Fairfax County Proposes New Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations 

The proposed changes streamline the application process. Removing the age and disability requirements make good sense. Why not also allow parents or guardians to include two children under age 18? It will be very important for these changes to be announced and explained to the public. People should not be surprised by the appearance of an ADU in their neighborhood. Changes in new housing development to accommodate higher density should accompany this change. Supervisors will need to reach out to citizens and homeowners' associations. Arlington's experience with ADU's might be beneficial.

From the description in the video, I agree with the proposed changes except for restrictions on number of people in detached dwelling units. If you have two bedrooms, it would seem to me to limited the number to four RELATED people, which would permit a couple and two children to inhabit an ADU.

This is a significant step forward that will benefit Fairfax County. Still too restrictive though. More obstacles to stand alone Accessory Dwelling Units should be removed.

Although many of the proposed changes do help with affordable housing, they do not address adults with children. The rule of one person per bedroom denies the choice of a couple in one bedroom and their children in the other. I think this is worth consideration.

recommend decreasing the minimum lot size for external ADU from 2 acres to 1 acres, but still with BZA review to ensure neighbor concerns are addressed.

Great video

This is a bad idea, especial considering the need for social distancing and the spreading of illness. Furthermore, the neighborhood being affected were not designed with duplexes in mind, which effectively this change would allow for. It would increase traffic problems, further burden schools, emergency and healthcare services which would lead to people leaving these community and result in a drop in property values. This would then lead to increase taxes to make up for the drop in state and county revenue do to falling property taxes caused by falling property values. Finally, it removes the safe guard on having a public reviewing of any ADU request and a review by the zoning board to ensure the neighborhoods are not adversely affected. If the county is really interested in affordable housing they should put requirements on new housing development to require a certain percentage of affordable housing units so that these higher population densities can be design into the community. The original ADU regulations were for the care for our more senior citizens and those with disabilities, not for the creation a loop hole to introduce affordable housing or boarding houses.