F.C. Developing Legislation to Permit 2nd Homes on Residential Properties

New legislation permitting the construction of “granny flats” on single family home properties in the City of Falls Church is now in the development stages at City Hall, it was revealed at last week’s City Council work session.

“Granny flats” is the term used to describe additions, either attached to a single family home or built next to it on the same property, that function as second residences. For many citizens, the ability to add a small second residence to their property can offer a revenue stream that will allow them to accommodate rising taxes from increased assessed property values. It can also allow them to locate an elderly relative in close proximity.

From the standpoint of meeting the community’s affordable housing needs, it can lead to a stock of inexpensive living units that can house students, young people just out of college, or senior citizens.

While the Falls Church Housing Corporation, the primary advocate for affordable housing in Falls Church, has talked up the notion, City Manager Dan McKeever revealed at the work session that he’d already tasked his staff with drafting enabling legislation.

FCHC Executive Director Carol Jackson noted that the key is to make the approval process “user friendly” for City residents. Fairfax County allows for “granny flats,” but has requirements for approval that are considered prohibitive, and thus the option is rarely utilized.Also at last week’s meeting, the Council informally agreed to a recommendation by two City volunteer boards, the Housing Commission and Human Services Advisory Commission, to split the affordable housing proffer from Atlantic Realty between $640,000 in cash and seven affordable housing units in Atlantic’s recently-approved large-scale mixed use project on S. Maple St.

Atlantic officials offered to fulfill a commitment to affordable housing either through providing 15 units in its new project, a cash equivalent, or a mix of both.

City Hall’s Ray Spicer said that there is currently a list of about 40 City residents, teachers and other City employees seeking affordable housing options here. With seven units at the Atlantic project combined with four due for inclusion in The Byron project now under construction and seven in The Spectrum, soon to begin construction, the total of new units in these three new projects will be 19.In addition, the FCHC is continuing to push ahead, with “first reading” approval from the City Council, to win approval for its senior affordable housing project in the 1000 block of West Broad that will add another 65 units.