Council hears overview of 2024 development code and work plan; debate centers on student housing buffer and small-area plan implementation

City planning staff provided City Council on Nov. 3 with an overview of the 2024 Development Code and the department—s planning and zoning work plan, emphasizing enforcement tools, in-lieu affordable-housing fees and several near-term studies.

"The 2024 development code is the foundation for how we regulate land use and development within the city," Matt Auffley, development planning manager in Neighborhood Development Services, told the council. He summarized the code—s structure (residential districts RA/RB/RC, mixed-use nodes and overlay districts), design-review and development standards and affordability rules for residential projects. Auffley said most residential projects with 10 or more units must provide 10% of units at or below 60% AMI or pay an in-lieu fee, and deeper affordability tied to bonus height requires 50% AMI units or an equivalent fee.

Auffley also described an existing provision for student housing within a 0.5-mile buffer of UVA—s contiguous…