Falls Church officials are nearing a decision on an ordinance that would make it easier to build accessory-dwelling units.
A vote on the ordinance is expected in late March or April. At a Council work session last week, however, there was a split between elected leaders and top staff on how much remaining public input is advisable before the matter goes to a vote.
City Manager Wyatt Shields was of the mind that the heavy lifting of community engagement is in the rear-view mirror.
“I don’t want to miscommunicate where we are in the process — at this point, we’re trying to land the plane,” he said.
“We did a ton of outreach back in July and August,” said Shields, urging Council members not to reopen the basics of the proposed new housing and zoning policy.
A number of Council members pushed back, saying that many residents may not even be aware of the city’s proposal to allow accessory dwellings on single-family lots.
“We need to be open” to additional community feedback, said Council member Erin Flynn.
Accessory dwellings are ancillary properties on single-family lots that include provisions for living, sleeping, eating/cooking and sanitation for one family.
They can be either attached to the main home or independent of it. The proposal being considered by city leaders would limit the size to 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main property, whichever is less.
Shields on Jan. 22 said the city would send a mailing to every property owner in the city, advising them of the remaining procedural steps in the ADU-adoption process.
Several Council members, including Mayor Letty Hardi, pressed for ways to have the public’s views known directly to the City Council and Planning Commission, rather than be filtered through staff.
“It’s our job to distill it,” Hardi said of the feedback that would be provided.
Several Council members expressed concern there could be a repeat of Falls Church’s 2022-23 development of “T-zones,” transitional zoning areas between commercial districts and single-family residential neighborhoods.
Many residents were unaware of the proposed T-zone changes until the last minute, prompting some outcry.
Citing that example, Council member David Snyder said he didn’t know how Shields and other city personnel could expect to “land the plane” when many people remain unaware of the accessible-dwelling proposal.
Among those who are aware, there remains strong disagreement on specific elements, Snyder said.
Flynn said city officials shouldn’t be reaching out to the public at this stage if the feedback simply is going to be ignored.
“I take issue with this performative nature of public outreach,” she said, pressing for robust consideration of all public input.
At the same time, Council member Laura Downs said the planning process couldn’t keep starting over because some city residents opted not to get engaged earlier in the process.
“We’ve been working on this diligently,” said Downs, who gained office via a special election last November.
Current Falls Church ordinances do not prohibit accessory dwellings, but require a conditional-use permit for one to be constructed.
Changes being considered would make such a dwelling a by-right option in the R-1A and R-1B zoning districts, where the majority of single-family homes are located.
