County staff forwards CPAM to clarify 2019 plan language on attainable housing, building height and infill

County planning staff presented proposed amendments to the 2019 Loudoun County General Plan (CPAM 2024043) aimed at clarifying implementation questions that have arisen since the plan’s adoption. Rebecca King, project manager, said the changes are primarily housekeeping and policy clarifications: they add building-height ranges for place types, refine infill definitions, raise attainable‑dwelling‑unit expectations in some place types and propose options such as land‑in‑lieu for single‑family ADU compliance and incentives to repurpose underused office/commercial space for housing.

Staff described raising attainable‑dwelling expectations to 13.75% for multifamily and 17.5% for single‑family under certain options, clarified where building-height ranges apply and proposed adding three zoning‑ordinance amendments (ZOAMs) to the work plan to address infill and conversion details. The staff report recommended approval of CPAM 2024043 and adding the ZOAMs to the DPC work plan; the planning commission suggested some additional refinements, which staff incorporated.

Supervisors questioned feasibility for office‑to‑residential conversions, the adequacy of ADU percentages to spur conversions given low office vacancy, how the proposed height ranges would interact with zoning, and whether the county should consider targeted capital‑facilities discounts to make attainable‑housing options viable. Staff emphasized the proposal’s focus on clarity and options rather than map or density changes, and noted follow‑on zoning work would test specific tools.

The board voted to forward CPAM 2024043 and associated ZOAMs to the Jan. 21, 2026 Board of Supervisors business meeting for action.