Proposed Changes to Lot Coverage Restrictions
The County Board will hear public comment at their
meeting on May 7 preparatory to deciding on the request to advertise the
proposed lot coverage changes to the zoning ordinance. The proposal is accessible on the internet by going to www.co.arlington.va.us, then to Local Government, clicking on County Board, then to Topics, then to Board Meetings, clicking on Agendas and Schedules, click on February 12, cursor down to agenda item 27, then click on Request to Advertise.
The following is Attachment E of the proposed resolution to advertise the changes. This attachment contains the recommendations of the Planning Commission, and lays out the intended changes.
ATTACHMENT E
Recommendation of the Planning Commission
RESOLUTION TO ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND SECTION 32. BULK, COVERAGE AND PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ADD NEW ITEMS TO THE LIST OF DEFINITIONS AND TO AMEND COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ONE-FAMILY DWELLING LOTS.
The County Board of Arlington hereby resolves that the following amendments to Sections 1 and 32 of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance shall be advertised for public hearings at the May 7, 2005 County Board meeting and at the April 25, 2005 Planning Commission meeting, in order to reduce the current lot coverage requirement that is incongruous with the existing conditions; to encourage orderly development of one-family residential neighborhoods, to facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community, and for other reasons required by the public necessity, convenience and general welfare and good zoning practice.
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Section 1. Definitions
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Lot Coverage. The percentage determined by dividing (a) the area of a lot covered by the total (in square feet) of: (1) the footprint of the main building: and (2) the total footprints of accessory buildings [counting only buildings with footprints larger than one hundred fifty (150) square feet or with a height of two stories or more]: and (3) parking pads and driveways; by (b) the gross area of that lot.
Main Building Footprint Coverage: The percentage determined by dividing that area covered by a main building footprint by the gross area of the lot on which the main building is located. The main building footprint shall include all parts of a main building that rest, directly or indirectly, on the ground, including, by way if illustration and not by limitation, bay-windows with floor space, chimneys, porches, decks supported by posts and with floor heights that are four (4) feet or higher above grade, cantilevered decks with horizontal projections that are four (4) feet or more, and covered breezeways connected to a main building.
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C. Coverage
For the purpose of securing open space for the exclusive use of pedestrians, except by site plan approval, no building or structure in “R,” “RA,” and “C I O districts, including accessory buildings and all areas for parking, driveways, maneuver and loading space, shall cover more than fifty six (56) percent of the area of the lot, except as may be specified in the various district classifications.*The maximum lot coverage percentage shall be as follows:
2. On any one-family dwelling lot in "R" Districts ("R" District to include "R-20," "R-10," "R-8," "R-6," and "R-5," but not "R-7") the following shall apply to all existing structures and new construction.
a. Maximum lot coverage shall be as established in the table below:
b. When a detached garage is provided in the rear yard, the maximum lot coverage may be increased as shown in the table below (in compliance with the requirements of 32.D..2.e).
c. Maximum main building footprint coverage shall be as shown in the table below.
e. When a porch is attached to the front elevation of a one-family dwelling and has an area of at least sixty (60) square feet on the front of the building (exclusive of any wrap-around or side portion), the maximum coverage may be increased as shown in the table below.
Categories R-5 R-6 R-8 R-10 R-20
Maximum Lot Coverage 45% 40% 35% 32% 25%
Maximum Lot Coverage 48% 43% 38% 35% 28%
with front porch
Maximum Lot Coverage 50% 45% 40% 37% 30%
with rear detached garage
Maximum Lot Coverage 53% 48% 43% 40% 33%
with rear garage and front porch
Maximum Main Building 34% 30% 25% 25% 16%
Footprint Coverage
Maximum Main Building 37% 33% 28% 28% 19%
with a front porch
Main Buildings Footprint Cap 2040sf 2160sf 2400sf 3000sf 3889sf
Main Buildings Footprint Cap 2200sf 2376sf 2688sf 3360sf 4610sf
with a front porch
2. Existing main and accessory buildings or structures that are not in conformance with the coverage requirements adopted on May 7, 2005, shall be permitted to be rebuilt within the building footprint as it existed on May 7, 2005, if the structures are damaged or partially destroyed by fire, wind, earthquake or other force majeure and if construction commences within two (2) years from the date of the calamity.
3. For all lots in "R" Districts that are not used for one-family dwellings, and lots in "R2-7," "RA," "C-1-O" or any other zoning districts, lot coverage shall not exceed fifty-six (56) percent, except as may be specified in the various district classifications, or unless otherwise permitted to be modified by site plan or use permit.
Request to Advertise
Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Coverage Study PLA-3917.