipment.
