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Falls Church begins work-session debate on broader accessory-dwelling rules
Summary
Planning staff presented draft zoning changes to allow accessory dwellings (ADUs) by right in most single-family districts, recommend a 1,000 sq ft or 50%-of-primary limit, no required off-street parking, no owner-occupancy requirement, and a single ADU per lot; council and staff discussed stormwater, tree-canopy, short-term rental policy, life-safety/building-code interactions and the process/timing for first reading and referrals.
Planning staff walked the Falls Church City Council through a comprehensive draft zoning text amendment on Nov. 4 to expand and clarify rules for accessory dwellings.
Staff framed the update as two related items: a resolution to initiate a rezoning (TR 2440) and a draft ordinance (TO 02/2017) with text amendments. The stated intent is to allow accessory dwellings by right in R1A and R1B single-family districts (and to list permitted accessory uses explicitly in RC and RM rather than telescoping those districts to R1 rules). Key elements of the staff recommendation included:
• Size: ADUs limited to the smaller of 1,000 gross square feet or 50% of the principal dwelling's habitable area.
• Lot limit: One accessory dwelling per lot.
• Location and setbacks: Detached ADUs allowed with flexible setbacks (5-ft side/rear setback permitted with reduced height; 10-ft setback permitted with higher height limits). Staff proposed no ADU taller than the principal…
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